April 23 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Namibia becomes the 160th member of the United Nations and t…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 44 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined April 23 across the 1990s.
Namibia becomes the 160th member of the United Nations and the 50th member of th…
Namibia becomes the 160th member of the United Nations and the 50th member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Tanka Prasad Acharya, Nepalese politician, 27th Prime Minister of Nepal (born 19…
Tanka Prasad Acharya, Nepalese politician, 27th Prime Minister of Nepal (born 1912)
Eritreans vote overwhelmingly for independence from Ethiopia in a United Nations…
Eritreans vote overwhelmingly for independence from Ethiopia in a United Nations-monitored referendum.
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, Canadian farmer and politician, 13th Premier of Manitoba…
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, Canadian farmer and politician, 13th Premier of Manitoba (born 1895)
Konstantinos Karamanlis, Greek lawyer and politician, 172nd Prime Minister of Gr…
Konstantinos Karamanlis, Greek lawyer and politician, 172nd Prime Minister of Greece (born 1907)
NATO bombs the headquarters of Radio Television of Serbia, as part of their aeri…
NATO bombs the headquarters of Radio Television of Serbia, as part of their aerial campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Nirvana · A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney In A Dark Alley... + 5 more
7 episodes aired on April 23, 1994: "Nirvana", "A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney In A Dark Alley...", "Music to My Ears", "Sacramento, CA #9", and 3 more.
All the Duke's Men · The Boy Who Would Be Terrian King
2 episodes aired on April 23, 1995: "All the Duke's Men", "The Boy Who Would Be Terrian King".
George Wallace (guest host), Jerry Seinfeld · Joseph Marcell + 6 more
8 episodes aired on April 23, 1996: "George Wallace (guest host), Jerry Seinfeld", "Joseph Marcell", "Dick Like Me", "Episode 913H", and 4 more.
Wednesday, April 23, 1997 · Japanese American Home Movies + 8 more
10 episodes aired on April 23, 1997: "Wednesday, April 23, 1997", "Japanese American Home Movies", "No Muse is Good Muse", "Real Life", and 6 more.
Thurs Apr 23 198 · The One With the Invitation + 8 more
10 episodes aired on April 23, 1998: "Thurs Apr 23 198", "The One With the Invitation", "The Emperor", "Total Security", and 6 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.
Britney Spears's "...Baby One More Time" 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.
*NSYNC's "I Drive Myself Crazy" 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.
98 Degrees's "The Hardest Thing" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Brandy & Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" 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.
Kid Rock's "Bawitdaba" 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 23 across the decade.
Caleb Johnson, American singer-songwriter
Caleb Johnson, American singer-songwriter · Johnny Thunders, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1952)
Song Kang, South Korean actor
Song Kang, South Korean actor
Thanassis Skordalos, Greek singer-songwriter and lyra player (born 1920)…
Thanassis Skordalos, Greek singer-songwriter and lyra player (born 1920)
Son Chaeyoung, South Korean rapper and singer-songwriter
Son Chaeyoung, South Korean rapper and singer-songwriter · Laufey, Icelandic singer-songwriter and musician
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from April 23 across the 1990s.
Rui Fonte, Portuguese footballer
Rui Fonte, Portuguese footballer
Nathan Baker, English footballer
Nathan Baker, English footballer · Kyle Juszczyk, American football player
Patrick Olsen, Danish footballer
Patrick Olsen, Danish footballer
Denis Compton, English cricketer and footballer (born 1918)
Denis Compton, English cricketer and footballer (born 1918)
Full Events Archive
Highlights
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Namibia
Namibia becomes the 160th member of the United Nations and the 50th member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Dev Patel
Dev Patel, English actor
Paulette Goddard
Paulette Goddard, American actress (born 1910)
Britt Baker
Britt Baker, American professional wrestler
Tanka Prasad Acharya, Nepalese politician, 27th Prime Minister of Nepal (born 1912)
Eritreans vote overwhelmingly for independence from Ethiopia in a United Nations-monitored referendum.
Sri Lankan politician Lalith Athulathmudali is assassinated while addressing a gathering, approximately four weeks ahead of the Provincial Council elections for the Western Province.
Douglas Lloyd Campbell, Canadian farmer and politician, 13th Premier of Manitoba (born 1895)
Konstantinos Karamanlis, Greek lawyer and politician, 172nd Prime Minister of Greece (born 1907)
NATO bombs the headquarters of Radio Television of Serbia, as part of their aerial campaign against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Caleb Johnson
Caleb Johnson, American singer-songwriter
Johnny Thunders
Johnny Thunders, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1952)
Song Kang
Song Kang, South Korean actor
Thanassis Skordalos
Thanassis Skordalos, Greek singer-songwriter and lyra player (born 1920)
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Rui Fonte
Rui Fonte, Portuguese footballer
Nathan Baker
Nathan Baker, English footballer
Kyle Juszczyk
Kyle Juszczyk, American football player
Denis Compton
Denis Compton, English cricketer and footballer (born 1918)
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Almost Live
"A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney In A Dark Alley..." (Season 10, Episode 22) aired on 1994-04-23.
Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego?
"Music to My Ears" (Season 1, Episode 8) aired on 1994-04-23.
Cops
"Sacramento, CA #9" (Season 6, Episode 35) aired on 1994-04-23.
Nurses
"The Big Jack Attack" (Season 3, Episode 21) aired on 1994-04-23.
"George Wallace (guest host), Jerry Seinfeld" (Season 1996, Episode 47) aired on 1996-04-23.
"27th Annual NAACP Image Awards" (Season 1996, Episode 1) aired on 1996-04-23.
"The Szechuan Dynasty Dana Carvey Show" (Season 1, Episode 6) aired on 1996-04-23.
"Mia Farrow, Janeane Garofalo, Hootie & the Blowfish" (Season 1996, Episode 63) aired on 1996-04-23.
"Wednesday April 23 1997" (Season 25, Episode 82) aired on 1997-04-23.
"Japanese American Home Movies" (Season 1, Episode 5) aired on 1997-04-23.
"Cathy Moriarty" (Season 1997, Episode 54) aired on 1997-04-23.
"Tony Randall, Steven Weber, Wilco" (Season 1997, Episode 62) aired on 1997-04-23.
"Johnny Galecki" (Season 1998, Episode 54) aired on 1998-04-23.
"Ricki Lake, Vaughn Cordle, Rita Wilson" (Season 1998, Episode 61) aired on 1998-04-23.
"Episode dated 23 April 1998" (Season 1998, Episode 6) aired on 1998-04-23.
The digital revolution was just getting started:
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 — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#3 on TRL — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#4 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#5 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#6 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
#7 on TRL — Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor"
#8 on TRL — Brandy & Monica, "The Boy Is Mine"
#9 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#10 on TRL — Kid Rock, "Bawitdaba"
By Year
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