September 20 across the 1990s: TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, 63 episodes were airing across the dial, and the music world had stories to tell. Here's the full picture, year by year.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Melissa Etheridge · Steal of the Century + 10 more
12 episodes aired on September 20, 1994: "Melissa Etheridge", "Steal of the Century", "Not a Shadow of a Doubt", "San Francisco", and 8 more.
Noah Wyle · Alfonso Ribiero + 10 more
12 episodes aired on September 20, 1995: "Noah Wyle", "Alfonso Ribiero", "City of Stone (3)", "Ann Rule, Bill Walton", and 8 more.
David Hyde Pierce · All Hail the Mask + 8 more
10 episodes aired on September 20, 1996: "David Hyde Pierce", "All Hail the Mask", "Ep. #7873", "I Love You", and 6 more.
Target · Peanut Butter, Eggs, and Dice + 14 more
16 episodes aired on September 20, 1997: "Target", "Peanut Butter, Eggs, and Dice", "Richard Lewis, Leila Kenzle, Nanci Griffith & The Crickets", "Faire Play / The Smell of Sucess", and 12 more.
Where There's Smoke · Enter Stone Monkey + 10 more
12 episodes aired on September 20, 1998: "Where There's Smoke", "Enter Stone Monkey", "1998 Week 3", "Heaven on Earth?/Who Will Succeed Him?/The Most Feared Gangster", and 8 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on September 20 across the decade.
Phillip Phillips, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Phillip Phillips, American singer-songwriter and guitarist
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from September 20 across the 1990s.
Ken Giles, American baseball player
Ken Giles, American baseball player · Carlos Hyde, American football player · Donatas Motiejūnas, Lithuanian basketball player
Isaac Cofie, Ghanaian footballer
Isaac Cofie, Ghanaian footballer
Michał Żyro, Polish footballer
Michał Żyro, Polish footballer
Kyle Anderson, American-Chinese basketball player
Kyle Anderson, American-Chinese basketball player · Julian Draxler, German footballer
Rob Holding, English footballer
Rob Holding, English footballer
Itamar Einhorn, Israeli Olympic cyclist
Itamar Einhorn, Israeli Olympic cyclist
Trevon Diggs, American football player
Trevon Diggs, American football player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
South Ossetia
South Ossetia declares its independence from Georgia.
John Tavares
John Tavares, Canadian ice hockey player
Erich Hartmann
Erich Hartmann, German soldier and pilot (born 1922)
Davidson Nicol
Abioseh Nicol, Sierra Leonean physician, academic, and diplomat (born 1924)
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Ken Giles
Ken Giles, American baseball player
Carlos Hyde
Carlos Hyde, American football player
Donatas Motiejūnas
Donatas Motiejūnas, Lithuanian basketball player
Isaac Cofie
Isaac Cofie, Ghanaian footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Biker Mice from Mars
"Steal of the Century" (Season 2, Episode 1) aired on 1994-09-20.
Taz-Mania
"Not a Shadow of a Doubt" (Season 1, Episode 49) aired on 1994-09-20.
Aladdin
"Web of Fear" (Season 2, Episode 7) aired on 1994-09-20.
Home Improvement
"Back in the Saddle Shoes Again" (Season 4, Episode 1) aired on 1994-09-20.
"Melissa Etheridge" (Season 1994, Episode 101) aired on 1994-09-20.
"Inning Three: The Faith of Fifty Million People" (Season 1, Episode 3) aired on 1994-09-20.
"Dudley Moore, Yo-Yo Ma" (Season 1994, Episode 153) aired on 1994-09-20.
"Ann Rule, Bill Walton" (Season 1995, Episode 158) aired on 1995-09-20.
"Fisher Stevens, Marv Albert, Kathleen Madigan" (Season 1995, Episode 154) aired on 1995-09-20.
"As If a Girl's Reach Should Exceed Her Grasp" (Season 1, Episode 1) aired on 1996-09-20.
"Stupid Pet Tricks, Drew Barrymore, Tony Avena, Pearl Jam" (Season 1996, Episode 151) aired on 1996-09-20.
"Richard Lewis, Leila Kenzle, Nanci Griffith & The Crickets" (Season 1997, Episode 19) aired on 1997-09-20.
"Is Paris Stinking? / Fangs for the Memories" (Season 3, Episode 2) aired on 1997-09-20.
"For Whom the Torch Rolls (Zeus, 400 BC, Olympia, Greece)" (Season 2, Episode 3) aired on 1997-09-20.
"Immature/ K-Ball/ ST Library: Whitney Houston" (Season 27, Episode 1) aired on 1997-09-20.
"Where There's Smoke" (Season 3, Episode 1) aired on 1998-09-20.
"Heaven on Earth?/Who Will Succeed Him?/The Most Feared Gangster" (Season 31, Episode 1) aired on 1998-09-20.
"Miles to Go Before I Sleep" (Season 5, Episode 1) aired on 1998-09-20.
"D-Day Deceptions" (Season 1, Episode 10) aired on 1998-09-20.
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 — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#3 on TRL — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#4 on TRL — Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love"
#5 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#6 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#7 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#8 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#9 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#10 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
By Year
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