As part of MTV's "cost-cutting measures" – that PC term thrown around to describe the slashing of 250 jobs – the beleaguered "music" channel is downgrading its flagship afternoon marketing gimmick Total Request Live from a five-day-a-week whoooooo!!!-athon to a two-day-a-week sprint to get something on film.

Two weeks ago, MTV began taping "Total Request Live" two days a week in an effort to save money. After live shows air Monday and Wednesday afternoons, shows are then taped for the following day.

"Total Request Taped"? No, the show's title won't be adjusted for the less-than-live days, spokeswoman Marnie Black said Tuesday.

"We're not editing anything," she said. "We're not changing anything. The spirit of the show is going to be exactly the same."

Of course it is! Well, at least while it's still around.