April 16 across the 1990s: TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, 35 episodes were airing across the dial, and the music world had stories to tell. Here's the full picture, year by year.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Levon Helm and Rick Danko (hosts), The Band, Robert Cray, Us3 · Little Rock, AR #2 + 4 more
6 episodes aired on April 16, 1994: "Levon Helm and Rick Danko (hosts), The Band, Robert Cray, Us3", "Little Rock, AR #2", "The Tale of the Dangerous Soup", "The One After the Earthquake", and 2 more.
Walt Disney World's Happy Easter Parade · The PTA Disbands + 3 more
5 episodes aired on April 16, 1995: "Walt Disney World's Happy Easter Parade", "The PTA Disbands", "Individual Responsibility", "The Unknown Jesus", and 1 more.
Peter Tilden (guest host), Jason Alexander · Money Talks + 1 more
3 episodes aired on April 16, 1996: "Peter Tilden (guest host), Jason Alexander", "Money Talks", "Bombing of America".
Wednesday, April 16, 1997 · Vegas Finale + 5 more
7 episodes aired on April 16, 1997: "Wednesday, April 16, 1997", "Vegas Finale", "The Bet", "Keith Olbermann", and 3 more.
William Shatner, Kathy Griffin, Lionel Hampton · The One With All the Wedding Dresses + 4 more
6 episodes aired on April 16, 1998: "William Shatner, Kathy Griffin, Lionel Hampton", "The One With All the Wedding Dresses", "Amblushed", "Gut Reaction", and 2 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.
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.
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.
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 16 across the decade.
Chance the Rapper, American rapper
Chance the Rapper, American rapper
Skip Spence, Canadian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1946)…
Skip Spence, Canadian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1946)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from April 16 across the 1990s.
Reggie Jackson, American basketball player
Reggie Jackson, American basketball player · Vangelis Mantzaris, Greek basketball player
Nolan Arenado, American baseball player
Nolan Arenado, American baseball player · Kim Kyung-jung, South Korean footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Reggie Jackson (basketball, born 1990)
Reggie Jackson, American basketball player
Read more →
David Lean
David Lean, English director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1908)
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Tony McQuay
Tony McQuay, American sprinter
David Lean
David Lean, English director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1908)
Brian Poe Llamanzares
Brian Poe Llamanzares, Filipino journalist and politician
Neville Brand
Neville Brand, American actor (born 1920)
Alberto Calderón, Argentinian-American mathematician and academic (born 1920)
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Chance the Rapper
Chance the Rapper, American rapper
Skip Spence
Skip Spence, Canadian-American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1946)
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Reggie Jackson (basketball, born 1990)
Reggie Jackson, American basketball player
Vangelis Mantzaris
Vangelis Mantzaris, Greek basketball player
Nolan Arenado
Nolan Arenado, American baseball player
Kim Kyung-jung
Kim Kyung-jung, South Korean footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Cops
"Little Rock, AR #2" (Season 6, Episode 34) aired on 1994-04-16.
Are You Afraid of the Dark?
"The Tale of the Dangerous Soup" (Season 3, Episode 13) aired on 1994-04-16.
Nurses
"The One After the Earthquake" (Season 3, Episode 20) aired on 1994-04-16.
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man
"Ride the High School" (Season 1, Episode 6) aired on 1994-04-16.
"Levon Helm and Rick Danko (hosts), The Band, Robert Cray, Us3" (Season 1994, Episode 14) aired on 1994-04-16.
"Emilio Estevez / Pearl Jam" (Season 19, Episode 18) aired on 1994-04-16.
"Walt Disney World's Happy Easter Parade" (Season 39, Episode 11) aired on 1995-04-16.
"Individual Responsibility" (Season 2, Episode 20) aired on 1995-04-16.
"Peter Tilden (guest host), Jason Alexander" (Season 1996, Episode 43) aired on 1996-04-16.
"Wednesday April 16 1997" (Season 25, Episode 77) aired on 1997-04-16.
"Keith Olbermann" (Season 1997, Episode 50) aired on 1997-04-16.
"William Shatner, Kathy Griffin, Lionel Hampton" (Season 1998, Episode 6) aired on 1998-04-16.
"Denis Leary" (Season 1998, Episode 50) aired on 1998-04-16.
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 — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#3 on TRL — Blink-182, "What's My Age Again?"
#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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