December 16 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Deportation of Hamas members: Israeli authorities began depo…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 80 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined December 16 across the 1990s.
Deportation of Hamas members: Israeli authorities began deporting hundreds of Pa…
Deportation of Hamas members: Israeli authorities began deporting hundreds of Palestinians suspected to be members of Hamas across the Lebanese border.
Kakuei Tanaka, Japanese soldier and politician, 64th Prime Minister of Japan (bo…
Kakuei Tanaka, Japanese soldier and politician, 64th Prime Minister of Japan (born 1918)
Dennō Senshi Porygon: Over 600 kids in Japan suffer photosensitive epileptic sei…
Dennō Senshi Porygon: Over 600 kids in Japan suffer photosensitive epileptic seizures after watching an episode of the Pokémon anime.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Penelope Ann Miller · colds and flu + 12 more
14 episodes aired on December 16, 1994: "Penelope Ann Miller", "colds and flu", "Ep. #7429", "The Lion-Slashed Jacket of Sacagawea", and 10 more.
Jon Secada, Mariah Carey · It Happened One Night Before Christmas + 13 more
15 episodes aired on December 16, 1995: "Jon Secada, Mariah Carey", "It Happened One Night Before Christmas", "Gadget Boy and the Dumpling Gang", "Emma is History", and 11 more.
The Little Drummer Girls · Between Friends + 13 more
15 episodes aired on December 16, 1996: "The Little Drummer Girls", "Between Friends", "Ep. #7933", "Monday, December 16, 1996", and 11 more.
Bright Christmas · The Conversation + 10 more
12 episodes aired on December 16, 1997: "Bright Christmas", "The Conversation", "Jesus, It's Christmas", "Stupid Holiday Charity Talent Show", and 8 more.
Robin Williams, Rebecca Stamos · Greg Proops + 19 more
21 episodes aired on December 16, 1998: "Robin Williams, Rebecca Stamos", "Greg Proops", "The Election", "The Hanukkah Story", 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.
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 16 across the 1990s.
Craig Goodwin, Australian footballer
Craig Goodwin, Australian footballer · David Johnson, American football player
Tom Rogic, Australian footballer
Tom Rogic, Australian footballer
Nigel Hayes, American basketball player
Nigel Hayes, American basketball player · Nicola Murru, Italian footballer · José Rodríguez, Spanish footballer
Wilfred Ndidi, Nigerian footballer
Wilfred Ndidi, Nigerian footballer · Sergio Reguilón, Spanish footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7429" (Season 1994, Episode 288) aired on 1994-12-16.
Read more →From politics to pop culture — the 90s news cycle never slept:
Eszter Tamási
Eszter Tamási, Hungarian actress and journalist (born 1938)
Anamul Haque
Anamul Haque, Bangladeshi cricketer
Jyoti Amge
Jyoti Amge, Indian actress
Stephan James (actor)
Stephan James, Canadian actor
Deportation of Hamas members: Israeli authorities began deporting hundreds of Palestinians suspected to be members of Hamas across the Lebanese border.
Kakuei Tanaka, Japanese soldier and politician, 64th Prime Minister of Japan (born 1918)
Dennō Senshi Porygon: Over 600 kids in Japan suffer photosensitive epileptic seizures after watching an episode of the Pokémon anime.
The 90s produced legends. Here's who was in the spotlight:
Craig Goodwin
Craig Goodwin, Australian footballer
David Johnson (running back)
David Johnson, American football player
Tom Rogic
Tom Rogic, Australian footballer
Nigel Hayes-Davis
Nigel Hayes, American basketball player
Before streaming, before binge watching — these titles had us glued to the set:
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7429" (Season 1994, Episode 288) aired on 1994-12-16.
Legends of the Hidden Temple
"The Lion-Slashed Jacket of Sacagawea" (Season 3, Episode 17) aired on 1994-12-16.
M.A.N.T.I.S.
"Faces in the Mask" (Season 1, Episode 14) aired on 1994-12-16.
Boy Meets World
"Turnaround" (Season 2, Episode 12) aired on 1994-12-16.
"Penelope Ann Miller" (Season 1994, Episode 144) aired on 1994-12-16.
"All Through the House" (Season 3, Episode 8) aired on 1994-12-16.
"Demi Moore, Jack Hanna, Stone Temple Pilots" (Season 1994, Episode 205) aired on 1994-12-16.
"It Happened One Night Before Christmas" (Season 1, Episode 10) aired on 1995-12-16.
"Gadget Boy and the Dumpling Gang" (Season 1, Episode 15) aired on 1995-12-16.
"It's A Wonderful But Unlikely Possibility" (Season 12, Episode 10) aired on 1995-12-16.
"Fifi's First Christmas" (Season 4, Episode 12) aired on 1995-12-16.
"Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins" (Season 1996, Episode 16) aired on 1996-12-16.
"Rob Morrow" (Season 1996, Episode 62) aired on 1996-12-16.
"Drew Barrymore, Mathias Pakula, Faith Hill" (Season 1996, Episode 201) aired on 1996-12-16.
"Mark Hamill" (Season 1997, Episode 158) aired on 1997-12-16.
"Pam Grier, Tom Everett Scott, James Brown" (Season 1997, Episode 202) aired on 1997-12-16.
"Robin Williams, Rebecca Stamos" (Season 1998, Episode 16) aired on 1998-12-16.
"Two Guys, a Girl and a Christmas Story" (Season 2, Episode 12) aired on 1998-12-16.
"Stereo and the Sound Revolution" (Season 6, Episode 12) aired on 1998-12-16.
"Jon Stewart" (Season 1998, Episode 160) aired on 1998-12-16.
"Susan Sarandon, Marc Weinberg, Vienna Choir Boys" (Season 1998, Episode 200) aired on 1998-12-16.
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
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