April 2 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Rita Johnston becomes the first female Premier of a Canadian…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 52 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined April 2 across the 1990s.
Rita Johnston becomes the first female Premier of a Canadian province when she s…
Rita Johnston becomes the first female Premier of a Canadian province when she succeeds William Vander Zalm (who had resigned) as Premier of British Columbia.
In New York, Mafia boss John Gotti is convicted of murder and racketeering and i…
In New York, Mafia boss John Gotti is convicted of murder and racketeering and is later sentenced to life in prison.
Betty Furness, American actress, consumer advocate, game show panelist, televisi…
Betty Furness, American actress, consumer advocate, game show panelist, television journalist and television personality (born 1916)
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Stewart Copeland (host), Rod Stewart · Tutto dalle Mandalore – Everything from Almonds + 7 more
9 episodes aired on April 2, 1994: "Stewart Copeland (host), Rod Stewart", "Tutto dalle Mandalore – Everything from Almonds", "Martin Scorsese's Goodgals", "Ralph Tresvant/ Eric Gable/ Justin Warfield", and 5 more.
From Chunk to Hunk · After the Thaw + 4 more
6 episodes aired on April 2, 1995: "From Chunk to Hunk", "After the Thaw", "WrestleMania XI", "Requiem for a Sammy", and 2 more.
Jon Stewart (guest host), Dennis Franz · The Longest Day + 7 more
9 episodes aired on April 2, 1996: "Jon Stewart (guest host), Dennis Franz", "The Longest Day", "Past Imperfect", "Angry Dick", and 5 more.
Wednesday, April 2, 1997 · The Nanny and the Hunk Producer + 10 more
12 episodes aired on April 2, 1997: "Wednesday, April 2, 1997", "The Nanny and the Hunk Producer", "Our Fiftieth Episode", "Jonathan Hollywood", and 8 more.
The One With Rachel's New Dress · Kirby, Dust, Malibu Cop, A Joyful Noise & The Hooded Chair + 6 more
8 episodes aired on April 2, 1998: "The One With Rachel's New Dress", "Kirby, Dust, Malibu Cop, A Joyful Noise & The Hooded Chair", "On My Honor", "Pilot", and 4 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.
Santana's "Smooth" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Smash Mouth's "All Star" 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.
Will Smith's "Wild Wild West" 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.
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.
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.
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.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on April 2 across the decade.
Quavo, American rapper
Quavo, American rapper
Zach Bryan, American singer-songwriter
Zach Bryan, American singer-songwriter
Rob Pilatus, American-German singer-songwriter (born 1965)
Rob Pilatus, American-German singer-songwriter (born 1965)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from April 2 across the 1990s.
Miralem Pjanić, Bosnian footballer
Miralem Pjanić, Bosnian footballer · Amr El Solia, Egyptian footballer
Juanito, Spanish footballer and manager (born 1954)
Juanito, Spanish footballer and manager (born 1954)
Bruno Zuculini, Argentine footballer
Bruno Zuculini, Argentine footballer
Pascal Siakam, Cameroonian basketball player
Pascal Siakam, Cameroonian basketball player
Zack Steffen, American soccer player
Zack Steffen, American soccer player
André Onana, Cameroonian footballer
André Onana, Cameroonian footballer
Abdelhak Nouri, Dutch footballer
Abdelhak Nouri, Dutch footballer · Austin Riley, American baseball player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
New York (state)
In New York, Mafia boss John Gotti is convicted of murder and racketeering and is later sentenced to life in prison.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Evgeniya Kanaeva
Yevgeniya Kanayeva, Russian gymnast
New York (state)
In New York, Mafia boss John Gotti is convicted of murder and racketeering and is later sentenced to life in prison.
Bijeljina massacre
Forty-two civilians are massacred in the town of Bijeljina in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Jan van Aartsen
Jan van Aartsen, Dutch politician (born 1909)
Rita Johnston becomes the first female Premier of a Canadian province when she succeeds William Vander Zalm (who had resigned) as Premier of British Columbia.
Betty Furness, American actress, consumer advocate, game show panelist, television journalist and television personality (born 1916)
Hannes Alfvén, Swedish physicist and engineer, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1908)
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Quavo
Quavo, American rapper
Zach Bryan
Zach Bryan, American singer-songwriter
Rob Pilatus
Rob Pilatus, American-German singer-songwriter (born 1965)
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Miralem Pjanić
Miralem Pjanić, Bosnian footballer
Amr El Solia
Amr El Solia, Egyptian footballer
Juanito (footballer, born 1954)
Juanito, Spanish footballer and manager (born 1954)
Bruno Zuculini
Bruno Zuculini, Argentine footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Ciao Italia
"Tutto dalle Mandalore – Everything from Almonds" (Season 5, Episode 13) aired on 1994-04-02.
Almost Live
"Martin Scorsese's Goodgals" (Season 10, Episode 20) aired on 1994-04-02.
Soul Train
"Ralph Tresvant/ Eric Gable/ Justin Warfield" (Season 23, Episode 24) aired on 1994-04-02.
Cops
"El Paso, TX #7" (Season 6, Episode 32) aired on 1994-04-02.
"Stewart Copeland (host), Rod Stewart" (Season 1994, Episode 12) aired on 1994-04-02.
"The Tale of the Quicksilver" (Season 3, Episode 11) aired on 1994-04-02.
"Target: Jimmy Olsen!" (Season 2, Episode 19) aired on 1995-04-02.
"The Uncivil War; Rodman; The American Singapore" (Season 1, Episode 1) aired on 1995-04-02.
"Jon Stewart (guest host), Dennis Franz" (Season 1996, Episode 35) aired on 1996-04-02.
"The Diet Mug Root Beer Dana Carvey Show" (Season 1, Episode 4) aired on 1996-04-02.
"Bill Cosby, Anfernee Hardaway, Ray Wold" (Season 1996, Episode 53) aired on 1996-04-02.
"Wednesday April 02 1997" (Season 25, Episode 67) aired on 1997-04-02.
"Dan Akroyd, David Kruithoff, Cyndi Lauper" (Season 1997, Episode 52) aired on 1997-04-02.
"Kirby, Dust, Malibu Cop, A Joyful Noise & The Hooded Chair" (Season 2, Episode 8) aired on 1998-04-02.
"Mimi Rogers" (Season 1998, Episode 46) aired on 1998-04-02.
"Tom Brokaw, Ice Cube, Natalie Imbruglia" (Season 1998, Episode 51) aired on 1998-04-02.
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 — Santana, "Smooth"
#3 on TRL — Smash Mouth, "All Star"
#4 on TRL — Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love"
#5 on TRL — Will Smith, "Wild Wild West"
#6 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#7 on TRL — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#8 on TRL — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#9 on TRL — Savage Garden, "I Want You"
#10 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
By Year
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