May 4 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser A…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 54 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined May 4 across the 1990s.
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat sign a peace a…
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat sign a peace accord, granting self-rule in the Gaza Strip and Jericho.
A federal judge in Sacramento, California, gives "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski …
A federal judge in Sacramento, California, gives "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski four life sentences plus 30 years after Kaczynski accepts a plea agreement sparing him from the death penalty.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Ray Liotta · Ellen DeGeneres + 7 more
9 episodes aired on May 4, 1994: "Ray Liotta", "Ellen DeGeneres", "Survivors", "Swing Time", and 5 more.
Bruno Kirby · Alan Rosenberg + 7 more
9 episodes aired on May 4, 1995: "Bruno Kirby", "Alan Rosenberg", "The One With the Ick Factor", "Cake Fear", and 5 more.
Isley Brothers · Family Ties + 8 more
10 episodes aired on May 4, 1996: "Isley Brothers", "Family Ties", "Earthquake '96 Update", "Ladae! featuring Al B. Sure/ II D Extreme/ Puff Johnson", and 6 more.
To See or Not to See · Woman gives birth to a puppy + 8 more
10 episodes aired on May 4, 1997: "To See or Not to See", "Woman gives birth to a puppy", "We All Scream (2)", "Homer's Enemy", and 6 more.
Man eats corn; cyclist; bowling · Boyfriends + 12 more
14 episodes aired on May 4, 1998: "Man eats corn; cyclist; bowling", "Boyfriends", "On the Rocks", "May 4, 1998", and 10 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 4 across the decade.
Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Egyptian singer-songwriter and mandolin player (born 1902)…
Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Egyptian singer-songwriter and mandolin player (born 1902)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from May 4 across the 1990s.
Victor Oladipo, American basketball player
Victor Oladipo, American basketball player
Connie Wisniewski, American baseball player (born 1922)
Connie Wisniewski, American baseball player (born 1922)
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Mohammed Abdel Wahab
Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Egyptian singer-songwriter and mandolin player (born 1902)
Read more →
France Štiglic
France Štiglic, Slovenian film director and screenwriter (born 1919)
Wikipedia →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Latvia
Latvia declares independence from the Soviet Union.
Emily Remler
Emily Remler, American guitarist (born 1957)
Brianne Jenner
Brianne Jenner, Canadian women's ice hockey player
Prime minister
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat sign a peace accord, granting self-rule in the Gaza Strip and Jericho.
A federal judge in Sacramento, California, gives "Unabomber" Theodore Kaczynski four life sentences plus 30 years after Kaczynski accepts a plea agreement sparing him from the death penalty.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Mohammed Abdel Wahab
Mohammed Abdel Wahab, Egyptian singer-songwriter and mandolin player (born 1902)
Wikipedia →On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Victor Oladipo
Victor Oladipo, American basketball player
Connie Wisniewski
Connie Wisniewski, American baseball player (born 1922)
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Babylon 5
"Survivors" (Season 1, Episode 11) aired on 1994-05-04.
Home Improvement
"Swing Time" (Season 3, Episode 22) aired on 1994-05-04.
Thunder Alley
"As a Matter of Fact" (Season 1, Episode 9) aired on 1994-05-04.
Ellen
"The Go-Between" (Season 1, Episode 7) aired on 1994-05-04.
"Michael Jordan, Rwanda, stalkers" (Season 1, Episode 34) aired on 1994-05-04.
"Mia Farrow, Tim McGraw, Jimmie Walker" (Season 1994, Episode 70) aired on 1994-05-04.
"Bruno Kirby, Jake Johannsen, Carly Simon" (Season 1995, Episode 75) aired on 1995-05-04.
"Ladae! featuring Al B. Sure/ II D Extreme/ Puff Johnson" (Season 25, Episode 25) aired on 1996-05-04.
"They Craved Duckman's Brain!" (Season 3, Episode 15) aired on 1996-05-04.
"Woman gives birth to a puppy" (Season 8, Episode 27) aired on 1997-05-04.
"Man eats corn; cyclist; bowling" (Season 9, Episode 20) aired on 1998-05-04.
"Paul Rudd" (Season 1998, Episode 59) aired on 1998-05-04.
"Elle MacPherson, Jon Favreau, Usher" (Season 1998, Episode 68) aired on 1998-05-04.
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
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