December 13 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, American businessman and phila…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 55 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined December 13 across the 1990s.
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1899…
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1899)
Flagship Airlines Flight 3379 crashes in Morrisville, North Carolina, near Ralei…
Flagship Airlines Flight 3379 crashes in Morrisville, North Carolina, near Raleigh–Durham International Airport, killing 15.
Banat Air Flight 166 crashes in Sommacampagna near Verona Villafranca Airport in…
Banat Air Flight 166 crashes in Sommacampagna near Verona Villafranca Airport in Verona, Italy, killing 49.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Fyvush Finkel · Ralph Louis Harris + 8 more
10 episodes aired on December 13, 1994: "Fyvush Finkel", "Ralph Louis Harris", "Ep. #7426", "'Twas the Night Before Chaos", and 6 more.
Hannukkah recipes · Dennis Prager + 7 more
9 episodes aired on December 13, 1995: "Hannukkah recipes", "Dennis Prager", "Christmas in Washington 1995", "If It Ain't Broke, Break It", and 5 more.
Ep. #7932 · Friday, December 13, 1996 + 9 more
11 episodes aired on December 13, 1996: "Ep. #7932", "Friday, December 13, 1996", "Captain Nemo", "Easy Street", and 7 more.
Crime and Punishment / Baby Maybe · The Psychic Link Syndrome + 12 more
14 episodes aired on December 13, 1997: "Crime and Punishment / Baby Maybe", "The Psychic Link Syndrome", "An Extinct Possibility (Explorers, 1955, Africa)", "Dirtlick Vacuum", and 10 more.
Slimelord, the Monster Eel · 1998 Week 15 + 9 more
11 episodes aired on December 13, 1998: "Slimelord, the Monster Eel", "1998 Week 15", "Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery", "Rock Bottom: In Your House", and 7 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.
Korn's "Freak On A Leash" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Britney Spears's "...Baby One More Time" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
*NSYNC's "I Drive Myself Crazy" 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.
Sugar Ray's "Every Morning" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
98 Degrees's "The Hardest Thing" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Lauryn Hill's "Ex-Factor" was one of the most-requested videos of the period, burning up the phone lines from fans all over the country.
Brandy & Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" 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.
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from December 13 across the 1990s.
Fletcher Cox, American football player
Fletcher Cox, American football player
Gleyber Torres, Venezuelan baseball player
Gleyber Torres, Venezuelan baseball player
Don E. Fehrenbacher, American historian, author, and academic (born 1920)
Don E. Fehrenbacher, American historian, author, and academic (born 1920)
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7426" (Season 1994, Episode 285) aired on 1994-12-13.
Read more →From politics to pop culture — the 90s news cycle never slept:
Stampy
Joseph Garrett, English YouTuber, actor, and author
Arantxa Rus
Arantxa Rus, Dutch tennis player
Dave Leduc
Dave Leduc, Canadian martial artist
Vladimir Tarasenko
Vladimir Tarasenko, Russian ice hockey player
Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney, American businessman and philanthropist (born 1899)
Flagship Airlines Flight 3379 crashes in Morrisville, North Carolina, near Raleigh–Durham International Airport, killing 15.
Banat Air Flight 166 crashes in Sommacampagna near Verona Villafranca Airport in Verona, Italy, killing 49.
The 90s produced legends. Here's who was in the spotlight:
Fletcher Cox
Fletcher Cox, American football player
Gleyber Torres
Gleyber Torres, Venezuelan baseball player
Don E. Fehrenbacher
Don E. Fehrenbacher, American historian, author, and academic (born 1920)
Before streaming, before binge watching — these titles had us glued to the set:
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7426" (Season 1994, Episode 285) aired on 1994-12-13.
Home Improvement
"'Twas the Night Before Chaos" (Season 4, Episode 12) aired on 1994-12-13.
Wings
"Insanity Claus" (Season 6, Episode 11) aired on 1994-12-13.
Rescue 911
"Episode 611" (Season 6, Episode 12) aired on 1994-12-13.
"Kathie Lee Gifford, Prince" (Season 1994, Episode 202) aired on 1994-12-13.
"Dennis Prager" (Season 1995, Episode 213) aired on 1995-12-13.
"Christmas in Washington 1995" (Season 1995, Episode 1) aired on 1995-12-13.
"The Electron Doesn't Fall Far from the Tree" (Season 1, Episode 11) aired on 1995-12-13.
"Martin Short, Bev Tanner, The Dave Matthews Band" (Season 1995, Episode 204) aired on 1995-12-13.
"Albert Brooks, Beavis & Butthead, Neil Diamond" (Season 1996, Episode 200) aired on 1996-12-13.
"The Psychic Link Syndrome" (Season 1, Episode 9) aired on 1997-12-13.
"An Extinct Possibility (Explorers, 1955, Africa)" (Season 2, Episode 15) aired on 1997-12-13.
"Hancock Shaker Village" (Season 17, Episode 11) aired on 1997-12-13.
"Murder She Purred: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery" (Season 43, Episode 10) aired on 1998-12-13.
"Rock Bottom: In Your House" (Season 1998, Episode 13) aired on 1998-12-13.
"The Von Trapp Family: Harmony and Discord" (Season 1998, Episode 54) aired on 1998-12-13.
The MTV countdown was everything. These videos owned TRL:
The #1 most requested video on TRL on this date in 1999
#2 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#3 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#4 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#5 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#6 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#7 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
#8 on TRL — Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor"
#9 on TRL — Brandy & Monica, "The Boy Is Mine"
#10 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
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 →