May 21 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated 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 21 across the 1990s.
Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by a female suicide bo…
Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by a female suicide bomber near Madras.
After 30 seasons Johnny Carson hosted his penultimate episode and last featuring…
After 30 seasons Johnny Carson hosted his penultimate episode and last featuring guests (Robin Williams and Bette Midler) of The Tonight Show.
The Democratic Republic of Yemen unsuccessfully attempts to secede from the Repu…
The Democratic Republic of Yemen unsuccessfully attempts to secede from the Republic of Yemen; a war breaks out.
Les Aspin, American captain and politician, 18th United States Secretary of Defe…
Les Aspin, American captain and politician, 18th United States Secretary of Defense (born 1938)
The ferry MV Bukoba sinks in Tanzanian waters on Lake Victoria, killing nearly 1…
The ferry MV Bukoba sinks in Tanzanian waters on Lake Victoria, killing nearly 1,000.
President Suharto of Indonesia resigns following the killing of students from Tr…
President Suharto of Indonesia resigns following the killing of students from Trisakti University earlier that week by security forces and growing mass protests in Jakarta against his ongoing corrupt rule.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Katey Sagal (host) · Farrah Fawcett, Ed Asner, Brian McCann + 9 more
11 episodes aired on May 21, 1994: "Katey Sagal (host)", "Farrah Fawcett, Ed Asner, Brian McCann", "Rolling Stones Summer Tour", "Atlantic Starr/ Patra/ DBG'Z", and 7 more.
I Can't Believe It's a Clip Show · Six finalists vie for the grand prize + 6 more
8 episodes aired on May 21, 1995: "I Can't Believe It's a Clip Show", "Six finalists vie for the grand prize", "All About Eve", "Who Shot Mr. Burns? (1)", and 4 more.
Dennis Prager · Bobbie Phillips + 8 more
10 episodes aired on May 21, 1996: "Dennis Prager", "Bobbie Phillips", "Fights and Stuff", "Games, Flames And Automobiles", and 6 more.
Ep. #2548 · Wednesday, May 21, 1997 + 11 more
13 episodes aired on May 21, 1997: "Ep. #2548", "Wednesday, May 21, 1997", "Fran's Gotta Have It (1)", "Sleeping Beauty", and 9 more.
The Art of War · Doug Savant + 2 more
4 episodes aired on May 21, 1998: "The Art of War", "Doug Savant", "Ted Danson, Mae Whitman, The Flatlanders", "Episode 345".
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.
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.
Ricky Martin's "Livin' la Vida Loca" 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
*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.
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 21 across the decade.
The seven Trappist monks of Tibhirine that were abducted on March 27 are killed …
The seven Trappist monks of Tibhirine that were abducted on March 27 are killed under uncertain circumstances. · Paul Delph, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1957)
Viktoria Petryk, Ukrainian singer-songwriter
Viktoria Petryk, Ukrainian singer-songwriter
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from May 21 across the 1990s.
Rene Krhin, Slovenian footballer
Rene Krhin, Slovenian footballer
Guilherme, Brazilian footballer
Guilherme, Brazilian footballer
Lisa Evans, Scottish footballer
Lisa Evans, Scottish footballer · Philipp Grüneberg, German footballer
Luke Garbutt, English footballer
Luke Garbutt, English footballer · Matías Kranevitter, Argentine footballer · Lynn Williams, American soccer player
Josh Allen, American football player
Josh Allen, American football player
Ivan De Santis, Italian footballer
Ivan De Santis, Italian footballer · Sisca Folkertsma, Dutch footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Mengistu Haile Mariam
Mengistu Haile Mariam, president of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, flees Ethiopia, effectively bringing the Ethiopian Civil War to an end.
Read more →Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Farrah Fawcett, Ed Asner, Brian McCann" (Season 1994, Episode 94) aired on 1994-05-21.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Prime Minister of India
Former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is assassinated by a female suicide bomber near Madras.
Mengistu Haile Mariam
Mengistu Haile Mariam, president of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, flees Ethiopia, effectively bringing the Ethiopian Civil War to an end.
Rajiv Gandhi
Rajiv Gandhi, Indian politician, 6th Prime Minister of India (born 1944)
Johnny Carson
After 30 seasons Johnny Carson hosted his penultimate episode and last featuring guests (Robin Williams and Bette Midler) of The Tonight Show.
The Democratic Republic of Yemen unsuccessfully attempts to secede from the Republic of Yemen; a war breaks out.
Les Aspin, American captain and politician, 18th United States Secretary of Defense (born 1938)
The ferry MV Bukoba sinks in Tanzanian waters on Lake Victoria, killing nearly 1,000.
President Suharto of Indonesia resigns following the killing of students from Trisakti University earlier that week by security forces and growing mass protests in Jakarta against his ongoing corrupt rule.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Trappists
The seven Trappist monks of Tibhirine that were abducted on March 27 are killed under uncertain circumstances.
Paul Delph
Paul Delph, American singer-songwriter and producer (born 1957)
Viktoria Petryk
Viktoria Petryk, Ukrainian singer-songwriter
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Rene Krhin
Rene Krhin, Slovenian footballer
Guilherme (footballer, born May 1991)
Guilherme, Brazilian footballer
Lisa Evans
Lisa Evans, Scottish footballer
Luke Garbutt
Luke Garbutt, English footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Farrah Fawcett, Ed Asner, Brian McCann" (Season 1994, Episode 94) aired on 1994-05-21.
Almost Live
"Rolling Stones Summer Tour" (Season 10, Episode 26) aired on 1994-05-21.
Soul Train
"Atlantic Starr/ Patra/ DBG'Z" (Season 23, Episode 27) aired on 1994-05-21.
Cops
"Los Angeles, CA #15" (Season 7, Episode 2) aired on 1994-05-21.
"Return Engagement (2)" (Season 2, Episode 27) aired on 1994-05-21.
"Cellar Beware" (Season 1, Episode 10) aired on 1994-05-21.
"Six finalists vie for the grand prize" (Season 6, Episode 24) aired on 1995-05-21.
"And the Answer Is..." (Season 2, Episode 22) aired on 1995-05-21.
"Games, Flames And Automobiles" (Season 5, Episode 26) aired on 1996-05-21.
"John Goodman, Norm Macdonald, Patty Loveless" (Season 1996, Episode 83) aired on 1996-05-21.
"24th Daytime Emmy Awards" (Season 1997, Episode 1) aired on 1997-05-21.
"Sammy Hagar" (Season 1997, Episode 70) aired on 1997-05-21.
"Richard Simmons, Kelly Preston, Toad the Wet Sprocket" (Season 1997, Episode 82) aired on 1997-05-21.
"Doug Savant" (Season 1998, Episode 66) aired on 1998-05-21.
"Ted Danson, Mae Whitman, The Flatlanders" (Season 1998, Episode 81) aired on 1998-05-21.
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 — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#3 on TRL — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#4 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#5 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#6 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#7 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#8 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#9 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#10 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
By Year
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