December 28 across the 1990s: TRL was counting down the most-requested videos on MTV, and 25 episodes were airing across the dial. Here's the full picture, year by year.
What Was On TV
Before DVR, before streaming — if you missed it, you missed it. Here's what had everyone talking the next morning.
Ep. #7438 · Parents' Night + 2 more
4 episodes aired on December 28, 1994: "Ep. #7438", "Parents' Night", "The 17th Annual Kennedy Center Honors", "Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jeff Foxworthy, Big Head Todd & The Monsters".
Suzanne Somers · Grief + 2 more
4 episodes aired on December 28, 1995: "Suzanne Somers", "Grief", "1995 Alamo Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies vs. Michigan Wolverines", "Robin Williams, Lauren Hutton, Chris Isaak".
The Village Vanishes · Eric Benet/ Dru Hill/ Wild Orchid + 5 more
7 episodes aired on December 28, 1996: "The Village Vanishes", "Eric Benet/ Dru Hill/ Wild Orchid", "The Nantucket House - 14", "1996 NFL Playoffs Wild Card games (1)", and 3 more.
The Invaders · 1997 NFL Playoffs Wild Card games (2) + 1 more
3 episodes aired on December 28, 1997: "The Invaders", "1997 NFL Playoffs Wild Card games (2)", "Coach Wittenberg / Four-Eyed Jack".
Crabby Author / Rich Kid · December 28, 1998 + 4 more
6 episodes aired on December 28, 1998: "Crabby Author / Rich Kid", "December 28, 1998", "Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars", "Chazz Palminteri, Ann Curry, Rufus Wainwright", and 2 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
*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.
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.
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.
Sports
Athletes, events, and moments from December 28 across the 1990s.
Marcos Alonso, Spanish footballer
Marcos Alonso, Spanish footballer · John Henson, American basketball player
Sal Maglie, American baseball player and coach (born 1917)
Sal Maglie, American baseball player and coach (born 1917)
Dylan Cease, American baseball player
Dylan Cease, American baseball player · Mauricio Lemos, Uruguayan footballer · Nahitan Nández, Uruguayan footballer
Tanguy Ndombele, French footballer
Tanguy Ndombele, French footballer
Full Events Archive
Highlights
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7438" (Season 1994, Episode 296) aired on 1994-12-28.
Read more →From politics to pop culture — the 90s news cycle never slept:
Ayele Abshero
Ayele Abshero, Ethiopian runner
David Archuleta
David Archuleta, American singer
Tomáš Jurčo
Tomáš Jurčo, Slovak ice hockey player
William L. Shirer
William L. Shirer, American journalist and historian (born 1904)
The 90s produced legends. Here's who was in the spotlight:
Marcos Alonso (footballer, born 1990)
Marcos Alonso, Spanish footballer
John Henson (basketball)
John Henson, American basketball player
Sal Maglie
Sal Maglie, American baseball player and coach (born 1917)
Dylan Cease
Dylan Cease, American baseball player
Before streaming, before binge watching — these titles had us glued to the set:
Days of Our Lives
"Ep. #7438" (Season 1994, Episode 296) aired on 1994-12-28.
On Our Own
"Parents' Night" (Season 1, Episode 13) aired on 1994-12-28.
Kennedy Center Honors
"The 17th Annual Kennedy Center Honors" (Season 1994, Episode 1) aired on 1994-12-28.
The Late Show with David Letterman
"Matthew Broderick, Sarah Jessica Parker, Jeff Foxworthy, Big Head Todd & The Monsters" (Season 1994, Episode 213) aired on 1994-12-28.
"1995 Alamo Bowl: Texas A&M Aggies vs. Michigan Wolverines" (Season 1995, Episode 1) aired on 1995-12-28.
"Robin Williams, Lauren Hutton, Chris Isaak" (Season 1995, Episode 214) aired on 1995-12-28.
"The Village Vanishes" (Season 1, Episode 12) aired on 1996-12-28.
"Eric Benet/ Dru Hill/ Wild Orchid" (Season 26, Episode 10) aired on 1996-12-28.
"1996 NFL Playoffs Wild Card games (1)" (Season 1996, Episode 18) aired on 1996-12-28.
"Jacksonville Jaguars at Buffalo Bills (AFC Wild Card)" (Season 2017, Episode ?) aired on 1996-12-28.
"1997 NFL Playoffs Wild Card games (2)" (Season 1997, Episode 19) aired on 1997-12-28.
"Coach Wittenberg / Four-Eyed Jack" (Season 2, Episode 16) aired on 1997-12-28.
"Pittsburgh Steelers at Jacksonville Jaguars" (Season 1998, Episode 17) aired on 1998-12-28.
"Chazz Palminteri, Ann Curry, Rufus Wainwright" (Season 1998, Episode 206) aired on 1998-12-28.
"Patriotism, Pepper, and Professionalism" (Season 4, Episode 10) aired on 1998-12-28.
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 — Eminem, "My Name Is"
#4 on TRL — Backstreet Boys, "I Want It That Way"
#5 on TRL — Britney Spears, "...Baby One More Time"
#6 on TRL — Limp Bizkit, "Nookie"
#7 on TRL — *NSYNC, "I Drive Myself Crazy"
#8 on TRL — Sugar Ray, "Every Morning"
#9 on TRL — Destiny's Child, "Bills, Bills, Bills"
#10 on TRL — 98 Degrees, "The Hardest Thing"
By Year
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