January 20 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Sudan's government imposes Islamic law nationwide, worsening…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 87 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined January 20 across the 1990s.
Sudan's government imposes Islamic law nationwide, worsening the civil war betwe…
Sudan's government imposes Islamic law nationwide, worsening the civil war between the country's Muslim north and Christian south.
Air Inter Flight 148, an Airbus A320-111, crashes into a mountain near Strasbour…
Air Inter Flight 148, an Airbus A320-111, crashes into a mountain near Strasbourg, France, killing 87 of the 96 people on board.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Ep. #7204 · Jan 20 1994 + 5 more
7 episodes aired on January 20, 1994: "Ep. #7204", "Jan 20 1994", "Oh, Give Me a Home Where the Mathers Don't Roam", "Can't Buy Me Love", and 3 more.
Wayne Gretsky · Long Way to Morning + 8 more
10 episodes aired on January 20, 1995: "Wayne Gretsky", "Long Way to Morning", "Ep. #7454", "Jan 20 1995", and 6 more.
Carly Simon, Duran Duran, Des'ree · Regali dalla Cucina - Gifts From the Kitchen + 18 more
20 episodes aired on January 20, 1996: "Carly Simon, Duran Duran, Des'ree", "Regali dalla Cucina - Gifts From the Kitchen", "Power of Babble", "Immaculate Man", and 16 more.
Little Bo Peep · Here She Comes... Miss Amphipolis + 15 more
17 episodes aired on January 20, 1997: "Little Bo Peep", "Here She Comes... Miss Amphipolis", "Friend", "Jan 20 1997", and 13 more.
Bear's Birthday Bash · January 20 1998 + 11 more
13 episodes aired on January 20, 1998: "Bear's Birthday Bash", "January 20 1998", "Innocence", "An Older Woman", and 9 more.
TRL Countdown — 1999
Total Request Live was the center of the pop universe. Teens were burning up the phone lines to vote, and the countdown from Times Square was the most-watched 30 minutes on MTV.
The reigning #1 — retired from the countdown after an extended run at the top.
Eminem's "My Name Is" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Korn's "Freak On A Leash" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Britney Spears's "...Baby One More Time" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
*NSYNC's "I Drive Myself Crazy" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Sugar Ray's "Every Morning" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Limp Bizkit's "Nookie" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
98 Degrees's "The Hardest Thing" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on January 20 across the decade.
Cat Janice, American singer-songwriter (died 2024)
Cat Janice, American singer-songwriter (died 2024)
Joey Badass, American rapper and actor
Joey Badass, American rapper and actor
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from January 20 across the 1990s.
Tom Cairney, Scottish footballer
Tom Cairney, Scottish footballer
Lorenzo Crisetig, Italian footballer
Lorenzo Crisetig, Italian footballer · DeVante Parker, American football player
Seán Kavanagh, Irish footballer
Seán Kavanagh, Irish footballer · Lucas Piazon, Brazilian footballer · Matt Busby, Scottish footballer and coach (born 1909)
Calum Chambers, English footballer
Calum Chambers, English footballer · José María Giménez, Uruguayan footballer · Sergi Samper, Spanish footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Black January
Protests in Azerbaijan, part of the Dissolution of the Soviet Union.
Barbara Stanwyck
Barbara Stanwyck, American actress (born 1907)
Sudan
Sudan's government imposes Islamic law nationwide, worsening the civil war between the country's Muslim north and Christian south.
Ciara Hanna
Ciara Hanna, American actress and model
Air Inter Flight 148, an Airbus A320-111, crashes into a mountain near Strasbourg, France, killing 87 of the 96 people on board.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Cat Janice
Cat Janice, American singer-songwriter (died 2024)
Joey Badass
Joey Badass, American rapper and actor
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Tom Cairney
Tom Cairney, Scottish footballer
Lorenzo Crisetig
Lorenzo Crisetig, Italian footballer
DeVante Parker
DeVante Parker, American football player
Lucas Piazon
Lucas Piazon, Brazilian footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
The Young and the Restless
"Thursday January 20 1994" (Season 5, Episode 14) aired on 1994-01-20.
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7204" (Season 1994, Episode 6) aired on 1994-01-20.
All My Children
"Thurs Jan 20 1994" (Season 1994, Episode 14) aired on 1994-01-20.
General Hospital
"Thurs Jan 20 1994" (Season 1994, Episode 14) aired on 1994-01-20.
"Oh, Give Me a Home Where the Mathers Don't Roam" (Season 5, Episode 13) aired on 1994-01-20.
"Demi Moore, Willie Nelson & Shelby Lynne, Al Franken" (Season 1994, Episode 14) aired on 1994-01-20.
"Mike Myers, Courteney Cox, Placido Domingo" (Season 1995, Episode 15) aired on 1995-01-20.
"Carly Simon, Duran Duran, Des'ree" (Season 1996, Episode 3) aired on 1996-01-20.
"Regali dalla Cucina - Gifts From the Kitchen" (Season 7, Episode 3) aired on 1996-01-20.
"If You Love Someone" (Season 4, Episode 15) aired on 1996-01-20.
"A Special Bond" (Season 3, Episode 13) aired on 1996-01-20.
"The Tale of the Vacant Lot" (Season 5, Episode 9) aired on 1996-01-20.
"Grandma-ma's Flatulent Adventure" (Season 3, Episode 3) aired on 1996-01-20.
"Alec Baldwin / Tori Amos" (Season 21, Episode 11) aired on 1996-01-20.
"Here She Comes... Miss Amphipolis" (Season 2, Episode 11) aired on 1997-01-20.
"The Richest Man in the World: Andrew Carnegie" (Season 9, Episode 5) aired on 1997-01-20.
"Grime and Punishment" (Season 11, Episode 12) aired on 1997-01-20.
"Sydney Barrows" (Season 1997, Episode 9) aired on 1997-01-20.
"Bear's Birthday Bash" (Season 2, Episode 12) aired on 1998-01-20.
"Tuesday January 20 1998" (Season 27, Episode 34) aired on 1998-01-20.
"Tuesday Janaury 20 1998" (Season 1998, Episode 13) aired on 1998-01-20.
"Wednesday January 20 1998" (Season 1998, Episode 18) aired on 1998-01-20.
"Alexander Chaplin" (Season 1998, Episode 10) aired on 1998-01-20.
Total Request Live had teenagers calling in around the clock. Here's what was charting:
The #1 most requested video on TRL on this date in 1999
#2 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#3 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#4 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#5 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#6 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#7 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#8 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
#9 on TRL — Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor"
#10 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
By Year
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