Today marks the end of an ear-piercing, tween-infused era, thanks to the final episode of TRL airing tonight — and it's live, which is more than we can say about it over the past couple of years. Has-been Carson Daly will host the finale, which is fitting because the years he ran the show were the Glory Days for not only Carson but TRL itself. After many years of pimping out boy bands and Britneys, the show took a turn for the worst, no longer filming live, losing host after host, offering a haven for sad tweens who eat their hair — and making life miserable for Mollygood editors who braved the masses for their favorite singers.
After the jump, a look at our favorite moments from the show's 10-year run.
The Good Times
Hey, remember when Britney Spears was actually awesome? She danced, she lip-synced, she functioned like a normal human being without shaving her head. TRL was good to her over the years, and so were her mobs of fans who would wait outside, rain or shine, for hours on end to catch a glimpse of the former pop princess.
My first love affair was with Lance Bass of 'NSync — and can you blame me? Check out those sweet outfits and dance moves. Seriously though, who told Chris Kirkpatrick those pigtails and Mystery-style goggles were a good idea?
Editor
Am I the only person who thinks Britney was NEVER awesome? And that Mariah episode? Saaaaaad.
Remember when the Backstreet Boys were on because AJ went to rehab? The show was like an all out vigil like he died or something. (However my 13-year-old self did die a little that day.)
My favorite part was always the teenyboppers who popped up in the corner of the screen during the video to say, "Please play this song OMG WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Thank God I missed the whole TRL era. I was around when MTV actually was music television, playing videos. The only show I watched was 120 minutes. Oh, that and Liquid Television. Everything else was pretty much crap in my mind. To each their own. Ish, showin' me age here.
HAHAHAHA Justin Timberlake's hair is so awesome!!
I stopped watching TRL when the amount of actual video airtime began having in inversely proportional relationship to the amount of airtime given to screaming, crying and bouncing superfans. Also when it was taken over by Beyonce and her ilk.
I loved 120 Minutes and I used to live for Alternative Nation. Videos used to be so much fun. On MTV Hits they were playing a TRL Playlist. It had a bunch of nostalgic goodies on there.
No, Surlygirl, you're not the only one.
I was never a Britney fan (still am not) but there was a time when I appreciated her brand of celebrity fakery and excused the hoards of insane tweens who would defend her with their lives (and Mickey Mouse Club memorobilia). That Mariah episode was one of the best and I stopped watching TRL when Carson moved out of that little dark room with only the table chair and I think a computer/TV. There was no audience it was awesome. TRL was an actual TV show. rom w
TRL represents the time when I wasn't allowed to watch MTV. I would come home from school though and I'd be able to watch it either before my mom came home or before she'd realize what I was watching (I was 12). My friends and I would 3-way call one another if it was a day we weren't at each others homes and we'd scream and sing the songs while we were watching. The days N*SYNC or Britney were on were the best days. It was so awesome.
now where will I go to remind myself how old and out of touch with youth I am? Oh right, every other channel.
After a quick census of the current programming lineup, I would like to propose that MTV use the newly free time to introduce one of the following:
"The Opening a Can of Chili Show"
Randy Jackson Presents "Guess Which One's Your Mom By Smelling Your Friend's Fingers" Brought to you by Randy Jackson
"The Wheel World", following LA's hottest rims manufacturers as they stand in various suburban driveways and yell "DAAAAAAMN" while covering their noses with their hands
"In The Cut" Watch this hilarious double entendre unfold as emo kids trim right angles into their bangs, cut their forearms (it doesn't count if you can't see it), then take pictures of themselves in their bathrooms.
"I'll Eat a Horse Turd to be on TV"
"Neglect'd" - A family prank show where unsuspecting parents "discover" their underage daughters stripping on YouTube or "accidentally" finding webcam footage of their son participating in an anal train. Hijinx ensue when host R. Kelly pops out for the "GOTCHA" moment, then quietly explains that yes, that was actually their children on the footage while the kid in question sits in the corner and screams about how his/her parents never came to watch them play soccer.
If that doesn't get the #1 Commie tonight I am boycotting intelligent decisions.
I've been gone awhile, all the crazy's done got bottled.
It seemed like that show had been on longer than ten years.
Then again, maybe it's because I too stopped watching after MTV played 30 seconds of a video with those annoying "Yo, dis Trina from Queen and I love you Akon!"