December 17 across the 1990s: the news was dominated by Aerosvit Flight 241: A Yakovlev Yak-42 crashes into the Pier…, TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 65 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
In the News
The headlines that defined December 17 across the 1990s.
Aerosvit Flight 241: A Yakovlev Yak-42 crashes into the Pierian Mountains near T…
Aerosvit Flight 241: A Yakovlev Yak-42 crashes into the Pierian Mountains near Thessaloniki Airport in Thessaloniki, Greece, killing all 70 people on board.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Vanessa Marcil (host), Boyz II Men, Bruce Cockburn, Sammy Kershaw, Trisha Yearwood, Mariah Carey, Victoria Williams · And Then There Were None + 7 more
9 episodes aired on December 17, 1994: "Vanessa Marcil (host), Boyz II Men, Bruce Cockburn, Sammy Kershaw, Trisha Yearwood, Mariah Carey, Victoria Williams", "And Then There Were None", "Cannelloni!", "It's A Wonderful Street", and 5 more.
Mourning Has Broken · 1995 Week 16 + 13 more
15 episodes aired on December 17, 1995: "Mourning Has Broken", "1995 Week 16", "The River of Stars", "Christmas theme", and 11 more.
Home for the Holidays · Ep. #7934 + 12 more
14 episodes aired on December 17, 1996: "Home for the Holidays", "Ep. #7934", "Tuesday, December 17, 1996", "No Place Like Home", and 10 more.
Mortal Coil · From Flushing with Love + 12 more
14 episodes aired on December 17, 1997: "Mortal Coil", "From Flushing with Love", "Breaking Ground", "Space Ghost Dearest", and 10 more.
The One With the Inappropriate Sister · Jury Duty + 9 more
11 episodes aired on December 17, 1998: "The One With the Inappropriate Sister", "Jury Duty", "Dishonorable Discharge", "Merry Christmas, Mrs. Moskowitz", 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Music
From chart-toppers to birthdays to passings — what the music world was up to on December 17 across the decade.
Nat Wolff, American singer-songwriter, keyboard player and actor…
Nat Wolff, American singer-songwriter, keyboard player and actor
Holly Humberstone, English singer-songwriter
Holly Humberstone, English singer-songwriter · Rex Allen, American singer-songwriter and actor (born 1920) · Grover Washington Jr., American singer-songwriter and saxophonist (born 1943)
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from December 17 across the 1990s.
Buddy Hield, Bahamian basketball player
Buddy Hield, Bahamian basketball player
Guerschon Yabusele, French basketball player
Guerschon Yabusele, French basketball player
Peruvian internal conflict: Fourteen members of the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Mo…
Peruvian internal conflict: Fourteen members of the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement provoke a hostage crisis by taking over the Japanese embassy in Lima.
Martin Ødegaard, Norwegian footballer
Martin Ødegaard, Norwegian footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Before Twitter, before 24/7 news apps — here's what had everyone talking:
Jordan Rankin
Jordan Rankin, Australian rugby league player
Quinton de Kock
Quinton de Kock, South African cricketer
Günther Anders
Günther Anders, German journalist and philosopher (born 1902)
Dana Andrews
Dana Andrews, American actor (born 1909)
Aerosvit Flight 241: A Yakovlev Yak-42 crashes into the Pierian Mountains near Thessaloniki Airport in Thessaloniki, Greece, killing all 70 people on board.
From grunge to hip-hop to pop — the 90s music scene was everything:
Nat Wolff
Nat Wolff, American singer-songwriter, keyboard player and actor
Holly Humberstone
Holly Humberstone, English singer-songwriter
Rex Allen
Rex Allen, American singer-songwriter and actor (born 1920)
Grover Washington Jr.
Grover Washington Jr., American singer-songwriter and saxophonist (born 1943)
From stadiums to living rooms, these were the names fans were cheering:
Buddy Hield
Buddy Hield, Bahamian basketball player
Guerschon Yabusele
Guerschon Yabusele, French basketball player
Internal conflict in Peru
Peruvian internal conflict: Fourteen members of the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement provoke a hostage crisis by taking over the Japanese embassy in Lima.
Martin Ødegaard
Martin Ødegaard, Norwegian footballer
The silver screen and the small screen were both firing on all cylinders:
Jim Lee's Wild C.A.T.S: Covert Action Teams
"And Then There Were None" (Season 1, Episode 10) aired on 1994-12-17.
Ciao Italia
"Cannelloni!" (Season 6, Episode 6) aired on 1994-12-17.
Almost Live
"It's A Wonderful Street" (Season 11, Episode 11) aired on 1994-12-17.
The Woodwright's Shop
"The Williamsburg Blacksmiths" (Season 14, Episode 12) aired on 1994-12-17.
"Vanessa Marcil (host), Boyz II Men, Bruce Cockburn, Sammy Kershaw, Trisha Yearwood, Mariah Carey, Victoria Williams" (Season 1994, Episode 48) aired on 1994-12-17.
"Christmas theme" (Season 7, Episode 11) aired on 1995-12-17.
"You Can Run from Christmas But You Can't Hide" (Season 1, Episode 12) aired on 1995-12-17.
"Home Is Where the Hurt Is" (Season 3, Episode 11) aired on 1995-12-17.
"Office Management" (Season 2, Episode 4) aired on 1995-12-17.
"I Can't Believe It's Butter" (Season 10, Episode 13) aired on 1995-12-17.
"Something About a Christmas Miracle" (Season 1, Episode 11) aired on 1996-12-17.
"Caroline and the Freight King" (Season 2, Episode 11) aired on 1996-12-17.
"Robyn Lively" (Season 1996, Episode 63) aired on 1996-12-17.
"Andie MacDowell, Jimmie Walker, Rhett Atkins" (Season 1996, Episode 202) aired on 1996-12-17.
"The Juilliard Opera: 'Hansel und Gretel'" (Season 22, Episode 7) aired on 1997-12-17.
"Andy Williams Christmas Special" (Season 1997, Episode 159) aired on 1997-12-17.
"Greg Kinnear, Djimon Hounsou, Ben Folds Five" (Season 1997, Episode 203) aired on 1997-12-17.
"The One With the Inappropriate Sister" (Season 5, Episode 10) aired on 1998-12-17.
"Richard Lewis" (Season 1998, Episode 161) aired on 1998-12-17.
"Jeff Goldblum, Angelina Jolie, Third Eye Blind" (Season 1998, Episode 201) aired on 1998-12-17.
"Episode dated 17 December 1998" (Season 1998, Episode 17) aired on 1998-12-17.
Dial-up internet, early cell phones, and the rise of the PC:
Before YouTube, this is how you discovered music videos:
The #1 most requested video on TRL on this date in 1999
#2 on TRL — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#3 on TRL — Korn, "Freak On A Leash"
#4 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#5 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#6 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#7 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#8 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
#9 on TRL — Lauryn Hill, "Ex-Factor"
#10 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
By Year
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