August 31 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Saddam Hussein's troops seized Irbil after the Kurdish Masou…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 23 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined August 31 across the 1990s.
Saddam Hussein's troops seized Irbil after the Kurdish Masoud Barzani appealed f…
Saddam Hussein's troops seized Irbil after the Kurdish Masoud Barzani appealed for help to defeat his Kurdish rival PUK.
Diana, Princess of Wales, her partner, Dodi Fayed, and driver Henri Paul die in …
Diana, Princess of Wales, her partner, Dodi Fayed, and driver Henri Paul die in a car crash in Paris.
The first of a series of bombings in Moscow kills one person and wounds 40 other…
The first of a series of bombings in Moscow kills one person and wounds 40 others.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Linda Dano, Dr. Joyce Brothers · The Missing Weather Maps of Charles Lindbergh + 4 more
6 episodes aired on August 31, 1994: "Linda Dano, Dr. Joyce Brothers", "The Missing Weather Maps of Charles Lindbergh", "updates", "Ooh, Maybe Baby", and 2 more.
Reggie Miller · Janice Dickinson, Toukie Smith + 2 more
4 episodes aired on August 31, 1995: "Reggie Miller", "Janice Dickinson, Toukie Smith", "The New Pilot, Literally", "High on the Hog".
Miami-Homestead, Florida 12 · A Very Brody Tweeznax
2 episodes aired on August 31, 1996: "Miami-Homestead, Florida 12", "A Very Brody Tweeznax".
1997 Week 1 · Alibi
2 episodes aired on August 31, 1997: "1997 Week 1", "Alibi".
Helga Blabs It All / Harold the Butcher · August 31, 1998 + 6 more
8 episodes aired on August 31, 1998: "Helga Blabs It All / Harold the Butcher", "August 31, 1998", "Escape from Oz", "Chance of a Lifetime", and 4 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.
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.
Korn's "Freak On A Leash" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
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.
*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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on August 31 across the decade.
BossMan Dlow, American rapper
BossMan Dlow, American rapper
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from August 31 across the 1990s.
Nathaniel Clifton, American basketball player and coach (born 1922)
Nathaniel Clifton, American basketball player and coach (born 1922)
Cédric Soares, Portuguese footballer
Cédric Soares, Portuguese footballer
Nicolás Tagliafico, Argentine footballer
Nicolás Tagliafico, Argentine footballer
Pablo Marí, Spanish football player
Pablo Marí, Spanish football player · Ilnur Alshin, Russian football player
Alex Harris, Scottish footballer
Alex Harris, Scottish footballer · Can Aktav, Turkish football player
Brittany Mahomes, American soccer player
Brittany Mahomes, American soccer player
Jalen Brunson, American basketball player
Jalen Brunson, American basketball player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Missing Weather Maps of Charles Lindbergh" (Season 2, Episode 38) aired on 1994-08-31.
Read more →
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Tadeja Majerič
Tadeja Majerič, Slovenian tennis player
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan declares its independence from the Soviet Union.
António Félix da Costa
António Félix da Costa, Portuguese race car driver
Tyler Randell (rugby league)
Tyler Randell, Australian rugby league player
Saddam Hussein's troops seized Irbil after the Kurdish Masoud Barzani appealed for help to defeat his Kurdish rival PUK.
Diana, Princess of Wales, her partner, Dodi Fayed, and driver Henri Paul die in a car crash in Paris.
The first of a series of bombings in Moscow kills one person and wounds 40 others.
A LAPA Boeing 737-200 crashes during takeoff from Jorge Newbury Airport in Buenos Aires, killing 65, including two on the ground.
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Nat Clifton
Nathaniel Clifton, American basketball player and coach (born 1922)
Cédric Soares
Cédric Soares, Portuguese footballer
Nicolás Tagliafico
Nicolás Tagliafico, Argentine footballer
Ilnur Alshin
Ilnur Alshin, Russian football player
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Missing Weather Maps of Charles Lindbergh" (Season 2, Episode 38) aired on 1994-08-31.
Muddling Through
"Ooh, Maybe Baby" (Season 1, Episode 8) aired on 1994-08-31.
Dead at 21
"In Through the Out Door (1)" (Season 1, Episode 12) aired on 1994-08-31.
The Late Show with David Letterman
"Kathie Lee Gifford, Jack Hanna, Charlie Musselwhite" (Season 1994, Episode 139) aired on 1994-08-31.
"Linda Dano, Dr. Joyce Brothers" (Season 1994, Episode 101) aired on 1994-08-31.
"Janice Dickinson, Toukie Smith" (Season 1995, Episode 148) aired on 1995-08-31.
"Helga Blabs It All / Harold the Butcher" (Season 3, Episode 1) aired on 1998-08-31.
"Jean-Claude Van Damme, Darryl Strawberry, Joe Cocker" (Season 1998, Episode 133) aired on 1998-08-31.
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 — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#3 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#4 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#5 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#6 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#7 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#8 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
#9 on TRL — Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor"
#10 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
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 →