October 19 across the 1990s: TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, 76 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.
Martin Landau · The Inquisition + 9 more
11 episodes aired on October 19, 1994: "Martin Landau", "The Inquisition", "Oprah Winfrey, Dave Thomas", "Sleeper", and 7 more.
Jean Kasem · Mary Fisher, David Halberstam + 10 more
12 episodes aired on October 19, 1995: "Jean Kasem", "Mary Fisher, David Halberstam", "The One With Five Steaks and an Eggplant", "Home Care", and 8 more.
Madison (host), Harry Connick Jr., Charlie Watts · Shows & Tells (Archaeology) + 20 more
22 episodes aired on October 19, 1996: "Madison (host), Harry Connick Jr., Charlie Watts", "Shows & Tells (Archaeology)", "Kiss and Spell", "How to Succeed in Washington Without Really Trying", and 18 more.
Heart and Soul · 1997 Week 8 + 7 more
9 episodes aired on October 19, 1997: "Heart and Soul", "1997 Week 8", "Monkey Business / Big Caesar", "Sabrina the Teenage Witch", and 5 more.
Arnold Betrays Iggy / Helga and the Nanny · CatDog's End + 17 more
19 episodes aired on October 19, 1998: "Arnold Betrays Iggy / Helga and the Nanny", "CatDog's End", "Paternal Affairs", "... And a Nice Chianti", and 15 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.
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.
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.
Santana's "Smooth" 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.
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.
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.
Blink-182's "What's My Age Again?" 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.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on October 19 across the decade.
Janet Leon, Swedish singer-songwriter and dancer
Janet Leon, Swedish singer-songwriter and dancer
Colton Dixon, American singer-songwriter and pianist
Colton Dixon, American singer-songwriter and pianist
Lil Durk, American rapper
Lil Durk, American rapper
Glen Buxton, American guitarist and songwriter (born 1947)
Glen Buxton, American guitarist and songwriter (born 1947)
Carlotta Truman, German singer-songwriter
Carlotta Truman, German singer-songwriter
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from October 19 across the 1990s.
Tom Kilbey, English footballer
Tom Kilbey, English footballer
Anthony Santander, Venezuelan baseball player
Anthony Santander, Venezuelan baseball player
Sammis Reyes, Chilean-American football and basketball player
Sammis Reyes, Chilean-American football and basketball player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
From politics to pop culture — the 90s news cycle never slept:
Ciara Renée
Ciara Renée, American actress and singer
Endō Shōta
Endō Shōta, Japanese sumo wrestler
Magnus Pyke
Magnus Pyke, English scientist and television host (born 1908)
Abby Sunderland
Abby Sunderland, American sailor
Whether you were a Blockbuster music shopper or a MTV devotee, these names mattered:
Janet Leon
Janet Leon, Swedish singer-songwriter and dancer
Colton Dixon
Colton Dixon, American singer-songwriter and pianist
Lil Durk
Lil Durk, American rapper
Glen Buxton
Glen Buxton, American guitarist and songwriter (born 1947)
The 90s produced legends. Here's who was in the spotlight:
Anthony Santander
Anthony Santander, Venezuelan baseball player
Sammis Reyes
Sammis Reyes, Chilean-American football and basketball player
Before streaming, before binge watching — these titles had us glued to the set:
Biker Mice from Mars
"The Inquisition" (Season 2, Episode 14) aired on 1994-10-19.
Roseanne
"Sleeper" (Season 7, Episode 5) aired on 1994-10-19.
Touched by an Angel
"Fallen Angela" (Season 1, Episode 4) aired on 1994-10-19.
American Experience
"Telegrams from the Dead" (Season 7, Episode 5) aired on 1994-10-19.
"Prostitution, Sex and the Law" (Season 3, Episode 22) aired on 1994-10-19.
"Mary Fisher, David Halberstam" (Season 1995, Episode 179) aired on 1995-10-19.
"The One With Five Steaks and an Eggplant" (Season 2, Episode 5) aired on 1995-10-19.
"Revised Old Pilot (aka Invitation to a Wedding)" (Season 1, Episode 8) aired on 1995-10-19.
"Lisa Kudrow, William Shatner, Oasis" (Season 1995, Episode 170) aired on 1995-10-19.
"Madison (host), Harry Connick Jr., Charlie Watts" (Season 1996, Episode 32) aired on 1996-10-19.
"Shows & Tells (Archaeology)" (Season 3, Episode 6) aired on 1996-10-19.
"How to Succeed in Washington Without Really Trying" (Season 2, Episode 5) aired on 1996-10-19.
"Mobster from Dimension X" (Season 10, Episode 6) aired on 1996-10-19.
"Picture Perfect" (Season 4, Episode 4) aired on 1996-10-19.
"Bill Pullman / New Edition" (Season 22, Episode 3) aired on 1996-10-19.
"The Way of All Flesh" (Season 1, Episode 7) aired on 1996-10-19.
"Sabrina the Teenage Witch" (Season 42, Episode 5) aired on 1997-10-19.
"Arnold Betrays Iggy / Helga and the Nanny" (Season 3, Episode 10) aired on 1998-10-19.
"New York Jets at New England Patriots" (Season 1998, Episode 7) aired on 1998-10-19.
"Community Theater" (Season 5, Episode 16) aired on 1998-10-19.
"Saving Mr. Lincoln" (Season 1, Episode 3) aired on 1998-10-19.
"Stephen Baldwin" (Season 1998, Episode 131) aired on 1998-10-19.
"Mark McGwire, Robert Benigni, Bruce Hornsby" (Season 1998, Episode 163) aired on 1998-10-19.
The MTV countdown was everything. These videos owned TRL:
The #1 most requested video on TRL on this date in 1999
#2 on TRL — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#3 on TRL — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#4 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#5 on TRL — Santana, "Smooth"
#6 on TRL — TLC, "No Scrubs"
#7 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#8 on TRL — Savage Garden, "I Want You"
#9 on TRL — Blink-182, "What's My Age Again?"
#10 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
By Year
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