MTV Is Bringing Back ‘TRL’ With Ariana Grande (For One Day)

Ladies and gentlemen, start preparing your puff paint tees and posters now: MTV’s Total Request Live – better known as TRL — is coming back. (For one day, anyway.)

According to The Hollywood Reporter, MTV is resuscitating the iconic video countdown series on July 2 at 7 p.m. ET for a 30-minute special with “Problem” superstar Ariana Grande broadcast from their Times Square studio — and it’ll be called Total Ariana Live. (See what they did there?)

The show, which will be hosted by Sway Calloway, Mizz Grande will perform both “Problem” and her upcoming Zedd-assisted single “Break Free,” as well as participating in a “Hip Hop Mix Up” game — and a “surprise announcement.” Hmmm. Read more about the special after the jump.

“It’s a huge honor to be able to bring back a show like TRL, I used to love watching it growing up. Can’t wait to celebrate with my loves in Times Square. Might have some surprises too,” Ariana said in a a statement.

TRL was one of the most vital parts of pop music in the pre-YouTube days during its reign from the late ’90’s to ’00’s, responsible for sending legendary acts like Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys and ‘N Sync skyrocketing to superstardom. Seriously, who doesn’t miss watching fangirls shake and cry in the corner of the latest O-Town clip?

It’s too bad that this is only a one time deal, but then again, who knows? With any luck, the show could be a massive success, and the producers might realize that the world still needs the unifying celebration of music videos that was TRL — and they desperately do. Here’s hoping!

Ariana turns 21 today!:

What do you think of the decision to bring back TRL for a day? Let us know in the comments below.

Get an eyeful of even more pop music coverage, from artist interviews to exclusive performances, on Idolator’s YouTube channel.