March 5 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Palair Macedonian Airlines Flight 301 crashes at Skopje Inte…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 54 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined March 5 across the 1990s.
Palair Macedonian Airlines Flight 301 crashes at Skopje International Airport in…
Palair Macedonian Airlines Flight 301 crashes at Skopje International Airport in Petrovec, North Macedonia, killing 83.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Susan Batten and James DePaiva (hosts) · Zuppe Fatte in Casa - Homemade Soups + 9 more
11 episodes aired on March 5, 1994: "Susan Batten and James DePaiva (hosts)", "Zuppe Fatte in Casa - Homemade Soups", "Moondreams", "Lisette Melendez/ Intro/ Gangstarr", and 7 more.
Sherman, Woman and Child · Children at weddings; kayaker gaffe + 6 more
8 episodes aired on March 5, 1995: "Sherman, Woman and Child", "Children at weddings; kayaker gaffe", "Grendlers in the Myst", "The Ugly Gruntling", and 4 more.
Marlin Fitzwater · Legend of the Blues + 4 more
6 episodes aired on March 5, 1996: "Marlin Fitzwater", "Legend of the Blues", "backstage at Wheel of Fortune", "The Bud Bowl", and 2 more.
Ep. #7988 · Wednesday, March 5, 1997 + 12 more
14 episodes aired on March 5, 1997: "Ep. #7988", "Wednesday, March 5, 1997", "The Facts of Lice", "The Devil and Maya Gallo", and 10 more.
Ep. #2748 · The Secret of Bluestem + 5 more
7 episodes aired on March 5, 1998: "Ep. #2748", "The Secret of Bluestem", "Infiltrations", "Deadly Parasites", and 3 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.
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.
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.
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.
Santana's "Smooth" 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.
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.
Blink-182's "What's My Age Again?" 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.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on March 5 across the decade.
Vivian Stanshall, English singer-songwriter and musician (born 1943)…
Vivian Stanshall, English singer-songwriter and musician (born 1943)
Madison Beer, American singer-songwriter
Madison Beer, American singer-songwriter
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from March 5 across the 1990s.
Danny Drinkwater, English footballer
Danny Drinkwater, English footballer · Mason Plumlee, American basketball player · Alex Smithies, English footballer
Ramiro Funes Mori, Argentine footballer
Ramiro Funes Mori, Argentine footballer
El Hadji Ba, French footballer
El Hadji Ba, French footballer · Fred, Brazilian footballer · Ahmed Hassan, Egyptian footballer · Harry Maguire, English footballer · Kyle Schwarber, American baseball player
Emmanuel Mudiay, Congolese-American basketball player
Emmanuel Mudiay, Congolese-American basketball player
Bo Bichette, American baseball player
Bo Bichette, American baseball player
Justin Fields, American football player
Justin Fields, American football player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela Flight 109
Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela Flight 109 crashes in Venezuela, killing 45.
Read more →Ciao Italia
"Zuppe Fatte in Casa - Homemade Soups" (Season 5, Episode 9) aired on 1994-03-05.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Gary Merrill
Gary Merrill, American actor and director (born 1915)
Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela Flight 109
Aeropostal Alas de Venezuela Flight 109 crashes in Venezuela, killing 45.
Daniil Trifonov
Daniil Trifonov, Russian pianist and composer
Sam Bankman-Fried
Sam Bankman-Fried, American businessman and fraudster
Palair Macedonian Airlines Flight 301 crashes at Skopje International Airport in Petrovec, North Macedonia, killing 83.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Vivian Stanshall
Vivian Stanshall, English singer-songwriter and musician (born 1943)
Madison Beer
Madison Beer, American singer-songwriter
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Danny Drinkwater
Danny Drinkwater, English footballer
Mason Plumlee
Mason Plumlee, American basketball player
Alex Smithies
Alex Smithies, English footballer
Ramiro Funes Mori
Ramiro Funes Mori, Argentine footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Ciao Italia
"Zuppe Fatte in Casa - Homemade Soups" (Season 5, Episode 9) aired on 1994-03-05.
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?
"Moondreams" (Season 1, Episode 4) aired on 1994-03-05.
Soul Train
"Lisette Melendez/ Intro/ Gangstarr" (Season 23, Episode 20) aired on 1994-03-05.
Cops
"El Paso, TX #5" (Season 6, Episode 29) aired on 1994-03-05.
"Susan Batten and James DePaiva (hosts)" (Season 1994, Episode 8) aired on 1994-03-05.
"The Tale of the Guardian's Curse" (Season 3, Episode 8) aired on 1994-03-05.
"Children at weddings; kayaker gaffe" (Season 6, Episode 19) aired on 1995-03-05.
"Stevie Ray Vaughan: A Retrospective" (Season 20, Episode 8) aired on 1995-03-05.
"The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards" (Season 1995, Episode 1) aired on 1995-03-05.
"Nathan Lane, Steven Wright, Jann Arden" (Season 1996, Episode 41) aired on 1996-03-05.
"The Belligerent Waitress and the Surly Fry Cook" (Season 1, Episode 8) aired on 1997-03-05.
"Man's Best Same Sex Companion" (Season 2, Episode 19) aired on 1997-03-05.
"Sports Illustrated: Swimsuit 1997" (Season 1997, Episode 1) aired on 1997-03-05.
"Jackie Collins" (Season 1997, Episode 31) aired on 1997-03-05.
"Chevy Chase, Mary McCormack, Phish" (Season 1997, Episode 40) aired on 1997-03-05.
"Siskel & Ebert, Karl Malone, Mark Chesnutt" (Season 1998, Episode 39) aired on 1998-03-05.
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 — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#3 on TRL — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#4 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#5 on TRL — Santana, "Smooth"
#6 on TRL — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#7 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#8 on TRL — Savage Garden, "I Want You"
#9 on TRL — Blink-182, "What's My Age Again?"
#10 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
By Year
Get This in Your Inbox Every Morning
Every day at midnight, a fresh dose of 90s nostalgia hits your inbox — tailored to today's date in the 1990s. Music, news, sports, movies and more.
Browse All Posts →