“TRL” Phone Lines May Have Their Minutes Cut Back

noah | February 15, 2007 5:16 am
73251999.jpg

This week’s layoffs at MTV Networks have only heightened rumors that call-in show TRL is close to the chopping block:

Speculation inside MTV and at the major music labels has been mounting that TRL, a daily afternoon show that has been experiencing declining ratings, will soon be canceled or scaled back to two days a week. The newest fuel for the rumor mill: the fact that much of the staff at TRL’s studio at New York City’s Times Square was laid off late Tuesday, including members of the wardrobe, makeup and technical staff.

This is the first speculation we’ve seen about a possible downscaling of the show, as opposed to an outright cancellation; after all, it’s not like the TRL charts change that much every day, and cutting out three broadcasts a week would open up more timeslots for that lie-detector dating show. Page Six’s speculation that Vanessa Minillo (above, center), one of the show’s hosts, is preparing to wave goodbye to 1515 Broadway come April also adds credence to this theory; after all, does a show really need more than two hosts if it’s only going to be on twice a week?

R.I.P. For MTV’s TRL? [Forbes] Earlier: Is “TRL” Getting Ready For Its Final Countdown?