Total Request Live Is Back! Let's Celebrate With the 20 Most 2000s Photos in TRL History

Britney Spears before the Justin Timberlake breakup? We could look at pics like that all day

By Jenna Mullins Jun 25, 2014 9:41 PMTags
'N Sync, TRLTodd Plitt/Getty Images

Sorry if the title is misleading. What we meant to say is that MTV's iconic show Total Request Live is coming back…for one day.

The network announced that on Wednesday, July 2, they will bring back TRL as part of an Ariana Grande countdown special, so it'll actually be called Total Ariana Live. She'll perform her hit single "Problems," but no word yet if Carson Daly or any other former VJ will return. But we're not here to talk about Ariana. Sorry, girl.

We are here to talk about how TRL was the best show of the 2000s. It ran for ten years and ended in 2008, but we will never forget all the amazing moments that show brought us. We got to see Britney Spears before Justin Timberlake broke her heart. We got to see Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez before the Bennifer years. And who can forget the TRL kings: 'N Sync? We haven't forgotten.

And we will never forget. To honor TRL and celebrate the "return" or our beloved MTV show, please press play on the video below and scroll through the most 2000s TRL photos of all time:

1. Britney Spears (2000):

Scott Gries/ImageDirect/Getty Images

Our princess of pop was promoting her life-changing album "Oops...I Did It Again." And she certainly did do it again. And again. And then like, nine more times.

2. Jennifer Lopez and Fred Durst (2000):

Scott Gries/ImageDirect/Getty Images

Because why wouldn't they take a photo together?! This was the 2000s! Nobody knew what was going on.

3. Robert Pattinson (2008):

Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic

He's smoldering. He's angsty. He's wearing a beanie. RPattz appeared on TRL to talk about this little movie that you've probably never heard of: Twilight. It's a shame nothing came from that book series.

4. Miley Cyrus (2008):

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

What frustrates you more: the hot pink newsboy cap or the fact that Miley is still sticking out her tongue (albeit in much dirtier ways)?

5. Destiny's Child (2001):

Theo Wargo/WireImage

"Match your outfits or perish" was the rallying cry of most girl groups back then.

6. Christina Aguilera (2008):

Theo Wargo/WireImage

Diiirty. Also known as her chaps phase.

7. Angelina Jolie (2003):

Theo Wargo/WireImage

Before she became part of Brangelina and people chose Team Jen over Team Angie, she was just Lara Croft, and she was just raiding tombs.

8. Lindsay Lohan (2007):

Scott Gries/Getty Images

As you can probably surmise based on some clues in the photo, this is when LiLo's career started to go downhill. She was either promoting Georgia Rule or I Know Who Killed Me. Either way...not great.

9. 'N Sync (2000):

Linda Rosier/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

This photo of 'N Sync in turtlenecks doing a live web chat on TRL is as early 2000s as you're gonna get.

10. Taylor Swift (2008):

Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images

Peace, Swifty. If only we could reach through the computer screen and tell this innocent young woman: "Stay away from John Mayer. But don't stay away from Jake Gyllenhaal because you'll write a song called 'All Too Well' and it will be amazing."

11. O-Town (2001):

Theo Wargo/WireImage

"Liquid Dreams" was a weird song, you guys.

12. Mariah Carey (2001):

James Devaney/WireImage

Ah, the Glitter years. This was mere days before Mariah was admitted to a hospital citing "extreme exhaustion," which is what they called breakdowns back then.

13. Joe Jonas (2008):

Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic

The Jonas Brothers were the ish back in the late 2000s. And this photo of Joe "the Hot One" Jonas next to a fan experiencing "extreme exhaustion" is one of our all-time favorite things ever.

14. Amanda Bynes (2007):

Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

R.I.P. the cool, normal Amanda Bynes.

15. Brad Pitt (2004):

KMazur/WireImage

Oh, myyy. Brad Pitt hit up TRL with Eric Bana (who is also a smokin' hottie) to promote Troy. Remember when he played AchillesThis might have been when he was filming Mr. & Mrs. Smith...and we all know what that led to.

16. Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey (2000):

Scott Gries/ImageDirect/Getty Images

If they couldn't make it work, then what's the point of even trying?!

17. Backstreet Boys (2005):

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

We knew we'd get in trouble if we had two photos of the 'N Sync boys and zero photos of BSB so...here.

18. Ben Affleck and Carson Daly (2000):

Frank Micelotta/Getty Images

This was Ben pre-Gigli but post-Armageddon. So basically the only thing of note is that hair.

19. The TRL Poster (2000):

Scott Gries/ImageDirect/Getty Images

Just look at this thing! It's the early 2000s in one photo. Britney! JLo! Sean "Puffy" Combs! And...the Goo Goo Dolls? Mmmkay.

20. Britney Spears (2003):

KMazur/WireImage

Yeah, we have two photos of Britney Spears. What of it? You can't talk about TRL without at least two photos of Britney, and this was when she was totally "In the Zone" so...#sorrynotsorry

TRL, we will never forget everything you did for teenagers in the 2000s. So please return to our small screens and bring your magic back to the youths of the world, because kids today are just the worst.

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