VH1's Emmy Award-Winning "Rock Docs" Franchise Revisits The 10-year Times Square Takeover With "The TRL Decade"

PASADENA, Calif., Jan. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- VH1 will give viewers a chance to relive all the excitement of the screaming fans, unforgettable moments and music-loving Times Square takeover that was mandatory daily viewing for so many with VH1 Rock Docs Presents: "The TRL Decade," premiering January 29 at 9:30PM ET/PT.

"The TRL Decade" takes a fun and provocative look at the iconic MTV video countdown show, "Total Request Live," which aired for 10 years (1998-2008). Beginning as a programming experiment, TRL became a cultural phenomenon, serving as a catalyst for the pop music explosion of the late 1990's and launching the careers of new artists including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and many others. With a track record of dramatically impacting record sales, TRL soon became the "must" stop on every artist's press tour, routinely shutting down Times Square with visits ranging from Michael Jackson to Jay-Z to *N'SYNC to Korn.

While the fun was plentiful, there were serious moments as well. The Backstreet Boys memorably chose the platform to announce bandmate AJ McLean's decision to enter rehab. In an era pre-dating Twitter and Facebook, TRL also became an important forum for both artists and viewers alike to call-in and be heard after the events of 9/11.

This hour-long special features extensive clips and interviews with creators, fans and artists who appeared on the show, including Good Charlotte, Kid Rock, *N'SYNC, Mandy Moore, Nas, Pete Wentz, Korn, Method Man, Lil Jon and others. Former MTV VJs Carson Daly, Damien Fahey, Hilarie Burton, Vanessa Minnillo and La La Anthony also give in-depth interviews and share uncensored moments from the show.

"The TRL Decade" is the newest installment in the Emmy Award-winning VH1 Rock Doc franchise. VH1 Rock Docs are feature-length documentaries that tell unique stories of artists and music from a wide range of genres, styles and musical perspectives. For more information on VH1 Rock Docs go to RockDocs.VH1.com.

"The TRL Decade" is a production of VH1, in association with. Brad Abramson, Stephen Mintz, Shelly Tatro and Jeff Olde are executive producers for VH1. "The TRL Decade" is directed and produced by Academy Award and Emmy Award nominee Lauren Lazin.

VH1 connects viewers to the music, artists and pop culture that matter to them most with TV series, specials, live events, exclusive online content and public affairs initiatives. VH1 is available in 99 million households in the U.S. VH1 also has an array of digital channels and services including VH1Classic, VH1 Soul, VH1 Mobile, and extensive video on VH1.com. Connect with VH1 at VH1.com.

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SOURCE VH1