April 26 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Fifty-five tornadoes break out in the central United States.…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 49 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined April 26 across the 1990s.
Fifty-five tornadoes break out in the central United States. Before the outbreak…
Fifty-five tornadoes break out in the central United States. Before the outbreak's end, Andover, Kansas, would record the year's only F5 tornado.
The Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on mission STS-55 to conduct experiments …
The Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on mission STS-55 to conduct experiments aboard the Spacelab module.
China Airlines Flight 140 crashes at Nagoya Airport in Japan, killing 264 of the…
China Airlines Flight 140 crashes at Nagoya Airport in Japan, killing 264 of the 271 people on board.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Fran Drescher · Ed McMahon, Tracy Scoggins + 2 more
4 episodes aired on April 26, 1994: "Fran Drescher", "Ed McMahon, Tracy Scoggins", "Mandela", "Joan Lunden, Gin Blossoms, Michael Moore".
Dylan McDermott · Bruce Jenner, Kris Jenner + 2 more
4 episodes aired on April 26, 1995: "Dylan McDermott", "Bruce Jenner, Kris Jenner", "There All the Honor Lies", "Kathie Lee Gifford, David Copperfield".
Dennis Miller · quadriplegic therapy + 7 more
9 episodes aired on April 26, 1996: "Dennis Miller", "quadriplegic therapy", "I Was a Teenage Spy", "Avatar", and 5 more.
Jimi Hendrix · Escape From the Plant of the Apes + 13 more
15 episodes aired on April 26, 1997: "Jimi Hendrix", "Escape From the Plant of the Apes", "Owner of the Space Needle", "Warren G/ 702/ Nu Flavor", and 11 more.
Diligence · Outback Down Under (aka Down Under Plunder) + 11 more
13 episodes aired on April 26, 1998: "Diligence", "Outback Down Under (aka Down Under Plunder)", "Disney's Animal Kingdom: The First Adventure", "Unforgiven: In Your House", and 9 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 26 across the decade.
Adrian Borland, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1957)…
Adrian Borland, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1957)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from April 26 across the 1990s.
Jonathan dos Santos, Mexican footballer
Jonathan dos Santos, Mexican footballer · Joey Wendle, American baseball player
Aaron Judge, American baseball player
Aaron Judge, American baseball player · Delon Wright, American basketball player
Odysseas Vlachodimos, Greek international footballer
Odysseas Vlachodimos, Greek international footballer
Jordan Pefok, American footballer
Jordan Pefok, American footballer
Calvin Verdonk, Indonesian footballer
Calvin Verdonk, Indonesian footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
1991 Great Plains tornado outbreak
Fifty-five tornadoes break out in the central United States. Before the outbreak's end, Andover, Kansas, would record the year's only F5 tornado.
Read more →
All My Children
"Tues Apr 26 1994" (Season 1994, Episode 82) aired on 1994-04-26.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Mitch Rein
Mitch Rein, Australian rugby league player
1991 Great Plains tornado outbreak
Fifty-five tornadoes break out in the central United States. Before the outbreak's end, Andover, Kansas, would record the year's only F5 tornado.
Peter Handscomb
Peter Handscomb, Australian cricketer
Isaac Liu
Isaac Liu, New Zealand rugby league player
Richard Hatfield, Canadian lawyer and politician, 26th Premier of New Brunswick (born 1931)
The Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on mission STS-55 to conduct experiments aboard the Spacelab module.
China Airlines Flight 140 crashes at Nagoya Airport in Japan, killing 264 of the 271 people on board.
South Africa begins its first multiracial election, which is won by Nelson Mandela's African National Congress.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Adrian Borland
Adrian Borland, English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer (born 1957)
Wikipedia →On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Jonathan dos Santos
Jonathan dos Santos, Mexican footballer
Joey Wendle
Joey Wendle, American baseball player
Aaron Judge
Aaron Judge, American baseball player
Delon Wright
Delon Wright, American basketball player
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
All My Children
"Tues Apr 26 1994" (Season 1994, Episode 82) aired on 1994-04-26.
Frontline
"Mandela" (Season 1994, Episode 8) aired on 1994-04-26.
The Late Show with David Letterman
"Joan Lunden, Gin Blossoms, Michael Moore" (Season 1994, Episode 64) aired on 1994-04-26.
All My Children
"Wed Apr 26 1995" (Season 1995, Episode 83) aired on 1995-04-26.
"Kathie Lee Gifford, David Copperfield" (Season 1995, Episode 69) aired on 1995-04-26.
"Map of the Heart" (Season 4, Episode 19) aired on 1996-04-26.
"Dana Carvey, Robin Quivers, Afghan Wigs" (Season 1996, Episode 66) aired on 1996-04-26.
"Escape From the Plant of the Apes" (Season 1, Episode 21) aired on 1997-04-26.
"Voice from the Past" (Season 4, Episode 19) aired on 1997-04-26.
"Out of the Wood Work: Svengoolie Salutes Ed Wood" (Season 3, Episode 11) aired on 1997-04-26.
"Diligence" (Season 2, Episode 11) aired on 1998-04-26.
"Outback Down Under (aka Down Under Plunder)" (Season 1, Episode 17) aired on 1998-04-26.
"Disney's Animal Kingdom: The First Adventure" (Season 42, Episode 27) aired on 1998-04-26.
"Unforgiven: In Your House" (Season 1998, Episode 4) aired on 1998-04-26.
"Tennessee Williams: Wounded Genius" (Season 1998, Episode 33) aired on 1998-04-26.
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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