May 11 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by After the aircraft's departure from Miami, a fire started by…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 50 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined May 11 across the 1990s.
After the aircraft's departure from Miami, a fire started by improperly handled …
After the aircraft's departure from Miami, a fire started by improperly handled chemical oxygen generators in the cargo hold of Atlanta-bound ValuJet Airlines Flight 592 causes the Douglas DC-9 to crash in the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 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.
David Copperfield · Chuck Norris, Jacqueline Bisset + 4 more
6 episodes aired on May 11, 1994: "David Copperfield", "Chuck Norris, Jacqueline Bisset", "The Silver Cannonball of Grandy Nanny", "By Any Means Necessary", and 2 more.
Jeff Foxworthy · Michael DeCesare, Mark Harmon + 6 more
8 episodes aired on May 11, 1995: "Jeff Foxworthy", "Michael DeCesare, Mark Harmon", "The One With the Birth", "My Boyfriend's Back", and 4 more.
Rolling Stones, Cissy Houston, Jimmy Ripp, Golden Smog · Twister + 10 more
12 episodes aired on May 11, 1996: "Rolling Stones, Cissy Houston, Jimmy Ripp, Golden Smog", "Twister", "Busta Rhymes featuring Zhane/ Horace Brown/ Art N'Soul", "Dallas, Texas 5", and 8 more.
Giggle Cookies · Mother's Day + 8 more
10 episodes aired on May 11, 1997: "Giggle Cookies", "Mother's Day", "In Your House: Cold Day in Hell", "The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase", and 6 more.
May 11, 1998 · Finalists vie for $100,000 + 10 more
12 episodes aired on May 11, 1998: "May 11, 1998", "Finalists vie for $100,000", "... And Girlfriends", "Jerry Seinfeld: Master of His Domain", 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills" 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 11 across the decade.
Coi Leray, American rapper and singer
Coi Leray, American rapper and singer
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from May 11 across the 1990s.
Thibaut Courtois, Belgian footballer
Thibaut Courtois, Belgian footballer · Pablo Sarabia, Spanish footballer
Maurice Harkless, American-Puerto Rican basketball player
Maurice Harkless, American-Puerto Rican basketball player · Miguel Sanó, Dominican baseball player
Gelson Martins, Portuguese footballer
Gelson Martins, Portuguese footballer
Deep Blue, a chess-playing supercomputer, defeats Garry Kasparov in the last gam…
Deep Blue, a chess-playing supercomputer, defeats Garry Kasparov in the last game of the rematch, becoming the first computer to beat a world-champion chess player in a classic match format.
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Bobi (dog)
Bobi, Portuguese Rafeiro do Alentejo, oldest recorded dog (died 2023)
Read more →Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Silver Cannonball of Grandy Nanny" (Season 2, Episode 2) aired on 1994-05-11.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Ulyana Barkova
Ulyana Barkova, Russian farm worker (born 1906)
Bobi (dog)
Bobi, Portuguese Rafeiro do Alentejo, oldest recorded dog (died 2023)
Hagos Gebrhiwet
Hagos Gebrhiwet, Ethiopian runner
Nene Macdonald
Nene Macdonald, Papua New Guinean rugby league player
After the aircraft's departure from Miami, a fire started by improperly handled chemical oxygen generators in the cargo hold of Atlanta-bound ValuJet Airlines Flight 592 causes the Douglas DC-9 to crash in the Florida Everglades, killing all 110 on board.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois, Belgian footballer
Pablo Sarabia
Pablo Sarabia, Spanish footballer
Maurice Harkless
Maurice Harkless, American-Puerto Rican basketball player
Gelson Martins
Gelson Martins, Portuguese footballer
Deep Blue, a chess-playing supercomputer, defeats Garry Kasparov in the last game of the rematch, becoming the first computer to beat a world-champion chess player in a classic match format.
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Silver Cannonball of Grandy Nanny" (Season 2, Episode 2) aired on 1994-05-11.
Babylon 5
"By Any Means Necessary" (Season 1, Episode 12) aired on 1994-05-11.
Home Improvement
"What You See Is What You Get" (Season 3, Episode 23) aired on 1994-05-11.
The Late Show with David Letterman
"James Cahn, David Copperfield, Julia Louis-Dreyfus" (Season 1994, Episode 75) aired on 1994-05-11.
"Chuck Norris, Jacqueline Bisset" (Season 1994, Episode 23) aired on 1994-05-11.
"Hugh Grant, Martin Scorsese, Dionne Farris" (Season 1995, Episode 80) aired on 1995-05-11.
"Rolling Stones, Cissy Houston, Jimmy Ripp, Golden Smog" (Season 1996, Episode 19) aired on 1996-05-11.
"Busta Rhymes featuring Zhane/ Horace Brown/ Art N'Soul" (Season 25, Episode 26) aired on 1996-05-11.
"When a Child is Born (1)" (Season 4, Episode 27) aired on 1996-05-11.
"Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 1996" (Season 1996, Episode 1) aired on 1996-05-11.
"The Road to Dendron" (Season 3, Episode 16) aired on 1996-05-11.
"Christine Baranski / The Cure" (Season 21, Episode 19) aired on 1996-05-11.
"In Your House: Cold Day in Hell" (Season 1997, Episode 5) aired on 1997-05-11.
"Fifteen Minutes of Dick" (Season 2, Episode 23) aired on 1997-05-11.
"Spirits of the Jaguar: The Forging of a New World" (Season 15, Episode 11) aired on 1997-05-11.
"Finalists vie for $100,000" (Season 9, Episode 21) aired on 1998-05-11.
"Jerry Seinfeld: Master of His Domain" (Season 1998, Episode 11) aired on 1998-05-11.
"Fran Drescher, Bob Berman, Faith Hill" (Season 1998, Episode 73) aired on 1998-05-11.
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 — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#3 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#4 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#5 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#6 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#7 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#8 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
#9 on TRL — Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor"
#10 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
By Year
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