April 12 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Jim Gary's "Twentieth Century Dinosaurs" exhibition opens at…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 43 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined April 12 across the 1990s.
Jim Gary's "Twentieth Century Dinosaurs" exhibition opens at the Smithsonian Ins…
Jim Gary's "Twentieth Century Dinosaurs" exhibition opens at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. He is the only sculptor ever invited to present a solo exhibition there.
The Euro Disney Resort officially opens with its theme park Euro Disneyland; the…
The Euro Disney Resort officially opens with its theme park Euro Disneyland; the resort and its park's name are subsequently changed to Disneyland Resort Paris.
United States President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving "…
United States President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving "intentionally false statements" in a civil lawsuit; he is later fined and disbarred.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Martin Mull · Tim Allen, Kathy Ireland + 4 more
6 episodes aired on April 12, 1994: "Martin Mull", "Tim Allen, Kathy Ireland", "Ep. #7262", "King Tut's Cobra Staff", and 2 more.
Brett Butler · Mariette Hartley, Patrick Duffy + 3 more
5 episodes aired on April 12, 1995: "Brett Butler", "Mariette Hartley, Patrick Duffy", "Dial 'H' for Murder", "A River Runs Through His Head", and 1 more.
David Alan Grier (guest host), Jon Lovitz · Leila Kenzle + 7 more
9 episodes aired on April 12, 1996: "David Alan Grier (guest host), Jon Lovitz", "Leila Kenzle", "How Many is a Million?", "R & R", and 5 more.
Aerosmith, David Bowie, Live, Henry Rollins Band · Day Ta Day/ Goodfellas + 12 more
14 episodes aired on April 12, 1997: "Aerosmith, David Bowie, Live, Henry Rollins Band", "Day Ta Day/ Goodfellas", "Fresno, CA 2", "Before The Dawn", and 10 more.
Leadership · First Mission + 3 more
5 episodes aired on April 12, 1998: "Leadership", "First Mission", "Imperial Mice of China", "Cry, and You Cry Alone", and 1 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 12 across the decade.
Ilario Bandini, Italian racing driver and businessman (born 1911)…
Ilario Bandini, Italian racing driver and businessman (born 1911)
Boxcar Willie, American singer-songwriter (born 1931)
Boxcar Willie, American singer-songwriter (born 1931)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from April 12 across the 1990s.
Hiroki Sakai, Japanese footballer
Hiroki Sakai, Japanese footballer
Lionel Carole, French professional footballer
Lionel Carole, French professional footballer · Oliver Norwood, English-born Northern Irish international footballer · Jazz Richards, Welsh international footballer
Eric Bailly, Ivorian professional footballer
Eric Bailly, Ivorian professional footballer · Guido Rodríguez, Argentine footballer
Jan Bednarek, Polish footballer
Jan Bednarek, Polish footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Widerøe Flight 839
Widerøe Flight 839 crashes after takeoff from Værøy Airport in Norway, killing five people.
Magnus Pääjärvi
Magnus Pääjärvi, Swedish ice hockey player
Disneyland Park (Paris)
The Euro Disney Resort officially opens with its theme park Euro Disneyland; the resort and its park's name are subsequently changed to Disneyland Resort Paris.
Chad le Clos
Chad le Clos, South African swimmer
Jim Gary's "Twentieth Century Dinosaurs" exhibition opens at the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C. He is the only sculptor ever invited to present a solo exhibition there.
United States President Bill Clinton is cited for contempt of court for giving "intentionally false statements" in a civil lawsuit; he is later fined and disbarred.
During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, an American McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle shoots a passenger train, killing between 20 and 60 people.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Ilario Bandini
Ilario Bandini, Italian racing driver and businessman (born 1911)
Boxcar Willie
Boxcar Willie, American singer-songwriter (born 1931)
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Hiroki Sakai
Hiroki Sakai, Japanese footballer
Lionel Carole
Lionel Carole, French professional footballer
Oliver Norwood
Oliver Norwood, English-born Northern Irish international footballer
Jazz Richards
Jazz Richards, Welsh international footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7262" (Season 1994, Episode 43) aired on 1994-04-12.
All My Children
"Tues Apr 12 1994" (Season 1994, Episode 72) aired on 1994-04-12.
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"King Tut's Cobra Staff" (Season 1, Episode 32) aired on 1994-04-12.
The Good Life
"John's New Assistant" (Season 1, Episode 13) aired on 1994-04-12.
"Mariette Hartley, Patrick Duffy" (Season 1995, Episode 60) aired on 1995-04-12.
"A River Runs Through His Head" (Season 1, Episode 6) aired on 1995-04-12.
"Drew Barrymore, Al Franken, Placido Domingo" (Season 1995, Episode 59) aired on 1995-04-12.
"David Alan Grier (guest host), Jon Lovitz" (Season 1996, Episode 42) aired on 1996-04-12.
"Scene of the Crime" (Season 4, Episode 18) aired on 1996-04-12.
"Tom Brokaw, Blue, Rosanne Cash" (Season 1996, Episode 61) aired on 1996-04-12.
"Aerosmith, David Bowie, Live, Henry Rollins Band" (Season 1997, Episode 14) aired on 1997-04-12.
"Faster Than a Speeding Vixen" (Season 4, Episode 17) aired on 1997-04-12.
"Love! Anger! Kvetching!" (Season 4, Episode 13) aired on 1997-04-12.
"Leadership" (Season 2, Episode 9) aired on 1998-04-12.
"Imperial Mice of China" (Season 1, Episode 13) aired on 1998-04-12.
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 — Blink-182, "What's My Age Again?"
#3 on TRL — Will Smith, "Wild Wild West"
#4 on TRL — Santana, "Smooth"
#5 on TRL — Smash Mouth, "All Star"
#6 on TRL — Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love"
#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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