July 20 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by A Tupolev Tu-154 crashes during takeoff from Tbilisi Interna…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 31 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined July 20 across the 1990s.
A Tupolev Tu-154 crashes during takeoff from Tbilisi International Airport, kill…
A Tupolev Tu-154 crashes during takeoff from Tbilisi International Airport, killing all 24 aboard and four more people on the ground.
The fully restored USS Constitution (a.k.a. Old Ironsides) celebrates its 200th …
The fully restored USS Constitution (a.k.a. Old Ironsides) celebrates its 200th birthday by setting sail for the first time in 116 years.
The Chinese Communist Party begins a persecution campaign against Falun Gong, ar…
The Chinese Communist Party begins a persecution campaign against Falun Gong, arresting thousands nationwide.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Phil Simms, Jenny Brunt, Lisa Germano · Roger Clinton + 10 more
12 episodes aired on July 20, 1994: "Phil Simms, Jenny Brunt, Lisa Germano", "Roger Clinton", "Jamie Lee Curtis, Robert Goulet, Leanza Cornett", "A Pig-Boy and His Dog", and 8 more.
Roger Corman · Susan Anton, Rain Pryor + 2 more
4 episodes aired on July 20, 1995: "Roger Corman", "Susan Anton, Rain Pryor", "Who Killed the Hollywood Headshrinker?", "Mary Tyler Moore, Julianna Margulies".
Saturn · Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell
2 episodes aired on July 20, 1996: "Saturn", "Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell".
Obsessed · Episode 1
2 episodes aired on July 20, 1997: "Obsessed", "Episode 1".
July 20, 1998 · The Ultra Enigma + 8 more
10 episodes aired on July 20, 1998: "July 20, 1998", "The Ultra Enigma", "The Last Cub Scout", "Phone Luv", and 6 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.
Smash Mouth's "All Star" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Jennifer Lopez's "If You Had My Love" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Blink-182's "What's My Age Again?" 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.
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.
Will Smith's "Wild Wild West" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
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.
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.
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.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on July 20 across the decade.
Pop Smoke, American rapper and singer (died 2020)
Pop Smoke, American rapper and singer (died 2020)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from July 20 across the 1990s.
Lars Unnerstall, German footballer
Lars Unnerstall, German footballer
Steven Adams, New Zealand basketball player
Steven Adams, New Zealand basketball player
Ben Simmons, Australian basketball player
Ben Simmons, Australian basketball player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Phil Simms, Jenny Brunt, Lisa Germano" (Season 1994, Episode 123) aired on 1994-07-20.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Chiyoshōma Fujio
Chiyoshōma Fujio, Mongolian sumo wrestler
Ryan James (rugby league)
Ryan James, Australian rugby league player
Kira Dixon
Kira Kazantsev, Miss America 2015
Tawan Vihokratana
Tawan Vihokratana, Thai actor, host, and model
A Tupolev Tu-154 crashes during takeoff from Tbilisi International Airport, killing all 24 aboard and four more people on the ground.
Bruce Conde, American US army officer, stamp collector, and royalist mercenary general in the North Yemen civil war.
The fully restored USS Constitution (a.k.a. Old Ironsides) celebrates its 200th birthday by setting sail for the first time in 116 years.
The Chinese Communist Party begins a persecution campaign against Falun Gong, arresting thousands nationwide.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Lars Unnerstall
Lars Unnerstall, German footballer
Steven Adams
Steven Adams, New Zealand basketball player
Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons, Australian basketball player
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Phil Simms, Jenny Brunt, Lisa Germano" (Season 1994, Episode 123) aired on 1994-07-20.
The Critic
"A Pig-Boy and His Dog" (Season 1, Episode 13) aired on 1994-07-20.
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Plumed Headdress of Cosarara" (Season 2, Episode 23) aired on 1994-07-20.
Babylon 5
"Legacies" (Season 1, Episode 17) aired on 1994-07-20.
"Jamie Lee Curtis, Robert Goulet, Leanza Cornett" (Season 1994, Episode 72) aired on 1994-07-20.
"I'm Not Ready for My CloseUp, Dr ReRuzza" (Season 2, Episode 8) aired on 1994-07-20.
"Bridget Fonda, anti-semitism in Philadelphia police, fertility industry" (Season 1, Episode 39) aired on 1994-07-20.
"Arnold Schwarzenegger" (Season 1994, Episode 114) aired on 1994-07-20.
"Who Killed the Hollywood Headshrinker?" (Season 2, Episode 13) aired on 1995-07-20.
"Mary Tyler Moore, Julianna Margulies" (Season 1995, Episode 120) aired on 1995-07-20.
"The Ultra Enigma" (Season 2, Episode 7) aired on 1998-07-20.
"Tony Randall" (Season 1998, Episode 88) aired on 1998-07-20.
"James Caan, Buck O'Neil, Lenny Kravitz" (Season 1998, Episode 113) aired on 1998-07-20.
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 — Smash Mouth, "All Star"
#3 on TRL — Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love"
#4 on TRL — Blink-182, "What's My Age Again?"
#5 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#6 on TRL — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#7 on TRL — Will Smith, "Wild Wild West"
#8 on TRL — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#9 on TRL — Savage Garden, "I Want You"
#10 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
By Year
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