July 28 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by The remains of a prehistoric man are discovered near Kennewi…, 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 28 across the 1990s.
The remains of a prehistoric man are discovered near Kennewick, Washington. Such…
The remains of a prehistoric man are discovered near Kennewick, Washington. Such remains will be known as the Kennewick Man.
Seni Pramoj, Thai lawyer and politician, 6th Prime Minister of Thailand (born 19…
Seni Pramoj, Thai lawyer and politician, 6th Prime Minister of Thailand (born 1905)
Trygve Haavelmo, Norwegian economist and mathematician, Nobel Prize laureate (bo…
Trygve Haavelmo, Norwegian economist and mathematician, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1911)
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Michael Moore, Isaac Hayes, Louis Belson · science projects for kids + 1 more
3 episodes aired on July 28, 1994: "Michael Moore, Isaac Hayes, Louis Belson", "science projects for kids", "Bob Newhart, Rosie Perez, The Mavericks".
Danny Glover · Manpower + 3 more
5 episodes aired on July 28, 1995: "Danny Glover", "Manpower", "The Black Fox", "Activism", and 1 more.
The Imaginary Treasure
1 episode aired on July 28, 1996: "The Imaginary Treasure".
Ep. #2596 · Monday, July 28, 1997 + 12 more
14 episodes aired on July 28, 1997: "Ep. #2596", "Monday, July 28, 1997", "Lullaby", "Vietnam: A Television History: The End of the Tunnel", and 10 more.
Women Spies in WWII · Sacrifice + 4 more
6 episodes aired on July 28, 1998: "Women Spies in WWII", "Sacrifice", "Jonathan Katz", "Kids with animals, Gary Sinise, Goo Goo Dolls", and 2 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.
Santana's "Smooth" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
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.
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.
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.
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 28 across the decade.
Soulja Boy, American rapper, producer, and actor
Soulja Boy, American rapper, producer, and actor
GloRilla, American rapper
GloRilla, American rapper
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from July 28 across the 1990s.
Simone Pizzuti, Italian footballer
Simone Pizzuti, Italian footballer
Harry Kane, English footballer
Harry Kane, English footballer
Walker Buehler, American baseball player
Walker Buehler, American baseball player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Jill Esmond
Jill Esmond, English actress (born 1908)
Spencer Boldman
Spencer Boldman, American actor
Evan Rodrigues
Evan Rodrigues, Canadian ice hockey player
Cher Lloyd
Cher Lloyd, English singer
The remains of a prehistoric man are discovered near Kennewick, Washington. Such remains will be known as the Kennewick Man.
Seni Pramoj, Thai lawyer and politician, 6th Prime Minister of Thailand (born 1905)
Trygve Haavelmo, Norwegian economist and mathematician, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1911)
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Soulja Boy
Soulja Boy, American rapper, producer, and actor
GloRilla
GloRilla, American rapper
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Harry Kane
Harry Kane, English footballer
Walker Buehler
Walker Buehler, American baseball player
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Michael Moore, Isaac Hayes, Louis Belson" (Season 1994, Episode 129) aired on 1994-07-28.
The Late Show with David Letterman
"Bob Newhart, Rosie Perez, The Mavericks" (Season 1994, Episode 120) aired on 1994-07-28.
Black Fox
"The Black Fox" (Season 1, Episode 1) aired on 1995-07-28.
Dennis Miller Live
"Activism" (Season 2, Episode 28) aired on 1995-07-28.
"Dennis Franz, Greer Barnes, Bruce Hornsby" (Season 1995, Episode 126) aired on 1995-07-28.
"Vietnam: A Television History: The End of the Tunnel" (Season 9, Episode 23) aired on 1997-07-28.
"Joseph Kennedy: Father of an American Dynasty" (Season 1997, Episode 98) aired on 1997-07-28.
"Ticket Brokers; Womens Basketball; Colorado Rockies" (Season 3, Episode 4) aired on 1997-07-28.
"Erica Jong" (Season 1997, Episode 99) aired on 1997-07-28.
"Jennifer Anniston, Brian Regan, William H. Macy" (Season 1997, Episode 120) aired on 1997-07-28.
"Women Spies in WWII" (Season 1, Episode 5) aired on 1998-07-28.
"Jonathan Katz" (Season 1998, Episode 93) aired on 1998-07-28.
"Kids with animals, Gary Sinise, Goo Goo Dolls" (Season 1998, Episode 119) aired on 1998-07-28.
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 — Santana, "Smooth"
#3 on TRL — Smash Mouth, "All Star"
#4 on TRL — Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love"
#5 on TRL — Will Smith, "Wild Wild West"
#6 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#7 on TRL — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#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
Get This in Your Inbox Every Morning
Every day at midnight, a fresh dose of 90s nostalgia hits your inbox — tailored to today's date in the 1990s. Music, news, sports, movies and more.
Browse All Posts →