In "This Month in YesterYear History," we look back at the big pop culture moments from
20 (2006), 25 (2001), 30 (1996), and 35 (1991) 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 the 1st, the Puerto Rican government closed the Department of Education and 42 other government agencies due to cash-flow shortages. On the 3rd, Al-Qaeda member Zacarias Moussaoui was sentenced to life in prison for his part in the 9/11 attacks on the US. On the 6th, Barbaro, ridden by jockey Edgar Prado, wins the Kentucky Derby. On the 9th, Paul Simon releases his 11th solo studio album, "Surprise." On the 16th, a large 7.4 magnitude earthquake occurred in New Zealand. The next day, the US Navy sinks the former aircraft carrier, USS Oriskany, to form an artificial reef in the Gulf of America. On the 19th, the annual Rock for the Rainforest benefit concert was held at Carnegie Hall, with performances by Sting, James Taylor, Billy Joel, Sheryl Crow, and Lenny Kravitz. On the 20th, jockey Javier Castellano rides Bernadini to victory at The Preakness. On the 21st, the Swedish ice hockey team wins gold at the World Championship and becomes the first nation to hold both the World and Olympic titles in the same year. Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Sara Evans win top honors at the 41st Country Music Awards on the 23rd. On the 26th, an earthquake in Java, Indonesia, kills over 5,700 people and leaves 200,000 homeless. The next day, the Guillermo del Toro film about the Spanish Civil War, "Pan's Labyrinth," debuts at the Cannes Film Festival. Also on the 27th, another earthquake hits Indonesia, devastating Bantul and the city of Yogyakarta and killing over 6,600 people. Also on the 27th, the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Anaheim Ducks in the NHL Western Conference Finals 4 games to 1, sending the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Finals. On the 28th, Barry Bonds hits his 715th career home run, passing Babe Ruth on the MLB all-time home run list. Also on the 28th, at the Indianapolis 500, Sam Hornish Jr. won from the pole position. On the 29th, David Bowie joined Pink Floyd's guitarist David Gilmour as a special guest at the Royal Albert Hall. The two perform "Arnold Layne" and "Comfortably Numb" together in what would become Bowie's final appearance in the UK.
2001:
On the 1st, the President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, declared "a state of rebellion" after thousands of supporters of her predecessor, Joseph Estrada, who had been arrested, stormed towards the presidential palace at the height of what became known as the EDSA III rebellion. On the 3rd, the US loses its seat on the UN Human Rights Commission. Monarchos and jockey Jorge Chavez win the Kentucky Derby on the 5th. On the 7th, Pope John Paul II became the first Pope to enter a mosque on a trip to Syria. The Dixie Chicks, Faith Hill, and Toby Keith win at the 36th Academy of Country Music Awards. On the 12th, Ringo Starr's seventh All-Starr Band debuts in concert, including "all-star" members such as Roger Hodgson, Ian Hunter, Howard Jones, Greg Lake, Sheila E., and Mark Rivera. On the 15th, the single "Fiesta" was released by R. Kelly, featuring Jay-Z and Boo & Gotti. It became the Billboard Song of the Year for 2001. "Mulholland Drive," directed by David Lynch and starring Justin Theroux and Naomi Watts, premieres at the Cannes Film Festival on the 16th. The next day, President George W. Bush calls for reduced regulations to encourage more oil, gas, and nuke-u-lar production. On the 18th, 101-year-old Harold Stilson becomes the oldest golfer to record a hole-in-one when he aces the 108-yard, par-3, 16th hole at Deerfield Country Club in Florida. Also on the 18th, the Dreamworks Pictures movie "Shrek," starring Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy, debuts in theaters. Point Given wins the Preakness on the 19th, ridden by Gary Stevens. On the 21st, the Colorado Avalanche advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals by defeating the St. Louis Blues. On the 22nd, the New Jersey Devils defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins to advance to the Finals, where they would face the Colorado Avalanche. On that same day, Enron served notice to India that it would shut down its Dabhol Power Facility, setting in motion the company's eventual collapse later in 2001. On the 24th, Democrats gain control of the US Senate for the first time since 1994, when Senator James Jeffords of Vermont left the Republican Party and became an independent. On the 27th, at the Indianapolis 500, rookie Hélio Castroneves of Brazil led for the final 52 laps to win.
1996:
On the 1st, the Miami Heat were beaten 112-91 by the Chicago Bulls, swept 3-0 in round 1 of the NBA Eastern Division playoffs, marking the first time in his 14 years as head coach that Pat Riley was ousted in the opening round. Grindstone, ridden by Jerry Bailey, races to his second Kentucky Derby win on the 2nd. On the 4th, pitcher Greg Pavlik became the first pitcher since 1917 to throw back-to-back one-hitters. On the 6th, the body of former CIA Director William Colby is found washed up on a riverbank in southern Maryland eight days after his disappearance. Hmmm. On the 7th, comedian Martin Lawrence suffered a public mental breakdown. On the 9th, Dwight Gooden, the longtime New York Met, now playing for the New York Yankees, wins his first game in the American League over the Tigers 10-3. On the 9th, Rush bassist Geddy Lee was made an Officer of the Order of Canada. Twister, starring Helen Hunt and Bill Paxton, premieres on the 10th. Florida Marlin pitcher Al Leiter throws a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies. On May 11th, a Valujet DC-9 crashed in Florida, killing 109. Read about Valujet in my article from last year. Losing 8-0 to the Chicago White Sox, the New York Yankees come back and win 9-8, on the 12th. May 13th sees the Juice, O.J. Simpson, happily appear on British television to discuss his not guilty verdict. On the 14th, Dwight Gooden no-hits the Seattle Mariners in a 2-0 win. On the 16th, Sammy Sosa became the first Chicago Cub ever to hit two home runs in one inning. Horse "Pat Day" wins the Preakness on the 18th. Toni Braxton's "You're Makin Me High" is released on the 21st. It went on to win the Grammy for Best Female R&B Vocals in 1997. A major blackout occurs in most of New York City, especially Queens, on the 21st. On that day, Ken Griffey, Jr. hits his 200th home run and becomes the 8th youngest to reach 200, at age 26. Susan Lucci loses the Daytime Emmys for the 16th time in a row. She famously lost 18 in a row until winning on her 19th nomination in 1999. The Leslie Nielsen comedy "Spy Hard" was released on the 24th. On the 28th, US President Bill Clinton's former business partners in the Whitewater land deal, James McDougal, Susan McDougal, and Arkansas Governor Jim Guy Tucker, were convicted of fraud. On the 29th, the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Detroit Red Wings to advance to the Stanley Cup. On the 29th, Space Shuttle Endeavor landed. On May 30th, the final episode of Entertainment Tonight with John Tesh as host aired.
1991:
On the 1st, Oakland A's Ricky Henderson steals his 939th base, an all-time record, in a 7-4 win over the New York Yankees. Nolan Ryan pitches his MLB record-setting 7th no-hitter on the same day, in a 3-0 win for the Texas Rangers over the Toronto Blue Jays. He is also, at 44, the oldest to pitch a no-hitter. On the 3rd, the 356th and final episode of Dallas airs on CBS, the second-longest-running series (behind Gunsmoke). Also on the 3rd, future NHL Hall of Famer Cam Neely injures his knee on a cheap shot from Ulf Samuelsson in the Wales Conference Finals. As a result, he only plays 162 more games in his career and retires at 31. Strike the Gold wins its first Kentucky Derby on the 4th. New York Mets' Mackey Sasser (my favorite player when I was young) & Mark Carreon are the 8th teammates to hit consecutive pinch-hit home runs on the 4th. Also on the 4th, President George H.W. Bush was hospitalized for an erratic heartbeat. He turned out fine. On the 5th, Philadelphia Phillies' Lenny Dykstra's sports car goes "out of control" and slams into two trees. On the 8th, CIA Director William Webster announces his retirement. On the 9th, Michael Landon appeared on The Tonight Show to discuss his cancer diagnosis. On the 10th, the Minnesota North Stars defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the Clarence Campbell (Western) Conference Finals. That same night, Jose Canseco is seen leaving Madonna's apartment... scandalous! The Pittsburgh Penguins defeat the Boston Bruins to win the Prince of Wales (Eastern) Conference Finals and take on the North Stars. This is my peak NHL fandom here, with "Super Mario" Lemieux and Tom Barasso on the Penguins and the bright green of the North Stars. On the 13th, fans at Yankee Stadium who apparently read the tabloids sang Madonna's "Like a Virgin" to Jose Canseco whenever he was on the field. God, I miss things like that... On the 15th, the Red Sox and the White Sox play (at the time) MLB's slowest game ever, taking 4 hours and 12 minutes to finish the game. On the same day, President H.W. Bush takes Queen Elizabeth II to an Oakland A's vs Baltimore Orioles game. The Queen finds the game "dull" and leaves after 2 innings. The 16th, according to DC Comics lore, is the day that Jimmy Olsen is fired from the Daily Planet. On the 16th, Queen Elizabeth II was the first British monarch to address the US Congress. "Hansel" wins the Preakness on May 18th. Also on the 18th, the USSR launches two astronauts to the Mir Space Station. Michael Jordan was named the MVP of the NBA on the 20th. On the 22nd, NFL team owners agreed to add 2 teams in 1994. Another no-hitter on the 23rd, when Phillies pitcher Tommy Greene pitches against the Montreal Expos. On the 25th, the Penguins defeated the North Stars for the Stanley Cup with an 8-0 win, and win the series 4-2. On the 26th, Rick Mears wins the Indy 500 for the 4th time. On the 31st, sides in Angola sign a peace treaty ending a 16-year civil war.
TOP MOVIES
2006: "The DaVinci Code" -
This is from one of my favorite book series, and the only time I can remember my Grandparents getting mad at me for reading something (they argued against the premise because it was mentioned in a negative article in the church newsletter).
The movie is a mystery thriller directed by Ron Howard, based on Dan Brown's best-selling 2003 novel. It stars Tom Hanks as the Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon, Audrey Tautou as Sophie Neveu, Ian McKellen as Sir Leigh Teabing, Jean Reno as police captain Bezu Fache, Alfred Molina as Bishop Aringarosa, and Paul Bettany as the albino monk Silas. Legendary film composer Hans Zimmer composed the magnificent score.
The plot follows Langdon and cryptographer Sophie as they investigate the murder of Sophie's grandfather at the Louvre Museum, uncovering a trail of clues hidden in famous artworks that leads to a centuries-old conspiracy involving the Catholic Church, the Holy Grail, and the supposed descendants of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. Pursued by authorities and a fanatical Opus Dei operative, they race across Paris and London, teaming up with Sir Teabing to unravel the secret while evading multiple pursuers.
Critically, the film received negative reviews, with only a 25% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics often found it slow-paced and less thrilling than the book, although many praise the production values and Hanks' cerebral performance. Audiences were more divided but turned out in large numbers, making the film a massive commercial success. It grossed over $801 million worldwide against its $125 million budget, making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2006. It became a cultural phenomenon due to the book's popularity and surrounding religious debates.
It was followed by two more Robert Langdon films, Angels & Demons and Inferno.
2001: "The Mummy Returns" -
This fantasy action film was written and directed by Stephen Sommers and was the direct sequel to the 1999 hit "The Mummy." It stars Brendan Fraser as Rick O'Connell, Rachel Weisz as Evelyn "Evy" O'Connell, John Hannah as Jonathan Carnahan, and Arnold Vosloo as the resurrected Imhotep. New additions include Freddie Boath as their son Alex, Oded Fehr as Ardeth Bay, Patricia Velásquez as Anck-su-namun, and, most famously, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in his feature-film debut as the Scorpion King.
Set in 1933, the story follows Rick and Evy, now married, as they raise young Alex in London. Alex accidentally triggers a curse that resurrects Imhotep, and the family must race to stop the ancient mummy from using the Scorpion King to conquer the whole world. The film is filled with high-octane chase scenes, mummy battles against the undead, and globe-trotting action sequences that cover from London to Egypt.
Critically, the film currently holds a 46% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 48/100. Praise centered on the special effects and fun action scenes, but most felt the characters and story took a back seat to CGI and spectacle compared to the 1999 film.
It was a major box office hit, grossing $436 million worldwide (with $202 million domestic) against a $98 million budget, becoming the highest-grossing film in the Mummy series at the time and the seventh-highest-grossing film of 2001.
The film will always be remembered for helping The Rock break into Hollywood, even though his character was almost entirely CGI.
1996: "Twister" -
Perhaps it was one too many Opie and Anthony spoofs, but this movie has always been a "joke" to me. I just can't take it seriously, especially with 2026 eyes.
This disaster film was directed by Jan de Bont, with the screenplay written by Michael Crichton and Anne-Marie Martin. It stars Helen as meteorologist Dr. Jo Harding, Bill Paxton as her estranged husband Bill "The Extreme" Harding, Jami Gertz as Bill's fiancée Melissa, and Cary Elwes as rival storm chaser Jonas Miller. Supporting roles include Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alan Ruck, and Lois Smith.
The film follows a thrill-seeking team of storm chasers in Oklahoma as they try to deploy "Dorothy," a revolutionary device filled with sensors, into the heart of a tornado to gather groundbreaking data. Amid a massive outbreak of severe weather, Jo and Bill reconcile their differences as they race against their more powerful corporate rival and face increasingly dangerous F5 tornadoes in a battle against nature.
The plot follows a team of thrill-seeking storm chasers in Oklahoma as they attempt to deploy "Dorothy," a revolutionary device filled with sensors, into the heart of a tornado to gather groundbreaking data. Amid a massive outbreak of severe weather, Jo and Bill reconcile their differences while racing against a corporate rival, facing increasingly dangerous F5 tornadoes in a high-stakes battle against nature.
This movie received positive reviews and was praised for its groundbreaking visual effects, intense action scenes, and a star-studded cast. It earned two Academy Award nominations for Best Visual Effects and Best Sound. While some found the human drama secondary to the spectacle, it was celebrated as a landmark in disaster filmmaking. The film was a blockbuster, grossing $499 million worldwide (making it the second-highest-grossing film of 1996) against a reported budget of around $92 million.
1991: "What About Bob?" -
This comedy was directed by Frank Oz and stars Bill Murray as Bob Wiley, a neurotic, overdependent mental patient. Richard Dreyfuss also stars as his egotistical psychiatrist, Dr. Leo Marvin. The supporting cast includes Julie Hagerty as Leo's wife, Fay, Charlie Korsmo as their son, Siggy, and Kathryn Erbe as their daughter, Anna.
The plot centers on Bob, who follows Dr. Marvin and his family to their lakeside vacation home after developing an unhealthy attachment. Bob's relentless cheerfulness and "baby steps" approach gradually win over the family, while driving the uptight psychiatrist to the brink of insanity with outrageous antics.
Critically, the film received positive reviews, lauded for Murray's hilarious performance and the sharp contrast with Dreyfuss's straight-man frustration. It was appreciated as a clever, character-driven comedy exploring therapy, family, and boundaries. What about Bob? performed solidly at the box office, grossing $63.7 million domestically on a $39 million budget, and remains a beloved '90s comedy with memorable quotes like "Baby steps, baby steps..." It remains a cult favorite for many, thanks to Murray's iconic portrayal of lovable eccentricity.
TOP SONGS
2006: "SOS" by Rihanna
2001: "All for You" by Janet Jackson
1996: "Tha Crossroads" by Bone Thugs n Harmony
1991: "I Like The Way (The Kissing Game)" by Hi-Five
TOP TELEVISION NEWS
May 2006:
2nd: Hope and Faith comes to an end on ABC after 3 years.
5th: The popular Disney Junior (then Playhouse Disney) show Mickey Mouse Clubhouse premiered on the Disney Channel after the network premiere of Finding Nemo. We love the Clubhouse in our house.
14th: The West Wing, the hit political drama that an entire generation thinks is a guide to real-life politics, comes to an end on NBC. It debuted in 1999. The series was rebooted briefly in 2020.
15th: Malcolm in the Middle, starring Frankie Muniz and Bryan Cranston, comes to an end after 6 seasons on FOX. It will return in 2026 as "Malcolm in the Middle: Life's Still Unfair."
16th: That '70s Show (which returned in 2023 as That 90s Show) came to an end after 5 seasons on FOX. Also, Will & Grace ended on NBC the same day. It, too, returned briefly in 2017.
21st: Mike Wallace makes his last appearance on 60 Minutes, while the WB aired the series finale of Charmed (ends after 8 seasons).
24th: On FOX, Taylor Hicks wins American Idol Season Five.
26th: The wonderfully awful daytime talk show "The Tony Danza Show" ended after two seasons.
31st: Katie Couric's final episode as co-host of The Today Show on NBC. Also that day, the "faux-reality" series The Hills debuts on MTV.
May 2001:
4th: Nash Bridges, the CBS crime drama, comes to an end after 6 seasons and 122 episodes.
7th: NBC aired the hour-long season seven finale of Friends titled "The One with Monica and Chandler's Wedding."
That same day, Shannen Doherty made her final appearance on The WB's Charmed.
11th: Diagnosis: Murder, the Dick Van Dyke mystery/crime drama, ends its run on CBS. It had been on air since 1993.
14th: Baywatch, the hit series, officially comes to an end after 11 years. Also, Moesha ended after 5 years on UPN.
16th: Two Guys and a Girl (and a Pizza Place) ends its run after 3 years on ABC. This sitcom starred Ryan Reynolds and Nathan Fillion.
17th: Nickelodeon canceled the kids' sketch show All That after nearly 7 years.
18th: The 28th Daytime Emmy Awards air on NBC.
19th: Walker, Texas Ranger comes to an end after 9 seasons and 203 episodes on CBS. RIP Chuck Norris.
22nd: On the WB, Buffy the Vampire Slayer airs its 100th episode. It also served as the WB series finale after UPN announced that Buffy and the Roswell series would move to UPN for the fall of 2001.
Also on the 22nd, the NBC sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun ends. It had been on air since 1996.
23rd: On UPN, Star Trek: Voyager airs its series finale with the two-part episode "Endgame."
May 1996:
1st: The Kids' Choice Awards airs on Nickelodeon, hosted by Whitney Houston and Rosie O'Donnell. What a pair. Television winners included Home Improvement (for "Favorite TV Show"), Tim Allen (of Home Improvement for "Favorite TV Actor"), Tia and Tamera Mowry (of Sister, Sister for "Favorite TV Actress"), and Rugrats (for "Favorite Cartoon").
11th: Captain Planet and the Planeteers comes to an end after being on air since 1990.
14th: FOX airs a television film that marks the first attempt to revive Doctor Who. Intended as a backdoor pilot for a new American-produced Doctor Who TV series, it introduced Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor in his only televised appearance as the character until "The Night of the Doctor" in 2013. Although a ratings success in the United Kingdom, the film did not fare well on American television.
16th: More than 12 million Americans watch the final episode of "Murder, She Wrote" on CBS. During its 12-year run, the series had become the longest-running American murder mystery drama.
18th: Mystery Science Theater 3000 airs its final episode on Comedy Central, covering the 1978 film Laserblast. The series eventually moved to The Sci-Fi Channel, where it would run for three more seasons.
20th: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, the hit comedy starring Will Smith, ends. It had been on air since September 1990.
May 1991:
3rd: The final episode of Dallas is broadcast by CBS. It was revived in 2012 by TNT but lasted only 3 seasons/40 episodes before being canceled.
4th: The show "Yearbook" comes to an end after one season on FOX. This documentary series was one of the earliest known examples of "reality television" as it chronicled the school and home lives of various students at Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, about 30 minutes outside of Chicago. It was inspired by the idea of making a "real-life" John Hughes film.
9th: After being diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer in April 1991, Michael Landon appeared as a guest on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Landon would succumb to the disease seven weeks later at the age of 54.
10th: The western show "Paradise" (also known as "Guns of Paradise") comes to an end after running for 4 years. Also, the crime drama series "Midnight Caller" ends its run after four seasons.
13th: Delta Burke makes her final appearance on the CBS sitcom Designing Women. The series lasted two more seasons after her departure.
25th: The syndicated sitcom "Out of This World" ends its 4th season on a cliffhanger. The show was canceled in the offseason, leaving the cliffhanger unresolved. The ending involved Evie's alien father, Troy, visiting Earth, and her mother, Donna, accidentally taking his place on his home planet, Antares Prime.
25th: The sitcom The Munsters Today, a reboot of the 1964 series The Munsters, which starred Lee Meriwether and Jason Marsden, comes to an end after three seasons.
28th: The ABC sitcom "Thirtysomething" comes to an end after 84 episodes.
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