December 2 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-35, carrying the A…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 58 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined December 2 across the 1990s.
Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-35, carrying the ASTRO-1 spacelab obse…
Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-35, carrying the ASTRO-1 spacelab observatory.
Canada and Poland become the first nations to recognize the independence of Ukra…
Canada and Poland become the first nations to recognize the independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union.
Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-53 for the United States Department o…
Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-53 for the United States Department of Defense.
Space Shuttle program: STS-61: NASA launches the Space Shuttle Endeavour on a mi…
Space Shuttle program: STS-61: NASA launches the Space Shuttle Endeavour on a mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern …
The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive following the Good Friday Agreement.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
- · Lisa Hartman-Black, Jeff Smith + 6 more
8 episodes aired on December 2, 1994: "-", "Lisa Hartman-Black, Jeff Smith", "Ep. #7419", "The Lily-Crested Crown of Clovis the First", and 4 more.
Tom Petty (part 2) · Ups and Downs + 18 more
20 episodes aired on December 2, 1995: "Tom Petty (part 2)", "Ups and Downs", "My Gadget Guard", "Cosmo Not", and 16 more.
Ep. #7923 · Monday, December 2, 1996 + 8 more
10 episodes aired on December 2, 1996: "Ep. #7923", "Monday, December 2, 1996", "So Long, Spanky", "Ready, Set, Snow!", and 6 more.
Going on a Bear Hunt · Without Feathers + 6 more
8 episodes aired on December 2, 1997: "Going on a Bear Hunt", "Without Feathers", "Christmas In Rockefeller Center 1997", "Danger in the Jet Stream", and 4 more.
Blue Agave · Nothing Human + 6 more
8 episodes aired on December 2, 1998: "Blue Agave", "Nothing Human", "Love and War", "Turkey Day Blues", and 4 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.
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.
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.
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.
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 December 2 across the decade.
Charlie Puth, American singer-songwriter and pianist
Charlie Puth, American singer-songwriter and pianist
Michael Hedges, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1953)…
Michael Hedges, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1953)
Juice Wrld, American rapper, singer and songwriter (died 2019)…
Juice Wrld, American rapper, singer and songwriter (died 2019)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from December 2 across the 1990s.
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Ghanaian footballer
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Ghanaian footballer · Gastón Ramírez, Uruguayan footballer
Brandon Knight, American basketball player
Brandon Knight, American basketball player
Sim Bhullar, Canadian basketball player
Sim Bhullar, Canadian basketball player · Gary Sánchez, Dominican baseball player
Kostas Stafylidis, Greek footballer
Kostas Stafylidis, Greek footballer
Zach Cunningham, American football player
Zach Cunningham, American football player · Aaron Jones, American football player
De'Andre Hunter, American basketball player
De'Andre Hunter, American basketball player
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Before Twitter, before 24/7 news apps — here's what had everyone talking:
Space Shuttle Columbia
Space Shuttle Columbia is launched on STS-35, carrying the ASTRO-1 spacelab observatory.
Aaron Copland
Aaron Copland, American composer and conductor (born 1900)
Robert Cummings
Robert Cummings, American actor, director, and producer (born 1908)
Ukraine
Canada and Poland become the first nations to recognize the independence of Ukraine from the Soviet Union.
Space Shuttle Discovery is launched on STS-53 for the United States Department of Defense.
Space Shuttle program: STS-61: NASA launches the Space Shuttle Endeavour on a mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope.
The United Kingdom devolves political power in Northern Ireland to the Northern Ireland Executive following the Good Friday Agreement.
From grunge to hip-hop to pop — the 90s music scene was everything:
Charlie Puth
Charlie Puth, American singer-songwriter and pianist
Michael Hedges
Michael Hedges, American singer-songwriter and guitarist (born 1953)
Juice Wrld
Juice Wrld, American rapper, singer and songwriter (died 2019)
From stadiums to living rooms, these were the names fans were cheering:
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Ghanaian footballer
Gastón Ramírez
Gastón Ramírez, Uruguayan footballer
Brandon Knight (basketball)
Brandon Knight, American basketball player
Sim Bhullar
Sim Bhullar, Canadian basketball player
The silver screen and the small screen were both firing on all cylinders:
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7419" (Season 1994, Episode 278) aired on 1994-12-02.
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Lily-Crested Crown of Clovis the First" (Season 3, Episode 15) aired on 1994-12-02.
Homicide: Life on the Street
"Crosetti" (Season 3, Episode 6) aired on 1994-12-02.
Picket Fences
"For Whom the Wind Blows" (Season 3, Episode 9) aired on 1994-12-02.
"Lisa Hartman-Black, Jeff Smith" (Season 1994, Episode 166) aired on 1994-12-02.
"Michael Keaton, Nicholas Turturro, Vanessa Williams" (Season 1994, Episode 200) aired on 1994-12-02.
"Folding Workbench, Pt. 2" (Season 15, Episode 9) aired on 1995-12-02.
"On Safari with Jack" (Season 3, Episode 8) aired on 1995-12-02.
"The Tale of Prisoners Past" (Season 5, Episode 5) aired on 1995-12-02.
"Anthony Edwards / Foo Fighters" (Season 21, Episode 7) aired on 1995-12-02.
"San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons" (Season 1996, Episode 14) aired on 1996-12-02.
"Robin Leach" (Season 1996, Episode 54) aired on 1996-12-02.
"Without Feathers" (Season 4, Episode 17) aired on 1997-12-02.
"Christmas In Rockefeller Center 1997" (Season 1997, Episode 1) aired on 1997-12-02.
"Ernie Hudson" (Season 1997, Episode 154) aired on 1997-12-02.
"Patricia Heaton" (Season 1998, Episode 152) aired on 1998-12-02.
Before YouTube, this is how you discovered music videos:
The #1 most requested video on TRL on this date in 1999
#2 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#3 on TRL — Blink-182, "What's My Age Again?"
#4 on TRL — Santana, "Smooth"
#5 on TRL — Smash Mouth, "All Star"
#6 on TRL — Jennifer Lopez, "If You Had My Love"
#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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