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:
Roger Goodell begins his tenure as commissioner of the NFL on the 1st. On the same day, the USA men's basketball team is upset at the World Basketball Championships in Japan as Greece pulls off a 101-95 victory in the semi-final. On the 3rd, Andre Agassi loses to the 112th-ranked player, Benjamin Becker, in his final career match. On the 4th, CFL quarterback Damon Allen moves past NFL legend Warren Moon as professional football's all-time leading passer when he achieves 70,596 yards. On the 6th, "New Moon," the second in Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" saga, is published. It will go on to sell 5.3 million copies. On the 7th, Sacha Baron Cohen's mockumentary, "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," premieres at the Toronto Film Festival. On the 9th, Maria Sharapova wins her first US title at the Women's US Open. The next day, Roger Federer wins his 3rd straight US title at the Men's US Open. On the 18th, right-wing protestors riot at the Hungarian Television building in Budapest, a day after audio is made public in which left-wing Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany admits that he and his party cheated and lied in the 2006 election. On the 22nd, the US Navy retires the F-14 Tomcat, the fighter jet made famous in Top Gun. Colombian drug lord Gilberto Rodriguez Orejuela is sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to cocaine conspiracy charges. Martin Scorsese's "The Departed," starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, and Mark Wahlberg, premieres on the 26th. On the 27th, the Boston Red Sox honor former player Johnny Pesky by naming the right-field foul pole at Fenway Park "Pesky's Pole." Farm Aid 19 is held in Tinley Park, Illinois on the 30th, featuring Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Neil Young, Dave Matthews, and more.
2001:
The world changed forever this month.
On the 1st, facing 4-ime Cy Young Award winner Greg Maddux, Cubs slugger Sammy Sosa hit the longest home run in Turner Field history as his 53rd of the season traveled 471 feet. In only his 11th career start, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Bud Smith no-hits the San Diego Padres 4-0 on the 3rd. On the 4th, Robert Mueller assumes the office as the Director of the FBI. On the 6th, the 18th MTV Music Awards crowns "Lady Marmalade" the best of the year. On the 7th, a celebration of singer Michael Jackson's 30-year solo career was held at Madison Square Garden in New York, featuring an all-star lineup and a reunion with his brothers. The US FTC approves Chevron's purchase of Texaco on the 7th. On the 8th, the earworm "Can't Get You Out of My Head" by Kylie Minogue debuts. The Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks miniseries "Band of Brothers," based on the book by Stephen Ambrose, debuts on the 9th as the most expensive miniseries ever created.
On the morning of the 11th, terrorists hijacked United Airlines Flight 93, United Flight 175, American Airlines Flight 11, and American Flight 77. United 175 and American 11 both took off from Boston headed for Los Angeles. After being hijacked, they were flown into the World Trade Center in New York. American 77 took off from Washington Dulles, headed for Los Angeles, and was flown into the Pentagon after being hijacked. United 93 departed Newark, New Jersey for San Francisco, and was subsequently crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania after passengers fought back. By the end of the day, 2,606 people had died, and America and the world wouldn't be the same.
Life as a senior in high school living 30 minutes north of New York City changed. From the higher spots in town, I could see smoke rising from the city. Perhaps someday I'll document my own memories of this day.
On the 12th, Article V of the NATO agreement is invoked for the first and only time in response to the September 11, 2001, attacks against the United States of America. This states that an attack on one member is an attack on all 32 members. On the 13th, limited commercial flights resume and oil markets return to near-normal. On the 14th, civilian air traffic returns to the United States. Also on the 14th, Australian airline Ansett Australia goes bankrupt, stranding thousands of passengers and placing 16,000 Australians out of work. Also on the 14th, a Historic National Prayer Service is held at Washington National Cathedral for victims of the 9-11 attacks. On the 17th, despite suffering from lung cancer and Parkinson's disease, legendary sportscaster Jack Buck reads a patriotic-themed poem during the pregame ceremonies of baseball's first night back after 9-11. The major stock market trading exchanges open for the first time since the 11th on the 17th. On the 18th, the first mailing of a cluster of anthrax letters from Trenton, New Jersey arrives. President George W. Bush declares a "war on terror" in a joint address to Congress and the American people on the 20th. On the 21st, Major League Baseball returns to New York, as an emotional New York Mets defeated the Atlanta Braves. Losing 2-1 in the bottom of the 8th, Mets catcher Mike Piazza hit an iconic home run, allowing the Mets to win 3-2. It may have been just a game, but it was a powerful moment of catharsis and healing for the city. On the 24th, crude oil and petroleum futures fell to their lowest levels as recession fears reduced energy demand. Farm Aid 14 is held in Indiana on the 29th. Also on the 29th, The Syracuse Herald-Journal, a newspaper dating back to 1839, ceases production.
1996:
On the 1st, the new NFL franchise, the Carolina Panthers, defeat Atlanta 29-6 in their first regular season home game. That same day, Vinny Testaverde completes 19 of 33 for 254 yards as the Baltimore Ravens (having just moved from Cleveland) defeat Oakland in their debut home game in Baltimore. On the 2nd, Jerry Lewis' 31st Muscular Dystrophy telethon raises $49.2 million. On the 4th, Alanis Morissette and The Smashing Pumpkins win top honors at the 13th MTV Video Music Awards. On the 5th, crude oil prices rise following US cruise missile strikes on Iraq as the market speculates about when Iraq will begin exporting oil under a UN resolution. On the 7th, Rapper Tupac Shakur is shot several times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas. He dies 6 days later. Steffi Graf retains her US Open women's tennis title, defeating Monica Seles on the 7th. At the 48th annual Emmy Awards, "ER," Dennis Franz, and Kathy Baker win big on the 8th. On the same day, "Blue's Clues" debuts on Nickelodeon. Pete Sampras retains his Men's Tennis title at the US Open on the 8th. On the 11th, Union Pacific Railroad purchases Southern Pacific Railroad. On the 14th, Mark McGwire is the 13th player to hit 50 home runs in a season. On the 14th, NY Mets catcher Todd Hundley sets a record 41 home runs by a catcher. On the 15th, the Texas Rangers retire Nolan Ryan's number 34. Courtroom classic "Judge Judy" debuts on television in the United States on the 16th. On the 16th, Minnesota Twins' Paul Molitor becomes the 21st player to reach 3,000 hits. The next day, Dodgers pitcher Hideo Nomo no-hits the Colorado Rockies 9-0. On the 20th, "The First Wives Club," starring Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn, and Diane Keaton, is released in theaters. On the 24th, President Bill Clinton signs the "Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty" at the UN. Robert Alomar of the Baltimore Orioles infamously spits in the face of umpire John Hirschbeck on the 27th. The oil tanker Julie N crashes into the Million Dollar Bridge in Portland, Maine, spilling thousands of gallons of oil into the Fore River. New York Yankee Jim Leyritz becomes the second catcher to wear a hockey mask on the 27th. Alanis Morissette ends her first whirlwind tour with a show in Houston, Texas on the 29th. The Nintendo 64 becomes available in the US three months after debuting in Japan on the 29th.
1991:
On the first, Japanese runner Hiromi Taniguchi wins the Tokyo Marathon in 2:14:57. Garth Brooks' 3rd studio album "Ropin' the Wild" debuts on the 2nd. It becomes Album of the Year. On the same day, Jerry Lewis' 26th Muscular Dystrophy telethon raises $45 million. On the 4th, the MLB drops the "asterisk" next to Roger Maris' 1961 home run record of 61, allowing him to pass Babe Ruth's 60. The name St. Petersburg is restored to Russia's 2nd largest city, which had been renamed Leningrad in 1924, on September 6th. The New WKRP in Cincinnati debuts in syndication on the 7th, with three cast members reprising their original roles. On that day, Monica Seles wins her first US title, defeating Martina Navratilova. On the 8th, Buffalo Billsquarterback Jim Kelly passes for 6 touchdowns against the Pittsburgh Steelers, winning 52-34. Mike Tyson is indicted for rape on the 9th. Also on the 9th, only 1,695 fans arrive at Fenway to watch the Boston Red Sox play Cleveland. On the 10th, Nirvana releases their single "Smells Like Teen Spirit," which MTV later dubs the "anthem of Generation X." Hearings begin on Clarence Thomas' nomination to the US Supreme Court. On the 14th, the US performs a nuclear test at a Nevada Test Site. The trial for former Panamanian leader Manuel Noriega begins on the 16th. Harry Gant wins NASCAR's Goody's 500 on the 22nd. Don Shula, coach of the Miami Dolphins, records his 300th career victory on the 23rd. On the 24th, Nirvana releases their second studio album "Nevermind." "Good & Evil," starring Terri Garr, premieres on ABC. On the 27th, in a primer for Tampa to join the NHL, the first exhibition game in St. Petersburg, Florida, between the Islanders and Bruins is canceled because of poor ice conditions. R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People" peaks at #10 on the charts on the 28th. On the 30th, Jerry Springer's tabloid talk show "Jerry Springer" debuts on television.
TOP MOVIES
2006: "Jackass Number 2" -
Jackass Number Two is a reality slapstick comedy film directed by Jeff Tremaine and produced by Tremaine, Spike Jonze, and Johnny Knoxville. It is the (unnecessary?) sequel to Jackass: The Movie (2002) and is based on the MTV series Jackass. The film features the core cast returning as themselves: Johnny Knoxville, Bam Margera, Steve-O, Chris Pontius, Ryan Dunn, Dave England, Jason “Wee Man” Acuña, Preston Lacy, and Ehren McGhehey. Guest appearances include Spike Jonze, John Waters, and others.
There is no plot. The film is a rapid-fire compilation of ridiculous stunts, pranks, and skits designed to push physical and comedic boundaries. It opens with the crew being chased by bulls through a neighborhood. It continues with a series of extreme, painful, and gross-out sequences (including animal-related gags, bodily fluids, and self-inflicted chaos).
Critically, the film received generally positive reviews for a stunt-comedy sequel, holding a 66% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics and audiences praised its relentless energy and willingness to escalate the original formula, though many noted it was pure shock value with little substance.
It was a commercial success, grossing $84.6 million worldwide ($72.8 million domestic) against a modest $11.5 million budget. It opened at #1 with $29 million.
2001: "The Others" -
The Others is a psychological thriller/Gothic horror film written, directed, and scored by Alejandro Amenábar. It stars Nicole Kidman as Grace Stewart, with Fionnula Flanagan as Mrs. Bertha Mills, Christopher Eccleston as Charles Stewart, Alakina Mann as Anne, James Bentley as Nicholas, Elaine Cassidy as Lydia, and Eric Sykes as Mr. Tuttle.
Set in 1945 on the island of Jersey shortly after World War II, the story follows Grace, a devout and strict mother living in a large, isolated manor with her two young children who suffer from a rare photosensitivity condition that requires the house to remain in near-total darkness. After three new servants arrive, strange occurrences begin, starting with mysterious noises, disappearing items, and claims of other people in the house. This all leads Grace to believe the manor is haunted as she desperately tries to protect her children and uncover the truth.
Critically, the film was highly praised, holding an 84% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes with the consensus calling it “a spooky thriller that reminds us that a movie doesn’t need expensive special effects to be creepy.” Reviewers applauded Kidman’s intense performance, the atmospheric tension, period detail, and clever storytelling. It was a major commercial hit, grossing approximately $210 million worldwide ($96.5 million domestic) against a $17 million budget.
Tom Cruise served as an executive producer (Cruise and Kidman divorced shortly after this film), and it is a modern classic of slow-burn ghost stories that relies on atmosphere and a memorable twist rather than jump scares.
1996: "The First Wives Club" -
The First Wives Club is a comedy film directed by Hugh Wilson, based on the 1992 novel by Olivia Goldsmith, and written by Robert Harling. It stars Bette Midler as Brenda Morelli Cushman, Goldie Hawn as Elise Eliot Atchison, and Diane Keaton as Annie MacDuggan Paradis. Supporting roles include Maggie Smith, Sarah Jessica Parker, Stockard Channing, Dan Hedaya, Victor Garber, Stephen Collins, Elizabeth Berkley, and Marcia Gay Harden.
The plot follows three college friends who reunite at the funeral of a fourth (Cynthia), who died by suicide after her husband left her for a younger woman. After realizing their own ex-husbands (or soon-to-be exes) have similarly discarded them for younger partners after years of support, the trio forms “The First Wives Club” and embarks on a witty, vengeful campaign to reclaim power, money, and self-worth. Using their business savvy, public embarrassment, and solidarity, they turn the tables on their exes.
Critically, the film received mixed reviews, holding a 50% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences responded more warmly, and the movie developed a strong cult following, especially among women.
It was a major commercial success, grossing approximately $181 million worldwide against a $26–30 million budget. This film is considered a career revitalizer for Midler, Hawn, and Keaton. One memorable cameo includes Ivana Trump delivering the line "Don't get mad, get everything." Its cultural impact is noted for defining mid-’90s female-empowerment comedy that inspired later generations of women.
1991: "Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare" -
Freddy’s Dead is a 3D slasher/horror film directed by Rachel Talalay (in her feature debut), with a screenplay by Michael De Luca based on a story by Talalay. The film is based on characters created by Wes Craven and is the sixth installment in the A Nightmare on Elm Street series. It was marketed as the "final" film of the series at the time (there have been 3 direct sequels since, with a 4th on the way).
Robert Englund returns as Freddy Krueger, with Lisa Zane as Maggie Burroughs, Shon Greenblatt as John Doe, Yaphet Kotto as Doc, Lezlie Deane as Tracy, and supporting roles by Breckin Meyer, Ricky Dean Logan, and cameos from Johnny Depp, Roseanne Barr, Tom Arnold, and Alice Cooper.
Set roughly a decade after previous events, Freddy has wiped out nearly all the children of Springwood and seeks to escape the town’s boundaries for new victims. He manipulates an amnesiac teenager (John) and targets a counselor (Maggie) who has a personal connection to him. The story builds to a dream-world confrontation involving dream demons and a climactic attempt to end Freddy once and for all, with the final act presented in 3D.
Critically, the film was poorly received, with a 22–23% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a consensus calling it a “joyless climax” that reduces Freddy to a “goofy caricature.” It is widely regarded as one of the franchise's weaker entries. Audiences were similarly lukewarm, with the film grossing about $34.9 million domestically against a $9–11 million budget.
TOP SONGS
2006: "SexyBack" by Justin Timberlake
2001: "I'm Real" (Murder Remix) by Jennifer Lopez
1996: "Macarena" by Los Del Rio (The Bayside Boys Mix)
1991: "I Adore Mi Amor" by Color Me Badd
TOP TELEVISION NEWS
September 2006:
1st: "Date My Mom," the reality show on MTV, ended after two years.
2nd: ESPN takes over production of ABC Sports, rebranding them as "ESPN on ABC." Both networks are owned by The Walt Disney Company.
4th: Curious George debuts on PBS Kids.
5th: Katie Couric becomes the first female solo anchor of the CBS Evening News, replacing Bob Schieffer.
6th: Guiding Light, the longest-broadcast television drama, broadcasts its 15,000th episode on CBS.
10th: NBC broadcasts its first NFL regular season game since Super Bowl XXXII in 1997, taking over the rights to the NFL Kickoff Game.
11th: Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! become the first game shows to be broadcast in High Definition.
11th: John O'Hurley replaces Richard Karn as the host of Family Feud.
12th: Mike Malin is named the winner of Big Brother: All-Stars and wins the $500,000 prize.
12th: Fox officially shuts down Foxnet, a cable service for television markets that did not have a local Fox affiliate. This prompts stations in the few markets that still carry Foxnet to launch Fox-affiliated subchannels:
13th: Meredith Viera begins co-hosting duties on NBC's "Today," replacing Katie Couric, who left for CBS.
18th: Vicyann Sadowski wins $147,517 worth of cash and prizes for her performance on the season 35 premiere of The Price Is Right on CBS. This not only made Sadowski the biggest winner in the daytime show's history (at the time), but also surpassed Press Your Luck contestant Michael Larson, making her the biggest one-day winner in the history of American network daytime game shows.
20th: Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is seriously injured after crashing a jet-powered car at 280 mph.
20th: Jericho debuts on CBS. This post-apocalyptic drama only lasted two seasons but developed a strong cult following.
25th: Fox & Friends co-anchor E.D. Hill quits the show and is replaced by Gretchen Carlson.
25th: Heroes, starring Hayden Panetierre, debuts on NBC.
28th: Ugly Betty, starring America Ferrera, debuts on ABC.
September 2001:
2nd: Adult Swim, the adult-oriented cartoon programming block, debuts on Cartoon Network.
3rd: Thuy Trang, the actress best known for her role as the Yellow Ranger, Trini, from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, dies unexpectedly at the young age of 27 in a car accident in San Francisco.
4th: Sco-Fi/mystery drama Lost debuts on NBC.
5th: CBS's travel-based reality competition, The Amazing Race, which would later become one of the most successful franchises in television, premieres.
7th: Ed Toutant wins $1,860,000 on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. He previously appeared on the episode that aired January 31, 2001, when the jackpot was $1,860,000; he was ruled to have answered his $16,000 question incorrectly, but when it was discovered that the question was flawed, Toutant was invited back and won the jackpot.
7th: Judge Mills Lane, the courtroom show starring boxing referee Mills Lane, debuts in syndication.
8th: FOX broadcasts the final episode of reality/mystery "Murder in Small Town X," in which New York City firefighter Ángel Juarbe, Jr. won. Juarbe is killed three days later during the collapse of the World Trade Center.
9th: Band of Brothers debuts on HBO.
11th: Viewers witness a terrorist attack and the collapse of the Twin Towers in New York City live on television. Although they first appeared in 1952 and have been used by some television news programs ever since, continually scrolling news headlines along the bottom of the screen became commonplace after Fox News Channel used them to help viewers track the latest developments during the attacks.
13th: UPN resumes normal programming with a live episode of SmackDown. The show was originally scheduled to be taped on September 11, but the taping was postponed by two days due to the attacks.
15th: All three "Big Networks" resume their normal daytime programming after four days of constant news coverage.
21st: All four major US networks broadcast America: A Tribute to Heroes, a two-hour telethon to raise money for the families of those killed by the 9-11 attacks.
24th: Crossing Jordan debuts on NBC.
24th: The Ellen Show, the sitcom in which Ellen DeGeneres famously "outed" herself, debuts on CBS.
26th: UPN airs the two-hour series premiere of Star Trek: Enterprise. Enterprise replaced Star Trek: Voyager.
30th: Law & Order Criminal Intent debuts on NBC.
September 1996:
3rd: Radio program Imus in the Morning begins its simulcast on MSNBC.
3rd: Quack Pack, the Disney animated series featuring Donald Duck and his now-teenage nephews, debuts in syndication.
6th: Mighty Ducks: The Animated Series debuts on ABC and Disney.
6th: Superman: The Animated Series debuts on Kids WB.
7th: Paula Zahn is named a Saturday anchor for CBS Evening News.
7th: Big Bad Beetleborgs debuts on Fox Kids.
8th: Blues Clues debuts on Nickelodeon.
8th: The 48th Primetime Emmy Awards were presented by ABC.
13th: The pilot episode of Everybody Loves Raymond airs on CBS.
13th: The Phil Donahue Show comes to an end, having been on television since 1967.
15th: The USA Network ends its USA Cartoon Express block, expanding its newer USA Action Extreme Team block during weekdays.
16th: Wheel of Fortune tries something new in a round called Jackpot, in which contestants can win an accumulated pot based on the value spun through the round. This special feature lasted until 2013.
16th: Judge Judy debuts in syndication.
16th: Cosby, the sitcom starring Bill Cosby and Phylicia Rashad, debuts on CBS. Personally, I thought this show was more enjoyable than most of The Cosby Show.
17th: The O.J. Simpson civil trial begins.
17th: Spin City debuts on ABC.
19th: Suddenly Susan debuts on CBS.
27th: Sabrina the Teenage Witch debuts on ABC.
30th: A revival of the game Shop 'til You Drop premieres on The Family Channel along with a new game show called The Shopping Spree. Both shows ran on the channel until August 14, 1998, when the Family Channel branding ended. Shop til you Drop revived briefly in 2000 on PAX.
September 1991:
7th: Back to the Future: The Animated Series debuts on FOX.
7th: Tazmania debuts on FOX.
8th: Minnie Pearl makes her final appearance on Hee Haw.
9th: The Maury Povich Show debuts in syndication.
9th: The 20th anniversary of The Price Is Right is celebrated all week long on CBS.
9th: After being fired from WCW, Ric Flair makes his WWF debut on USA Network's Prime Time Wrestling, complete with the "Big Gold Belt."
14th: Eerie, Indiana debuts on NBC.
16th: James Bond, Jr. debuts in syndication.
17th: Home Improvement, starring Tim Allen, debuts on ABC.
19th: Under the name John Jay Smith, Michael Jackson serves as a guest voice on The Simpsons.
20th: Step by Step, starring Patrick Duffy and Suzanne Somers, debuts on ABC.
21st: The Torkelsons debuts on NBC. Produced by Michael Jacobs (Boy Meets World), it was renamed Almost Home after the first season.
23rd: After being canceled on NBC, Baywatch is relaunched in syndication, where it catches fire and runs for ten more seasons.
25th: Leonardo DiCaprio joins the cast of Growing Pains for what would be the show's final season.
30th: The Jerry Springer Show and The Montel Williams Show debut in syndication.
30th: The classic kids' television show Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego debuts on PBS.
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