February 16 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by A Chicago-bound Amtrak train, the Capitol Limited, collides …, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 65 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined February 16 across the 1990s.
A Chicago-bound Amtrak train, the Capitol Limited, collides with a MARC commuter…
A Chicago-bound Amtrak train, the Capitol Limited, collides with a MARC commuter train bound for Washington, D.C., killing 11 people.
China Airlines Flight 676 crashes into a road and residential area near Chiang K…
China Airlines Flight 676 crashes into a road and residential area near Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in Taiwan, killing all 196 aboard and six more on the ground.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Miserable · The Treasure Map of Jean Lafitte + 2 more
4 episodes aired on February 16, 1994: "Miserable", "The Treasure Map of Jean Lafitte", "Infection", "Regis Philbin, Richard Thompson, Ben Stiller".
Robert Wuhl · Cycle Centaurs + 11 more
13 episodes aired on February 16, 1995: "Robert Wuhl", "Cycle Centaurs", "ice cream sundae recipes", "Ep. #7468", and 9 more.
Ellen DeGeneres · Lindsay Wagner + 7 more
9 episodes aired on February 16, 1996: "Ellen DeGeneres", "Lindsay Wagner", "The Pink Flamingo Kid", "Apocrypha", and 5 more.
Two's a Crowd · Faith + 12 more
14 episodes aired on February 16, 1997: "Two's a Crowd", "Faith", "Animals and cages; bathroom surprises", "Stealing Beauty", and 10 more.
DeVil-Age Elder · Scientific Bear + 10 more
12 episodes aired on February 16, 1998: "DeVil-Age Elder", "Scientific Bear", "Blinded By Love", "Poodle brooch; abusive parrot", and 8 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.
Backstreet Boys's "I Want It That Way" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Jennifer Lopez's "If You Had My Love" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
TLC's "No Scrubs" 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Savage Garden's "I Want You" 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 February 16 across the decade.
The Weeknd, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer
The Weeknd, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer
Ava Max, American singer and songwriter
Ava Max, American singer and songwriter
Denzel Curry, American rapper
Denzel Curry, American rapper
Brownie McGhee, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1915)…
Brownie McGhee, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1915)
Marie Ulven Ringheim, Norwegian singer, songwriter and music producer…
Marie Ulven Ringheim, Norwegian singer, songwriter and music producer
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from February 16 across the 1990s.
Sergio Canales, Spanish footballer
Sergio Canales, Spanish footballer
Nicolai Boilesen, Danish footballer
Nicolai Boilesen, Danish footballer
Federico Bernardeschi, Italian footballer
Federico Bernardeschi, Italian footballer
Ignatius Ganago, Cameroonian footballer
Ignatius Ganago, Cameroonian footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Nicaragua
Nicaraguan Contras leader Enrique Bermúdez is assassinated in Managua.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Keith Haring
Keith Haring, American painter and activist (born 1958)
Nicaragua
Nicaraguan Contras leader Enrique Bermúdez is assassinated in Managua.
Enrique Bermúdez
Enrique Bermúdez, Nicaraguan lieutenant and engineer (born 1932)
Angela Carter
Angela Carter, English novelist, short story writer (born 1940)
A Chicago-bound Amtrak train, the Capitol Limited, collides with a MARC commuter train bound for Washington, D.C., killing 11 people.
China Airlines Flight 676 crashes into a road and residential area near Chiang Kai-shek International Airport in Taiwan, killing all 196 aboard and six more on the ground.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
The Weeknd
The Weeknd, Canadian singer-songwriter and producer
Ava Max
Ava Max, American singer and songwriter
Denzel Curry
Denzel Curry, American rapper
Brownie McGhee
Brownie McGhee, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1915)
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Sergio Canales
Sergio Canales, Spanish footballer
Nicolai Boilesen
Nicolai Boilesen, Danish footballer
Federico Bernardeschi
Federico Bernardeschi, Italian footballer
Ignatius Ganago
Ignatius Ganago, Cameroonian footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
The Critic
"Miserable" (Season 1, Episode 4) aired on 1994-02-16.
All My Children
"Wed Feb 16 1994" (Season 1994, Episode 33) aired on 1994-02-16.
One Life to Live
"Wed Feb 16 1994" (Season 1994, Episode 36) aired on 1994-02-16.
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Treasure Map of Jean Lafitte" (Season 1, Episode 21) aired on 1994-02-16.
"Regis Philbin, Richard Thompson, Ben Stiller" (Season 1994, Episode 29) aired on 1994-02-16.
"Siskel & Ebert, Chico Scimone" (Season 1995, Episode 29) aired on 1995-02-16.
"Teri Hatcher, Jon Stewart" (Season 1996, Episode 29) aired on 1996-02-16.
"Animals and cages; bathroom surprises" (Season 8, Episode 19) aired on 1997-02-16.
"In Your House: Final Four" (Season 1997, Episode 2) aired on 1997-02-16.
"Poodle brooch; abusive parrot" (Season 9, Episode 10) aired on 1998-02-16.
"Heather Locklear, Tom Selleck" (Season 1998, Episode 26) aired on 1998-02-16.
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 — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#3 on TRL — Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love"
#4 on TRL — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#5 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#6 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#7 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#8 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#9 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#10 on TRL — Savage Garden, "I Want You"
By Year
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