Published: Monday - November 17, 2008
Words by Miles Bennett
Kid Rock, Carson Daly, Damien Fahey, Nelly and Snoop Dogg toasting at the end of the show (Photo: Getty Images)
Fans and several artist superstars said good bye to MTV's long-running music video countdown on Sunday (November 16) that made the careers of artists like 50 Cent, Beyonce, Good Charlotte and Eminem.
During the "TRL" finale, the show's original host, Carson Daly, chatted with Eminem, Beyonce performed, and 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Nelly, Diddy, and others all made appearances, while fans flocked to Times Square to bid farewell to the pop culture phenomenon known as Total Request Live and watch MTV pull the plug on one of its most influential music franchises.
"I feel like they're kinda tearin' down my home," Eminem said via phone, during an interview with Daly.
"It's a bittersweet moment," Diddy, the show's most frequent guest, said as he cried mock tears from "TRL's" glass-encased studios above Times Square.
"It's a big loss, not having this as a platform to promote our music," 50 Cent also said of the show's end.
Beyonce opened the show with her brand new singles, "If I Were A Boy" and "Single Ladies," but also treated fans to one of her most successful "TRL" songs, "Crazy in Love." 50 Cent performed his smash "In Da Club," and his current hit, "Get Up."
While celebs known that it's the end of an era -- including Daily who said it was "a sad moment" -- fans outside the studios were also nostalgic about "TRL's" finale.
One group of girl's spoke with MTV and revealed that they had driven all the way from San Diego, California to be a part of "TRL's" end. Although they didn't make it up to the studio, they said the trek was worth all the trouble.
"It was an unforgettable moment," one girl told MTV News.
Their enthusiasm comes even though they drove through thunderstorms on a 42-hour drive, and then waited for 10 hours just to be in Times Square for the finale. "We came at, like, 6 in the morning, and no one was here, and then we came back at 1 [p.m.]. It was crazy!" the girls said. "We started crying, 'cause we didn't think we could get in."
They didn't get it, but said, "We were just happy to be here in New York City."
At around 11 p.m. on the east coast, "TRL" came to a close. Daly and most recent host Damien Fahey -- with fans, friends, and celebs surrounding him -- lifted their glasses of champagne, and thanked everyone who's ever appeared or worked on the show for its 10-yea run, then turned to the camera with his glass high in the air, asking: "Why are we stopping this show?"
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