April 28 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-39, the first unclas…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 77 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined April 28 across the 1990s.
Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-39, the first unclassified shuttle missi…
Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-39, the first unclassified shuttle mission for the United States Department of Defense.
Former Central Intelligence Agency counterintelligence officer and analyst Aldri…
Former Central Intelligence Agency counterintelligence officer and analyst Aldrich Ames pleads guilty to giving US secrets to the Soviet Union and later Russia.
Whitewater controversy: President Bill Clinton gives a 41⁄2 hour videotaped test…
Whitewater controversy: President Bill Clinton gives a 41⁄2 hour videotaped testimony for the defense.
Arthur Leonard Schawlow, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (…
Arthur Leonard Schawlow, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1921)
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Richard Simmons · Billy Dean + 9 more
11 episodes aired on April 28, 1994: "Richard Simmons", "Billy Dean", "Ep. #7274", "The Acton House - 12", and 7 more.
Leslie Nielsen · Dennis Mills + 8 more
10 episodes aired on April 28, 1995: "Leslie Nielsen", "Dennis Mills", "Who Killed the Highest Bidder?", "Control Freak", and 6 more.
Pilot · Costumed pets; weddings; outdoor antics + 9 more
11 episodes aired on April 28, 1996: "Pilot", "Costumed pets; weddings; outdoor antics", "In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies", "Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish"", and 7 more.
The Piano · The Price + 15 more
17 episodes aired on April 28, 1997: "The Piano", "The Price", "Monday, April 28, 1997", "D.W.'s Blankie", and 13 more.
I Only Have Eyes for You · Believe It Or Not + 18 more
20 episodes aired on April 28, 1998: "I Only Have Eyes for You", "Believe It Or Not", "The Return of Jimmy Blackhorse", "Double Date", and 16 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 28 across the decade.
Song Yu-bin, South Korean singer and actor
Song Yu-bin, South Korean singer and actor
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from April 28 across the 1990s.
Blake Bortles, American football player
Blake Bortles, American football player · DeMarcus Lawrence, American football player
Matt Chapman, American baseball player
Matt Chapman, American baseball player · Jim Valvano, American basketball player, coach, and sportscaster (born 1946)
Shane McClanahan, American baseball player
Shane McClanahan, American baseball player · Denzel Ward, American football player
Alf Ramsey, English footballer and manager (born 1920)
Alf Ramsey, English footballer and manager (born 1920)
Full Events Archive
Highlights
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-39, the first unclassified shuttle mission for the United States Department of Defense.
Francis Bacon (artist)
Francis Bacon, Irish painter (born 1909)
Eva Adamczyková
Eva Samková, Czech snowboarder
Diva Diniz Corrêa
Diva Diniz Corrêa, Brazilian zoologist (born 1918)
Former Central Intelligence Agency counterintelligence officer and analyst Aldrich Ames pleads guilty to giving US secrets to the Soviet Union and later Russia.
Whitewater controversy: President Bill Clinton gives a 41⁄2 hour videotaped testimony for the defense.
Port Arthur massacre, Tasmania: A gunman, Martin Bryant, opens fire at the Broad Arrow Cafe in Port Arthur, Tasmania, killing 35 people and wounding 23 others.
Arthur Leonard Schawlow, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1921)
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Blake Bortles
Blake Bortles, American football player
DeMarcus Lawrence
DeMarcus Lawrence, American football player
Matt Chapman
Matt Chapman, American baseball player
Jim Valvano
Jim Valvano, American basketball player, coach, and sportscaster (born 1946)
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7274" (Season 1994, Episode 50) aired on 1994-04-28.
All My Children
"Thurs Apr 28 1994" (Season 1994, Episode 84) aired on 1994-04-28.
This Old House
"The Acton House - 12" (Season 16, Episode 12) aired on 1994-04-28.
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"Lawrence of Arabia's Headdress" (Season 1, Episode 37) aired on 1994-04-28.
"Sweet Seymour Skinner's Baadasssss Song" (Season 5, Episode 19) aired on 1994-04-28.
"Beavis and Butt-Head's Island" (Season 4, Episode 16) aired on 1994-04-28.
"Sissy Spacek, Bonnie Raitt, Daniel Low" (Season 1994, Episode 66) aired on 1994-04-28.
"Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio?" (Season 4, Episode 21) aired on 1995-04-28.
"Penelope Ann Miller, John Starks, Juliana "Jules" Hatfield, Evan Dando" (Season 1995, Episode 71) aired on 1995-04-28.
"Costumed pets; weddings; outdoor antics" (Season 7, Episode 20) aired on 1996-04-28.
"In Your House: Good Friends, Better Enemies" (Season 1996, Episode 4) aired on 1996-04-28.
"Raging Abe Simpson and His Grumbling Grandson in "The Curse of the Flying Hellfish"" (Season 7, Episode 22) aired on 1996-04-28.
"It's a Small World After All" (Season 3, Episode 20) aired on 1996-04-28.
"Carol Burnett: Just to Have a Laugh" (Season 1996, Episode 1) aired on 1996-04-28.
"A Journey for the Betterment of People" (Season 2, Episode 10) aired on 1996-04-28.
"Monday April 28 1997" (Season 25, Episode 85) aired on 1997-04-28.
"I, Robot... You, Jane" (Season 1, Episode 8) aired on 1997-04-28.
"Around the World in 72 Days" (Season 9, Episode 11) aired on 1997-04-28.
"Janeane Garofalo" (Season 1997, Episode 56) aired on 1997-04-28.
"Kurt Russell, Sinbad, Paula Cole" (Season 1997, Episode 65) aired on 1997-04-28.
"I Only Have Eyes for You" (Season 2, Episode 19) aired on 1998-04-28.
"Something About Railroading Carly" (Season 2, Episode 11) aired on 1998-04-28.
"Busted: America's War on Marijuana" (Season 1998, Episode 6) aired on 1998-04-28.
"Sheryl Lee Ralph" (Season 1998, Episode 56) aired on 1998-04-28.
"Jack Hanna, Ray Allen, Dave Matthews Band" (Season 1998, Episode 64) aired on 1998-04-28.
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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