If you want a drama that takes its characters as seriously as its plot, TRL is available on streaming right now. With 13 seasons behind it, the show has had time to find its rhythm and keep it. With 16 viewer ratings on TMDB, this is not a title flying under the radar. The cast brings a seriousness the material deserves. Put it on tonight and see for yourself.

There is a reason TRL keeps coming up in conversation. The writing in TRL treats its characters as people first, plot devices second. Total Request Live was a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continued to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests. The series ran for 13 seasons (1998–2017), building a story that gave its audience time to invest properly. The writing trusts the audience to sit with ambiguity rather than wrapping everything up in a tidy conclusion — it is the approach that separates good drama from great. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

TRL is what you recommend to people who say they do not really watch much. America's Funniest Home Videos is the obvious comparison, but TRL earns its own place alongside it. At 13 seasons, this is a genuine commitment — one that pays off. Every performance here earns its place, lead or not. The patience it asks of you early on is paid back with interest.

TRL wrapped up in 2017 — and 13 seasons are available to watch from start to finish. Find exactly where it's streaming below, and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to track your progress as you go. Just search the name, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers exactly where you left off.