Once upon a time, MTV used to actually play music. Will that ever happen again? Fingers crossed as the network just announced that it will officially revive TRL (Total Request Live) come this October.
The show, which drew a roster of artists and played the day's most requested music videos each afternoon, will be broadcast live daily from a new, massive state-of-the-art studio that MTV has been building in New York City's Times Square for months.
As millennials might remember, the program propelled host Carson Daly to fame—but don't expect him to be part of the latest iteration of the show, which will feature five co-hosts, including Chicago radio host Erik Zachary and rapper/comedian DC Young Fly. According to the Hollywood Reporter, "additional hosts are expected to be announced as MTV remains in negotiations with YouTube personalities, among others."
MTV's latest president, Chris McCarthy, hopes that the move will help the channel regain footing in ratings, which have been steadily increasing for the channel's core audience (18 to 24-year-olds) since June. The slate of revamped programming includes the revival of Fear Factor and Wild 'n Out and the recently picked up Siesta Key, reminiscent of the highly successful (and now defunct) Laguna Beach.
The original TRL aired from 1998 to 2008—can the show make a successful comeback nearly ten years since it went off the air? We'll be watching closely.