March 4 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Lennox Sebe, President for life of the South African Bantust…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 61 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined March 4 across the 1990s.
Lennox Sebe, President for life of the South African Bantustan of Ciskei, is ous…
Lennox Sebe, President for life of the South African Bantustan of Ciskei, is ousted from power in a bloodless military coup led by Brigadier Oupa Gqozo.
Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale, English lieutenant and politician, …
Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale, English lieutenant and politician, Secretary of State for the Environment (born 1929)
A derailed train in Weyauwega, Wisconsin (USA) causes the emergency evacuation o…
A derailed train in Weyauwega, Wisconsin (USA) causes the emergency evacuation of 2,300 people for 16 days.
Gay rights: Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc.: The Supreme Court of th…
Gay rights: Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc.: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that federal laws banning on-the-job sexual harassment also apply when both parties are the same sex.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
George Carlin · Ep. #7235 + 3 more
5 episodes aired on March 4, 1994: "George Carlin", "Ep. #7235", "Who Killed Alexander the Great?", "Terms of Estrangement", and 1 more.
Nirvana, Soundgarden, Throneberry · When It Rains + 9 more
11 episodes aired on March 4, 1995: "Nirvana, Soundgarden, Throneberry", "When It Rains", "Digable Planets/ Soul 4 Real/ Trisha Covington", "Prairie House Remodel VIII", and 7 more.
Martin Page · The Prodigal + 8 more
10 episodes aired on March 4, 1996: "Martin Page", "The Prodigal", "Once Around the Block", "Julio is My Dad", and 6 more.
Roseanne-Feld · Ep. #7987 + 11 more
13 episodes aired on March 4, 1997: "Roseanne-Feld", "Ep. #7987", "Tuesday, March 4, 1997", "Back Issues", and 9 more.
Dalmatian Vacation, Part 3: Dearly Beloved · Bakersfield + 11 more
13 episodes aired on March 4, 1998: "Dalmatian Vacation, Part 3: Dearly Beloved", "Bakersfield", "Ep. #2747", "Secrets of the Soul", 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.
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.
Ricky Martin's "Livin' la Vida Loca" 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Santana's "Smooth" 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 March 4 across the decade.
Tomislav Ivčić, Croatian singer-songwriter and politician (born 1953)…
Tomislav Ivčić, Croatian singer-songwriter and politician (born 1953)
AJ Tracey, British rapper and record producer
AJ Tracey, British rapper and record producer
Chlöe Howl, English singer-songwriter
Chlöe Howl, English singer-songwriter
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from March 4 across the 1990s.
American basketball player Hank Gathers dies after collapsing during the semifin…
American basketball player Hank Gathers dies after collapsing during the semifinals of a West Coast Conference tournament game. · Draymond Green, American basketball player · Paddy Madden, Irish footballer · Fran Mérida, Spanish footballer · Hank Gathers, American basketball player (born 1967)
Nick Castellanos, American baseball player
Nick Castellanos, American baseball player · Erik Lamela, Argentine footballer · Bernd Leno, German footballer · Karl Mööl, Estonian footballer · Jared Sullinger, American basketball player
Richard Peniket, English footballer
Richard Peniket, English footballer
Callum Harriott, English footballer
Callum Harriott, English footballer
Michael Gallup, American football player
Michael Gallup, American football player · Antonio Sanabria, Paraguayan footballer · Lukas Webb, Australian rules footballer · John Sauer, American football player, coach, and sportscaster (born 1925)
Matisse Thybulle, Australian-American basketball player
Matisse Thybulle, Australian-American basketball player
Obi Toppin, American basketball player
Obi Toppin, American basketball player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Basketball
American basketball player Hank Gathers dies after collapsing during the semifinals of a West Coast Conference tournament game.
Read more →Tomislav Ivčić
Tomislav Ivčić, Croatian singer-songwriter and politician (born 1953)
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Lennox Sebe
Lennox Sebe, President for life of the South African Bantustan of Ciskei, is ousted from power in a bloodless military coup led by Brigadier Oupa Gqozo.
Andrea Bowen
Andrea Bowen, American actress
Art Babbitt
Art Babbitt, American animator and director (born 1907)
Pare Lorentz
Pare Lorentz, American director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1905)
Nicholas Ridley, Baron Ridley of Liddesdale, English lieutenant and politician, Secretary of State for the Environment (born 1929)
Space Shuttle program: The Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-62.
A derailed train in Weyauwega, Wisconsin (USA) causes the emergency evacuation of 2,300 people for 16 days.
Gay rights: Oncale v. Sundowner Offshore Services, Inc.: The Supreme Court of the United States rules that federal laws banning on-the-job sexual harassment also apply when both parties are the same sex.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Tomislav Ivčić
Tomislav Ivčić, Croatian singer-songwriter and politician (born 1953)
AJ Tracey
AJ Tracey, British rapper and record producer
Chlöe Howl
Chlöe Howl, English singer-songwriter
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Basketball
American basketball player Hank Gathers dies after collapsing during the semifinals of a West Coast Conference tournament game.
Draymond Green
Draymond Green, American basketball player
Paddy Madden
Paddy Madden, Irish footballer
Fran Mérida
Fran Mérida, Spanish footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7235" (Season 1994, Episode 20) aired on 1994-03-04.
All My Children
"Fri Mar 04 1994" (Season 1994, Episode 45) aired on 1994-03-04.
Burke's Law
"Who Killed Alexander the Great?" (Season 1, Episode 6) aired on 1994-03-04.
Picket Fences
"Terms of Estrangement" (Season 2, Episode 16) aired on 1994-03-04.
"Anthony Hopkins, ZZ Top, Dennis Leary" (Season 1994, Episode 41) aired on 1994-03-04.
"Nirvana, Soundgarden, Throneberry" (Season 1995, Episode 8) aired on 1995-03-04.
"When It Rains" (Season 2, Episode 8) aired on 1995-03-04.
"Digable Planets/ Soul 4 Real/ Trisha Covington" (Season 24, Episode 20) aired on 1995-03-04.
"The Wonderful World of Disney: Forty Years of Adventure" (Season 39, Episode 10) aired on 1995-03-04.
"Sarah Jessica Parker, Treat Williams, Cowboy Junkies" (Season 1996, Episode 40) aired on 1996-03-04.
"Carol Alt" (Season 1997, Episode 30) aired on 1997-03-04.
"Robin Quivers, Adam Arkin, James" (Season 1997, Episode 39) aired on 1997-03-04.
"Dalmatian Vacation, Part 3: Dearly Beloved" (Season 2, Episode 53) aired on 1998-03-04.
"Man white-water canoes in pool" (Season 10, Episode 13) aired on 1998-03-04.
"Two Weddings and a Funeral for a Refrigerator" (Season 3, Episode 19) aired on 1998-03-04.
"Helena Bonham Carter, Peter Fonda, Loreena McKennitt" (Season 1998, Episode 38) aired on 1998-03-04.
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 — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#4 on TRL — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#5 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#6 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#7 on TRL — Savage Garden, "I Want You"
#8 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#9 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#10 on TRL — Santana, "Smooth"
By Year
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