June 21 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Cedric Belfrage, English journalist and author, co-founded t…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 20 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined June 21 across the 1990s.
Cedric Belfrage, English journalist and author, co-founded the National Guardian…
Cedric Belfrage, English journalist and author, co-founded the National Guardian (born 1904)
Li Xiannian, Chinese captain and politician, 3rd President of the People's Repub…
Li Xiannian, Chinese captain and politician, 3rd President of the People's Republic of China (born 1909)
Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on STS-57 to retrieve the European Retrievab…
Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on STS-57 to retrieve the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) satellite. It is also the first shuttle mission to carry the Spacehab module.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Harry Shearer, Don Pardo, Story · Dennis Franz + 3 more
5 episodes aired on June 21, 1994: "Harry Shearer, Don Pardo, Story", "Dennis Franz", "Dennis Franz, Patti Davis", "The Trouble with Evan", and 1 more.
Sean Kanan · Mozart & Stone + 1 more
3 episodes aired on June 21, 1995: "Sean Kanan", "Mozart & Stone", "Karen Silas, Tony Bennett".
Al Roker (guest host), Jada Pinkett · Everything Has Its Price + 3 more
5 episodes aired on June 21, 1996: "Al Roker (guest host), Jada Pinkett", "Everything Has Its Price", "The Prison System", "John Travolta, John Sayles, The Presidents of the United States of America", and 1 more.
Alanis Morrissette, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan · Ape-pocalypse... A Little Later! + 3 more
5 episodes aired on June 21, 1997: "Alanis Morrissette, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan", "Ape-pocalypse... A Little Later!", "Fort Myers, Florida 4", "My Feral Lady", and 1 more.
Not Was · Pee-Wee Herman
2 episodes aired on June 21, 1998: "Not Was", "Pee-Wee Herman".
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.
Backstreet Boys's "I Want It That Way" 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.
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.
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.
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.
Savage Garden's "I Want You" 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.
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.
Santana's "Smooth" 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 June 21 across the decade.
François Moubandje, Swiss footballer
François Moubandje, Swiss footballer
Lee Min-young, South Korean singer-songwriter, actress, and entertainer…
Lee Min-young, South Korean singer-songwriter, actress, and entertainer
MAX, American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer and model
MAX, American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer and model
Rebecca Black, American singer-songwriter
Rebecca Black, American singer-songwriter
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from June 21 across the 1990s.
Håvard Nordtveit, Norwegian footballer
Håvard Nordtveit, Norwegian footballer
Gaël Kakuta, French footballer
Gaël Kakuta, French footballer
Hussein El Shahat, Egyptian professional footballer
Hussein El Shahat, Egyptian professional footballer
Derrius Guice, American football player
Derrius Guice, American football player
Al Campanis, American baseball player and manager (born 1916)
Al Campanis, American baseball player and manager (born 1916)
Full Events Archive
Highlights
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Ričardas Berankis
Ričardas Berankis, Lithuanian tennis player
Sergei Matsenko
Sergei Matsenko, Russian chess player
Isabel Pires
Isabel Pires, Portuguese politician
Cedric Belfrage
Cedric Belfrage, English journalist and author, co-founded the National Guardian (born 1904)
Rudra Mohammad Shahidullah, Bangladeshi poet, author, and playwright (born 1956)
Li Xiannian, Chinese captain and politician, 3rd President of the People's Republic of China (born 1909)
Space Shuttle Endeavour is launched on STS-57 to retrieve the European Retrievable Carrier (EURECA) satellite. It is also the first shuttle mission to carry the Spacehab module.
William Wilson Morgan, American astronomer and astrophysicist (born 1906)
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
François Moubandje
François Moubandje, Swiss footballer
Min (South Korean singer)
Lee Min-young, South Korean singer-songwriter, actress, and entertainer
Max Schneider
MAX, American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer and model
Rebecca Black
Rebecca Black, American singer-songwriter
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Håvard Nordtveit
Håvard Nordtveit, Norwegian footballer
Gaël Kakuta
Gaël Kakuta, French footballer
Hussein El Shahat
Hussein El Shahat, Egyptian professional footballer
Derrius Guice
Derrius Guice, American football player
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Harry Shearer, Don Pardo, Story" (Season 1994, Episode 108) aired on 1994-06-21.
Frontline
"The Trouble with Evan" (Season 1994, Episode 13) aired on 1994-06-21.
The Late Show with David Letterman
"Fran Drescher, Jack Palance, Seal" (Season 1994, Episode 98) aired on 1994-06-21.
High Sierra Search and Rescue
"Mozart & Stone" (Season 1, Episode 3) aired on 1995-06-21.
"Karen Silas, Tony Bennett" (Season 1995, Episode 104) aired on 1995-06-21.
"Al Roker (guest host), Jada Pinkett" (Season 1996, Episode 80) aired on 1996-06-21.
"John Travolta, John Sayles, The Presidents of the United States of America" (Season 1996, Episode 101) aired on 1996-06-21.
"Alanis Morrissette, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan" (Season 1997, Episode 22) aired on 1997-06-21.
"Ape-pocalypse... A Little Later!" (Season 1, Episode 26) aired on 1997-06-21.
"My Feral Lady" (Season 4, Episode 20) aired on 1997-06-21.
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 — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#3 on TRL — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#4 on TRL — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#5 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#6 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#7 on TRL — Savage Garden, "I Want You"
#8 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#9 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#10 on TRL — Santana, "Smooth"
By Year
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