October 21 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by North Korea and the United States sign an Agreed Framework t…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 87 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined October 21 across the 1990s.
North Korea and the United States sign an Agreed Framework that requires North K…
North Korea and the United States sign an Agreed Framework that requires North Korea to stop its nuclear weapons program and agree to inspections.
Francis W. Sargent, American soldier and politician, 64th Governor of Massachuse…
Francis W. Sargent, American soldier and politician, 64th Governor of Massachusetts (born 1915)
Ahmet Taner Kışlalı, Turkish political scientist, lawyer, and politician (born 1…
Ahmet Taner Kışlalı, Turkish political scientist, lawyer, and politician (born 1939)
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Jennifer Tllly · Richard Belzer + 9 more
11 episodes aired on October 21, 1994: "Jennifer Tllly", "Richard Belzer", "Ep. #7395", "The Bullet-Riddled Handbag of Belle Boyd", and 7 more.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Motörhead, Bad Company, Foreigner · In a Pickle + 23 more
25 episodes aired on October 21, 1995: "Lynyrd Skynyrd, Motörhead, Bad Company, Foreigner", "In a Pickle", "Diet of Worms", "Split-Second", and 21 more.
Comics for Tomorrow Today · Cybill Does Diary + 14 more
16 episodes aired on October 21, 1996: "Comics for Tomorrow Today", "Cybill Does Diary", "Snowball Fight", "Ep. #7894", and 12 more.
The Turkey Who Came to Dinner · Ep. #2655 + 10 more
12 episodes aired on October 21, 1997: "The Turkey Who Came to Dinner", "Ep. #2655", "King of the Fleas", "Leaving", and 8 more.
Wednesday, 21 October · Career Day / Hey Harold! + 17 more
19 episodes aired on October 21, 1998: "Wednesday, 21 October", "Career Day / Hey Harold!", "Nightmare", "Alternative Lifestyles", 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 21 across the decade.
Kane Brown, American singer and songwriter
Kane Brown, American singer and songwriter
Doja Cat, American rapper, singer and songwriter
Doja Cat, American rapper, singer and songwriter · Shannon Hoon, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1967)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from October 21 across the 1990s.
Bengali-Fodé Koita, French footballer
Bengali-Fodé Koita, French footballer · Mathieu Peybernes, French footballer · Ricky Rubio, Spanish basketball player
Tom Eastman, English footballer
Tom Eastman, English footballer · Geoffry Hairemans, Belgian footballer · Vadaine Oliver, English footballer · Harry Pell, English footballer
Damion Lee, American basketball player
Damion Lee, American basketball player
Cameron Burgess, Scottish-Australian footballer
Cameron Burgess, Scottish-Australian footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
The world was watching. Here's what dominated the headlines:
Kristján Þórður Snæbjarnarson
Kristján Þórður Snæbjarnarson, Icelandic politician
Dany Chamoun
Dany Chamoun, Lebanese engineer and politician (born 1934)
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar
Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar, Indian spiritual guru, philosopher and author (born 1921)
Alexander Burmistrov
Alexander Burmistrov, Russian ice hockey player
North Korea and the United States sign an Agreed Framework that requires North Korea to stop its nuclear weapons program and agree to inspections.
In Seoul, South Korea, 32 people are killed when a span of the Seongsu Bridge collapses.
Francis W. Sargent, American soldier and politician, 64th Governor of Massachusetts (born 1915)
Ahmet Taner Kışlalı, Turkish political scientist, lawyer, and politician (born 1939)
The decade's soundtrack was electric. These artists were making waves:
Kane Brown
Kane Brown, American singer and songwriter
Doja Cat
Doja Cat, American rapper, singer and songwriter
Shannon Hoon
Shannon Hoon, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1967)
On the field and off it, athletes were making history:
Bengali-Fodé Koita
Bengali-Fodé Koita, French footballer
Ricky Rubio
Ricky Rubio, Spanish basketball player
Tom Eastman
Tom Eastman, English footballer
Vadaine Oliver
Vadaine Oliver, English footballer
Must-see TV was a real thing — and this is what filled the airwaves:
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7395" (Season 1994, Episode 244) aired on 1994-10-21.
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Bullet-Riddled Handbag of Belle Boyd" (Season 3, Episode 4) aired on 1994-10-21.
Aladdin
"Heads, You Lose" (Season 2, Episode 52) aired on 1994-10-21.
M.A.N.T.I.S.
"Fire in the Heart" (Season 1, Episode 9) aired on 1994-10-21.
"Fits Like a Glove" (Season 3, Episode 2) aired on 1994-10-21.
"Lynyrd Skynyrd, Motörhead, Bad Company, Foreigner" (Season 1995, Episode 29) aired on 1995-10-21.
"How Much Is That Dog in the Tin Can?" (Season 1, Episode 12) aired on 1995-10-21.
"Raiders of the Lost Mummies" (Season 1, Episode 7) aired on 1995-10-21.
"Follow My Footprints" (Season 3, Episode 6) aired on 1995-10-21.
"Chisels, Gouges and Mallets" (Season 15, Episode 3) aired on 1995-10-21.
"Kato Kaelin, Joe Walsh and Dean Stockwell" (Season 1, Episode 2) aired on 1995-10-21.
"David Schwimmer / Natalie Merchant" (Season 21, Episode 3) aired on 1995-10-21.
"Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers" (Season 1996, Episode 8) aired on 1996-10-21.
"Jamie Foxx" (Season 1996, Episode 40) aired on 1996-10-21.
"Cindy Crawford, Jack Hanna, Lyle Lovett" (Season 1996, Episode 167) aired on 1996-10-21.
"Behind the Mask: The IRA and Sinn Fein" (Season 1997, Episode 16) aired on 1997-10-21.
"Richard Jeni" (Season 1997, Episode 135) aired on 1997-10-21.
"Two Guys, a Girl and an Elective" (Season 2, Episode 5) aired on 1998-10-21.
"Sexual Perversity in Cleveland" (Season 4, Episode 5) aired on 1998-10-21.
"Hope You Had the Time of Your Wife" (Season 1, Episode 4) aired on 1998-10-21.
"Jennifer Tilly" (Season 1998, Episode 133) aired on 1998-10-21.
"Jeff Daniels, David Cross, Mitch Hedberg" (Season 1998, Episode 165) aired on 1998-10-21.
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 — 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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