November 2 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by British Satellite Broadcasting and Sky Television plc merge …, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 93 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined November 2 across the 1990s.
British Satellite Broadcasting and Sky Television plc merge to form BSkyB as a r…
British Satellite Broadcasting and Sky Television plc merge to form BSkyB as a result of massive losses.
Peter Matthew Hillsman Taylor, American novelist, short-story writer, and playwr…
Peter Matthew Hillsman Taylor, American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright (born 1917)
Tropical Storm Linda makes landfall in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, causing more…
Tropical Storm Linda makes landfall in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, causing more than 3,000 deaths.
Honolulu shootings: In the worst mass murder in the history of Hawaii, a gunman …
Honolulu shootings: In the worst mass murder in the history of Hawaii, a gunman shoots at eight people in his workplace, killing seven.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Peri Gilpin, George Takei · Die Fledermice + 13 more
15 episodes aired on November 2, 1994: "Peri Gilpin, George Takei", "Die Fledermice", "Barbara Eden", "Follow the Son", and 11 more.
Boy George · growing ivy + 10 more
12 episodes aired on November 2, 1995: "Boy George", "growing ivy", "Jay Thomas, Sue Grafton", "The One With the Baby on the Bus", and 8 more.
Madison (host), Elton John · Goes Upstream (Migration) + 25 more
27 episodes aired on November 2, 1996: "Madison (host), Elton John", "Goes Upstream (Migration)", "Gormongus!", "Color Me Cavekid", and 23 more.
The Late Mr. Kent · 1997 New York City Marathon + 13 more
15 episodes aired on November 2, 1997: "The Late Mr. Kent", "1997 New York City Marathon", "Ali Rashid and the Thieves", "1997 Week 10", and 11 more.
Robodog · Books Are Fun! + 19 more
21 episodes aired on November 2, 1998: "Robodog", "Books Are Fun!", "The Chips are Down", "Best Man / Cool Party", and 17 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.
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.
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.
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.
Smash Mouth's "All Star" 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.
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.
Will Smith's "Wild Wild West" 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.
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.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on November 2 across the decade.
Kendall Schmidt, American singer, songwriter, and actor
Kendall Schmidt, American singer, songwriter, and actor · Eliot Porter, American photographer, chemist, and academic (born 1901)
Mort Shuman, American singer-songwriter and pianist (born 1936)…
Mort Shuman, American singer-songwriter and pianist (born 1936)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from November 2 across the 1990s.
Christopher Dibon, Austrian footballer
Christopher Dibon, Austrian footballer
Jimmy Garoppolo, American football player
Jimmy Garoppolo, American football player
Shaq Coulthirst, English footballer
Shaq Coulthirst, English footballer
Davis Keillor-Dunn, English footballer
Davis Keillor-Dunn, English footballer
Jordan Love, American football player
Jordan Love, American football player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Before Twitter, before 24/7 news apps — here's what had everyone talking:
British Satellite Broadcasting
British Satellite Broadcasting and Sky Television plc merge to form BSkyB as a result of massive losses.
Robert Arneson
Robert Arneson, American sculptor and academic (born 1930)
Hal Roach
Hal Roach, American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter (born 1892)
Peter Taylor (writer)
Peter Matthew Hillsman Taylor, American novelist, short-story writer, and playwright (born 1917)
Tropical Storm Linda makes landfall in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam, causing more than 3,000 deaths.
Honolulu shootings: In the worst mass murder in the history of Hawaii, a gunman shoots at eight people in his workplace, killing seven.
From grunge to hip-hop to pop — the 90s music scene was everything:
Kendall Schmidt
Kendall Schmidt, American singer, songwriter, and actor
Eliot Porter
Eliot Porter, American photographer, chemist, and academic (born 1901)
Mort Shuman
Mort Shuman, American singer-songwriter and pianist (born 1936)
From stadiums to living rooms, these were the names fans were cheering:
Christopher Dibon
Christopher Dibon, Austrian footballer
Jimmy Garoppolo
Jimmy Garoppolo, American football player
Shaq Coulthirst
Shaq Coulthirst, English footballer
Jordan Love
Jordan Love, American football player
The silver screen and the small screen were both firing on all cylinders:
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
"Peri Gilpin, George Takei" (Season 1994, Episode 157) aired on 1994-11-02.
Biker Mice from Mars
"Die Fledermice" (Season 2, Episode 20) aired on 1994-11-02.
Roseanne
"Follow the Son" (Season 7, Episode 7) aired on 1994-11-02.
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7403" (Season 1994, Episode 252) aired on 1994-11-02.
"The Dried Apple Half of William Tell" (Season 3, Episode 7) aired on 1994-11-02.
"Lily Tomlin, Sam Donaldson, Jesus & Mary Chain" (Season 1994, Episode 179) aired on 1994-11-02.
"Jay Thomas, Sue Grafton" (Season 1995, Episode 184) aired on 1995-11-02.
"Robert Downey Jr., Steffi Graf, Rickie Lee Jones" (Season 1995, Episode 180) aired on 1995-11-02.
"Goes Upstream (Migration)" (Season 3, Episode 8) aired on 1996-11-02.
"The Scare Up There / If It's Wednesday, This Must Be Holland" (Season 2, Episode 4) aired on 1996-11-02.
"Divide and Conquer" (Season 10, Episode 8) aired on 1996-11-02.
"Chris Rock / The Wallflowers" (Season 22, Episode 5) aired on 1996-11-02.
"The Late Mr. Kent" (Season 2, Episode 22) aired on 1997-11-02.
"1997 New York City Marathon" (Season 1997, Episode 1) aired on 1997-11-02.
"Ali Rashid and the Thieves" (Season 2, Episode 5) aired on 1997-11-02.
"Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella" (Season 42, Episode 7) aired on 1997-11-02.
"Jumpin' Crack Bass (It's a Gas, Gas, Gas)" (Season 2, Episode 5) aired on 1997-11-02.
"Murder, She Wrote: South by Southwest" (Season 12, Episode ?) aired on 1997-11-02.
"Mahatma Gandhi: Pilgrim of Peace" (Season 1997, Episode 101) aired on 1997-11-02.
"Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles" (Season 1998, Episode 9) aired on 1998-11-02.
"Blair Underwood" (Season 1998, Episode 139) aired on 1998-11-02.
"Anthony Hopkins, Buzz Aldrin, Depeche Mode" (Season 1998, Episode 173) aired on 1998-11-02.
Before YouTube, this is how you discovered music videos:
The #1 most requested video on TRL on this date in 1999
#2 on TRL — Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love"
#3 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#4 on TRL — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#5 on TRL — Smash Mouth, "All Star"
#6 on TRL — Blink-182, "What's My Age Again?"
#7 on TRL — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#8 on TRL — Will Smith, "Wild Wild West"
#9 on TRL — Savage Garden, "I Want You"
#10 on TRL — TLC, "No Scrubs"
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 →