August 17 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Strathfield massacre: In Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 29 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined August 17 across the 1990s.
Strathfield massacre: In Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, taxi driver Wade Fr…
Strathfield massacre: In Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, taxi driver Wade Frankum shoots and kills seven people and injures six others before turning the gun on himself.
Lewinsky scandal: US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony that he ha…
Lewinsky scandal: US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony that he had an "improper physical relationship" with White House intern Monica Lewinsky; later that same day he admits before the nation that he "misled people" about the relationship.
The 7.6 Mw İzmit earthquake shakes northwestern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli …
The 7.6 Mw İzmit earthquake shakes northwestern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving 17,118–17,127 dead and 43,953–50,000 injured.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Richard Benjamin, Milla · - + 8 more
10 episodes aired on August 17, 1994: "Richard Benjamin, Milla", "-", "Cristina Saralegui", "The Bonnet of Dolley Madison", and 6 more.
Paula Abdul · Jenni Meno, Todd Sand + 3 more
5 episodes aired on August 17, 1995: "Paula Abdul", "Jenni Meno, Todd Sand", "David Steinberg, Carlton Stowers", "Anna Nicole Smith (1)", and 1 more.
Respect Your Elders
1 episode aired on August 17, 1996: "Respect Your Elders".
Voices · Wild Weekend + 1 more
3 episodes aired on August 17, 1997: "Voices", "Wild Weekend", "Satellites".
The Wild Wild West / Angelica for a Day · August 17, 1998 + 7 more
9 episodes aired on August 17, 1998: "The Wild Wild West / Angelica for a Day", "August 17, 1998", "Battle of the Atlantic", "London Broil", and 5 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.
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.
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.
*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.
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.
98 Degrees's "The Hardest Thing" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Brandy & Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" 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.
Kid Rock's "Bawitdaba" 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 August 17 across the decade.
Phoebe Bridgers, American singer/songwriter
Phoebe Bridgers, American singer/songwriter
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from August 17 across the 1990s.
Ederson Moraes, Brazilian footballer
Ederson Moraes, Brazilian footballer
Jack Conklin, American football player
Jack Conklin, American football player
Ted Whitten, Australian footballer and coach (born 1933)
Ted Whitten, Australian footballer and coach (born 1933)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Japanese baseball player
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Japanese baseball player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Strathfield massacre
Strathfield massacre: In Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, taxi driver Wade Frankum shoots and kills seven people and injures six others before turning the gun on himself.
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Pearl Bailey
Pearl Bailey, American actress and singer (born 1918)
Strathfield massacre
Strathfield massacre: In Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, taxi driver Wade Frankum shoots and kills seven people and injures six others before turning the gun on himself.
Austin Butler
Austin Butler, American actor
Saraya Bevis
Saraya Bevis, English wrestler
Lewinsky scandal: US President Bill Clinton admits in taped testimony that he had an "improper physical relationship" with White House intern Monica Lewinsky; later that same day he admits before the nation that he "misled people" about the relationship.
The 7.6 Mw İzmit earthquake shakes northwestern Turkey with a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), leaving 17,118–17,127 dead and 43,953–50,000 injured.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Ederson (footballer, born 1993)
Ederson Moraes, Brazilian footballer
Jack Conklin
Jack Conklin, American football player
Ted Whitten
Ted Whitten, Australian footballer and coach (born 1933)
Yoshinobu Yamamoto
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Japanese baseball player
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Richard Benjamin, Milla" (Season 1994, Episode 143) aired on 1994-08-17.
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Bonnet of Dolley Madison" (Season 2, Episode 32) aired on 1994-08-17.
Babylon 5
"The Quality of Mercy" (Season 1, Episode 21) aired on 1994-08-17.
Models Inc.
"Meltdown" (Season 1, Episode 8) aired on 1994-08-17.
"Guatemalan babies stolen for adoption, switched identities in Vietnam" (Season 1, Episode 43) aired on 1994-08-17.
"Bruce Willis, Dave Chappelle" (Season 1994, Episode 134) aired on 1994-08-17.
"David Steinberg, Carlton Stowers" (Season 1995, Episode 144) aired on 1995-08-17.
"Anna Nicole Smith (1)" (Season 1995, Episode 7) aired on 1995-08-17.
"David Brenner, George Perrier, Alanis Morissette" (Season 1995, Episode 140) aired on 1995-08-17.
"The Wild Wild West / Angelica for a Day" (Season 5, Episode 9) aired on 1998-08-17.
"Battle of the Atlantic" (Season 2, Episode 8) aired on 1998-08-17.
"London Broil" (Season 5, Episode 10) aired on 1998-08-17.
"A Ghost Thrives Better Than Piggy Drives" (Season 6, Episode 10) aired on 1998-08-17.
"Dr. Joyce Brothers" (Season 1998, Episode 104) aired on 1998-08-17.
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 — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#3 on TRL — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#4 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#5 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#6 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
#7 on TRL — Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor"
#8 on TRL — Brandy & Monica, "The Boy Is Mine"
#9 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#10 on TRL — Kid Rock, "Bawitdaba"
By Year
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