That’s right, Total Request Live is BACK. MTV president Chris McCarthy tells NYT that TRL will relaunch in October with a new Times Square studio.
“If we’re going to come back and reinvent MTV, the studio is a given,” he told NYT. “It is the centerpiece.”
This is part of an effort to reinvent MTV to its former glory: namely, from 1998-2008 when the show ran and music was actually part of programming. McCarthy is tasked with turning around the steadily declining ratings and falling stock of the channel.
Ratings have increased with re-imagined Fear Factor and sketch comedy show Wild ‘n Out, which means so far, nostalgia is working. MTV will also present a repackaged Laguna Beach reality show, Siesta Key. In general, the new MTV will focus on “reality, unscripted and music content.”
MTV is officially bringing back TRL. The classic show will make it's return THIS FALL! pic.twitter.com/LCLqMLBu2i
— Shady Music Facts (@TheShadyFacts) July 31, 2017
McCarthy is also trading in the Video Music Award “Moonman” for the Moon Person.
“Why should it be a man?” Mr. McCarthy told NYT. “It could be a man, it could be a woman, it could be transgender, it could be nonconformist.” He’s also developing a show called We Are They, a reality show about coming-of-age moments for the gender-nonconforming.
The MTV president is hoping that focusing on giving modern youth a voice will turn the channel’s declining popularity around.
Says McCarthy, “MTV’s reinvention is coming by harnessing its heritage.”
We’ll see!
.@MTV's #TRL is returning this fall! Relive the 7 best moments from the show: https://t.co/j4Mev4FM7R pic.twitter.com/HavrJncDfW
— EntertainmentTonight (@etnow) July 31, 2017