May 3 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by The southwestern portion of Oklahoma City is devastated by a…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 52 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined May 3 across the 1990s.
The southwestern portion of Oklahoma City is devastated by an F5 tornado, killin…
The southwestern portion of Oklahoma City is devastated by an F5 tornado, killing forty-five people, injuring 665, and causing $1 billion in damage. The tornado is one of 66 from the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak. This tornado also produces the highest wind speed ever recorded, measured at 484 ± 32 kilometres per hour (301 ± 20 mph). In meteorology, the term "May 3" is synonymous with the F5 tornado.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Robert Wagner · Sideshow + 7 more
9 episodes aired on May 3, 1994: "Robert Wagner", "Sideshow", "Scott Baio", "I Pray the Lord My Stove to Keep", and 5 more.
Laura San Giacomo · Shelley Fabres + 6 more
8 episodes aired on May 3, 1995: "Laura San Giacomo", "Shelley Fabres", "The Blaming of the Shrew", "And Now for a Word", and 4 more.
David Schwimmer · Pamela Lee + 7 more
9 episodes aired on May 3, 1996: "David Schwimmer", "Pamela Lee", "I Never Sang for My Legal Guardian", "Quagmire", and 5 more.
Rhesus Pieces · To Tell The Truth + 11 more
13 episodes aired on May 3, 1997: "Rhesus Pieces", "To Tell The Truth", "Trickster", "Maxwell/ Tasha Holiday/ Melky & Day/ Mr. & Ms. Soul Train Prize Presentation", and 9 more.
Little Girl Lost · Moderation + 10 more
12 episodes aired on May 3, 1998: "Little Girl Lost", "Moderation", "The Minotaur", "The Mystery of the Mouse Pharaoh's Tomb", and 8 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.
Korn's "Freak On A Leash" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
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.
*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.
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.
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.
Limp Bizkit's "Nookie" 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 May 3 across the decade.
Keith Daniel Williams, American rapist and triple murderer (born 1947)…
Keith Daniel Williams, American rapist and triple murderer (born 1947)
Desiigner, American rapper
Desiigner, American rapper
Ella Langley, American singer-songwriter
Ella Langley, American singer-songwriter
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from May 3 across the 1990s.
Anwar El Ghazi, Dutch footballer
Anwar El Ghazi, Dutch footballer · Austin Meadows, American baseball player
Alex Iwobi, Nigerian footballer
Alex Iwobi, Nigerian footballer · Domantas Sabonis, Lithuanian-American basketball player · Alex Kellner, American baseball player (born 1924)
Dwayne Haskins, American football player (died 2022)
Dwayne Haskins, American football player (died 2022)
Joe Adcock, American baseball player and manager (born 1927)
Joe Adcock, American baseball player and manager (born 1927)
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Batman: The Animated Series
"Sideshow" (Season 2, Episode 7) aired on 1994-05-03.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Harvey Guillén
Harvey Guillén, American actor
Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka, American golfer
James Pattinson
James Pattinson, Australian cricketer
Samuel Seo
Samuel Seo, South Korean musician
The southwestern portion of Oklahoma City is devastated by an F5 tornado, killing forty-five people, injuring 665, and causing $1 billion in damage. The tornado is one of 66 from the 1999 Oklahoma tornado outbreak. This tornado also produces the highest wind speed ever recorded, measured at 484 ± 32 kilometres per hour (301 ± 20 mph). In meteorology, the term "May 3" is synonymous with the F5 tornado.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Keith Daniel Williams
Keith Daniel Williams, American rapist and triple murderer (born 1947)
Desiigner
Desiigner, American rapper
Ella Langley
Ella Langley, American singer-songwriter
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Anwar El Ghazi
Anwar El Ghazi, Dutch footballer
Austin Meadows
Austin Meadows, American baseball player
Alex Iwobi
Alex Iwobi, Nigerian footballer
Domantas Sabonis
Domantas Sabonis, Lithuanian-American basketball player
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Batman: The Animated Series
"Sideshow" (Season 2, Episode 7) aired on 1994-05-03.
Roseanne
"I Pray the Lord My Stove to Keep" (Season 6, Episode 22) aired on 1994-05-03.
Rescue 911
"Episode 523" (Season 5, Episode 23) aired on 1994-05-03.
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All
"Episode 2" (Season 1, Episode 2) aired on 1994-05-03.
"Robin Williams, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Mark Leyner" (Season 1994, Episode 69) aired on 1994-05-03.
"Sinbad, Harry Connick Jr." (Season 1995, Episode 74) aired on 1995-05-03.
"I Never Sang for My Legal Guardian" (Season 3, Episode 20) aired on 1996-05-03.
"Rosie O'Donnell, Gwyneth Paltrow, Everclear" (Season 1996, Episode 71) aired on 1996-05-03.
"Rhesus Pieces" (Season 1, Episode 20) aired on 1997-05-03.
"Maxwell/ Tasha Holiday/ Melky & Day/ Mr. & Ms. Soul Train Prize Presentation" (Season 26, Episode 28) aired on 1997-05-03.
"Vuuck, as in Duck" (Season 4, Episode 16) aired on 1997-05-03.
"Little Girl Lost" (Season 2, Episode 27) aired on 1998-05-03.
"Moderation" (Season 2, Episode 12) aired on 1998-05-03.
"The Mystery of the Mouse Pharaoh's Tomb" (Season 1, Episode 19) aired on 1998-05-03.
"Life in the Fast Lane, Bobby's Saga" (Season 2, Episode 21) aired on 1998-05-03.
"Forces of the Wild: Playing with Fire" (Season 16, Episode 14) aired on 1998-05-03.
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 — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#3 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#4 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#5 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#6 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#7 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
#8 on TRL — Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor"
#9 on TRL — Brandy & Monica, "The Boy Is Mine"
#10 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
By Year
Get This in Your Inbox Every Morning
Every day at midnight, a fresh dose of 90s nostalgia hits your inbox — tailored to today's date in the 1990s. Music, news, sports, movies and more.
Browse All Posts →