TRL Says Goodbye

MTV’s “Total Request Live” featured its final round of music videos and celebrity guests with its very last show Nov. 16, saying goodbye after 10 years with a live, three-hour broadcast from the show’s headquarters in New York.

After launching pop star careers and being regarded as a dominant part of pop culture, TRL canceled after years of declining ratings.

“I feel like they’re kinda tearin’ down my home,” Eminem said via phone as he and Carson Daly, TRL’s first and most famous host, reminisced over the show’s good times.

The teen fan base became music’s tastemakers when the video countdown show kicked off in 1998 with a model that included a live show, an audience full of enthusiastic kids and viewer feedback.

Britney Spears, the Backstreet Boys, ‘NSync and Christina Aguilera are a few of the artists who can thank TRL for their ascent to pop superstardom and mammoth record sales.

“If it wasn’t for ‘TRL,’ I don’t think I would have this launching pad for my career,” said Kid Rock.

Over the years, along with up-and-coming stars, legends like Madonna and Michael Jackson would drop by the show as well as actors including Tom Cruise and Will Smith and mega-athletes like Derek Jeter.

To say goodbye, Beyoncé opened the final show with her new singles, “If I Were A Boy” and “Single Ladies,” as well as her hit “Crazy in Love” for old times’ sake.

Snoop Dogg, Nelly and Ludacris joined together to rap some of their biggest hits in a hip-hop medley.

Frequent guest Diddy dropped by the final show and waved to the Times Square audience one last time from TRL’s glass-encased studios above.

50 Cent was there as well as Justin Timberlake and fellow ‘NSync member JC Chasez.

“This is like a high school reunion in a way,” said Timberlake. “I feel like we all grew up together. ‘TRL’ was so integral to our careers.”

Former VJs Vanessa Minnillo, Hilarie Burton and Jesse Camp also made appearances to bid farewell.

During the final show, memorable moments were replayed, including the Backstreet Boys breaking the news of member A.J. McLean’s drug and alcohol rehab and Mariah Carey’s bizarre ice cream striptease.

Although Spears didn’t make it to the going-away party, her first hit, “… Baby One More Time,” emerged as No. 1 when TRL did its final countdown of all-time videos. The tune played as the credits of the show ran for the last time.

TRL is being replaced by a video show called “FNMTV” hosted by Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz. The band performed, minus soon-to-be-dad Wentz, in Times Square.