September 16 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by The railroad between the People's Republic of China and Kaza…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 61 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined September 16 across the 1990s.
The railroad between the People's Republic of China and Kazakhstan is completed …
The railroad between the People's Republic of China and Kazakhstan is completed at Dostyk, adding a sizable link to the concept of the Eurasian Land Bridge.
The trial of the deposed Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega ends in the United S…
The trial of the deposed Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega ends in the United States with a 40-year sentence for drug trafficking and money laundering.
The British government lifts the broadcasting ban imposed against members of Sin…
The British government lifts the broadcasting ban imposed against members of Sinn Féin and Irish paramilitary groups in 1988.
Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on STS-79 to dock with the Russian space stat…
Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on STS-79 to dock with the Russian space station Mir.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Jay Leno · Taz Like Dingo + 5 more
7 episodes aired on September 16, 1994: "Jay Leno", "Taz Like Dingo", "Richard Simmons", "Cease Fire", and 3 more.
Boston, Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, Des'ree · Flexes Its Muscles + 13 more
15 episodes aired on September 16, 1995: "Boston, Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, Des'ree", "Flexes Its Muscles", "The Unknown Ninja", "Bride of Pretorius", and 11 more.
Responsibility · Bringing Home the Bacon + 15 more
17 episodes aired on September 16, 1996: "Responsibility", "Bringing Home the Bacon", "For All Mask-Kind", "Ep. #7869", and 13 more.
Identity Crisis · You Say It's Your Birthday + 7 more
9 episodes aired on September 16, 1997: "Identity Crisis", "You Say It's Your Birthday", "Tuesday, September 16, 1997", "Loose Lips Sink Yachts", and 5 more.
Rob Schneider, Maria Bello, Nick DiPaolo · Robo Racer + 8 more
10 episodes aired on September 16, 1998: "Rob Schneider, Maria Bello, Nick DiPaolo", "Robo Racer", "Tir Na Nog (2)", "Stinky Goes Hollywood / Olga Gets Engaged", 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
*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.
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 September 16 across the decade.
Nick Jonas, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Nick Jonas, American singer-songwriter and guitarist · Jake Roche, English singer-songwriter and actor
Metro Boomin, American record producer and songwriter
Metro Boomin, American record producer and songwriter · Joji, Japanese-Australian singer-songwriter
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from September 16 across the 1990s.
Vytenis Čižauskas, Lithuanian basketball player
Vytenis Čižauskas, Lithuanian basketball player
Sam Byram, English footballer
Sam Byram, English footballer
Aleksandar Mitrović, Serbian footballer
Aleksandar Mitrović, Serbian footballer
Aaron Gordon, American basketball player
Aaron Gordon, American basketball player
Jackie Young, American basketball player
Jackie Young, American basketball player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Alexandra Paul (figure skater)
Alexandra Paul, Canadian figure skater (died 2023)
Read more →The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Dostyk
The railroad between the People's Republic of China and Kazakhstan is completed at Dostyk, adding a sizable link to the concept of the Eurasian Land Bridge.
Alexandra Paul (figure skater)
Alexandra Paul, Canadian figure skater (died 2023)
Olga Spessivtseva
Olga Spessivtseva, Russian-American ballerina (born 1895)
Manuel Noriega
The trial of the deposed Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega ends in the United States with a 40-year sentence for drug trafficking and money laundering.
Black Wednesday: The British pound is forced out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism by currency speculators and is forced to devalue against the German mark.
The British government lifts the broadcasting ban imposed against members of Sinn Féin and Irish paramilitary groups in 1988.
Space Shuttle Atlantis is launched on STS-79 to dock with the Russian space station Mir.
McGeorge Bundy, American intelligence officer and diplomat, 6th United States National Security Advisor (born 1919)
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Nick Jonas
Nick Jonas, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Jake Roche
Jake Roche, English singer-songwriter and actor
Metro Boomin
Metro Boomin, American record producer and songwriter
Joji (musician)
Joji, Japanese-Australian singer-songwriter
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Vytenis Čižauskas
Vytenis Čižauskas, Lithuanian basketball player
Sam Byram
Sam Byram, English footballer
Aleksandar Mitrović
Aleksandar Mitrović, Serbian footballer
Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon, American basketball player
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Taz-Mania
"Taz Like Dingo" (Season 1, Episode 46) aired on 1994-09-16.
M.A.N.T.I.S.
"Cease Fire" (Season 1, Episode 4) aired on 1994-09-16.
The X-Files
"Little Green Men" (Season 2, Episode 1) aired on 1994-09-16.
Biography
"Mike Tyson: Fallen Champ" (Season 1994, Episode 28) aired on 1994-09-16.
"Janeane Garofalo, Mary Tyler Moore, Chuck Berry" (Season 1994, Episode 151) aired on 1994-09-16.
"Boston, Blues Traveler, Spin Doctors, Des'ree" (Season 1995, Episode 24) aired on 1995-09-16.
"The Unknown Ninja" (Season 9, Episode 1) aired on 1995-09-16.
"Platinum Wheel of Fortune" (Season 1, Episode 2) aired on 1995-09-16.
"The Tigress" (Season 3, Episode 1) aired on 1995-09-16.
"Responsibility" (Season 1, Episode 3) aired on 1996-09-16.
"The One With the Princess Leia Fantasy" (Season 3, Episode 1) aired on 1996-09-16.
"Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers" (Season 1996, Episode 3) aired on 1996-09-16.
"Robert Wuhl" (Season 1996, Episode 25) aired on 1996-09-16.
"Tim Allen, Tyson Koenig, Suzanne Vega" (Season 1996, Episode 147) aired on 1996-09-16.
"You Say It's Your Birthday" (Season 2, Episode 12) aired on 1997-09-16.
"Yasmine Bleeth" (Season 1997, Episode 119) aired on 1997-09-16.
"Rob Schneider, Maria Bello, Nick DiPaolo" (Season 1998, Episode 9) aired on 1998-09-16.
"Stinky Goes Hollywood / Olga Gets Engaged" (Season 3, Episode 5) aired on 1998-09-16.
"Christina Crawford, Gloria Gaynor, Mary Jo Buttafucco" (Season 2, Episode 49) aired on 1998-09-16.
"Ben Stiller" (Season 1998, Episode 117) aired on 1998-09-16.
"Bill Cosby, George Hamilton" (Season 1998, Episode 145) aired on 1998-09-16.
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 — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#3 on TRL — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#4 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#5 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#6 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#7 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#8 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#9 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#10 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
By Year
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