July 21 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Taiwan's military police forces mainland Chinese illegal imm…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 30 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined July 21 across the 1990s.
Taiwan's military police forces mainland Chinese illegal immigrants into sealed …
Taiwan's military police forces mainland Chinese illegal immigrants into sealed holds of a fishing boat Min Ping Yu No. 5540 for repatriation to Fujian, causing 25 people to die from suffocation.
Third Taiwan Strait Crisis: The People's Liberation Army begins firing missiles …
Third Taiwan Strait Crisis: The People's Liberation Army begins firing missiles into the waters north of Taiwan.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Gary Sinise, Lisa Sliwa, Freddy Johnston · Julia Sweeney + 4 more
6 episodes aired on July 21, 1994: "Gary Sinise, Lisa Sliwa, Freddy Johnston", "Julia Sweeney", "Thea Vidale, Ed Marinaro", "Henry Ford: Tin Lizzy Tycoon", and 2 more.
Alexandra Wentworth · summertime romances + 2 more
4 episodes aired on July 21, 1995: "Alexandra Wentworth", "summertime romances", "Freedom of Speech", "Julia Roberts, Peter Smith McNeeley, Clarence Clemons".
Win, Lose, or Draw · In Your House: International Incident
2 episodes aired on July 21, 1996: "Win, Lose, or Draw", "In Your House: International Incident".
Ep. #2591 · Monday, July 21, 1997 + 11 more
13 episodes aired on July 21, 1997: "Ep. #2591", "Monday, July 21, 1997", "Awakening", "Vietnam: A Television History: Homefront USA", and 9 more.
The Vanishing Line · Richard Lewis + 2 more
4 episodes aired on July 21, 1998: "The Vanishing Line", "Richard Lewis", "Janet Jackson, Scott Farrell, Nanci Griffith", "Episode 385".
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 21 across the decade.
Da$H, American rapper
Da$H, American rapper
Maggie Lindemann, American singer-songwriter.
Maggie Lindemann, American singer-songwriter.
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from July 21 across the 1990s.
Chris Martin, English footballer
Chris Martin, English footballer
Jude Adjei-Barimah, Italian-American football player
Jude Adjei-Barimah, Italian-American football player · Jonathon Jennings, American Canadian football player · Dante Marini, American soccer player · Henry Owens, American baseball pitcher
Mikael Ingebrigtsen, Norwegian footballer
Mikael Ingebrigtsen, Norwegian footballer
Evan McPherson, American football player
Evan McPherson, American football player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Gary Sinise, Lisa Sliwa, Freddy Johnston" (Season 1994, Episode 124) aired on 1994-07-21.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Republic of China Military Police
Taiwan's military police forces mainland Chinese illegal immigrants into sealed holds of a fishing boat Min Ping Yu No. 5540 for repatriation to Fujian, causing 25 people to die from suffocation.
Franck Elemba
Franck Elemba, Congolese athlete
Jason Roy
Jason Roy, South African-English cricketer
Sara Sampaio
Sara Sampaio, Portuguese model
Third Taiwan Strait Crisis: The People's Liberation Army begins firing missiles into the waters north of Taiwan.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Chris Martin (footballer, born 1990)
Chris Martin, English footballer
Jonathon Jennings
Jonathon Jennings, American Canadian football player
Dante Marini
Dante Marini, American soccer player
Evan McPherson
Evan McPherson, American football player
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Gary Sinise, Lisa Sliwa, Freddy Johnston" (Season 1994, Episode 124) aired on 1994-07-21.
Biography
"Henry Ford: Tin Lizzy Tycoon" (Season 1994, Episode 2) aired on 1994-07-21.
POV
"Escape From China" (Season 7, Episode 7) aired on 1994-07-21.
The Late Show with David Letterman
"John Kruk, Rob Reiner, Joan Jett" (Season 1994, Episode 115) aired on 1994-07-21.
"Alexandra Wentworth" (Season 1995, Episode 78) aired on 1995-07-21.
"Julia Roberts, Peter Smith McNeeley, Clarence Clemons" (Season 1995, Episode 121) aired on 1995-07-21.
"In Your House: International Incident" (Season 1996, Episode 8) aired on 1996-07-21.
"Vietnam: A Television History: Homefront USA" (Season 9, Episode 22) aired on 1997-07-21.
"Latin Male + Assertive Female = Danger" (Season 4, Episode 3) aired on 1997-07-21.
"Pauly Shore, Leslie Mann, Puff Daddy" (Season 1997, Episode 115) aired on 1997-07-21.
"Richard Lewis" (Season 1998, Episode 89) aired on 1998-07-21.
"Janet Jackson, Scott Farrell, Nanci Griffith" (Season 1998, Episode 114) aired on 1998-07-21.
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 — 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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