May 12 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by John Smith, Scottish-English lawyer and politician, Labour P…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 64 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined May 12 across the 1990s.
John Smith, Scottish-English lawyer and politician, Labour Party leader, Leader…
John Smith, Scottish-English lawyer and politician, Labour Party leader, Leader of the Opposition (born 1938)
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Jacqueline Bisset · Robert Guillaume, Peri Gilpin + 8 more
10 episodes aired on May 12, 1994: "Jacqueline Bisset", "Robert Guillaume, Peri Gilpin", "Ep. #7284", "Lady Bouvier's Lover", and 6 more.
Duran Duran · Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, Roland Watts + 7 more
9 episodes aired on May 12, 1995: "Duran Duran", "Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, Roland Watts", "Reunion", "Career Day", and 5 more.
Big Girls Don't Fly · Mrs. Parker's Revenge + 3 more
5 episodes aired on May 12, 1996: "Big Girls Don't Fly", "Mrs. Parker's Revenge", "Monsoon", "Wiseguy", and 1 more.
Mother's Day · A Comedy of Eros + 18 more
20 episodes aired on May 12, 1997: "Mother's Day", "A Comedy of Eros", "Ep. #2541", "Monday, May 12, 1997", and 16 more.
May 12, 1998 · Becoming: Part I + 15 more
17 episodes aired on May 12, 1998: "May 12, 1998", "Becoming: Part I", "Tool-Thousand-One: A Space Odyssey", "Wedding Bell Blues", and 13 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 12 across the decade.
Nikos Gatsos, Greek poet and songwriter (born 1911)
Nikos Gatsos, Greek poet and songwriter (born 1911)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from May 12 across the 1990s.
Erik Durm, German footballer
Erik Durm, German footballer
Timo Horn, German footballer
Timo Horn, German footballer · Zeno Colò, Italian Olympic alpine skier (born1920)
Adolfo Pedernera, Argentine footballer and manager (born 1918)
Adolfo Pedernera, Argentine footballer and manager (born 1918)
Fabrice Olinga, Cameroonian footballer
Fabrice Olinga, Cameroonian footballer · Kostas Tsimikas, Greek footballer
Frenkie de Jong, Dutch footballer
Frenkie de Jong, Dutch footballer
Mo Bamba, American-Ivorian basketball player
Mo Bamba, American-Ivorian basketball player
Hiroki Itō, Japanese footballer
Hiroki Itō, Japanese footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7284" (Season 1994, Episode 53) aired on 1994-05-12.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Florent Amodio
Florent Amodio, French figure skater
Etika
Etika, American YouTuber and live streamer (died 2019)
Robert Reed
Robert Reed, American actor (born 1932)
Erik Erikson
Erik Erikson, German-American psychologist and psychoanalyst (born 1902)
John Smith, Scottish-English lawyer and politician, Labour Party leader, Leader of the Opposition (born 1938)
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Erik Durm
Erik Durm, German footballer
Timo Horn
Timo Horn, German footballer
Zeno Colò
Zeno Colò, Italian Olympic alpine skier (born1920)
Adolfo Pedernera
Adolfo Pedernera, Argentine footballer and manager (born 1918)
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7284" (Season 1994, Episode 53) aired on 1994-05-12.
The Simpsons
"Lady Bouvier's Lover" (Season 5, Episode 21) aired on 1994-05-12.
Mad About You
"Up All Night" (Season 2, Episode 23) aired on 1994-05-12.
Wings
"A Decent Proposal" (Season 5, Episode 24) aired on 1994-05-12.
"Candice Bergen, Elvis Costello & The Attractions, Magic Johnson" (Season 1994, Episode 76) aired on 1994-05-12.
"Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff, Roland Watts" (Season 1995, Episode 82) aired on 1995-05-12.
"Martin Short, Julianna Margulies" (Season 1995, Episode 81) aired on 1995-05-12.
"Big Girls Don't Fly" (Season 3, Episode 22) aired on 1996-05-12.
"Spirits of the Jaguar: The Forests of Maya" (Season 15, Episode 12) aired on 1997-05-12.
"Foxy Brown/ Steve Harvey" (Season 10, Episode 9) aired on 1997-05-12.
"Alan Eagleson; Charles Barkley" (Season 3, Episode 3) aired on 1997-05-12.
"Lea Thompson" (Season 1997, Episode 64) aired on 1997-05-12.
"Cybil Shepard, Darrell Hammond, Linda Eder" (Season 1997, Episode 75) aired on 1997-05-12.
"Tool-Thousand-One: A Space Odyssey" (Season 7, Episode 24) aired on 1998-05-12.
"Christopher Reeve, Hanson" (Season 1998, Episode 74) aired on 1998-05-12.
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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