November 17 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Fugendake, part of the Mount Unzen volcanic complex, Nagasak…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 82 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined November 17 across the 1990s.
Fugendake, part of the Mount Unzen volcanic complex, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan,…
Fugendake, part of the Mount Unzen volcanic complex, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, becomes active again and erupts.
United States House of Representatives passes a resolution to establish the Nort…
United States House of Representatives passes a resolution to establish the North American Free Trade Agreement.
In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people are killed by six Islamic militants outside the Templ…
In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people are killed by six Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut, known as Luxor massacre.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Camille Paglia · Mad Scientist Wanted + 10 more
12 episodes aired on November 17, 1994: "Camille Paglia", "Mad Scientist Wanted", "John Denver", "Ep. #7409", and 8 more.
The Survivors from Outer Space · Jonathan Silverman + 9 more
11 episodes aired on November 17, 1995: "The Survivors from Outer Space", "Jonathan Silverman", "Lainie Kazan", "-", and 7 more.
The Main Man Part II · 1996 Week 12 + 13 more
15 episodes aired on November 17, 1996: "The Main Man Part II", "1996 Week 12", "Comic canines; psychic grandma", "Downtown Girl", and 11 more.
The Good-bye Chick · A Plant Grows in Bear's House + 19 more
21 episodes aired on November 17, 1997: "The Good-bye Chick", "A Plant Grows in Bear's House", "Grandbaby", "First Day of School", and 17 more.
Rudy Will Await Your Foundation · Flight of the Donnie + 17 more
19 episodes aired on November 17, 1998: "Rudy Will Await Your Foundation", "Flight of the Donnie", "Family Reunion (2)", "A Royal Welcome", 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.
Santana's "Smooth" 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on November 17 across the decade.
Alan Hull, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1945)…
Alan Hull, English singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1945)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from November 17 across the 1990s.
Elías Díaz, Venezuelan baseball player
Elías Díaz, Venezuelan baseball player
Damiris Dantas, Brazilian basketball player
Damiris Dantas, Brazilian basketball player
Minkah Fitzpatrick, American football player
Minkah Fitzpatrick, American football player
Dragan Bender, Croatian basketball player
Dragan Bender, Croatian basketball player · Julian Ryerson, Norwegian footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Robert Hofstadter
Robert Hofstadter, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1915)
Read more →Biker Mice from Mars
"Mad Scientist Wanted" (Season 2, Episode 23) aired on 1994-11-17.
Read more →Before Twitter, before 24/7 news apps — here's what had everyone talking:
Mount Unzen
Fugendake, part of the Mount Unzen volcanic complex, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, becomes active again and erupts.
Robert Hofstadter
Robert Hofstadter, American physicist and academic, Nobel Prize laureate (born 1915)
Katarzyna Kawa
Katarzyna Kawa, Polish tennis player
Danielle Kettlewell
Danielle Kettlewell, Australian synchronised swimmer
United States House of Representatives passes a resolution to establish the North American Free Trade Agreement.
In Nigeria, General Sani Abacha ousts the government of Ernest Shonekan in a military coup.
Gérard D. Levesque, Canadian lawyer and politician, fifth Deputy Premier of Quebec (born 1926)
In Luxor, Egypt, 62 people are killed by six Islamic militants outside the Temple of Hatshepsut, known as Luxor massacre.
From grunge to hip-hop to pop — the 90s music scene was everything:
From stadiums to living rooms, these were the names fans were cheering:
Elías Díaz
Elías Díaz, Venezuelan baseball player
Damiris Dantas
Damiris Dantas, Brazilian basketball player
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Minkah Fitzpatrick, American football player
Dragan Bender
Dragan Bender, Croatian basketball player
The silver screen and the small screen were both firing on all cylinders:
Biker Mice from Mars
"Mad Scientist Wanted" (Season 2, Episode 23) aired on 1994-11-17.
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7409" (Season 1994, Episode 268) aired on 1994-11-17.
Aladdin
"Night of the Living Mud" (Season 2, Episode 49) aired on 1994-11-17.
Friends
"The One Where Underdog Gets Away" (Season 1, Episode 9) aired on 1994-11-17.
"John Turturro / Tom Petty" (Season 20, Episode 6) aired on 1994-11-17.
"Emma Thompson, Sean Austin Jr., David Sanborn, Basia" (Season 1994, Episode 189) aired on 1994-11-17.
"The Survivors from Outer Space" (Season 2, Episode 15) aired on 1995-11-17.
"Jonathan Silverman" (Season 1995, Episode 138) aired on 1995-11-17.
"Rosie O'Donnell, Gabriel Byrne, The Presidents Of The United States Of America" (Season 1995, Episode 191) aired on 1995-11-17.
"The Main Man Part II" (Season 1, Episode 10) aired on 1996-11-17.
"Comic canines; psychic grandma" (Season 8, Episode 9) aired on 1996-11-17.
"Requiem for a Chevyweight (2)" (Season 11, Episode 5) aired on 1996-11-17.
"Bob and Carol and Lois and Clark" (Season 4, Episode 8) aired on 1996-11-17.
"Musings of a Cigarette-Smoking Man" (Season 4, Episode 7) aired on 1996-11-17.
"The Good-bye Chick" (Season 2, Episode 33) aired on 1997-11-17.
"A Plant Grows in Bear's House" (Season 1, Episode 21) aired on 1997-11-17.
"What's My Line?: Part I" (Season 2, Episode 9) aired on 1997-11-17.
"Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins" (Season 1997, Episode 13) aired on 1997-11-17.
"Fred Savage" (Season 1997, Episode 149) aired on 1997-11-17.
"Richard Simmons, Venus Williams, Wynonna" (Season 1997, Episode 186) aired on 1997-11-17.
"Egg of the Dragon" (Season 1, Episode 25) aired on 1998-11-17.
"Kate Mulgrew" (Season 1998, Episode 147) aired on 1998-11-17.
"Will Smith, Jack Hanna" (Season 1998, Episode 184) aired on 1998-11-17.
Before YouTube, this is how you discovered music videos:
The #1 most requested video on TRL on this date in 1999
#2 on TRL — Santana, "Smooth"
#3 on TRL — Smash Mouth, "All Star"
#4 on TRL — Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love"
#5 on TRL — Will Smith, "Wild Wild West"
#6 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#7 on TRL — Ricky Martin, "Livin' la Vida Loca"
#8 on TRL — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#9 on TRL — Savage Garden, "I Want You"
#10 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
By Year
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