R.i.p. Trl

[PyroChamber]

Or at least it may happen soon...

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2007/01/16/rip-trl/

Rumors are rampant that MTV’s marquee mid-day countdown show Total Request Live is totally over after nearly a decade. Viewer numbers are at an all-time low and the network is scrambling for a way to “re-brand the program” (translation: find something else to put in the slot that people will actually watch). This means that one of the last vestiges of music programming on the “Music Television” channel (yes, folks, that’s what it stands for!) could go the way of the buffalo. We’re already preparing the class-action lawsuit for false advertising.

The fact is, MTV has long ago ceased to be a place for music fans to actually watch their favorite artists or bands. The channel that initiated the onslaught of reality programming with the launch of The Real World way back in 1992 has become a music wasteland. (Yes, we recognize the irony of pointing this out, what with Rolling Stone’s own MTV reality show.) To be fair, the network had its share of music-centric reality programs, many of which were responsible for re-launching fading artists’ careers (The Osbournes, Newlyweds). But even those types of shows with the subtlest music tie-ins are becoming obsolete in favor of dating shows that aim for maximum humiliation and docudramas about over-indulged and over-exposed teenagers (Laguna Beach, My Super Sweet Sixteen).

None of which is to say that MTV isn’t giving viewers exactly what they’re asking for. The network was only catering to America’s voyeuristic impulses that currently dominate our culture (and let’s be honest, human nature). And now that any and all music content can be found online with the click of a mouse, forces seem to have colluded against the former mainstream music behemoth. As ever, MTV seems to be a mirror of pop culture.

Dearest readers, do you still see MTV as a relevant music source? Do you think it ought to just admit that it ain’t about music anymore and simply change its name? And who among you is willing to take poor Vanessa Minnillo in when she gets her pink slip?

-- Lauren Gitlin

 

[jimmy]

TRL died for me back in 1999.

 

[jaguarr]

TRL was still-born as far as I'm concerned.

jag

 

[Fran]

TRL died for me back in 1999.

Ditto.

 

[SoulManX]

Ah the days of "I want my MTV."


Man I miss them...

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

uh, don't you mean B.I.H. TRL?

 

[Mr. Credible]

oh no... does that mean that i won't be able to see over-enthusiastic teenagers scream for 30 second clips of the same 10 rap and emo-rock videos for 60 days in a row anymore?!?

that sucks.

 

[Mr. Credible]

and, on a related note, they really ought to change the channel's name from MTV to... well, not MTV.

even MTV2 is playing less and less music and more and more "reality" tv.

 

[jaguarr]

It's scary to me that VH1 is actually playing more music...and more decent music at that...than MTV. That's horribly, horribly wrong. VH1 was the suck-ass music channel when I was younger.

jag

 

[redmarvel]

Here in Canada, Much Music is headed the same way. In fact, they've pretty much dropped the "Music" from their name and just call themselve MUCH. I've never been a big fan of the "reality" shows that are shown on these stations... I prefer more "real" programming (Holmes on Homes, Property Virgins, Mythbusters, etc.)

Music videos themselves seem to be losing originality. Most of them are just clips of the artists playing at different venues. Very few actually seem to be the "short film" types... this leads to fewer people wanting to watch them.

Frankly I think both Much & MTV should dedicate 1 hour a day to "new" music videos. Things that haven't been seen before on T.V. They may find a larger viewership if they stop regurgitating the same stuff day after day.

 

[kane9321]

mtv...wow

 

[SWAT]

and, on a related note, they really ought to change the channel's name from MTV to... well, not MTV.

even MTV2 is playing less and less music and more and more "reality" tv.

Oh, how much I agree...!

 

[Space Moose]

Death to Videodrome, long live the new flesh!!!

Er... I mean...

Death to MTV, long live the YouTube!!!

 

[NHawk19]

It's scary to me that VH1 is actually playing more music...and more decent music at that...than MTV. That's horribly, horribly wrong. VH1 was the suck-ass music channel when I was younger.

jag

You must be getting older then

 

[hippie_hunter]

Here in Canada, Much Music is headed the same way. In fact, they've pretty much dropped the "Music" from their name and just call themselve MUCH. I've never been a big fan of the "reality" shows that are shown on these stations... I prefer more "real" programming (Holmes on Homes, Property Virgins, Mythbusters, etc.)

Music videos themselves seem to be losing originality. Most of them are just clips of the artists playing at different venues. Very few actually seem to be the "short film" types... this leads to fewer people wanting to watch them.

Frankly I think both Much & MTV should dedicate 1 hour a day to "new" music videos. Things that haven't been seen before on T.V. They may find a larger viewership if they stop regurgitating the same stuff day after day.

At least they dropped the name Music from their name. MTV is still calling itself Music Television when there is no music on their.

 

[FreeRadical]

Here in the u.k. we have:
MTV
MTV Base
MTV2
MTV Flux
MTV hits
TMF ( The music factory)

and they hardly have any music. TMF now shows 'brand new' Ally Mcbeal, Wonder years and Cheers.

 

[PyroChamber]

I guess it's safe to say that pretty much every music channel is showing more "reality" than music.

 

[jaguarr]

You must be getting older then

Well, there is that, yes. But, c'mon....VH1 is now the home of the Headbanger's Ball. If you'd told me that would be the case back in the mid-80's I'd probably have punched you in the face.

jag

 

[Erzengel]

TRL

F'ing joke.

My favorite is how most of the people in the audience were taken from model agencies, because you had to have beautiful people on tv.

 

[jimmy]

Well, there is that, yes. But, c'mon....VH1 is now the home of the Headbanger's Ball. If you'd told me that would be the case back in the mid-80's I'd probably have punched you in the face.

jag

I think they still show HBB on MTV 2. It's not bad, but there are way too many wannabe Hatebreed bands -- drop-c tunning, mesa dual rectos, arm tats, and so on. I've seen some cool bands on HBB, though. Not cool enough to make me want to buy their album, but cool enough to know that they show some decent music videos.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

TMF now shows 'brand new' Ally Mcbeal, Wonder years and Cheers.

That is f***ing. Sick.

 

[Erzengel]

Almost as funny is that Uncharasmatic Twit, Carson Daly f'ing got such a following for being a tool. But not as funny as him peeing himself during the riots at Woodstock.

 

[PyroChamber]

TRL

F'ing joke.

My favorite is how most of the people in the audience were taken from model agencies, because you had to have beautiful people on tv.

Were they really? I guess that shouldn't be a surprise being that MTV is all about showing pretty people on TV, especially if they live in California.

Only time they show average looking people is if they have money (My Super Sweet 16).

 

[jaguarr]

I think they still show HBB on MTV 2. It's not bad, but there are way too many wannabe Hatebreed bands -- drop-c tunning, mesa dual rectos, arm tats, and so on. I've seen some cool bands on HBB, though. Not cool enough to make me want to buy their album, but cool enough to know that they show some decent music videos.

Yeah, it's on there, too. That show focuses on more of the newer bands. There's also a Metal Madness show on VH1 that plays more old school stuff, as does their version of HBB (they show quite a bit of old school metal stuff, actually).

jag

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

But not as funny as him peeing himself during the riots at Woodstock.

Whoa, I never heard that but I 100% believe it.