This Month in YesterYear History - January

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  I hope you and your loved ones have a happy and healthy 2026!  

It's a new year, which means that, believe it or not, 20 years ago was 2006!  25 years ago was 2001!  And 30 years ago was 1996!  That just seems crazy to me since it all seems like yesterday AND a lifetime ago!

In "This Month in YesterYear History," we look back at the big pop culture moments from 

20 (2006), 25 (2001), and 30 (1996) years ago!   

Below, you'll find a little time capsule of what was significant during this month in history.  Hopefully, as you read these brief recaps of the past, you'll remember the who, when, and where of some long-tucked-away memories!  That's the whole point of this site! 

POINTS OF REFERENCE

2006:  On New Year's Day, Sydney, Australia, suffers through the hottest New Year's on record at a sweltering 45 degrees Celsius (113°F).  Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered his second stroke on the 4th.  Rodney Atkins releases what would become the Billboard Song of the Year, "If You're Going Through Hell (Before the Devil Even Knows)" on the 9th.  Never heard of it...  At the 32nd annual People's Choice Awards on the 10th, Ray Romano and Jennifer Garner win for television, while Johnny Depp and Sandra Bullock win for movies.  During an emotional ceremony at Madison Square Garden on the 12th, "The Captain," Mark Messier's famed #11 jersey was retired by the New York Rangers.  Also on the 12th, Turkey releases Pope John Paul II's shooter, Mehmet Ali Agca, from prison after serving 25 years.  Brokeback Mountain wins Best Picture at the Golden Globes on January 16th, while Philip Seymour Hoffman and Felicity Huffman win Best Actor/Actress.  NASA launches the New Horizons probe on the first mission to Pluto on the 19th.  On the 20th, Disney debuts "High School Musical" starring Zac Efron, Ashley Tisdale, and Vanessa Hudgens.  It becomes Disney Channel's most successful movie.  The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Denver Broncos to win the AFC Championship on the 22nd.  That same day, the Seattle Seahawks beat the Carolina Panthers to win the NFC championship, and will face the Steelers in the Super Bowl.  On the 24th, Walt Disney Company purchased Pixar Animation for $7.4 billion.  On the 29th, the United States Postal Service releases the "Hattie McDaniel" stamp.  On the 31st, Alan Greenspan retires from the US Federal Reserve.  Also on the 31st, Sandra Day O'Connor retires from the Supreme Court and is eventually replaced by Samuel Alito.  

2001:  Rapper Vanilla Ice spends some time in jail, starting on the 4th, after allegedly ripping his wife's hair out during a fight.  Michael Jordan, then playing with the Washington Wizards, becomes the fourth player in NBA history to score 30,000 points when he makes a free throw against his old team, the Chicago Bulls.  At the 27th People's Choice Awards on the 7th, Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts won for film, while Drew Carey and Jennifer Aniston won for best of television.  The next night, on the 8th, Kid Rock and Faith Hill win top honors at the American Music Awards.  On the 9th, the American version of the Belgian game show "The Mole" debuts on ABC.  Anderson Cooper is the host.  Also on the 9th, Apple announces the forthcoming iTunes software.  On January 12th, Lizzy McGuire debuts on The Disney Channel, starring Hillary Duff.  On the 12th, Downtown Disney, California's version of Orlando's Disney Springs (and Disney Springs' original name), opens to the public.  A 7.4 magnitude earthquake kills over 800 in El Salvador on the 14th.  The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Oakland Raiders on the 14th to win the AFC Championship, while the New York Giants beat the Minnesota Vikings to claim the NFC title.  On the 15th, Wikipedia was launched.  On the 16th, outgoing US President Bill Clinton awarded former President Teddy Roosevelt a posthumous Medal of Honor for his service in the Spanish-American War.  The next day, Clinton also honors the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  He posthumously raises William Clark's rank from Lieutenant to Captain, and makes Sacagawea, the female guide, an Honorary Sergeant.  On the 18th, New York Rangers goaltender Mike Richter picked up his 267th career NHL win to become the winningest goaltender in team history as he passed Eddie Giacomin in a 2-1 overtime win against the Toronto Maple Leafs.  On the 20th, George W. Bush was inaugurated as President.  In his final moments as President, Bill Clinton pardoned 140 people, including bank robber Patty Hearst and his brother, Roger.  On the 21st, Gladiator wins Best Picture at the Golden Globes.  On the 28th, the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants in the Super Bowl.  Ray Lewis is named MVP.  

1996:  On the 1st, Betty Rubble debuts as a Flintstone Vitamin (after being snubbed for 27 years).  On the 2nd, the US sends troops to Bosnia.  The Motorola StarTAC, the first clamshell flip mobile phone, goes on sale on the 2nd.  It eventually sells 60 million units.  Famed Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula retires on the 5th.  On the 7th, the musical "Crazy For You," featuring the songs of George and Ira Gershwin, closes at the Shubert Theater on Broadway after 1,622 performances.  The Blizzard of 1996 hit the United States' northeast on the 8th, killing at least 50.  I had a week off from school because of this!  The sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, starring John Lithgow and Jane Curtin, debuts on NBC on the 9th.  On the 10th, Jimmy Johnson was named the new head coach of the Miami Dolphins.  On the 14th, Pittsburgh defeats the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC Championship, while Dallas defeats the Green Bay Packers for the NFC Championship.  On the 17th, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inducts a slew of legends, including David Bowie, Jefferson Airplane, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Pink Floyd, The Velvet Underground, and Pete Seeger.  On the 17th, Detroit Red Wings center Steve Yzerman scored his 500th career NHL goal.  On the 18th, the MLB owners unanimously approve interleague play for 1997.  On the 20th, the NHL All-Star Game is held at the Boston Fleet Center.  Bruins legend Ray Bourque is named the MVP.  On the 21st, Nicholas Cage and Sharon Stone won the top awards at the Golden Globes.  On the 23rd, the first version of Java web-script was released.  The Cowboys defeated the Steelers 27-17 at the Super Bowl on the 28th.  Garth Brooks wins several awards at the American Music Awards on the 29th.  On the 31st, Magic Johnson comes out of a 5-year retirement to help the LA Lakers to a 128-118 win over Golden State with 19 points, 8 rebounds & 10 assists.

TOP MOVIES

2006: "The Chronicles of Narnia:  The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" - 

This epic fantasy film was based on C.S. Lewis's 1950 novel.  Directed by Andrew Adamson and written by Ann Peacock, Andrew Adamson, Christopher Markus, and Stephen McFeely, the film was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Walden Media.  The film follows the four Pevensie siblings, Peter (William Moseley), Susan (Anna Popplewell), Edmund (Skandar Keynes), and Lucy (Georgie Henley), who are evacuated to the English countryside during World War II.  The siblings discover a magical wardrobe leading to Narnia, a fantastical land under the grip of the tyrannical White Witch (Tilda Swinton), who has cast an eternal winter.  Guided by the lion Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson), the siblings unite with Narnian creatures to battle the Witch and fulfill a prophecy to restore peace. 

Blending adventure, coming-of-age themes, and a rich visual tapestry, the film was also infused with Christian themes.  C.S. Lewis, a devout Christian, incorporated religious themes into the novel, and the film followed suit with allegorical Christian themes.  Aslan, the lion, serves as a Christ figure, embodying sacrifice and resurrection; his death at the Stone Table to save Edmund and subsequent return mirror Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection, symbolizing redemption and hope.  The White Witch represents evil or Satan; her temptation of Edmund with Turkish Delight parallels sin’s allure.  The Pevensies’ journey reflects spiritual growth, with Edmund’s betrayal and redemption highlighting forgiveness and grace.  While the film maintains broad family appeal, these themes provide a moral undercurrent that resonates with Christian audiences while remaining accessible to secular viewers, as Lewis intended.  

Filming began in June 2004, primarily in New Zealand, leveraging its diverse landscapes for Narnia’s fantastical settings, with additional scenes shot in Poland, the Czech Republic, and the UK.  The production, backed by a $180 million budget, emphasized practical effects and CGI.  Rated PG in the U.S. for “battle sequences and frightening moments,” it opened in 3,616 theaters, earning $65.6 million in its U.S. opening weekend, securing the number-one spot.  It grossed $291.7 million domestically and $453.3 million internationally, totaling $745 million worldwide, making it the third-highest-grossing film of 2005, behind Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. 

 

2001: "Cast Away" -  

Cast Away is a 2000 survival drama film (premiered December 7, 2000; wide release December 22) directed and produced by Robert Zemeckis (known for Back to the Future and Forrest Gump), starring Tom Hanks.  The screenplay was written by William Broyles Jr., who drew on his own survival experiences.  Helen Hunt and Nick Searcy also appear, but the small cast highlights Hanks' extended solo performance, with the volleyball "Wilson" serving as a key companion.

The plot follows Chuck Noland, a FedEx systems analyst, whose plane crashes in the South Pacific, stranding him alone on a deserted island.  Facing isolation and survival challenges, he uses salvaged FedEx packages and befriends a volleyball named Wilson to combat loneliness.  After four years—including hardships like a self-extracted tooth—he escapes on a raft.  After being rescued and returned home, he finds that his fiancée, Kelly, has moved on, leading to an emotional reunion and a resolve to start anew.

Critically, Cast Away earned positive reviews (88% on Rotten Tomatoes), lauded for its script and Hanks' powerful performance, which won him a Golden Globe for Best Actor (Drama) and an Oscar nomination.  It was a major box office hit, grossing $429.6 million worldwide on a $90 million budget—the third-highest of 2000—though some, like Roger Ebert, critiqued the third act's flaws.

Production was unique: filming halted for over a year, allowing Hanks to lose 50 pounds and grow a beard for realism, while Zemeckis and the crew made What Lies Beneath in the interim.

1996: "Grumpier Old Men" -  

Grumpier Old Men is a 1995 romantic comedy directed by Howard Deutch and a sequel to the 1993 film Grumpy Old Men.  The screenplay was written by Mark Steven Johnson, with music by Alan Silvestri.  It reunites the original cast, including Jack Lemmon as John Gustafson Jr., Walter Matthau as Max Goldman, Ann-Margret as Ariel, Daryl Hannah as Melanie, Kevin Pollak as Jacob, and Katie Sagona as Allie.  Burgess Meredith appears as John's father in his final film role before his 1997 death.  New cast members include Sophia Loren as Maria Ragetti and Ann Morgan Guilbert as her mother, Francesca.

The plot follows former rivals John and Max, now friends in their small Minnesota town, with John married to Ariel and their children engaged.  Conflict starts when Maria buys the local bait shop and plans to convert it into a restaurant, prompting the duo to prank her.  Max and Maria soon bond over fishing and date, while her mother romances John's father.  Stress causes the young couple to cancel their wedding, reigniting the feud between the old men.  After John's father dies peacefully fishing, they reconcile, mend the young romance, and back Max's relationship, ending with a surprise wedding and the shop as a restaurant-bait hybrid.

Critically, the film earned mixed reviews, with a 20% Rotten Tomatoes score (from 20 reviews) and 46 on Metacritic.  Praise focused on Lemmon and Matthau's chemistry, but many found the script contrived and formulaic; Roger Ebert gave it 2/4 stars, and Kevin Thomas said it relied on cast charm.  Audiences liked it more, awarding an "A–" CinemaScore.

Financially successful, it grossed $71 million in North America on a $25 million budget.  A proposed third film, Grumpiest Old Men (set in Italy), was canceled when Lemmon and Matthau chose The Odd Couple II instead.

TOP SONGS

2006:  "Grillz" by Nelly

2001:  "Independent Woman Part I" by Destiny's Child

1996:  "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men

TOP TELEVISION NEWS

January 2006:

1st: NBCUniversal ends the Trio channel and replaces it with Sleuth, a 24-hour cable channel dedicated to crime, mystery, and suspense.  In 2011, the channel was renamed "Cloo" (a play on the word "clue"), but by 2016 it was carrying non-crime-related programming from the NBCUniversal library, including movies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin.  It was shut down on February 1, 2017.

      The final episode of NFL Primetime aired on ESPN, followed by the network's final Sunday Night Football game.

2nd:  After several years as part of The WB's weekday programming, the afternoon "Kids' WB" animation block came to an end, moving to Saturday mornings only.

12th:  The second live episode of "Will and Grace" is broadcast by NBC.

14th:  The NHL on NBC returned for the first time since broadcasting the 1994 NHL All-Star Game.  It also marked NBC's first non-All-Star Game since the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals.  

24th:  CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. announce the start of The CW Television Network for the 2006-2007 television season.  This network, in effect, was a merger of The WB and UPN, designed to replace both networks.  

27th:  The Emperor's New School, a show based on the animated film "Emperor's New Groove," debuts on The Disney Channel.

29th:  World News Tonight anchor Bob Woodruff and cameraman Doug Vogt are injured by a roadside IED in Iraq.

January 2001:  

3rd:  CMT (Country Music Television) debuts the "Top 20 Countdown."

4th:  HBO moves all children's programming to a newly branded channel, HBO Family.

7th:  Extreme Championship Wrestling's final televised event, Guilty as Charged, airs on pay-per-view.  It would see The Sandman defeat Steve Corino and Justin Credible for the world title, only for Rhino to defeat The Sandman and end the program with the title.  

9th:  The Mole debuts on ABC.

10th:  Grounded for Life debuts on FOX.

12th:  Lizzie McGuire debuts on The Disney Channel.

           Bob the Builder debuts on Nickelodeon.

28th:  CBS broadcasts Super Bowl XXXV, their first since 1991.  The Baltimore Ravens would beat the New York Giants 34–7.

January 1996:

9th:  3rd Rock from the Sun debuts on NBC.

14th: Nickelodeon cancels the kids' competition game show "Guts," hosted by comedian Mike O'Malley and British actress Moira "Mo" Quirk.  The show had been on the air since 1992 and had inspired millions of kids to create their own "Aggro-crag" competitions at home. 

20th:  FOX introduces the "FoxTrax" glowing hockey puck during its telecast of the NHL All-Star Game.

23rd:  Moesha debuts on UPN.

28th:  Brooke Shields and Chris Isaak make guest appearances on a post-Super Bowl episode of Friends on NBC.