World Changing Event: Google.com was founded in Menlo Park, California, by Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
The Catchphrase: “Is that your final answer?” from Do You Want To Be A Millionaire.
The Top Song was Iris by Goo Goo Dolls
Influential Songs include The Cup of Life by Ricky Martin, Flagpole Sitta by Harvey Danger, Are You That Somebody? by Aaliyah and Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) by Green Day
The Movies to Watch include Saving Private Ryan, Wag the Dog, Les Misérables, Mighty Joe Young, The Prince of Egypt, Mulan and The Truman Show
People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive: Harrison Ford
In 1998’s Soldier, one of the weapons Kurt Russel’s character is listed as being proficient with is the “Illudium PU36 ESM” which refers to the Illudium PU36 Explosive Space Modulator from Looney Tunes Marvin the Martian
Notable books include: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling and Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
Price of Titleist golf balls in 1998: $20.00/48 Panasonic Camcorder: $489.00
The Razor Scooter was introduced at the NSGA World Sports Expo.
The Funny Guy was: Eddie Izzard
On April Fools Day in 1998, Burger King took out a full-page ad in USA Today introducing a Whopper designed especially for lefties. The new burger would contain the same ingredients as the original, but rotated 180°. Thousands of customers swarmed BK restaurants requesting the “lefty” Whopper.
The Communication: In 1998, Noel Godin, a Belgian anarchist, hit Bill Gates in the face with a cream pie.
Top Ten Baby Names of 1998: Emily, Hannah, Samantha, Sarah, Ashley, Michael, Jacob, Matthew, Joshua, Chris, Topher
Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols: Heidi Klum, Rebecca Romijn, Sarah Jessica Parker, Claudia Schiffer, Victoria Silvstedt, Niki Taylor
Hollywood Hunks and Leading Men: David Beckham, Johnny Depp, George Clooney
“The Quotes” “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is” – President Bill Clinton
“Think different” -Apple Computer
“Think outside the bun” – Taco Bell
Time Magazine’s Men of the Year: Bill Clinton Kenneth Starr
Miss America: Kate Shindle (Evanston, IL)
Miss USA: Shawnae Jebbia (Massachusetts)
The Scandals: George Michael was arrested in 1998 for “engaging in a lewd act” in a public restroom in a Beverly Hills, CA park.
Monica Lewinsky and President Bill Clinton. The news of this extra-marital affair and the resulting investigation eventually led to the impeachment hearing of Bill Clinton in 1998 by the U.S. House of Representatives.
Quick Celebrity marriages in 1998: Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman (9 days) Catherine Oxenberg and Robert Evens (12 days)
Oops: Sony released the Nightshot Handicam camcorder that had “night vision” capabilities using infrared. The same infrared technology allowed the camera to see through people’s clothes. 700,000 camcorders were sold before they were recalled.
10 bodies were discovered in Benjamin Franklin’s basement during house renovations. The bodies belonged to his friend and anatomist William Hewson, who had a falling out with his mentor William Hunter and illegally procured them for study. Hunter’s body was not among them.
The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug was accidentally introduced to the US. The first documented case was in Allentown, PA in 1998.
Pop Culture Facts & History: The Hampster Dance song is just a sped-up version of the song “Whistle Stop” from the 1973 animated Disney movie Robin Hood.
MP3s were created for the first time.
Larry Page and Sergey Brin misspelled ‘googol’ when they started their little search engine experiment. A googol is a big number – a 1 followed by 100 zeros. A googolplex is 10 raised to the power of one googol.
In 1998, David Bowie released an internet provider called BowieNet. Subscribers were offered exclusive content and a BowieNet email. It was shut down in 2006.
Jobseeker website Monster.com was founded.
JetBlue Airways was founded.
Michael Cameron, a Georgia high school student, was suspended from school after wearing a Pepsi t-shirt on Coke Day. Upon hearing the news, a Pepsi spokesperson said, “Without knowing all the details, it sounds like he’s obviously a trendsetter with impeccable taste in clothes.”
Porsche tried to replace its flagship car, the 911, with the beggir, more luxurious 928, but people kept buying the iconic 911. The 911 still hadn’t had a major redesign since its birth in 1963, and only received one in 1998, three years after the 928 went out of production.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is by far the biggest-selling playscript since records began, with 847, 886 copies sold in its first week. In second place, the Penguin Classic edition of Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet sold 127,726 copies since 1998.
Titanic’s highest single-day box office gross didn’t occur until its 58th day in theaters. It earned $13,048,711 on February 14th, 1998; Valentines Day.
When Ving Rhames won a Golden Globe in 1998, he called fellow nominee Jack Lemmon to the stage and gave him the award, saying, “I feel like being an artist is about giving, and I’d like to give this to you, Mr. Jack Lemmon.”
Marvel offered the cinematic rights of almost all of its characters to Sony for only $25 million. Sony rejected the offer, and only purchased the rights to Spider-Man for $7 million believing that movie audiences would only care about him.
Jesse Ventura was elected Governor of Minnesota.
The Simpsons predicted Fox’s acquisition by Disney in 1998.
Smartwater, vapor-distilled water was introduced. The next year, Fruit water was available too.
On April Fools Day in 1998, Burger King took out a full-page ad in USA Today introducing a Whopper designed especially for lefties. The new burger contained the same ingredients as the original but rotated 180°.
When AOL 4.0 launched, they used all of the world’s CD production capacity for several weeks.
The 1998 hit song by the Goo Goo Dolls Iris is named after a 2 time Grammy nominee Iris DeMent.
The first W Hotel opened in New York on Lexington Ave and 49th Street.
Gillette introduced the Mach3 razor, the first triple-blade shaving tool.
One of the first recognized instances of internet democracy was seen when Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf, a regular on Howard Stern, was voted #1 as a write-in for People’s “50 Most Beautiful People.” He beat out Leonardo Dicaprio by over 215,000 votes.
Some Nickelodeon shows like Fairly OddParents, My Life as a Teenage Robot, and ChalkZone all got their start on a separate tv show full of cartoon shorts called Oh Yeah! Cartoons in 1998
Bob the Builder debuted in 1998.
In 1998 Mila Kunis was cast in the FOX sitcom That ’70s Show. All who auditioned were required to be at least 18 years old; Kunis, who was 14 at the time, told the casting directors she would be 18 but did not say when. She played in all 200 episodes of the show.
Roy Berger did 3,416 push-ups in Ottawa, Canada on August 30.
Serena and Venus Williams said they could beat any man ranked 200 or worse in a game of tennis. Karsten Braasch, ranked 203, accepted the challenge and beat them both, at 6-1 and 6-2.
Mark McGwire’s record-setting 70 home runs during the 1998 season traveled a total of 29,598 feet, just enough to fly over Mount Everest.
Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1998: $1,300,000
Science: Australian Astronomers detected fast radio burst signals and named them Perytons. It was soon discovered that it was escaping radiation from the microwave in the lunchroom, which was being stopped by using the door release without pushing the stop button first.
Pop Vocalist Death: Frank Sinatra, age 82
Country Legend Vocalist Death: Tammy Wynette, age 55
Country Movie Legend Vocalist Death: Roy Rogers, age 86
Pop Star Turned Congressman Death: Sonny Bono, age 62
Television Star Death: Phil Hartman, age 49
Doomsday Clock: 9 minutes to midnight, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. 1998: “India and Pakistan stage nuclear weapons tests only three weeks apart. “The tests are a symptom of the failure of the international community to fully commit itself to control the spread of nuclear weapons–and to work toward substantial reductions in the numbers of these weapons,” a dismayed Bulletin reports. Russia and the United States continue to serve as poor examples to the rest of the world. Together, they still maintain 7,000 warheads ready to fire at each other within 15 minutes.”
The Habit: Reading Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling
1st Appearances & 1998’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents: Furby, Barbie and Ken as the Munsters Giftset, Betty Spaghetti
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1998: A Clash of Kings by George R.R. Martin A Man in Full by Tom Wolfe Autobiography of Red: A Novel in Verse by Anne Carson Bag of Bones by Stephen King Birds of America by Lorrie Moore Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling Birds of America by Lorrie Moore I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb The Klone and I by Danielle Steel The Little Sisters of Eluria by Stephen King The Long Road Home by Danielle Steel Mirror Image by Danielle Steel “N” is for Noose by Sur Grafton Paradise by Toni Morrison The Path of Daggers by Robert Jordan Point of Origin by Patricia Cornwell Rainbow Six by Tom Clancy The Street Lawyer by John Grisham Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson A Widow for One Year by John Irving You Belong To Me by Mary Higgins Clark
Best Film Oscar Winner: Titanic (presented in 1998)
1998 Entries to The National Film Registry: 42nd Street (released in 1933) The Bride of Frankenstein (released in 1935) The City (released in 1939) Dead Birds (released in 1964) Don’t Look Back (released in 1967) Easy Rider (released in 1969) From the Manger to the Cross (released in 1912) Gun Crazy aka Deadly Is the Female (released in 1949) The Hitch-Hiker (released in 1953) The Immigrant (released in 1917) The Last Picture Show (released in 1971) Little Miss Marker (released in 1934) The Lost World (released in 1925) Modesta (released in 1956) The Ox-Bow Incident (released in 1943) Pass the Gravy (released in 1928) The Phantom of the Opera (released in 1925) Powers of Ten (released in 1978) The Public Enemy (released in 1931) Sky High (released in 1922) Steamboat Willie (released in 1928) Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collapse (released in 1940) Tootsie (released in 1982) Twelve O’Clock High (released in 1949) Westinghouse Works (released in 1904)
The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo) 1. Saving Private Ryan 2. Armageddon 3. There’s Something About Mary 4. A Bug’s Life 5. The Waterboy 6. Doctor Dolittle 7. Rush Hour 8. Deep Impact 9. Godzilla 10. Patch Adams
1998 Most Popular TV Shows: 1. E.R. (NBC) 2. Friends (NBC) 3. Frasier (NBC) 4. Veronica’s Closet (NBC) 5. Jesse (NBC) 6. 60 Minutes (CBS) 7. Touched By An Angel (CBS) 8. Home Improvement (ABC) 9. Everybody Loves Raymond (CBS) 10. NYPD Blue (ABC)
1998 Billboard Number One Songs: October 11, 1997 – January 16, 1998: Candle In The Wind 1997 – Elton John
January 17 – January 30: Truly Madly Deeply – Savage Garden
January 31 – February 13: Together Again – Janet Jackson
February 14 – February 27: Nice & Slow – Usher
February 28 – March 13: My Heart Will Go On – Céline Dion
March 14 – April 3: Gettin’ Jiggy Wit’ It – Will Smith
June 6 – September 4: The Boy Is Mine – Brandy & Monica
September 5 – October 2: I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing – Aerosmith
October 3 – November 6: The First Night – Monica
November 7 – November 13: One Week – Barenaked Ladies
November 14 – November 27: Doo Wop (That Thing) – Lauryn Hill
November 28- December 4: Lately – Divine
December 5 – January 15: I’m Your Angel – R. Kelly & Céline Dion
Sports: World Series Champions: New York Yankees Super Bowl XXXII Champions: Denver Broncos NBA Champions: Chicago Bulls Stanley Cup Champs: Detroit Red Wings U.S. Open Golf Lee Janzen U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Patrick Rafter/Lindsay Davenport Wimbledon (Men/Women): Pete Sampras/Jana Novotna NCAA Football Champions: Tennessee NCAA Basketball Champions: Kentucky Kentucky Derby: Real Quiet World Cup (Soccer): France
President Bill Clinton – I Have Sinned Speech September 11, 1998 Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the White House and to this day to which Hillary and the vice president and I look forward so much every year.
This is always an important day for our country, for the reasons that the vice president said. It is an unusual and, I think, unusually important day today. I may not be quite as easy with my words today as I have been in years past, and I was up rather late last night thinking about and praying about what I ought to say today. And rather unusual for me, I actually tried to write it down. So if you will forgive me, I will do my best to say what it is I want to say to you – and I may have to take my glasses out to read my own writing.
First, I want to say to all of you that, as you might imagine, I have been on quite a journey these last few weeks to get to the end of this, to the rock bottom truth of where I am and where we all are.
I agree with those who have said that in my first statement after I testified I was not contrite enough. I don’t think there is a fancy way to say that I have sinned.
It is important to me that everybody who has been hurt know that the sorrow I feel is genuine: first and most important, my family; also my friends, my staff, my Cabinet, Monica Lewinsky and her family, and the American people. I have asked all for their forgiveness.
But I believe that to be forgiven, more than sorrow is required – at least two more things. First, genuine repentance – a determination to change and to repair breaches of my own making. I have repented. Second, what my bible calls a ”broken spirit”; an understanding that I must have God’s help to be the person that I want to be; a willingness to give the very forgiveness I seek; a renunciation of the pride and the anger which cloud judgment, lead people to excuse and compare and to blame and complain.
Now, what does all this mean for me and for us? First, I will instruct my lawyers to mount a vigorous defense, using all available appropriate arguments. But legal language must not obscure the fact that I have done wrong. Second, I will continue on the path of repentance, seeking pastoral support and that of other caring people so that they can hold me accountable for my own commitment.
Third, I will intensify my efforts to lead our country and the world toward peace and freedom, prosperity and harmony, in the hope that with a broken spirit and a still strong heart I can be used for greater good, for we have many blessings and many challenges and so much work to do.
In this, I ask for your prayers and for your help in healing our nation. And though I cannot move beyond or forget this – indeed, I must always keep it as a caution light in my life – it is very important that our nation move forward.
I am very grateful for the many, many people – clergy and ordinary citizens alike – who have written me with wise counsel. I am profoundly grateful for the support of so many Americans who somehow through it all seem to still know that I care about them a great deal, that I care about their problems and their dreams. I am grateful for those who have stood by me and who say that in this case and many others, the bounds of privacy have been excessively and unwisely invaded. That may be. Nevertheless, in this case, it may be a blessing, because I still sinned. And if my repentance is genuine and sustained, and if I can maintain both a broken spirit and a strong heart, then good can come of this for our country as well as for me and my family. (Applause)
The children of this country can learn in a profound way that integrity is important and selfishness is wrong, but God can change us and make us strong at the broken places. I want to embody those lessons for the children of this country – for that little boy in Florida who came up to me and said that he wanted to grow up and be President and to be just like me. I want the parents of all the children in America to be able to say that to their children.
A couple of days ago when I was in Florida a Jewish friend of mine gave me this liturgy book called ”Gates of Repentance.” And there was this incredible passage from the Yom Kippur liturgy. I would like to read it to you:
”Now is the time for turning. The leaves are beginning to turn from green to red to orange. The birds are beginning to turn and are heading once more toward the south. The animals are beginning to turn to storing their food for the winter. For leaves, birds and animals, turning comes instinctively. But for us, turning does not come so easily. It takes an act of will for us to make a turn. It means breaking old habits. It means admitting that we have been wrong, and this is never easy. It means losing face. It means starting all over again. And this is always painful. It means saying I am sorry. It means recognizing that we have the ability to change. These things are terribly hard to do. But unless we turn, we will be trapped forever in yesterday’s ways. Lord help us to turn, from callousness to sensitivity, from hostility to love, from pettiness to purpose, from envy to contentment, from carelessness to discipline, from fear to faith. Turn us around, O Lord, and bring us back toward you. Revive our lives as at the beginning, and turn us toward each other, Lord, for in isolation there is no life.”
I thank my friend for that. I thank you for being here. I ask you to share my prayer that God will search me and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts, see if there is any hurtfulness in me, and lead me toward the life everlasting. I ask that God give me a clean heart, let me walk by faith and not sight.
I ask once again to be able to love my neighbor – all my neighbors – as my self, to be an instrument of God’s peace; to let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart and, in the end, the work of my hands, be pleasing. This is what I wanted to say to you today.
Held at: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Host: Billy Crystal
Eligibility Year: 1997
Trivia
Titanic Triumph: Titanic won 11 Oscars, tying with Ben-Hur for the most Academy Awards ever won by a single film.
Iconic Line: One of the most famous lines, “I’m the king of the world!”, was shouted by James Cameron as he accepted the award for Best Director.
First Time’s the Charm: Kim Basinger won Best Supporting Actress for her role in L.A. Confidential, her first nomination ever.
Humanitarian Award: Stanley Kramer was awarded the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, honoring his work in film that tackled social issues.
Documentary Feature: The Long Way Home, about Jewish refugees after World War II, won in the Best Documentary Feature category.
Animated Shorts: Geri’s Game, a Pixar short, won the award for Best Animated Short Film, showing Pixar’s growing influence.
Musical Score: James Horner won for his original dramatic score for Titanic, and his song “My Heart Will Go On,” performed by Céline Dion, also won Best Original Song.
“I am king of the world!” – James Cameron, Best Director, Titanic”
I just want to thank everybody I’ve ever met in my entire life.” – Kim Basinger, Best Supporting Actress, L.A Confidential
“I just said to Matt, ‘Losing would suck and winning would be really scary.’ And it’s really, really scary.” – Ben Affleck, Best Original Screenplay, together with Matt Damon, Good Will Hunting
“Most of all, I want to thank my father, up there, the man who when I said I wanted to be an actor, he said, ‘Wonderful. Just have a back-up profession like welding.’” – Robin Williams, Best Supporting Actor, Good Will Hunting
1998 Oscar Nominees and Winners
Best Picture: Titanic – James Cameron and Jon Landau, producers (WINNER) As Good as It Gets – James L. Brooks, Bridgit Johnson and Kristi Zea, producers The Full Monty – Uberto Pasolini, producer Good Will Hunting – Lawrence Bender, producer L.A. Confidential – Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson and Michael Nathanson, producers
Best Director: James Cameron – Titanic (WINNER) Peter Cattaneo – The Full Monty Gus Van Sant – Good Will Hunting Curtis Hanson – L.A. Confidential Atom Egoyan – The Sweet Hereafter
Best Actor: Jack Nicholson – As Good as It Gets as Melvin Udall (WINNER) Matt Damon – Good Will Hunting as Will Hunting Robert Duvall – The Apostle as Euliss “Sonny” Dewey, a.k.a. “The Apostle E.F.” Peter Fonda – Ulee’s Gold as Ulysses “Ulee” Jackson Dustin Hoffman – Wag the Dog as Stanley Motss
Best Actress: Helen Hunt – As Good as It Gets as Carol Connelly (WINNER) Helena Bonham Carter – The Wings of the Dove as Kate Croy Julie Christie – Afterglow as Phyllis Mann Judi Dench – Mrs Brown as Queen Victoria Kate Winslet – Titanic as Rose DeWitt Bukater
Best Supporting Actor: Robin Williams – Good Will Hunting as Dr. Sean Maguire (WINNER) Robert Forster – Jackie Brown as Max Cherry Anthony Hopkins – Amistad as John Quincy Adams Greg Kinnear – As Good as It Gets as Simon Bishop Burt Reynolds – Boogie Nights as Jack Horner
Best Supporting Actress: Kim Basinger – L.A. Confidential as Lynn Bracken (WINNER) Joan Cusack – In & Out as Emily Montgomery Minnie Driver – Good Will Hunting as Skylar Satenstein Julianne Moore – Boogie Nights as Amber Waves/Maggie Gloria Stuart – Titanic as Rose Dawson Calvert
Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: Good Will Hunting – Matt Damon and Ben Affleck (WINNER) As Good as It Gets – Mark Andrus and James L. Brooks Boogie Nights – Paul Thomas Anderson Deconstructing Harry – Woody Allen The Full Monty – Simon Beaufoy
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: L.A. Confidential – Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson from the novel by James Ellroy (WINNER) Donnie Brasco – Paul Attanasio based on the book Donnie Brasco: My Undercover Life in the Mafia by Joseph D. Pistone with Richard Woodley The Sweet Hereafter – Atom Egoyan adapted from the novel by Russell Banks Wag the Dog – David Mamet and Hilary Henkin from the novel American Hero by Larry Beinhart The Wings of the Dove – Hossein Amini adapted from the novel by Henry James
Best Foreign Language Film: Karakter (Netherlands) in Dutch – Mike van Diem (WINNER) Beyond Silence (Germany) in German – Caroline Link Four Days in September (Brazil) in Portuguese – Bruno Barreto Secrets of the Heart (Spain) in Spanish – Montxo Armendáriz The Thief (Russia) in Russian – Pavel Chukhray
Best Documentary Feature: The Long Way Home – Rabbi Marvin Hier and Richard Trank (WINNER) 4 Little Girls – Spike Lee and Sam Pollard Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life – Michael Paxton Colors Straight Up – Michèle Ohayon and Julia Schachter Waco: The Rules of Engagement – Dan Gifford and William Gazecki
Best Documentary Short Subject: A Story of Healing – Donna Dewey and Carol Pasternak (WINNER) Alaska: Spirit of the Wild – George Casey and Paul Novros Amazon – Kieth Merrill and Jonathan Stern Family Video Diaries: Daughter of the Bride – Terri Randall Still Kicking: The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies – Mel Damski and Andrea Blaugrund
Best Live Action Short Film: Visas and Virtue – Chris Tashima and Chris Donahue (WINNER) Dance Lexie Dance – Tim Loane It’s Good to Talk – Roger Goldby and Barney Reisz Sweethearts – Birger Larsen and Thomas Lydholm Wolfgang – Anders Thomas Jensen and Kim Magnusson
Best Animated Short Film: Geri’s Game – Jan Pinkava (WINNER) Famous Fred – Joanna Quinn The Old Lady and the Pigeons – Sylvain Chomet Redux Riding Hood – Steve Moore and Dan O’Shannon Rusalka – Alexander Petrov
Best Original Dramatic Score: Titanic – James Horner (WINNER) Amistad – John Williams Good Will Hunting – Danny Elfman Kundun – Philip Glass L.A. Confidential – Jerry Goldsmith
Best Original Musical or Comedy Score: The Full Monty – Anne Dudley (WINNER) Anastasia – Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens; Orchestral score by David Newman As Good as It Gets – Hans Zimmer Men in Black – Danny Elfman My Best Friend’s Wedding – James Newton Howard
Best Original Song: “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic – Music by James Horner; Lyrics by Will Jennings (WINNER) “Go the Distance” from Hercules – Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by David Zippel “Journey to the Past” from Anastasia – Music by Stephen Flaherty; Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens “How Do I Live” from Con Air – Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren “Miss Misery” from Good Will Hunting – Music and Lyrics by Elliott Smith
Best Sound Effects Editing: Titanic – Tom Bellfort and Christopher Boyes (WINNER) Face/Off – Mark Stoeckinger and Per Hallberg The Fifth Element – Mark Mangini
Best Sound: Titanic – Gary Rydstrom, Tom Johnson, Gary Summers and Mark Ulano (WINNER) Air Force One – Paul Massey, Rick Kline, Doug Hemphill and Keith A. Wester Con Air – Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell and Art Rochester Contact – Randy Thom, Tom Johnson, Dennis S. Sands and William B. Kaplan L.A. Confidential – Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Kirk Francis
Best Art Direction: Titanic – Art Direction: Peter Lamont; Set Decoration: Michael D. Ford (WINNER) Gattaca – Art Direction: Jan Roelfs; Set Decoration: Nancy Nye Kundun – Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo L.A. Confidential – Art Direction: Jeannine Oppewall; Set Decoration: Jay Hart Men in Black – Art Direction: Bo Welch; Set Decoration: Cheryl Carasik
Best Cinematography: Titanic – Russell Carpenter (WINNER) Amistad – Janusz Kaminski Kundun – Roger Deakins L.A. Confidential – Dante Spinotti The Wings of the Dove – Eduardo Serra
Best Makeup: Men in Black – Rick Baker and David LeRoy Anderson (WINNER) Mrs Brown – Lisa Westcott, Veronica Brebner and Beverley Binda Titanic – Tina Earnshaw, Greg Cannom and Simon Thompson
Best Costume Design: Titanic – Deborah Lynn Scott (WINNER) Amistad – Ruth E. Carter Kundun – Dante Ferretti Oscar and Lucinda – Janet Patterson The Wings of the Dove – Sandy Powell
Best Film Editing: Titanic – Conrad Buff, James Cameron and Richard A. Harris (WINNER) Air Force One – Richard Francis-Bruce As Good as It Gets – Richard Marks Good Will Hunting – Pietro Scalia L.A. Confidential – Peter Honess
Best Visual Effects: Titanic – Robert Legato, Mark Lasoff, Thomas L. Fisher and Michael Kanfer (WINNER) The Lost World: Jurassic Park – Dennis Muren, Stan Winston, Randal M. Dutra and Michael Lantieri Starship Troopers – Phil Tippett, Scott E. Anderson, Alec Gillis and John Richardson
Eligibility Year: October 1, 1996 – September 30, 1997
Trivia
It’s All About the Benjamins: Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs dominated the evening with No Way Out, which won Best Rap Album.
Fleetwood’s Comeback: Fleetwood Mac marked their return by snagging an award for The Dance in the Best Pop Album category.
Record of the Year: Shawn Colvin’s “Sunny Came Home” snatched this prestigious award, alongside a win for Song of the Year.
Dylan’s Timeless Voice: Bob Dylan’s Time Out of Mind not only won Album of the Year but also marked Dylan’s resurgence in popular music.
Jazzy Notes: Buena Vista Social Club by Ry Cooder brought Cuban music to the forefront, winning Best Tropical Latin Performance.
Classical Crossover: Cellist Yo-Yo Ma won Best Classical Crossover Album for his work Soul of the Tango, dedicated to the music of Astor Piazzolla.
Teen Pop Emerges: Although not a winner, the Backstreet Boys received their first Grammy nomination, signaling the ascent of teen pop in mainstream music.
1998 Grammy Winners
Record of the Year: Sunny Came Home – Shawn Colvin
Album of the Year: Time Out of Mind – Bob Dylan (Columbia Records)
Song of the Year: Sunny Came Home – Shawn Colvin and John Leventhal, songwriters
New Artist: Paula Cole
Female Pop Vocal: Building a Mystery – Sarah McLachlan
Male Pop Vocal: Candle in the Wind 1997 – Elton John
Pop Duo or Group with Vocals: Virtual Insanity – Jamiroquai
Pop Collaboration with Vocals: Don’t Look Back – John Lee Hooker with Van Morrison
Pop Instrumental: Last Dance – Sarah McLachlan
Dance Recording: Carry On – Donna Summer and Giorgio Moroder
Pop Album: Hourglass – James Taylor (Columbia Records)
Traditional Pop Album: Tony Bennett on Holiday – Tony Bennett
Female Rock Vocal: Criminal – Fiona Apple
Male Rock Vocal: Cold Irons Bound – Bob Dylan
Rock Duo or Group with Vocals: One Headlight – the Wallflowers
Hard Rock: The End Is the Beginning Is the End – the Smashing Pumpkins
Metal: Ænima – Tool
Rock Instrumental: Block Rockin’ Beats – the Chemical Brothers
Rock Song: One Headlight – Jakob Dylan, songwriter
Rock Album: Blue Moon Swamp – John Fogerty (Warner Bros. Records)
Alternative Album: OK Computer – Radiohead
Female R&B Vocal: On and On – Erykah Badu
Male R&B Vocal: I Believe I Can Fly – R. Kelly
R&B Duo or Group with Vocals: No Diggity – Blackstreet
R&B Song: I Believe I Can Fly – R. Kelly, songwriter
R&B Album: Baduizm – Erykah Badu (Kedar/Universal Records)
Rap Solo: Men in Black – Will Smith
Rap Duo or Group: I’ll Be Missing You – Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112
Rap Album: No Way Out – Puff Daddy and the Family
Female Country Vocal: How Do I Live – Trisha Yearwood
Male Country Vocal: Pretty Little Adriana – Vince Gill
Country Duo or Group with Vocals: Looking in the Eyes of Love – Alison Krauss and Union Station
Country Collaboration with Vocals: In Another’s Eyes – Trisha Yearwood and Garth Brooks
Country Instrumental: Little Liza Jane – Alison Krauss and Union Station
Country Song: Butterfly Kisses – Bob Carlisle and Randy Thomas, songwriters
Country Album: Unchained – Johnny Cash (American Records)
Bluegrass Album: So Long So Wrong – Alison Krauss and Union Station (Rounder Records)
New Age Album: Oracle – Michael Hedges (Windham Hill Records)
Contemporary Jazz: Into the Sun – Randy Brecker
Jazz Vocal: Dear Ella – Dee Dee Bridgewater
Jazz Instrumental, Solo: Stardust – Doc Cheatham and Nicholas Payton
Jazz Instrumental, Individual or Group: Beyond the Missouri Sky – Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny (Verve Records)
Large Jazz Ensemble: Joe Henderson Big Band – Joe Henderson Big Band
Latin Jazz: Habana – Roy Hargrove’s Crisol
Rock Gospel Album: Welcome to the Freak Show: dc Talk Live in Concert – dc Talk (ForeFront Records)
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: Much Afraid – Jars of Clay (Silvertone/Essential Records)
Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Amazing Grace 2: A Country Salute to Gospel – various artists (Sparrow Records)
Traditional Soul Gospel Album: I Couldn’t Hear Nobody Pray – the Fairfield Four (Warner Bros. Records Nashville)
Best Recording Package: Various Artists: Titanic?Music as Heard on the Fateful Voyage – Hugh Brown, Al Q., and Jeff Smith, art directors (Rhino Records)
Best Recording Package Boxed: Various Artists: Beg, Scream and Shout! The Big Ol’ Box of ’60s Soul – Hugh Brown,David Gorman and Rachel Gutek, art directors (Rhino Records)
Best Album Notes: Various Artists: Anthology of American Folk Music (1997 Edition Expanded) – John Fahey, Luis Kemnitzer, Joh Pankake, Chuck Pirtle, Jeff Place, Neil V. Rosenberg, Luc Sante, Peter Stampfel and Eric Von Schmidt, album notes writers
Historical Album: Anthology of American Folk Music (1997 Edition Expanded) (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)
Best-Engineered Album – Non-Classical: James Taylor: Hourglass – Frank Filipetti, engineer (Columbia Records)
Producer: Babyface
Remixer: Frankie Knuckles
Best-Engineered Album – Classical: Copland: The Music of America – Michael Bishop and Jack Renner, engineers
Classical Producer: Steven Epstein
Classical Album: Premieres: Cello Concertos (Works of Danielpour, Kirchner, Rouse) – Philadelphia Orchestra (Sony Classical)
Orchestral: Berlioz: Symphonie Fantastique; Tristia – Pierre Boulez conducting the Cleveland Orchestra and Chorus (Deutsche Grammophon)
Opera: Wagner: Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg – Sir Georg Solti conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus (London Records)
Choral: Adams: Harmonium/Rachmaninoff: The Bells – Robert Shaw, conductor (Telarc):
Instrumental Soloist with Orchestra: Premieres: Cello Concertos (Works of Danielpour, Kirchner, Rouse) – Yo-Yo Ma, violoncello; David Zinman, conductor
Instrumental Soloist without Orchestra: Bach: Suites for Solo Cello Nos. 1-6 – Janos Starker, cello
Chamber Music: Beethoven: The String Quartets, Emerson String Quartet
Small Ensemble Performance (with or without Conductor): Hindemith: Kammermusik No. 1 With Finale 1921, Op. 24 No. 1 – Claudio Abbado conducting members of the Berliner Philharmonic
Classical Vocal: An Italian Songbook (Works of Bellini, Donizetti, Rossini) – Cecilia Bartoli
Classical Contemporary Composition: Adams: El Dorado – John Adams, Composer
Music Video, Short Form: Got ‘Till It’s Gone – Janet Jackson; Mark Romanek and Aris McGarry, video directors
Music Video, Long Form: Alanis Morissette: Jagged Little Pill – Live, Alanis Morissette and Steve Purcell, video directors
Music Video, Short Form: Ray of Light – Jonas Akerlund, video director
Music Video, Long Form: American Masters: Lou Reed: Rock and Roll Heart – Timothy Greenfield-Sanders, video director
December 7, 1996 – February 21, 1997:
Un-Break My Heart – Toni Braxton
February 22 – May 21:
Wannabe – Spice Girls
March 22 – May 2:
Can’t Nobody Hold Me Down – Puff Daddy and Mase
May 3 – May 23:
Hypnotize – The Notorious B.I.G.
May 24 – June 13:
MMMBop – Hanson
June 14 – August 8:
I’ll Be Missing You – Puff Daddy/Faith Evans/112
August 9 – August 29th:
Men In Black – Will Smith
August 30 – September 12:
Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems – The Notorious B.I.G. featuring Puff Daddy and Mase
September 13 – October 3:
Honey – Mariah Carey
October 4 – October 10:
4 Seasons of Loneliness – Boyz II Men
October 11 – January 16, 1998:
Candle In The Wind 1997 – Elton John
(Data is compiled from various charts including Billboard’s “Pop,” “Rock,” “Airplay,” “R&B/Dance” and “Singles” Charts. The “Hot 100” is the primary chart used for this list.)
World Changing Event: On August 31st, 1997, Princess Diana, aged 36, was killed in a car accident in France.
The Top Song was Candle in the Wind 1997/ Something About The Way You Look Tonight by Elton John
Influential Songs include: Missing You by Puff Daddy, 112 & Faith Evans, The Old Apartment by Barenaked Ladies and Wannabe by The Spice Girls
The Teletubbies– Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Po, and Noo-noo their housekeeper were introduced on BBC2.
The Movies to Watch include Good Will Hunting, Amistad, The Fifth Element, As Good As It Gets, Contact and Titanic
People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive: George Clooney
The 1997 Amtrak Reform and Accountability Act set a $200 million maximum limit for the “allowable awards to all rail passengers, against all defendants, for all claims, including claims for punitive damages, arising from a single accident.”
Notable books include: Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling and Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
Price of AM/FM Cassette Sony Walkman in 1997: $44.99 Plymouth (or Dodge) Neon: $11,395.00
The Funny Late Night Host: Jay Leno
The Song: Celine Dion at first declined to sing My Heart Will Go On. Then she recorded it in one take and that demo was later released as the main theme song for Titanic. Now it’s one of the all-time best-selling singles and has become her Signature Song.
Top Ten Baby Names of 1997: Emily, Jessica, Ashley, Sarah, Hannah, Michael, Jacob, Matthew, Chris, Topher, Joshua
Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols: Claudia Schiffer
Leading Men and Hollywood Heartthrobs: George Clooney, Michael Hutchence, John Travolta
“The Quotes” “Oh my God! They killed Kenny!” – South Park
“There are some things that money can’t buy. For everything else there’s MasterCard” -Mastercard
“I’m king of the world!” – Leonardo DiCaprio, in ‘Titanic’
Time Magazine’s Man of the Year: Andy Grove
Miss America: Tara Holland (Overland Park, KS)
Miss USA: Brook Mahealani Lee (Hawaii)/ Brandi Sherwood (Idaho)
The Scandals: Marv Albert went on trial for felony charges of forcible sodomy, which involved the alleged repeated biting of an unnamed female sex partner.
Eddie Murphy was stopped by the police with a transsexual prostitute. He explained that it was all a misunderstanding; he was merely giving the young lady/ man a ride.
The Globe tabloid paper revealed an affair between Frank Gifford and Trans World Airlines flight attendant Suzen Johnson. The incident was at first not believed by his wife, Kathie Lee Gifford.
US Politics: January 20, 1997 (Monday) Second inauguration of Bill Clinton
Pop Culture Facts & History: Remember in 1997 when Brad Pitt was just minding his own business, then Shania Twain dissed him in that song? #dontimpressmemuch #smh
Shania Twain’s album Come On Over broke 3 different music records including best-selling Country music album, the best-selling album by a female, & best-selling album by a Canadian.
The full-size Krackel bar was discontinued in 1997, although is still available as a Hershey Miniature.
The record for keeping the original 1996/1997 Tamagotchi alive is Age 89 days. In an unrelated story, Tamagotchi’s creators won the 1997 Ig Nobel Prize in Economics “for diverting millions of person-hours of work into the husbandry of virtual pets.”
14-year-old Nathan Zohner was able to get 43 out of 50 of his classmates to vote to ban “Dihydrogen Monoxide” for his science fair project. His project aimed to prove that the use of true facts can lead the ignorant public to false conclusions. He won first prize. Dihydrogen Monoxide=water
WebMD went online in 1997.
A 1997 Pokemon episode, Cyber Soldier Porygo, caused 700 seizures also caused additional seizures when news reports aired a clip while covering the story
Ethernet inventor Robert Metcalfe predicted that the internet would collapse in 1996, promising to eat his words if not. In 1997, he took a printed copy of his column that predicted the collapse, put it in a blender with some liquid, and then drank the paper drink.
In 1997, Bill Gates invested $150 million in Apple to save it from going bankrupt.
Pfizer’s Lipitor has been reducing cholesterol since 1997.
Purell was launched as a product for consumers. It had been used by healthcare workers since 1988.
In Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, a pot-bellied pig named Lulu saved her owner, having a heart attack. Lulu heard the owner’s cries of pain then forced her way out of the yard and played dead on the road. Lulu successfully stopped a car and guided help to the owner, she survived.
The “purple paint law” became official in Texas on September 1, 1997. It’s a warning signified by painting fence posts purple that trespassers can be held criminally liable for entering the property without the express permission of the owner.
On April Fools Day 1997, Wheel of Fortune host Pat Sajak and Jeopardy host Alex Trebek swapped shows for the day.
Mr. Fred Rogers, when receiving his Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 Daytime Emmys, asked his audience to take “ten seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are.” People cried.
Katrina and the Waves, the band best known for the lone hit, Walking on Sunshine in 1985, won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997.
White Town’s 1997 hit Your Woman was a direct sample of Al Bowlley’s 1932 recording My Woman.
LeAnn Rimes was the youngest person ever to win the ‘Best New Artist’ Grammy.
Metallica’s Better Than You (1997) won the 1998 Grammy for Best Metal Performance. The song was not a single and despite the award, Metallica has never, as of 2019, performed the song live.
Titanic won 11 Oscars.
Martin Scorsese was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997 by the American Film Institute. Since that time he has made Gangs of New York, The Aviator, The Departed, Hugo, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Irishman.
Toe wrestling is actually a competitive sport. Every year they hold a championship in England. But in 1997 the Olympic Committee turned the sport down on the basis that they just couldn’t decide if it was a winter or a summer sport.
The fans of Philidelphia’s Eagles at Veteran Stadium created enough trouble that the city appointed a Judge to the stadium to hold court, locally known as Eagles Court. It ended when Lincoln Financial Field replaced Veterans Stadium in 2003.
Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 19907: $1,200,000
Cult Suicide: Heaven’s Gate was a cult that committed mass suicide in a mansion to “escape” Earth onto a UFO supposedly on the Hale-Bopp Comet in 1997.
NOT a Surprise Announcement: Ellen DeGeneres admitted that she was gay on her sitcom
Airplane Celebrity Death: John Denver
Hip Hop Violent Death: Notorious B.I.G. (gunshot)
Princess Motorcade Death: Princess Diana was killed in a speeding motorcade crash in the Pont e l’Alma tunnel in Paris, France, some say it was a planned assassination/murder. On September 6, 1997, approximately 2.5 billion people around the world watched Princess Diana’s funeral on TV.
Movie & TV Star Death: Chris Farley (cocaine and heroin overdose)
Rock Star Death: Michael Hutchence (accidental?) auto-erotic asphyxiation
Movie Star Death: Jimmy Stewart, actor and WW II hero, age 89
The Habit: Watching Titanic at the theater
1st Appearances & 1997’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents: Beanie Babies became the must-have toy for Christmas 1997-1999, Teletubby toys, Pokemon, Tamagotchi, Spice Girls Dolls, Repunzel Barbie
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1997: A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again by David Foster Wallace Airframe by Michael Crichton American Pastoral by Philip Roth The Best Laid Plans by Sidney Sheldon The Buffalo Tree by Adam Rapp Cat and Mouse by James Patterson Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass by Stephen King Flood Tide by Clive Cussler The Ghost by Danielle Steel Ghost World by Daniel Clowes The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling Hornet’s Nest by Patricia Cornwell Mason & Dixon by Thomas Pynchon Out of Sheer Rage by Geoff Dyer The Partner by John Grisham The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger Plum Island by Nelson DeMille Pretend You Don’t See Her by Mary Higgins Clark The Ranch by Danielle Steel Sole Survivor by Dean Koontz Special Delivery by Danielle Steel Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom Underworld by Don DeLillo Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
East End Show: Chicago (Musical) Opened on October 18, 1997, and closed on September 1, 2012
Broadway Show: The Lion King (Musical) Opened on November 13, 1997
Best Film Oscar Winner: The English Patient (presented in 1997)
1997 Entries to The National Film Registry: Ben-Hur (released in 1925) The Big Sleep (released in 1946) The Bridge on the River Kwai (released in 1957) Cops (released in 1922) Czechoslovakia 1968 (released in 1969) Grass (released in 1925) The Great Dictator (released in 1940) Harold and Maude (released in 1972) Hindenburg Disaster Newsreel Footage (released in 1937) How the West Was Won (released in 1962) The Hustler (released in 1961) Knute Rockne, All American (released in 1940) The Life and Death of 9413: a Hollywood Extra (released in 1927) Little Fugitive (released in 1953) Mean Streets (released in 1973) Motion Painting No. 1 (released in 1947) The Music Box (released in 1932) The Naked Spur (released in 1953) Rear Window (released in 1954) Republic Steel Strike Riot Newsreel Footage (released in 1937) Return of the Secaucus 7 (released in 1980) The Thin Man (released in 1934) Tulips Shall Grow (released in 1942) West Side Story (released in 1961) Wings (released in 1927)
The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo) 1. Titanic 2. Men In Black 3. The Lost World: Jurassic Park 4. Liar Liar 5. Air Force One 6. As Good As It Gets 7. Good Will Hunting 8. Star Wars (Special Edition) 9. My Best Friend’s Wedding 10 Tomorrow Never Dies 11. Face/Off
1997 Most Popular TV Shows: 1. Seinfeld (NBC) 2. E.R. (NBC) 3. Veronica’s Closet (NBC) 4. Friends (NBC) 5. Touched By An Angel (CBS) 6. 60 Minutes (CBS) 7. Union Square (NBC) 8. Frasier (NBC) 9. Home Improvement (ABC) 10. Just Shoot Me (NBC)
1997 Billboard Number One Songs: December 7, 1996 – February 21, 1997: Un-Break My Heart – Toni Braxton
October 4 – October 10: 4 Seasons of Loneliness – Boyz II Men
October 11, 1997 – January 16, 1998: Candle In The Wind 1997 – Elton John
Sports: World Series Champions: Florida Marlins Super Bowl XXXI Champions: Green Bay Packers NBA Champions: Chicago Bulls Stanley Cup Champs: Detroit Red Wings U.S. Open Golf Ernie Ells U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Patrick Rafter/Martina Hingis Wimbledon (Men/Women): Pete Sampras/Martina Hingis NCAA Football Champions: Michigan & Nebraska NCAA Basketball Champions: Arizona Kentucky Derby: Silver Charm
Held at: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Host: Billy Crystal
Eligibility Year: 1996
Trivia
Striking Gold: The English Patient dominated the night, taking home nine Oscars including Best Picture.
Double Whammy: Geoffrey Rush won Best Actor for Shine and became the first Australian actor to win an Academy Award.
Host with the Most: Billy Crystal hosted the Oscars for the fifth time, bringing his iconic humor and memorable opening monologues.
Queen of the Screen: Frances McDormand won Best Actress for her role in Fargo, making it her first win for this quirky, cult-favorite film.
Family Affair: Joel and Ethan Coen, the brothers behind Fargo, won for Best Original Screenplay, solidifying their place as unique storytellers in Hollywood.
Best Foreign Flair: Kolya, a Czech film, won Best Foreign Language Film.
Docu-Domination: The documentary When We Were Kings, about Muhammad Ali’s historic “Rumble in the Jungle” fight, won Best Documentary Feature.
Musical Notes: The Best Original Song Oscar went to You Must Love Me from Evita, performed by Madonna and written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.
“What a thrill. You know you’ve entered new territory when you realize that your outfit cost more than your film.” – Jessica Yu, Best Short Subject Documentary for Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien
1997 Oscar Nominees and Winners
Best Picture: The English Patient – Saul Zaentz, producer (WINNER) Fargo – Ethan Coen, producer Jerry Maguire – James L. Brooks, Cameron Crowe, Laurence Mark and Richard Sakai, producers Secrets & Lies – Simon Channing Williams, producer Shine – Jane Scott, producer
Best Director: Anthony Minghella – The English Patient (WINNER) Joel Coen – Fargo Miloš Forman – The People vs. Larry Flynt Mike Leigh – Secrets & Lies Scott Hicks – Shine
Best Actor: Geoffrey Rush – Shine as David Helfgott (WINNER) Tom Cruise – Jerry Maguire as Jerry Maguire Ralph Fiennes – The English Patient as László Almásy Woody Harrelson – The People vs. Larry Flynt as Larry Flynt Billy Bob Thornton – Sling Blade as Karl Childers
Best Actress: Frances McDormand – Fargo as Marge Gunderson (WINNER) Brenda Blethyn – Secrets & Lies as Cynthia Rose Purley Diane Keaton – Marvin’s Room as Bessie Kristin Scott Thomas – The English Patient as Katharine Clifton Emily Watson – Breaking the Waves as Bess McNeill
Best Supporting Actor: Cuba Gooding Jr. – Jerry Maguire as Rod Tidwell (WINNER) William H. Macy – Fargo as Jerry Lundegaard Armin Mueller-Stahl – Shine as Peter Helfgott Edward Norton – Primal Fear as Aaron Stampler James Woods – Ghosts of Mississippi as Byron De La Beckwith
Best Supporting Actress: Juliette Binoche – The English Patient as Hana (WINNER) Joan Allen – The Crucible as Elizabeth Proctor Lauren Bacall – The Mirror Has Two Faces as Hannah Morgan Barbara Hershey – The Portrait of a Lady as Madame Serena Merle Marianne Jean-Baptiste – Secrets & Lies as Hortense Cumberbatch
Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: Fargo – Ethan Coen and Joel Coen (WINNER) Jerry Maguire – Cameron Crowe Lone Star – John Sayles Secrets & Lies – Mike Leigh Shine – Jan Sardi and Scott Hicks
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: Sling Blade – Billy Bob Thornton based on his short film Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade (WINNER) The Crucible – Arthur Miller based on his play The English Patient – Anthony Minghella based on the novel by Michael Ondaatje Hamlet – Kenneth Branagh based on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet Trainspotting – John Hodge based on the novel by Irvine Welsh
Best Foreign Language Film: Kolya (Czech Republic) in Czech – Jan Sverák, director (WINNER) A Chef in Love (Georgia) in French, Georgian, Russian – Nana Jorjadze, director The Other Side of Sunday (Norway) in Norwegian – Berit Nesheim, director Prisoner of the Mountains (Russia) in Russian – Sergei Bodrov, director Ridicule (France) in French – Patrice Leconte, director
Best Documentary Feature: When We Were Kings – Leon Gast and David Sonenberg (WINNER) The Line King: The Al Hirschfeld Story – Susan W. Dryfoos Mandela – Jo Menell and Angus Gibson Suzanne Farrell: Elusive Muse – Anne Belle and Deborah Dickson Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press – Rick Goldsmith
Best Documentary Short Subject: Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien – Jessica Yu (WINNER) Cosmic Voyage – Jeffrey Marvin and Bayley Silleck An Essay on Matisse – Perry Wolff Special Effects: Anything Can Happen – Susanne Simpson and Ben Burtt The Wild Bunch: An Album in Montage – Paul Seydor and Nick Redman
Best Live Action Short Film: Dear Diary – David Frankel and Barry Jossen (WINNER) De tripas, corazón – Antonio Urrutia Ernst & lyset – Kim Magnusson and Anders Thomas Jensen Esposados – Juan Carlos Fresnadillo Senza parole – Bernadette Carranza and Antonello De Leo
Best Animated Short Film: Quest – Tyron Montgomery and Thomas Stellmach (WINNER) Canhead – Timothy Hittle La Salla – National Film Board of Canada – Richard Condie Wat’s Pig – Peter Lord
Best Original Dramatic Score: The English Patient – Gabriel Yared (WINNER) Hamlet – Patrick Doyle Michael Collins – Elliot Goldenthal Shine – David Hirschfelder Sleepers – John Williams
Best Original Musical or Comedy Score: Emma – Rachel Portman (WINNER) The First Wives Club – Marc Shaiman The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz James and the Giant Peach – Randy Newman The Preacher’s Wife – Hans Zimmer
Best Original Song: “You Must Love Me” from Evita – Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by Tim Rice (WINNER) “I Finally Found Someone” from The Mirror Has Two Faces – Music and Lyrics by Barbra Streisand, Marvin Hamlisch, Bryan Adams and Robert John “Mutt” Lange “For the First Time” from One Fine Day – Music and Lyrics by James Newton Howard, Jud J. Friedman and Allan Dennis Rich “That Thing You Do!” from That Thing You Do! – Music and Lyrics by Adam Schlesinger “Because You Loved Me” from Up Close and Personal – Music and Lyrics by Diane Warren
Best Sound Effects Editing: The Ghost and the Darkness – Bruce Stambler (WINNER) Daylight – Richard L. Anderson and David A. Whittaker Eraser – Alan Robert Murray and Bub Asman
Best Sound: The English Patient – Walter Murch, Mark Berger, David Parker and Chris Newman (WINNER) Evita – Andy Nelson, Anna Behlmer and Ken Weston Independence Day – Chris Carpenter, Bill W. Benton, Bob Beemer and Jeff Wexler The Rock – Kevin O’Connell, Greg P. Russell and Keith A. Wester Twister – Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker, Kevin O’Connell and Geoffrey Patterson
Best Art Direction: The English Patient – Art Direction: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan (WINNER) The Birdcage – Art Direction: Bo Welch; Set Decoration: Cheryl Carasik Evita – Art Direction: Brian Morris; Set Decoration: Philippe Turlure Hamlet – Art Direction and Set Decoration: Tim Harvey Romeo + Juliet – Art Direction: Catherine Martin; Set Decoration: Brigitte Broch
Best Cinematography: The English Patient – John Seale (WINNER) Evita – Darius Khondji Fargo – Roger Deakins Fly Away Home – Caleb Deschanel Michael Collins – Chris Menges
Best Makeup: The Nutty Professor – Rick Baker and David LeRoy Anderson (WINNER) Ghosts of Mississippi – Matthew W. Mungle and Deborah La Mia Denaver Star Trek: First Contact – Michael Westmore, Scott Wheeler and Jake Garber
Best Costume Design: The English Patient – Ann Roth (WINNER) Angels & Insects – Paul Brown Emma – Ruth Myers Hamlet – Alexandra Byrne The Portrait of a Lady – Janet Patterson
Best Film Editing: The English Patient – Walter Murch (WINNER) Evita – Gerry Hambling Fargo – Roderick Jaynes Jerry Maguire – Joe Hutshing Shine – Pip Karmel
Best Visual Effects: Independence Day – Volker Engel, Douglas Smith, Clay Pinney and Joe Viskocil (WINNER) Dragonheart – Scott Squires, Phil Tippett, James Straus and Kit West Twister – Stefen Fangmeier, John Frazier, Habib Zargarpour and Henry La Bounta
Eligibility Year: October 1, 1995 – September 30, 1996
Trivia
Gospel Roots: Celine Dion’s chart-topping Because You Loved Me lost Song of the Year to Eric Clapton’s Change the World, which was a hit in both pop and gospel formats.
LeAnn’s Leap: LeAnn Rimes, at just 14 years old, won two awards, including Best New Artist.
Ellen’s Encore: Ellen DeGeneres hosted the Grammys for the second year in a row, solidifying her role as an award show staple.
Jazz and Rap: The Fugees won Best Rap Album for The Score, a fusion of rap, soul, and jazz that was groundbreaking at the time.
Young Prodigy: At 20 years old, Alanis Morissette won Album of the Year for Jagged Little Pill, an album that tackled serious social issues and broke musical norms.
Country Crossovers: Shania Twain and LeAnn Rimes brought country into the mainstream, each earning nominations and Rimes taking home trophies.
An Opera’s Opening: The 3 Tenors’ recording of The Three Tenors in Concert 1994 won Best Classical Album, a nod to the genre’s cultural significance.
1997 Grammy Winners
Record of the Year: Change the World – Eric Clapton
Album of the Year: Falling Into You, Celine Dion (550 Music/Epic)
Song of the Year: Change the World – Gordon Kennedy, Wayne Kirkpatrick and Tommy Sims, songwriters
Best New Artist: LeAnn Rimes
Best Male Pop Vocal Performance: Change the World – Eric Clapton
Best Female Pop Vocal Performance: Un-break My Heart – Toni Braxton
Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: Free As a Bird – The Beatles
Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals: When I Fall in Love – Natalie Cole with Nat King Cole
Best Pop Instrumental Performance: The Sinister Minister – Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
Best Pop Album: Falling Into You, Celine Dion (550 Music/Epic)
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance: Here’s to the Ladies, Tony Bennett
Best Female Rock Vocal Performance: If It Makes You Happy – Sheryl Crow
Best Male Rock Vocal Performance: Where It’s At – Beck
Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: So Much to Say – Dave Matthews Band
Best Hard Rock Performance: Bullet With Butterfly Wings – Smashing Pumpkins
Best Metal Performance: Tire Me – Rage Against the Machine
Best Rock Instrumental Performance: SRV Shuffle – Jimmie Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Cray, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Dr. John and Art Neville
Best Rock Song: Give Me One Reason – Tracy Chapman, songwriter
Best Rock Album: Sheryl Crow, Sheryl Crow (A&M)
Best Alternative Music Performance: Odelay, Beck
Best Female R&B Vocal Performance: You’re Makin’ Me High – Toni Braxton
Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: Your Secret Love – Luther Vandross
Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: Killing Me Softly With His Song – Fugees
Best R&B Album: Words, The Tony Rich Project (LaFace)
Best Rap Solo Performance: Hey Lover – LL Cool J
Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: Tha Crossroads – Bone Thugs-N-Harmony
Best Rap Album: The Score, Fugees; Lauryn Hill, Prakazrel Pras and Wyclef, producers (Ruffhouse/Columbia)
Best Female Country Vocal Performance: Blue – LeAnn Rimes
Best Male Country Vocal Performance: Worlds Apart – Vince Gill
Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group With Vocal: My Maria – Brooks and Dunn
Best Country Collaboration With Vocals: High Lonesome Sound – Vince Gill featuring Alison Krauss and Union Station
Best Country Instrumental Performance: Jam Man – Chet Atkins
Best Country Song: Blue – Bill Mack, songwriter
Best Country Album: The Road to Ensanada, Lyle Lovett; Billy Williams and Lyle Lovett, producers (Curb/MCA)
Best Bluegrass Album: True Life Blues: The Songs of Bill Monroe, various artists (Sugar Hill)
Best New Age Album: The Memory of Trees, Enya (Reprise)
Best Contemporary Jazz Performance: High Life, Wayne Shorter
Best Jazz Vocal Performance: New Moon Daughter, Cassandra Wilson
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: Cabin Fever – Michael Brecker
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group: Tales From the Hudson, Michael Brecker
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance: Live at Manchester Craftmen’s Guild, Count Basie Orchestra (with The New York Voices); Grover Mitchell, conductor
Best Latin Jazz Performance: Portraits of Cuba, Paquito D’Rivera
Best Rock Gospel Album: Jesus Freak, dc Talk (ForeFront Communications)
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: Tribute – The Songs of Andrae Crouch, various artists; Norman Miller and Neal Joseph, producers (Warner Alliance)
Best Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel Album: I Love to Tell the Story: 25 Timeless Hymns, Andy Griffith (Sparrow Communications Group)
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album: Face to Face, Cissy Houston (House of Blues Music Co.)
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Whatcha Lookin’ 4, Kirk Franklin and the Family (Gospo Centric)
Best Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus: Just a Word, Shirley Caesar’s Outreach Convention Choir (Word Gospel)
Best Latin Pop Performance: Enrique Iglesias, Enrique Iglesias
Best Tropical Latin Performance: La Rosa de los Vientos, Ruben Blades
Best Mexican-American/Tejano Music Performance: Un Millon de Rosas, La Mafia
Best Traditional Blues Album: Deep in the Blues, James Cotton (Verve)
Best Contemporary Blues Album: Just Like You, Keb’ Mo’ (Okeh/Epic)
Best Traditional Folk Album: Pete, Pete Seeger (Living Music)
Best Contemporary Folk Album: The Ghost of Tom Joad, Bruce Springsteen (Columbia)
Best Reggae Album: Hall of Fame – A Tribute to Bob Marley’s 50th Anniversary, Bunny Wailer (RAS Records)
Best World Music Album: Santiago, The Chieftains (RCA Victor)
Best Polka Album: Polka! All Night Long, Jimmy Sturr (Rounder)
Best Musical Album for Children: Dedicated to the One I Love, Linda Ronstadt; George Massenburg and Linda Ronstadt, producers (Elektra)
Best Spoken Word Album for Children: Stellaluna, David Holt; Virginia Callaway, Steven Heller and David Holt, producers (High Windy Audio)
Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album: It Takes a Village, Hillary Rodham Clinton (Simon and Schuster Audioworks)
Best Spoken Comedy Album: Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot, Al Franken (Dove Audio)
Best Musical Show Album: Riverdance, various artists; Bill Whelan, producer, composer and lyricist (Celtic Heartbeat/Atlantic)
Best Instrumental Composition: Manhattan (Island of Lights and Love) – Herbie Hancock and Jean Hancock, composers
Best Instrumental Composition for a Motion Picture or for Television: Independence Day, David Arnold, composer
Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television: Because You Loved Me (From Up Close and Personal ), Diane Warren, songwriter
Best Instrumental Arrangement: An American Symphony (Mr. Holland’s Opus) – Michael Kamen, arranger
Best Instrumental Arrangement With Accompanying Vocal(s): When I Fall in Love – Alan Broadbent, David Foster and Gordon Jenkins, arrangers
Best Recording Package: Ultra-Lounge (Leopard Skin Sampler), Andy Engel and Tommy Steele, art directors (Capitol)
Best Recording Package – Boxed: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings, Chika Azuma and Arnold Levine, art directors (Columbia)
Best Album Notes: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings, George Avakian, Bob Belden, Bill Kirchner and Phil Schaap, album-notes writers (Columbia)
Best Historical Album: The Complete Columbia Studio Recordings, Bob Belden and Phil Schaap, compilation producers; Phil Schaap and Mark Wilder, mastering engineers (Columbia)
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical: Q’s Jook Joint, Francis Buckley, Al Schmitt, Bruce Swedien and Tommy Vicari, engineers (Qwest/Warner Bros.)
Producer of the Year: Kenneth Babyface Edmonds
Best Classical Engineered Recording: Copland: Dance Symphony; Short Symphony; Organ Symphony, Etc., William Hoekstra and Lawrence Rock, engineers (RCA Victor Red Seal)
Classical Producer of the Year: Joanna Nickrenz
Best Classical Album: Corgiliano: of Rage and Remembrance (Symphony No. 1, etc.), Leonard Slatkin, conductor; Joanna Nickrenz, producer; various artists (RCA Victor Red Seal)
Best Orchestral Performance: Prokofiev: Romeo and Juliet (Scenes From the Ballet), Michael Tilson Thomas, conductor
Best Opera Recording: Britten: Peter Grimes, Richard Hickox, conductor; Philip Langridge, Alan Opie and Janice Watson, principal soloists; Brian Couzens, producer
Best Choral Performance: Walton: Belshazzar’s Feast – Andrew Litton, conductor; Neville Creed and David Hill, chorus masters
Best Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (With Orchestra): Bartok: The Three Piano Concertos, Yefim Bronfman, piano
Best Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra): The Romantic Master (Works of Saint-Saens; Handel, etc.), Earl Wild, piano
Best Chamber Music Performance: Corigliano: String Quartet, etc. – Cleveland Quartet
Best Small Ensemble Performance (With or Without Conductor): Boulez:…Explosante-Fixe… – Pierre Boulez, conductor
Best Classical Vocal Performance: Opera Arias (Works of Mozart, Wagner, Borodin, etc.), Bryn Terfel, bass baritone
Best Classical Contemporary Composition: Corigliano: String Quartet – John Corigliano, composer
Best Music Video, Short Form: Free As a Bird – The Beatles; Joe Pytka, video director
Best Music Video, Long Form: The Beatles Anthology, The Beatles; Geoff Wonfor, video director; Chips Chipperfield, video producer
December 2, 1995 – March 22, 1996:
One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
March 23 – May 3:
Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
May 4 – May 17:
Always Be My Baby – Mariah Carey
May 18 – July 12:
Tha Crossroads – Bone Thugs N Harmony
July 13 – July 26:
How Do U Want It – 2Pac featuring K-Ci and JoJo
July 27 – August 2:
You’re Makin’ Me High – Toni Braxton
August 3 – November 8:
Macarena (bayside boys remix) -Los Del Rio
November 9 – December 6:
No Diggity – Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre
December 7, 1996 – February 21, 1997:
Un-Break My Heart – Toni Braxton
(Data is compiled from various charts including Billboard’s “Pop,” “Rock,” “Airplay,” “R&B/Dance” and “Singles” Charts. The “Hot 100” is the primary chart used for this list.)
World Changing Event: Dolly the cloned sheep was born on 5 July 1996. She was named after the busty singer Dolly Parton because her DNA came from a mammary gland cell.
The Top Song was Don’t Speak by No Doubt
The Movies to Watch include Jerry Maguire, The English Patient, Michael and Mars Attacks!
The Most Famous Person in America was probably Lance Armstrong
Notable books include: It Takes a Village by Hillary Clinton and Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
Minimum Wage in 1996: $4.75 per hour Compaq Presario Computer: $1,999.99
Red Bull energy drink entered the US Market.
The Funny Guy was: Adam Sandler
The Funny Girl was: Kathleen Madigan
The Crazy Conspiracy: Tupac Shakur was not really shot and killed in the BMW driven by fellow rapper Suge Knight.
Top Ten Baby Names of 1996: Emily, Jessica, Ashley, Sarah, Samantha, Michael, Matthew, Jacob, Chris, Topher, Joshua
Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols: Claudia Schiffer
Leading Men and Hollywood Hunks: Tupac Shakur, George Clooney, Tom Cruise
“The Quotes” “You had me at ‘hello’” – Renée Zellweger, Jerry Maguire
“Show me the Money!” – Cuba Gooding, Jr., in Jerry Maguire
Time Magazine’s Man of the Year: David Ho
Miss America: Shawntel Smith (Muldrow, OK)
Miss USA: Ali Landry (Louisiana)
FYI: The Amber Alert was named after Amber Hagerman, a 9-year-old girl abducted and murdered in Arlington, Texas in 1996.
The Scandal: The United States campaign finance controversy was an alleged effort by the People’s Republic of China to influence domestic American politics during the Clinton administration and also involved the fund-raising practices of the administration itself.
Theodore Kaczynski, the Unabomber was captured. He had killed d injured 23 people in his 17-year spree. He was turned in by his brother, David, who recognized the writing style and the content his brother was talking about.
Beauty Pageant Princess Murder: JonBenet Ramsey was found killed in her basement, and the killer was never found.
The Mystery: 6-year-old girl JonBenét Ramsey was murdered in her home. The case is still unsolved and no arrests have been made. An unusually lengthy ransom note claiming to have the girl kidnapped and demanding $118,000 for her return was found at her home, despite her corpse also being there.
Rap Star Murder: Tupac Shakur killed in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.
Actress Overdose Death: Margaux Hemingway, age 42, from a deliberate overdose of phenobarbital.
World News: Sparta and Athens signed a peace pack officially ending the Peloponnesian War that was fought over 2,500 years ago.
US News: From 1897 until 1996 the federal government had a board of tea testers whose job was to make sure that imported tea was good enough to be sold in the US.
Prior to 1996, there was no requirement to present an ID to board a plane. The policy was put into place to show the government was “doing something” about the crash of TWA Flight 800.
Pop Culture Facts & History: In 1996, a man broke into a New Zealand radio station, held the manager hostage, and his demand was for the station to play Rainbow Connection by Kermit the frog.
Ethernet inventor Robert Metcalfe predicted that the internet would collapse in 1996, promising to eat his words if not. In 1997, he took a printed copy of his column that predicted the collapse, put it in a blender with some liquid and then consumed the pulpy mass.
Jim Carrey was the first actor to make $20,000,000 to star in a single film, The Cable Guy.
After the release of the 1996 film Scream, which involved an anonymous killer calling and murdering his victims, Caller ID usage tripled in the United States.
Oprah started her famous book club.
In 1996 the remains of the “Queen Anne’s Revenge” Blackbeard’s pirate ship, were discovered off the coast of North Carolina.
Meg and Jack White of the White stripes publicly portrayed themselves as siblings despite the fact that they weren’t related and had married in 1996 prior to the band’s formation.
While creating the first Tomb Raider video game in 1996, a developer increasing Lara Croft’s breast size by 50% accidentally enlarged them by 150%. Others approved of the change before he fixed the mistake, and the marketing campaign emphasized Lara’s exaggerated body. It became a #1 hit.
The made-up word from a 1996 Simpsons episode “embiggen” was officially added to the Merriam Webster Dictionary in early March of 2018. #cromulent
The Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Man was created for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
There is a light on top of the Capitol Records building in Los Angeles that spells out the word Hollywood in Morse code. It started blinking Hollywood in 1956 and has only stopped once in June of 1996 on Capitol Records 50th Anniversary where it blinked “Capitol 50”.
Lottie Williams is the only person to have been hit by re-entering space debris. She was walking through a park in Tulsa Oklahoma in Jan 1997 at 3:30 am and felt a tapping on her shoulder. It was a piece of the fuel tank of a Delta II rocket launched in 1996. She was unhurt.
The first person to stream their life on the internet was a 19-year-old woman, Jennifer Ringley on the Jennicam broadcasted her life from her college dorm room 24/7. At its peak, she got 7 million hits per day, a significant proportion of the internet at the time.
On April 1, 1996, Taco Bell spent $300k on ads claiming that they purchased the Liberty Bell and named it Taco Liberty Bell, and earned millions of dollars in free publicity.
Mary Tyler Moore offered a restaurant $1,000 to sell her a 65-year-old lobster so she could return it to the wild. Rush Limbaugh then offered $2,000 to eat the lobster. The restaurant denied both offers and kept the lobster as a mascot.
It wasn’t until 1996 that minivans had sliding doors on both sides of the second row. Before then minivans did not have a sliding door on the driver’s side.
Febreze fabric refresher began test-marketing in 1996. By 1998, it was sold nation-wide.
SNL’s Dana Carvey had a show that only aired 7 episodes in 1996, and had a writing team including Steve Carell, Bob Odenkirk, Louis CK, Stephen Colbert, and Charlie Kaufman.
Dave Chappelle was in a spin-off from Home Improvement, called “Buddies”. It premiered on March 5, 1996, and was canceled on April 3, 1996, after just five episodes.
Neither the Spice Girls themselves or their management came up with the Scary, Sporty, Baby, Ginger, Posh aliases. They were devised by Top of the Pops magazine in 1996 and later adopted by the group.
In 1996, Travelocity opened online. Early on, it was primarily traveling agents who booked flights on American Airlines.
The future King of Jordan, Abdullah bin al-Hussein (then prince), made a cameo in an episode of Star Trek: Voyager in 1996.
Animal Hero: Binti, a gorilla at the Brookfield Illinois Zoo, grabbed a 3-year-old who had fallen in the cage, protected him from the other apes, and delivered him to zoo personnel at the gate.
Marvel Comics filed for bankruptcy in 1996.
Marvel Comics writer Mark Gruenwald, upon his death in 1996, by request had his ashes mixed in with the printing ink for the collected edition of his series Squadron Supreme. Most first printings of the book probably contain some of his remains.
The world record for keeping the original 1996/1997 Tamagotchi alive is Age 89 days.
In 1996 the boxing career of former heavyweight boxing champion Tommy Morrison ended when he tested positive for HIV. However, in 2007 two nationally renowned HIV experts retained by the NY Times concluded that the 1996 result had been a false positive.
Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1996: $1,085,000
The Habits: Doing the Macarena Playing with Tickle Me Elmo Reading Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt
1st Appearances & 1996’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents: Tickle Me Elmo, Toy Story toys, Pokemon, Beanie Babies catch on, although they had been around since 1993. The McDonalds mini-beanie-babies giveaway fueled the madness.
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1996: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin Airframe by Michael Crichton Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding Cause of Death by Patricia Cornwell The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans CivilWarLand in Bad Decline by George Saunders The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard Desperation by Stephen King Executive Orders by Tom Clancy Falling Up by Shel Silverstein Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk The Green Mile by Stephen King The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans How Stella Got Her Groove Back by Terry McMillan Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace Intensity by Dean Koontz It Takes a Village by Hillary Clinton Kingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex Ross Malice by Danielle Steel Moonlight Becomes You by Mary Higgins Clark Primary Colors by Anonymous (Joe Klein) The Regulators by Richard Bachman (Stephen King) The Runaway Jury by John Grisham Servant of the Bones by Anne Rice Silent Honor by Danielle Steel The Tenth Insight by James Redfield
East End Show: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (Play) Opened on March 7, 1996, and closed on April 3, 2005
Broadway Shows: Bring in ‘da Noise, Bring in ‘da Funk (Dance Musical) Opened on April 25, 1996, and closed on January 10, 1999 Rent (Musical) Opened on April 29, 1996, and closed on September 7, 2008 Chicago (Musical) Opened on November 14, 1996 (revival)
Best Film Oscar Winner: Braveheart (presented in 1996)
1996 Entries to the National Film Registry: The Awful Truth (released in 1937) Broken Blossoms (released in 1919) The Deer Hunter (released in 1978) Destry Rides Again (released in 1939) Flash Gordon Serial (released in 1936) The Forgotten Frontier (released in 1931) Frank Film (released in 1973) The Graduate (released in 1967) The Heiress (released in 1949) The Jazz Singer (released in 1927) The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter (released in 1980) M*A*S*H (released in 1970) Mildred Pierce (released in 1945) The Outlaw Josey Wales (released in 1976) The Producers (released in 1968) Pull My Daisy (released in 1959) Road to Morocco (released in 1942) She Done Him Wrong (released in 1933) Shock Corridor (released in 1963) Show Boat (released in 1936) The Thief of Bagdad (released in 1924) To Be or Not to Be (released in 1942) Topaz (released in 1943/1945) Verbena tragica (released in 1939) Woodstock (released in 1970)
The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo) 1. Independence Day 2. Twister 3. Mission: Impossible 4. Jerry Maguire 5. Ransom 6. 101 Dalmations 7. The Rock 8. The Nutty Professor 9. The Birdcage 10. A Time To Kill
1996 Most Popular TV Shows: 1. E.R. (NBC) 2. Seinfeld (NBC) 3. Suddenly Susan (NBC) 4. Friends (NBC) 5. The Naked Truth (NBC) 6. Fired Up (NBC) 7. The Single Guy (NBC) 8. Home Improvement (ABC) 9. Touched By An Angel (CBS) 10. 60 Minutes (CBS)
1996 Billboard Number One Songs: December 2, 1995 – March 22, 1996: One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
March 23 – May 3: Because You Loved Me – Celine Dion
May 18 – July 12: Tha Crossroads – Bone Thugs N Harmony
July 13 – July 26: How Do U Want It – 2Pac featuring K-Ci and JoJo
July 27 – August 2: You’re Makin’ Me High – Toni Braxton
August 3 – November 9: Macarena (Bayside Boys Remix) -Los Del Rio
November 9 – December 6: No Diggity – Blackstreet featuring Dr. Dre
December 7, 1996 – February 21, 1997: Un-Break My Heart – Toni Braxton
Sports: World Series Champions: New York Yankees Super Bowl XXX Champions: Dallas Cowboys NBA Champions: Chicago Bulls Stanley Cup Champs: Colorado Avalanche U.S. Open Golf Steve Jones U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Pete Sampras/Steffi Graf Wimbledon (Men/Women): Richard Krajiceck/Steffi Graf NCAA Football Champions: Florida NCAA Basketball Champions: Kentucky Kentucky Derby: Grindstone
Sports Highlights: Cal Ripkin broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive MLB game record when he played game number 2,131
1. Who was People Magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People cover star in 1996?
2. Pinky and the Brain first appeared as a recurring segment on what other cartoon?
3. Can you name Walt Disney Pictures’ 34th feature film? HINT: It was animated
4. Name the famous wrestler who “turned heel” for the first time in 15 years and announced the formation of the New World Order with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall.
5. These toys caused retail riots for Christmas shoppers in 1996. What were they?
6. Who illustrated the original Little Bear books that inspired the show?
7. What handheld digital toy, first released in Japan in 1996, let users care for a needy pixelated creature and became a global ’90s obsession?
8. Bob Dole was the Republican nominee for President in 1996. Who was his running mate?
9. Who was the Reform Party candidate in 1996?
10. How many episodes were produced for the 1987–1996 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series?
11. The “Deep Blue” computer won one, drew two, and lost three games of chess against a chess master in 1996. Who beat “Big Blue” in the tournament?
12. This popular fifth-generation gaming console primarily competed with Sony’s PlayStation and the Sega Saturn when released in 1996. Name it.
13. Name the celebrity born in 1996: Sydney Sweeney, Dove Cameron, Justin Bieber, or Rebecca Black?
14. Who is the cartoon character ‘Usagi Tsukino’ (Serena Tsukino in the English dub) better known as?
15. New York City’s public schools closed for the first time in 18 years on January 7, 1996. Why?
16. EchoStar launched a Direct Broadcast Satellite service. Name it.
17. Name the very famous golfer who made his professional PGA Tour debut at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open.
18. What year was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty?
19. TV Trivia – What was Dick Solomon’s human cover job when he first arrived on Earth?
20. There was an apartment switch in season 3 of Friends. Who switched?
21. Name the author of the Arthur books and TV series.
22. What is the species of the title character, Arthur Read, and how old is he in the show?
23. This character made her debut in “Archie’s Madhouse” comic book, issue #22. She got her first TV show in 1996. Name that character.
24. This product, introduced in 1996, can store up to 4.7 GB of data. Name the product.
25. What catchphrase is Michelangelo famous for?
26. Name the kid’s TV Show that, in a 1996 episode, has a creature marching out of a video store after a typewriter manifests it? Goosebumps
27. TV Trivia. What unique shape is Arnold’s head known for?
28. What was the name of Nickelodeon’s first feature film?
39. Competitors for this service, established in 1996, include Apple Maps and Google Maps. Name that service.
30. Which huge ’90s musical group made a guest appearance in Season 4 of Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper?
31. Who was the first host on The Daily Show?
32. Name the character played by Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible movie series.
33. What fictional corporation is responsible for creating the T-Virus?
34. Launched in 1996, this Japanese product is estimated to be the world’s highest-grossing media franchise today. Name it.
35. Translated to English, what are Pokémon?
36. On Frasier, what is the name of Niles Crane’s wife, whom we never see?
37. Often called Bugs Bunny’s girlfriend, this character first appeared in the 1996 film Space Jam. What is her name?
38. TV Trivia. What drink is Kel (from Kenan & Kel)obsessed with?
39. Children’s TV Question: What does Blue leave behind to help solve each episode’s puzzle?s
40. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1996?
41. Name the classic cartoon production company that created Pinky and the Brain.
42. What real-life public figure (actor & filmmaker) was reportedly the inspiration for the Brain’s voice?
43. What is the collective name for the main setting where most of the story of Game of Thrones unfolds?
44. What was the popular line of graphing calculators produced by Texas Instruments before the TI-84 Plus?
45. On The Simpsons episode “You Only Move Twice,” who is Homer’s boss at Globex Corporation?
46. Name the popular Broadway Musical loosely based on the 1896 opera La bohème.
47. Chris Isaak and Brooke Shields make guest appearances on a post-Super Bowl episode of this very popular NBC show. Name that show.
48. Movie Trivia. Who said ‘You had me at hello’?
49. Played by Kurt Russell, name the character who served as the protagonist of the film Escape from L.A.
50. Who won the World Series in 1996?
51. What TV network aired the World Series in 1996?
52. Name the digital person who represented Ask.com.
53. The “Unabomber” was arrested at his Montana cabin. What was his name?
54. What is the first rule of Fight Club?
60. Who was the President in 1996?
61. Who was People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1996?
62. Who won the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey (WCH), by defeating Canada?
63. Who is NOT a Pokémon character? Charizard, Steelix, Ignatz, Eevee, or Dwebble?
64. Who said, “A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.”
65. Who were the NBA Champions in 1996?
66. TV Catchphrase: Who said “Holy crap!”?
67. Starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, the 1996 TV Movie was the last television appearance by The Doctor until 2005. What network aired the Doctor Who film?
68. In what city did Sportacus live? HINT: It is in Iceland
69. What song popularized the term “Zig-a-zig-ahhh?
70. Name the Simpson’s character devoted to in the 1970s.
71. Name the Awards show co-hosted by Whitney Houston and Rosie O’Donnel in 1996.
72. This video game character was genetically enhanced by the series’ main antagonist, Doctor Neo Cortex. Name that video game character.
73. Name the character played by Neve Campbell in the Scream film franchise.
74. Who was the original human host of Blue’s Clues from 1996 until his departure in 2002?
75. Who was the Pope in 1996?
76. What can summon Pegasus for Super transformations in Sailor Moon?
77. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1996?
78. What was the name of the fictional town Arnold lived in in Hey, Arnold!?
79. What U.S. city primarily inspired the urban setting of Hey Arnold!’s fictional town?
80. What team won the Super Bowl in 1996?
81. Name the first NFL franchise to win 3 Super Bowls in a span of 4 seasons.
82. This CBS program featured the only time that Mr. Fred Rogers portrayed a fictional character on television. Name that western drama.
83. What show did Xena originally appear in before getting her own series?
84. Who was the primary villain of Sailor Moon SuperS?
85. Who is the official spokestoon for the National Crime Prevention Council?
86. This CBS program ran through 262 episodes and four films. Name that program. HINT: The final episode was titled “Death By Demographics.”
87. Portable Network Graphics is a raster-graphics file format that supports lossless data compression. What is it commonly known as?
88. Name the rapper who was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting while cruising the Las Vegas Strip on September 7, 1996.
89. Name the actor who played Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty on Spin City.
90. Who was the Vice-President in 1996?
91. What iconic quote from Dexter is often repeated and became a meme: “You are stupid, and you make me…” – what?
92. Born in Skopje, Ottoman Empire, this woman received an honorary U.S. citizenship in 1996. Name that nun.
93. Name the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult cell, born at the Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland, UK.
94. What is Kramer’s business idea in “The Muffin Tops” on Seinfeld?
95. Please complete this cartoon phrase: “Same thing we do every night, Pinky…”
96. What kind of creature is Earthworm Jim before he gets his super suit?
Bonus Team Trivia Questions
1. Which gaming console first featured the original Earthworm Jim video game in 1994, just before the show aired in 1995?
2. Can you name the element (#112) that was discovered in 1996?
3. In the “I, Whoops, There It Is,” of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, who hosts the blooper reel episode?
4. These two brothers were found guilty of first-degree murder for the shotgun killing of their parents in California. Name them.
5. CBS affiliate WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina, was awarded a special broadcast license in 1996. What was it for? HINT: We still use this today.
6. What is the name of the sentient island that the X-Men encounter in X-Men: The Animated Series?
7. The Mandalay Bay resort, on the Las Vegas Strip, replaced what former landmark hotel and casino?
8. Played by Joe Rogan, who is the station’s nerdy and lovable handyman introduced in Season 2 of NewsRadio?
9. On Friends, what is Phoebe Buffay’s father’s name?
10. In “The Bizarro Jerry” episode, who does Elaine meet who is the opposite of Jerry Seinfeld?
The Answers:
96 Trivia Answers for 1996 History
1. Who was People Magazine’s 100 Most Beautiful People cover star in 1996? Mel Gibson
2. Pinky and the Brain first appeared as a recurring segment on what other cartoon? The Animaniacs
3. Can you name Walt Disney Pictures’ 34th feature film? HINT: It was animated The Hunchback of Notre Dame
4. Name the famous wrestler who “turned heel” for the first time in 15 years and announced the formation of the New World Order with Kevin Nash and Scott Hall. Hulk Hogan
5. These toys caused retail riots for Christmas shoppers in 1996. What were they? Tickle me Elmo
6. Who illustrated the original Little Bear books that inspired the show? Maurice Sendak
7. What handheld digital toy, first released in Japan in 1996, let users care for a needy pixelated creature and became a global ’90s obsession? Tamagotchi virtual pets
8. Bob Dole was the Republican nominee for President in 1996. Who was his running mate? Jack Kemp
9. Who was the Reform Party candidate in 1996? Ross Perot
10. How many episodes were produced for the 1987–1996 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series? 193 episodes
11. The “Deep Blue” computer won one, drew two, and lost three games of chess against a chess master in 1996. Who beat “Big Blue” in the tournament? Garry Kasparov
12. This popular fifth-generation gaming console primarily competed with Sony’s PlayStation and the Sega Saturn when released in 1996. Name it. Nintendo 64
13. Name the celebrity born in 1996: Sydney Sweeney, Dove Cameron, Justin Bieber, or Rebecca Black? Dove Cameron was born on January 15, 1996
14. Who is the cartoon character ‘Usagi Tsukino’ (Serena Tsukino in the English dub) better known as? Sailor Moon
15. New York City’s public schools closed for the first time in 18 years on January 7, 1996. Why? A blizzard with over 24 inches of snow hit the Northeastern USA.
16. EchoStar launched a Direct Broadcast Satellite service. Name it. DISH Network
17. Name the very famous golfer who made his professional PGA Tour debut at the 1996 Greater Milwaukee Open. Tiger Woods
18. What year was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty? 1996
19. TV Trivia – What was Dick Solomon’s human cover job when he first arrived on Earth? A physics professor at Pendleton State University. (played by John Lithgow, on Third Rock From The Sun)
20. There was an apartment switch in season 3 of Friends. Who switched? Chandler and Joey temporarily switch apartments with Monica and Rachel
21. Name the author of the Arthur books and TV series. Marc Brown
22. What is the species of the title character Arthur Read, and how old is he in the show? Arthur is an 8‑year‑old aardvark.
23. This character made her debut in “Archie’s Madhouse” comic book, issue #22. She got her first TV show in 1996. Name that character. Sabrina (The Teenage Witch)
24. This product, introduced in 1996, can store up to 4.7 GB of data. Name the product. DVD
25. What catchphrase is Michelangelo famous for? “Cowabunga!”
26. Name the kid’s TV Show that, in a 1996 episode, has a creature marching out of a video store after a typewriter manifests it? HINT: “The Blob That Ate Everyone” Goosebumps
27. TV Trivia. What unique shape is Arnold’s head known for? A football
28. What was the name of Nickelodeon’s first feature film? Harriet The Spy
39. Competitors for this service, established in 1996, include Apple Maps and Google Maps. Name that service. MapQuest
30. Which huge ’90s musical group made a guest appearance in Season 4 of Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper? Boyz II Men
31. Who was the first host on The Daily Show? Craig Kilborn
32. Name the character played by Tom Cruise in the Mission Impossible movie series. Ethan Hunt (Ethan Matthew Hunt)
33. What fictional corporation is responsible for creating the T-Virus? The Umbrella Corporation
34. Launched in 1996, this Japanese product is estimated to be the world’s highest-grossing media franchise today. Name it. Pokémon
35. Translated to English, what are Pokémon? Pocket Monsters
36. On Frasier, what is the name of Niles Crane’s wife, whom we never see? Maris
37. Often called Bugs Bunny’s girlfriend, this character first appeared in the 1996 film Space Jam. What is her name? Lola Bunny
38. TV Trivia. What drink is Kel (from Kenan & Kel)obsessed with? Orange soda
39. Children’s TV Question: What does Blue leave behind to help solve each episode’s puzzle? Pawprint clues
40. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1996? No Doubt
41. Name the classic cartoon production company that created Pinky and the Brain. Warner Bros. Animation (Bonus: in association with Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment)
42. What real-life public figure (actor & filmmaker) was reportedly the inspiration for the Brain’s voice? Orson Welles
43. What is the collective name for the main setting where most of the story of Game of Thrones unfolds? Westeros
44. What was the popular line of graphing calculators produced by Texas Instruments before the TI-84 Plus? TI-83 (TI-83 Plus)
45. On The Simpsons episode “You Only Move Twice,” who is Homer’s boss at Globex Corporation? Hank Scorpio
46. Name the popular Broadway Musical loosely based on the 1896 opera La bohème. Rent
47. Chris Isaak and Brooke Shields make guest appearances on a post-Super Bowl episode of this very popular NBC show. Name that show. Friends
48. Movie Trivia. Who said ‘You had me at hello’? Renée Zellweger’s character, Dorothy Boyd, in Jerry Maguire
49. Played by Kurt Russell, name the character who served as the protagonist of the film Escape from L.A. Snake Plissken
50. Who won the World Series in 1996? New York Yankees
51. What TV network aired the World Series in 1996? Fox
52. Name the digital person who represented Ask.com. Jeeves
53. The “Unabomber” was arrested at his Montana cabin. What was his name? Theodore (Ted) Kaczynski
54. What is the first rule of Fight Club? You do not talk about Fight Club
60. Who was the President in 1996? Bill Clinton (January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001)
61. Who was People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1996? Denzel Washington
62. Who won the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey (WCH), by defeating Canada? The United States
63. Who is NOT a Pokémon character? Charizard, Steelix, Ignatz, Eevee, or Dwebble? Ignatz
64. Who said, “A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man.” Jebediah Springfield (on The Simpsons)
65. Who were the NBA Champions in 1996? Chicago Bulls
66. TV Catchphrase: Who said “Holy crap!”? Frank Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond
67. Starring Paul McGann as the Eighth Doctor, the 1996 TV Movie was the last television appearance by The Doctor until 2005. What network aired the Doctor Who film? Fox
68. In what city did Sportacus live? HINT: It is in Iceland LazyTown
69. What song popularized the term “Zig-a-zig-ahhh? Wannabe by the Spice Girls
70. Name the Simpson’s character devoted to in the 1970s. Disco Stu
71. Name the Awards show co-hosted by Whitney Houston and Rosie O’Donnel in 1996. The 1996 Kids’ Choice Awards, on Nickelodeon
72. This video game character was genetically enhanced by the series’ main antagonist, Doctor Neo Cortex. Name that video game character. Crash Bandicoot
73. Name the character played by Neve Campbell in the Scream film franchise. Sidney Prescott
74. Who was the original human host of Blue’s Clues from 1996 until his departure in 2002? Steve Burns.
75. Who was the Pope in 1996? John Paul II (October 16, 1978 – April 2, 2005)
76. What can summon Pegasus for Super transformations in Sailor Moon? The Crystal Carillon
77. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1996? Colorado Avalanche
78. What was the name of the fictional town Arnold lived in in Hey, Arnold!? Hillwood
79. What U.S. city primarily inspired the urban setting of Hey Arnold!’s fictional town? Seattle, Washington (also: Brooklyn, NY and Portland, OR)
80. What team won the Super Bowl in 1996? Dallas Cowboys
81. Name the first NFL franchise to win 3 Super Bowls in a span of 4 seasons. The Dallas Cowboys
82. This CBS program featured the only time that Mr. Fred Rogers portrayed a fictional character on television. Name that western drama. Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
83. What show did Xena originally appear in before getting her own series? Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995)
84. Who was the primary villain of Sailor Moon SuperS? Queen Nehelenia
85. Who is the official spokestoon for the National Crime Prevention Council? McGruff The Crime Dog
86. This CBS program ran through 262 episodes and four films. Name that program. HINT: The final episode was titled “Death By Demographics.” Murder, She Wrote
87. Portable Network Graphics is a raster-graphics file format that supports lossless data compression. What is it commonly known as? PNG (Ping)
88. Name the rapper who was critically wounded in a drive-by shooting while cruising the Las Vegas Strip on September 7, 1996. Tupac Shakur
89. Name the actor who played Deputy Mayor Mike Flaherty on Spin City. Michael J. Fox
90. Who was the Vice-President in 1996? Al Gore (January 20, 1993 – January 20, 2001)
91. What iconic quote from Dexter is often repeated and became a meme: “You are stupid, and you make me…” – what? “Very angry!”
92. Born in Skopje, Ottoman Empire, this woman received an honorary U.S. citizenship in 1996. Name that nun. Mother Teresa (Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu)
93. Name the first mammal to be successfully cloned from an adult cell, born at the Roslin Institute in Midlothian, Scotland, UK. Dolly the Sheep
94. What is Kramer’s business idea in “The Muffin Tops” on Seinfeld? Selling only the tops of muffins.
95. Please complete this cartoon phrase: “Same thing we do every night, Pinky…” (try) to take over the world!
96. What kind of creature is Earthworm Jim before he gets his super suit? A regular earthworm.
Bonus Team Trivia Answers
1. Which gaming console first featured the original Earthworm Jim video game in 1994, just before the show aired in 1995? Sega Genesis. (It was also released for SNES shortly after.)
2. Can you name the element (#112) that was discovered in 1996? Copernicium
3. In the “I, Whoops, There It Is,” of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, who hosts the blooper reel episode? Dick Clark
4. These two brothers were found guilty of first-degree murder for the shotgun killing of their parents in California. Name them. Lyle and Erik Menendez (The Menendez Brothers)
5. CBS affiliate WRAL-TV in Raleigh, North Carolina, was awarded a special broadcast license in 1996. What was it for? HINT: We still use this today. It received the first “experimental” high-definition television license in the United States.
6. What is the name of the sentient island that the X-Men encounter in X-Men: The Animated Series? Krakoa
7. The Mandalay Bay resort, on the Las Vegas Strip, replaced what former landmark hotel and casino? The Hacienda
8. Played by Joe Rogan, who is the station’s nerdy and lovable handyman introduced in Season 2 of NewsRadio? Joe Garrelli
9. On Friends, what is Phoebe Buffay’s father’s name? Frank Buffay, Jr.
10. In “The Bizarro Jerry” episode, who does Elaine meet who is the opposite of Jerry Seinfeld? Kevin, Jerry’s kind and polite counterpart
Held at: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
Host: Whoopi Goldberg
Eligibility Year: 1995
Trivia
Braveheart’s Roar: Mel Gibson’s Braveheart was the evening’s big winner, capturing Best Picture and Best Director.
Nicholas’ Nick of Time: Nicholas Cage won Best Actor for his role in Leaving Las Vegas, marking a high point in his eclectic career.
A Sense and Sensibility: Emma Thompson, already an Oscar winner, scored another nomination for her adapted screenplay for Sense and Sensibility.
A Toy’s Tale: Toy Story was acknowledged with a Special Achievement Award, highlighting the growing impact of computer animation in cinema.
Supporting Surprises: Mira Sorvino won Best Supporting Actress for Mighty Aphrodite, while Kevin Spacey took Best Supporting Actor for The Usual Suspects.
Comedy to Oscars: Whoopi Goldberg, known for her comedic roles and stand-up, was one of the few African American women to have hosted the Oscars, a feather in her already impressive cap.
Se7en and the Snub: Despite its commercial and critical success, Se7en failed to secure a Best Picture nomination.
1996 Oscar Nominees and Winners
Best Picture:
Braveheart – Mel Gibson, Bruce Davey and Alan Ladd Jr., producers (WINNER)
Apollo 13 – Brian Grazer, producer
Babe – George Miller, Doug Mitchell and Bill Miller, producers
Il Postino: The Postman – Mario Cecchi Gori (posthumous nomination), Vittorio Cecchi Gori and Gaetano Daniele, producers
Sense and Sensibility – Lindsay Doran, producer
Best Director:
Mel Gibson – Braveheart (WINNER)
Chris Noonan – Babe
Tim Robbins – Dead Man Walking
Mike Figgis – Leaving Las Vegas
Michael Radford – Il Postino: The Postman
Best Actor:
Nicolas Cage – Leaving Las Vegas as Ben Sanderson (WINNER)
Richard Dreyfuss – Mr. Holland’s Opus as Glenn Holland
Anthony Hopkins – Nixon as Richard Nixon
Sean Penn – Dead Man Walking as Matthew Poncelet
Massimo Troisi – Il Postino: The Postman as Mario Ruoppolo (posthumous nomination)
Best Actress:
Susan Sarandon – Dead Man Walking as Helen Prejean (WINNER)
Elisabeth Shue – Leaving Las Vegas as Sera
Sharon Stone – Casino as Ginger McKenna
Meryl Streep – The Bridges of Madison County as Francesca Johnson
Emma Thompson – Sense and Sensibility as Elinor Dashwood
Best Supporting Actor:
Kevin Spacey – The Usual Suspects as Roger “Verbal” Kint (WINNER)
James Cromwell – Babe as Farmer Arthur Hoggett
Ed Harris – Apollo 13 as Gene Kranz
Brad Pitt – 12 Monkeys as Jeffrey Goines
Tim Roth – Rob Roy as Archibald Cunningham
Best Supporting Actress:
Mira Sorvino – Mighty Aphrodite as Linda Ash (WINNER)
Joan Allen – Nixon as Pat Nixon
Kathleen Quinlan – Apollo 13 as Marilyn Gerlach Lovell
Mare Winningham – Georgia as Georgia Flood
Kate Winslet – Sense and Sensibility as Marianne Dashwood
Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen:
The Usual Suspects – Christopher McQuarrie (WINNER)
Braveheart – Randall Wallace
Mighty Aphrodite – Woody Allen
Nixon – Oliver Stone, Christopher Wilkinson and Stephen J. Rivele
Toy Story – Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen, Alec Sokolow, John Lasseter, Pete Docter and Joe Ranft
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published:
Sense and Sensibility – Emma Thompson adapted from the novel by Jane Austen (WINNER)
Apollo 13 – Al Reinert and William Broyles Jr. based on the book Lost Moon by Jim Lovell and Jeffrey Kluger
Babe – George Miller and Chris Noonan based on the book The Sheep-Pig by Dick King-Smith
Leaving Las Vegas – Mike Figgis based on the novel by John O’Brien
Il Postino: The Postman – Michael Radford, Anna Pavignano, Furio Scarpelli, Giacomo Scarpelli and Massimo Troisi (posthumous nomination) based on the novel Ardiente Paciencia by Antonio Skármeta
Best Foreign Language Film:
Antonia’s Line (The Netherlands) in Dutch – Marleen Gorris, director (WINNER)
All Things Fair (Sweden) in Swedish – Bo Widerberg, director
Dust of Life (Algeria) in French – Rachid Bouchareb, director
O Quatrilho (Brazil) in Portuguese and Italian – Fábio Barreto, director
The Star Maker (Italy) in Italian – Giuseppe Tornatore, director
Best Documentary Feature:
Anne Frank Remembered – Jon Blair (WINNER)
The Battle Over Citizen Kane – Thomas Lennon and Michael Epstein
Fiddlefest—Roberta Tzavaras and Her East Harlem Violin Program – Allan Miller and Walter Scheuer
Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream – Mike Tollin and Fredric Golding
Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern – Jeanne Jordan and Steven Ascher
Best Documentary Short Subject:
One Survivor Remembers – Kary Antholis (WINNER)
Jim Dine: A Self-Portrait on the Walls – Nancy Dine and Richard Stilwell
The Living Sea – Greg MacGillivray and Alec Lorimore
Never Give Up: The 20th Century Odyssey of Herbert Zipper – Terry Sanders and Freida Lee Mock
The Shadow of Hate – Charles Guggenheim
Best Live Action Short Film:
Lieberman in Love – Christine Lahti and Jana Sue Memel (WINNER)
Brooms – Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas
Duke of Groove – Griffin Dunne and Thom Colwell
Little Surprises – Jeff Goldblum and Tikki Goldberg
Tuesday Morning Ride – Dianne Houston and Joy Ryan
Best Animated Short Film:
A Close Shave – Nick Park (WINNER)
The Chicken from Outer Space – John R. Dilworth
The End – Chris Landreth and Robin Barger
Gagarin – Alexiy Kharitidi
Runaway Brain – Chris Bailey
Best Original Dramatic Score:
Il Postino: The Postman – Luis Bacalov (WINNER)
Apollo 13 – James Horner
Braveheart – James Horner
Nixon – John Williams
Sense and Sensibility – Patrick Doyle
Best Original Musical or Comedy Score:
Pocahontas – Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz; Orchestral score by Alan Menken (WINNER)
The American President – Marc Shaiman
Sabrina – John Williams
Toy Story – Randy Newman
Unstrung Heroes – Thomas Newman
Best Original Song:
“Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas – Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (WINNER)
“Dead Man Walkin’” from Dead Man Walking – Music and Lyrics by Bruce Springsteen
“Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman” from Don Juan DeMarco – Music and Lyrics by Michael Kamen, Bryan Adams and Robert John Lange
“Moonlight” from Sabrina – Music by John Williams; Lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman
“You’ve Got a Friend in Me” from Toy Story – Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman
Best Sound Effects Editing:
Braveheart – Lon Bender and Per Hallberg (WINNER)
Batman Forever – John Leveque and Bruce Stambler
Crimson Tide – George Watters II
Best Sound:
Apollo 13 – Rick Dior, Steve Pederson, Scott Millan and David MacMillan (WINNER)
Batman Forever – Donald O. Mitchell, Frank A. Montaño, Michael Herbick and Petur Hliddal
Braveheart – Andy Nelson, Scott Millan, Anna Behlmer and Brian Simmons
Crimson Tide – Kevin O’Connell, Rick Kline, Gregory H. Watkins and William B. Kaplan
Waterworld – Steve Maslow, Gregg Landaker and Keith A. Wester
Best Art Direction:
Restoration – Art Direction and Set Decoration: Eugenio Zanetti (WINNER)
Apollo 13 – Art Direction: Michael Corenblith; Set Decoration: Merideth Boswell
Babe – Art Direction: Roger Ford; Set Decoration: Kerrie Brown
A Little Princess – Art Direction: Bo Welch; Set Decoration: Cheryl Carasik
Richard III – Art Direction and Set Decoration: Tony Burrough
Best Cinematography:
Braveheart – John Toll (WINNER)
Batman Forever – Stephen Goldblatt
A Little Princess – Emmanuel Lubezki
Sense and Sensibility – Michael Coulter
Shanghai Triad – Lü Yue
Best Makeup:
Braveheart – Peter Frampton, Paul Pattison and Lois Burwell (WINNER)
My Family, Mi Familia – Ken Diaz and Mark Sanchez
Roommates – Greg Cannom, Bob Laden and Colleen Callaghan
Best Costume Design:
Restoration – James Acheson (WINNER)
12 Monkeys – Julie Weiss
Braveheart – Charles Knode
Richard III – Shuna Harwood
Sense and Sensibility – Jenny Beavan and John Bright
Best Film Editing:
Apollo 13 – Mike Hill and Daniel P. Hanley (WINNER)
Babe – Marcus D’Arcy and Jay Friedkin
Braveheart – Steven Rosenblum
Crimson Tide – Chris Lebenzon
Seven – Richard Francis-Bruce
Best Visual Effects:
Babe – Scott E. Anderson, Charles Gibson, Neal Scanlan and John Cox (WINNER)
Apollo 13 – Robert Legato, Michael Kanfer, Leslie Ekker and Matt Sweeney
Academy Honorary Awards:
Chuck Jones
Kirk Douglas
Special Achievement Award:
John Lasseter for Toy Story
Held at: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Host: Ellen DeGeneres
Eligibility Year: October 1, 1994 – September 30, 1995
Trivia
Alanis Unplugged: Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill snagged Album of the Year, marking her as a force in the music industry.
Hootie’s Big Catch: Hootie & the Blowfish won Best New Artist, propelling them into stardom.
King of Pop’s Return: Michael Jackson’s Scream, his duet with sister Janet, was one of the most expensive music videos ever made and was nominated, although it didn’t win.
Country Under Spotlight: Shania Twain’s The Woman in Me won Best Country Album, indicating the growing influence of country music in mainstream media.
Seal of Approval: Seal’s Kiss from a Rose won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year, boosting his career substantially.
Soundtrack Success: Disney’s Pocahontas took home the award for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television, continuing the trend of animated films performing well at the Grammys.
Comic Relief: The host, Ellen DeGeneres, was primarily known for her work in television and stand-up comedy, making her a unique but entertaining choice for the music-focused event.
1996 Grammy Winners
Album of the Year: Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette (Maverick/Reprise)
Song of the Year: Kiss From a Rose – Seal, songwriter
Best New Artist: Hootie and the Blowfish
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: Kiss From a Rose – Seal
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: No More `I Love You’s – Annie Lennox
Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: Let Her Cry – Hootie and the Blowfish
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance: Duets II – Frank Sinatra
Best Pop Instrumental Performance: Mariachi Suite – Los Lobos
Best Pop Vocal Collaboration: Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? – The Chieftains with Van Morrison
Best Pop Album: Turbulent Indigo, Joni Mitchell (Reprise)
Best Rock Album: Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette (Maverick/Reprise)
Best Rock Gospel Album: Lesson of Love, Ashley Cleveland (Reunion)
Best Rock Song: You Oughta Know – Glen Ballard and Alanis Morissette, songwriters
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male: You Don’t Know How It Feels – Tom Petty
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female: You Oughta Know – Alanis Morissette
Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: Run-Around – Blues Traveler
Best Rock Instrumental Performance: Jessica – The Allman Brothers Band
Best Hard Rock Performance: Spin the Black Circle – Pearl Jam
Best Metal Performance: Happiness Is Slavery – Nine Inch Nails
Best Alternative Music Performance: MTV Unplugged in New York, Nirvana (DGC)
Best Rhythm and Blues Album: CrazySexyCool, TLC (LaFace Records)
Best Rhythm and Blues Song: For Your Love – Stevie Wonder, songwriter
Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Male: For Your Love – Stevie Wonder
Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Female: I Apologize – Anita Baker
Best Rhythm and Blues Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: Creep – TLC
Best Rap Album: Poverty’s Paradise, Naughty by Nature (Tommy Boy)
Best Rap Solo Performance: Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio
Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group: I’ll Be There for You /You’re All I Need to Get By – Method Man/Mary J. Blige
Best Jazz Vocal Performance: An Evening With Lena Horne – Lena Horne
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: Impressions – Michael Brecker
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group: Infinity – McCoy Tyner Trio featuring Michael Brecker
Best Contemporary Jazz Performance: We Live Here – Pat Metheny Group
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance: All Blues – GRP All-Star Big Band and Tom Scott
Best Latin Jazz Performance: Antônio Brasileiro – Antônio Carlos Jobim
Best Country Album: The Woman in Me, Shania Twain (Mercury Nashville)
Best Country Song: Go Rest High on That Mountain – Vince Gill, songwriter
Best Country Vocal Performance, Male: Go Rest High on That Mountain – Vince Gill
Best Country Vocal Performance, Female: Baby, Now That I’ve Found You – Alison Krauss
Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: Here Comes the Rain – The Mavericks
Best Country Vocal Collaboration: Somewhere in the Vicinity of the Heart – Shenandoah with Alison Krauss
Best Country Instrumental Performance: Hightower – Asleep at the Wheel featuring Bela Fleck and Johnny Gimble
Best Bluegrass Album: Unleashed, The Nashville Bluegrass Band (Sugar Hill)
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album: Shirley Caesar Live He Will Come, Shirley Caesar (Word)
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Alone in His Presence, CeCe Winans (Sparrow Communications Group)
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: I’ll Lead You Home, Michael W. Smith (Reunion)
Best Rock Gospel Album: Lesson of Love, Ashley Cleveland (Reunion)
Best Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Amazing Grace – A Country Salute to Gospel, various artists (Sparrow Communications Group)
Best Gospel Album By a Choir or Chorus: Praise Him… Live!, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir (Warner Alliance)
Best Latin Pop Performance: Amor – Jon Secada
Best Tropical Latin Performance: Abriendo Puertas – Gloria Estefan
Best Mexican-American Performance: Flaco Jimenez – Flaco Jimenez
Best Traditional Blues Album: Chill Out, John Lee Hooker (Point-Blank)
Best Contemporary Blues Album: Slippin’ In, Buddy Guy (Silvertone)
Best Traditional Folk Album: South Coast, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott (Red House)
Best Contemporary Folk Album: Wrecking Ball, Emmylou Harris (Asylum/Elektra)
Best Reggae Album: Boombastic, Shaggy (Virgin)
Best New Age Album: Forest, George Winston
Best World Music Album: Bohème, Deep Forest (Windham Hill)
Best Polka Album: I Love to Polka, Jimmy Sturr (Rounder)
Best Instrumental Arrangement: Lament – Robert Farnon, arranger
Best Instrumental Arrangement With Accompanying Vocal(s): I Get a Kick out of You – Rob McConnell, arranger
Best Instrumental Composition: A View From the Side – Bill Holman
Best Musical Show Album: Smokey Joe’s Cafe – The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, Jerry Leiber, lyricist; Mike Stoller, composer (Atlantic Theater)
Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television: Crimson Tide – Hans Zimmer, composer
Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television: Colors of the Wind (From Pocahontas), Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, songwriters
Best Classical Contemporary Composition: Messiaen: Concert a Quatre – Olivier Messiaen, composer
Best Classical Album: Debussy: La Mer; Nocturnes; Jeux, etc. Pierre Boulez conducting the Cleveland Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon)
Best Chamber Music Performance: Brahms/Beethoven/Mozart: Clarinet Trios, Emanuel Ax, piano; Yo-Yo Ma, cello; Richard Stoltzman, clarinet
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (With Orchestra): The American Album (Works of Bernstein, Barber, Foss), Itzhak Perlman, violin (EMI Classics)
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (Without Orchestra): Schubert: Piano Sonatas (B-Flat Major and A Major), Radu Lupu, piano (London Records)
Best Orchestral Performance: Debussy: La Mer, Nocturnes; Jeux, etc., Pierre Boulez conducting the Cleveland Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon)
Best Opera Recording: Berlioz: Les Troyens, Charles Dutoit conducting the Orchestre Symphonie de Montreal
Best Performance of a Choral Work: Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Herbert Blomstedt conducting San Francisco Symphony, San Francisco Symphony Chorus and various artists
Best Classical Vocal Performance: The Echoing Air – The Music of Henry Purcell (If Music Be the Food of Love; Sweeter Than Roses, etc.), Sylvia McNair, soprano
Best Spoken Comedy Album: Crank Calls, Jonathan Winters (Audio Select)
Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album: Phenomenal Woman, Maya Angelou (Random House Audio Books)
Best Musical Album for Children: Sleepy Time Lullabys, Barbara Bailey Hutchison (Jaba)
Best Spoken Word Album for Children: Prokofiev: Peter and the Wolf, Patrick Stewart (Erato)
Best Recording Package: Turbulent Indigo, Robbie Cavolina and Joni Mitchell, art directors (Reprise)
Best Recording Package – Boxed: Civilization Phaze III, Frank Zappa and Gail Zappa, art directors (Barking Pumpkin)
Best Album Notes: The Complete Stax/Volt Soul Singles, Volume 3: 1972 – 1975, Rob Bowman, album notes writer (Stax)
Best Historical Album: The Heifetz Collection (RCA Victor Gold Seal)
Best Music Video, Short Form: Scream – Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson
Best Music Video, Long Form: Secret World Live – Peter Gabriel
Best Engineered Album (Non-Classical): Wildflowers, Dave Bianco, Richard Dodd, Stephen McLaughlin and Jim Scott, engineers (Warner Bros.)
Best Classical Engineered Recording: Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra/Kossuth: Symphonic Poem, Michael Mailes and Jonathan Stokes, engineers (London Records)
by President William Jefferson Clinton, on January 23, 1996
Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of the 104th Congress, distinguished guests, my fellow Americans all across our land:
Let me begin tonight by saying to our men and women in uniform around the world, and especially those helping peace take root in Bosnia and to their families, I thank you. America is very, very proud of you.
My duty tonight is to report on the state of the Union- not the state of our government, but of our American community; and to set forth our responsibilities, in the words of our Founders, to form a more perfect union.
The state of the Union is strong. Our economy is the healthiest it has been in three decades. We have the lowest combined rates of unemployment and inflation in 27 years. We have created nearly 8 million new jobs, over a million of them in basic industries, like construction and automobiles. America is selling more cars than Japan for the first time since the 1970s. And for three years in a row, we have had a record number of new businesses started in our country.
Our leadership in the world is also strong, bringing hope for new peace. And perhaps most important, we are gaining ground in restoring our fundamental values. The crime rate, the welfare and food stamp rolls, the poverty rate and the teen pregnancy rate are all down. And as they go down, prospects for America’s future go up.
We live in an age of possibility. A hundred years ago we moved from farm to factory. Now we move to an age of technology, information, and global competition. These changes have opened vast new opportunities for our people, but they have also presented them with stiff challenges. While more Americans are living better, too many of our fellow citizens are working harder just to keep up, and they are rightly concerned about the security of their families.
We must answer here three fundamental questions: First, how do we make the American Dream of opportunity for all a reality for all Americans who are willing to work for it? Second, how do we preserve our old and enduring values as we move into the future? And, third, how do we meet these challenges together, as one America?
We know big government does not have all the answers. We know there’s not a program for every problem. We have worked to give the American people a smaller, less bureaucratic government in Washington. And we have to give the American people one that lives within its means.
The era of big government is over. But we cannot go back to the time when our citizens were left to fend for themselves. Instead, we must go forward as one America, one nation working together to meet the challenges we face together. Self-reliance and teamwork are not opposing virtues; we must have both.
I believe our new, smaller government must work in an old-fashioned American way, together with all of our citizens through state and local governments, in the workplace, in religious, charitable and civic associations. Our goal must be to enable all our people to make the most of their own lives- with stronger families, more educational opportunity, economic security, safer streets, a cleaner environment in a safer world.
To improve the state of our Union, we must ask more of ourselves, we must expect more of each other, and we must face our challenges together.
Here, in this place, our responsibility begins with balancing the budget in a way that is fair to all Americans. There is now broad bipartisan agreement that permanent deficit spending must come to an end.
I compliment the Republican leadership and the membership for the energy and determination you have brought to this task of balancing the budget. And I thank the Democrats for passing the largest deficit reduction plan in history in 1993, which has already cut the deficit nearly in half in three years.
Since 1993, we have all begun to see the benefits of deficit reduction. Lower interest rates have made it easier for businesses to borrow and to invest and to create new jobs. Lower interest rates have brought down the cost of home mortgages, car payments and credit card rates to ordinary citizens. Now, it is time to finish the job and balance the budget.
Though differences remain among us which are significant, the combined total of the proposed savings that are common to both plans is more than enough, using the numbers from your Congressional Budget Office to balance the budget in seven years and to provide a modest tax cut.
These cuts are real. They will require sacrifice from everyone. But these cuts do not undermine our fundamental obligations to our parents, our children, and our future, by endangering Medicare, or Medicaid, or education, or the environment, or by raising taxes on working families.
I have said before, and let me say again, many good ideas have come out of our negotiations. I have learned a lot about the way both Republicans and Democrats view the debate before us. I have learned a lot about the good ideas that we could all embrace.
We ought to resolve our remaining differences. I am willing to work to resolve them. I am ready to meet tomorrow. But I ask you to consider that we should at least enact these savings that both plans have in common and give the American people their balanced budget, a tax cut, lower interest rates, and a brighter future. We should do that now, and make permanent deficits yesterday’s legacy.
Now it is time for us to look also to the challenges of today and tomorrow, beyond the burdens of yesterday. The challenges are significant. But America was built on challenges, not promises. And when we work together to meet them, we never fail. That is the key to a more perfect Union. Our individual dreams must be realized by our common efforts.
Tonight I want to speak to you about the challenges we all face as a people.
Our first challenge is to cherish our children and strengthen America’s families. Family is the foundation of American life. If we have stronger families, we will have a stronger America.
Before I go on, I would like to take just a moment to thank my own family, and to thank the person who has taught me more than anyone else over 25 years about the importance of families and children- a wonderful wife, a magnificent mother and a great First Lady. Thank you, Hillary.
All strong families begin with taking more responsibility for our children. I have heard Mrs. Gore say that it’s hard to be a parent today, but it’s even harder to be a child. So all of us, not just as parents, but all of us in our other roles- our media, our schools, our teachers, our communities, our churches and synagogues, our businesses, our governments- all of us have a responsibility to help our children to make it and to make the most of their lives and their God-given capacities.
To the media, I say you should create movies and CDs and television shows you’d want your own children and grandchildren to enjoy.
I call on Congress to pass the requirement for a V-chip in TV sets so that parents can screen out programs they believe are inappropriate for their children. When parents control what their young children see, that is not censorship; that is enabling parents to assume more personal responsibility for their children’s upbringing. And I urge them to do it. The V-chip requirement is part of the important telecommunications bill now pending in this Congress. It has bipartisan support, and I urge you to pass it now.
To make the V-chip work, I challenge the broadcast industry to do what movies have done- to identify your programming in ways that help parents to protect their children. And I invite the leaders of major media corporations in the entertainment industry to come to the White House next month to work with us in a positive way on concrete ways to improve what our children see on television. I am ready to work with you.
I say to those who make and market cigarettes: every year a million children take up smoking, even though it is against the law. Three hundred thousand of them will have their lives shortened as a result. Our administration has taken steps to stop the massive marketing campaigns that appeal to our children. We are simply saying: Market your products to adults, if you wish, but draw the line on children.
I say to those who are on welfare, and especially to those who have been trapped on welfare for a long time: For too long our welfare system has undermined the values of family and work, instead of supporting them. The Congress and I are near agreement on sweeping welfare reform. We agree on time limits, tough work requirements, and the toughest possible child support enforcement. But I believe we must also provide child care so that mothers who are required to go to work can do so without worrying about what is happening to their children.
I challenge this Congress to send me a bipartisan welfare reform bill that will really move people from welfare to work and do the right thing by our children. I will sign it immediately.
Let us be candid about this difficult problem. Passing a law, even the best possible law, is only a first step. The next step is to make it work. I challenge people on welfare to make the most of this opportunity for independence. I challenge American businesses to give people on welfare the chance to move into the work force. I applaud the work of religious groups and others who care for the poor. More than anyone else in our society, they know the true difficulty of the task before us, and they are in a position to help. Every one of us should join them. That is the only way we can make real welfare reform a reality in the lives of the American people.
To strengthen the family we must do everything we can to keep the teen pregnancy rate going down. I am gratified, as I’m sure all Americans are, that it has dropped for two years in a row. But we all know it is still far too high.
Tonight I am pleased to announce that a group of prominent Americans is responding to that challenge by forming an organization that will support grass-roots community efforts all across our country in a national campaign against teen pregnancy. And I challenge all of us and every American to join their efforts.
I call on American men and women in families to give greater respect to one another. We must end the deadly scourge of domestic violence in our country. And I challenge America’s families to work harder to stay together. For families who stay together not only do better economically, their children do better as well.
In particular, I challenge the fathers of this country to love and care for their children. If your family has separated, you must pay your child support. We’re doing more than ever to make sure you do, and we’re going to do more, but let’s all admit something about that, too: A check will not substitute for a parent’s love and guidance. And only you — only you can make the decision to help raise your children. No matter who you are, how low or high your station in life, it is the most basic human duty of every American to do that job to the best of his or her ability.
Our second challenge is to provide Americans with the educational opportunities we will all need for this new century. In our schools, every classroom in America must be connected to the information superhighway, with computers and good software, and well-trained teachers. We are working with the telecommunications industry, educators and parents to connect 20 percent of California’s classrooms by this spring, and every classroom and every library in the entire United States by the year 2000. I ask Congress to support this education technology initiative so that we can make sure this national partnership succeeds.
Every diploma ought to mean something. I challenge every community, every school and every state to adopt national standards of excellence; to measure whether schools are meeting those standards; to cut bureaucratic red tape so that schools and teachers have more flexibility for grass-roots reform; and to hold them accountable for results. That’s what our Goals 2000 initiative is all about.
I challenge every state to give all parents the right to choose which public school their children will attend; and to let teachers form new schools with a charter they can keep only if they do a good job.
I challenge all our schools to teach character education, to teach good values and good citizenship. And if it means that teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.
I challenge our parents to become their children’s first teachers. Turn off the TV. See that the homework is done. And visit your children’s classroom. No program, no teacher, no one else can do that for you.
My fellow Americans, higher education is more important today than ever before. We’ve created a new student loan program that’s made it easier to borrow and repay those loans, and we have dramatically cut the student loan default rate. That’s something we should all be proud of, because it was unconscionably high just a few years ago. Through AmeriCorps, our national service program, this year 25,000 young people will earn college money by serving their local communities to improve the lives of their friends and neighbors. These initiatives are right for America and we should keep them going.
And we should also work hard to open the doors of college even wider. I challenge Congress to expand work-study and help one million young Americans work their way through college by the year 2000; to provide a $1000 merit scholarship for the top five percent of graduates in every high school in the United States; to expand Pell Grant scholarships for deserving and needy students; and to make up to $10,000 a year of college tuition tax deductible. It’s a good idea for America.
Our third challenge is to help every American who is willing to work for it, achieve economic security in this new age. People who work hard still need support to get ahead in the new economy. They need education and training for a lifetime. They need more support for families raising children. They need retirement security. They need access to health care. More and more Americans are finding that the education of their childhood simply doesn’t last a lifetime.
So I challenge Congress to consolidate 70 overlapping, antiquated job-training programs into a simple voucher worth $2,600 for unemployed or underemployed workers to use as they please for community college tuition or other training. This is a G.I. Bill for America’s workers we should all be able to agree on.
More and more Americans are working hard without a raise. Congress sets the minimum wage. Within a year, the minimum wage will fall to a 40-year low in purchasing power. Four dollars and 25 cents an hour is no longer a living wage, but millions of Americans and their children are trying to live on it. I challenge you to raise their minimum wage.
In 1993, Congress cut the taxes of 15 million hard-pressed working families to make sure that no parents who work full-time would have to raise their children in poverty, and to encourage people to move from welfare to work. This expanded earned income tax credit is now worth about $1,800 a year to a family of four living on $20,000. The budget bill I vetoed would have reversed this achievement and raised taxes on nearly 8 million of these people. We should not do that.
I also agree that the people who are helped under this initiative are not all those in our country who are working hard to do a good job raising their children and at work. I agree that we need a tax credit for working families with children. That’s one of the things most of us in this Chamber, I hope, can agree on. I know it is strongly supported by the Republican majority. And it should be part of any final budget agreement.
I want to challenge every business that can possibly afford it to provide pensions for your employees. And I challenge Congress to pass a proposal recommended by the White House Conference on Small Business that would make it easier for small businesses and farmers to establish their own pension plans. That is something we should all agree on.
We should also protect existing pension plans. Two years ago, with bipartisan support that was almost unanimous on both sides of the aisle, we moved to protect the pensions of 8 million working people and to stabilize the pensions of 32 million more. Congress should not now let companies endanger those workers’ pension funds. I know the proposal to liberalize the ability of employers to take money out of pension funds for other purposes would raise money for the treasury. But I believe it is false economy. I vetoed that proposal last year, and I would have to do so again.
Finally, if our working families are going to succeed in the new economy, they must be able to buy health insurance policies that they do not lose when they change jobs or when someone in their family gets sick. Over the past two years, over one million Americans in working families have lost their health insurance. We have to do more to make health care available to every American. And Congress should start by passing the bipartisan bill sponsored by Senator Kennedy and Senator Kassebaum that would require insurance companies to stop dropping people when they switch jobs, and stop denying coverage for preexisting conditions. Let’s all do that.
And even as we enact savings in these programs, we must have a common commitment to preserve the basic protections of Medicare and Medicaid — not just to the poor, but to people in working families, including children, people with disabilities, people with AIDS, and senior citizens in nursing homes.
In the past three years, we’ve saved $15 billion just by fighting health care fraud and abuse. We have all agreed to save much more. We have all agreed to stabilize the Medicare Trust Fund. But we must not abandon our fundamental obligations to the people who need Medicare and Medicaid. America cannot become stronger if they become weaker.
The G.I. Bill for workers, tax relief for education and child rearing, pension availability and protection, access to health care, preservation of Medicare and Medicaid- these things, along with the Family and Medical Leave Act passed in 1993 — these things will help responsible, hard-working American families to make the most of their own lives.
But employers and employees must do their part, as well, as they are doing in so many of our finest companies — working together, putting the long-term prosperity ahead of the short-term gain. As workers increase their hours and their productivity, employers should make sure they get the skills they need and share the benefits of the good years, as well as the burdens of the bad ones. When companies and workers work as a team they do better, and so does America.
Our fourth great challenge is to take our streets back from crime and gangs and drugs. At last we have begun to find a way to reduce crime, forming community partnerships with local police forces to catch criminals and prevent crime. This strategy, called community policing, is clearly working. Violent crime is coming down all across America. In New York City murders are down 25 percent; in St. Louis, 18 percent; in Seattle, 32 percent. But we still have a long way to go before our streets are safe and our people are free from fear.
The Crime Bill of 1994 is critical to the success of community policing. It provides funds for 100,000 new police in communities of all sizes. We’re already a third of the way there. And I challenge the Congress to finish the job. Let us stick with a strategy that’s working and keep the crime rate coming down.
Community policing also requires bonds of trust between citizens and police. I ask all Americans to respect and support our law enforcement officers. And to our police, I say, our children need you as role models and heroes. Don’t let them down.
The Brady Bill has already stopped 44,000 people with criminal records from buying guns. The assault weapons ban is keeping 19 kinds of assault weapons out of the hands of violent gangs. I challenge the Congress to keep those laws on the books.
Our next step in the fight against crime is to take on gangs the way we once took on the mob. I’m directing the FBI and other investigative agencies to target gangs that involve juveniles in violent crime, and to seek authority to prosecute as adults teenagers who maim and kill like adults.
And I challenge local housing authorities and tenant associations: Criminal gang members and drug dealers are destroying the lives of decent tenants. From now on, the rule for residents who commit crime and peddle drugs should be one strike and you’re out.
I challenge every state to match federal policy to assure that serious violent criminals serve at least 85 percent of their sentence.
More police and punishment are important, but they’re not enough. We have got to keep more of our young people out of trouble, with prevention strategies not dictated by Washington, but developed in communities. I challenge all of our communities, all of our adults, to give our children futures to say yes to. And I challenge Congress not to abandon the Crime Bill’s support of these grass-roots prevention efforts.
Finally, to reduce crime and violence we have to reduce the drug problem. The challenge begins in our homes, with parents talking to their children openly and firmly. It embraces our churches and synagogues, our youth groups and our schools.
I challenge Congress not to cut our support for drug-free schools. People like the D.A.R.E. officers are making a real impression on grade schoolchildren that will give them the strength to say no when the time comes.
Meanwhile, we continue our efforts to cut the flow of drugs into America. For the last two years, one man in particular has been on the front lines of that effort. Tonight I am nominating him- a hero of the Persian Gulf War and the Commander in Chief of the United States Military Southern Command- General Barry McCaffrey, as America’s new Drug Czar.
General McCaffrey has earned three Purple Hearts and two Silver Stars fighting for this country. Tonight I ask that he lead our nation’s battle against drugs at home and abroad. To succeed, he needs a force far larger than he has ever commanded before. He needs all of us. Every one of us has a role to play on this team.
Thank you, General McCaffrey, for agreeing to serve your country one more time.
Our fifth challenge: to leave our environment safe and clean for the next generation. Because of a generation of bipartisan effort we do have cleaner water and air, lead levels in children’s blood has been cut by 70 percent, toxic emissions from factories cut in half. Lake Erie was dead, and now it’s a thriving resource. But 10 million children under 12 still live within four miles of a toxic waste dump. A third of us breathe air that endangers our health. And in too many communities, the water is not safe to drink. We still have much to do.
Yet Congress has voted to cut environmental enforcement by 25 percent. That means more toxic chemicals in our water, more smog in our air, more pesticides in our food. Lobbyists for polluters have been allowed to write their own loopholes into bills to weaken laws that protect the health and safety of our children. Some say that the taxpayer should pick up the tab for toxic waste and let polluters who can afford to fix it off the hook. I challenge Congress to reexamine those policies and to reverse them.
This issue has not been a partisan issue. The most significant environmental gains in the last 30 years were made under a Democratic Congress and President Richard Nixon. We can work together. We have to believe some basic things. Do you believe we can expand the economy without hurting the environment? I do. Do you believe we can create more jobs over the long run by cleaning the environment up? I know we can. That should be our commitment.
We must challenge businesses and communities to take more initiative in protecting the environment, and we have to make it easier for them to do it. To businesses this administration is saying: If you can find a cheaper, more efficient way than government regulations require to meet tough pollution standards, do it — as long as you do it right. To communities we say: We must strengthen community right-to-know laws requiring polluters to disclose their emissions, but you have to use the information to work with business to cut pollution. People do have a right to know that their air and their water are safe.
Our sixth challenge is to maintain America’s leadership in the fight for freedom and peace throughout the world. Because of American leadership, more people than ever before live free and at peace. And Americans have known 50 years of prosperity and security.
We owe thanks especially to our veterans of World War II. I would like to say to Senator Bob Dole and to all others in this Chamber who fought in World War II, and to all others on both sides of the aisle who have fought bravely in all our conflicts since: I salute your service, and so do the American people.
All over the world, even after the Cold War, people still look to us and trust us to help them seek the blessings of peace and freedom. But as the Cold War fades into memory, voices of isolation say America should retreat from its responsibilities. I say they are wrong.
The threats we face today as Americans respect no nation’s borders. Think of them: terrorism, the spread of weapons of mass destruction, organized crime, drug trafficking, ethnic and religious hatred, aggression by rogue states, environmental degradation. If we fail to address these threats today, we will suffer the consequences in all our tomorrows.
Of course, we can’t be everywhere. Of course, we can’t do everything. But where our interests and our values are at stake, and where we can make a difference, America must lead. We must not be isolationist.
We must not be the world’s policeman. But we can and should be the world’s very best peacemaker. By keeping our military strong, by using diplomacy where we can and force where we must, by working with others to share the risk and the cost of our efforts, America is making a difference for people here and around the world. For the first time since the dawn of the nuclear age, there is not a single Russian missile pointed at America’s children.
North Korea has now frozen its dangerous nuclear weapons program. In Haiti, the dictators are gone, democracy has a new day, the flow of desperate refugees to our shores has subsided. Through tougher trade deals for America — over 80 of them — we have opened markets abroad, and now exports are at an all-time high, growing faster than imports and creating good American jobs.
We stood with those taking risks for peace: In Northern Ireland, where Catholic and Protestant children now tell their parents, violence must never return. In the Middle East, where Arabs and Jews who once seemed destined to fight forever now share knowledge and resources, and even dreams.
And we stood up for peace in Bosnia. Remember the skeletal prisoners, the mass graves, the campaign to rape and torture, the endless lines of refugees, the threat of a spreading war. All these threats, all these horrors have now begun to give way to the promise of peace. Now, our troops and a strong NATO, together with our new partners from Central Europe and elsewhere, are helping that peace to take hold.
As all of you know, I was just there with a bipartisan congressional group, and I was so proud not only of what our troops were doing, but of the pride they evidenced in what they were doing. They knew what America’s mission in this world is, and they were proud to be carrying it out.
Through these efforts, we have enhanced the security of the American people. But make no mistake about it:important challenges remain.
The START II Treaty with Russia will cut our nuclear stockpiles by another 25 percent. I urge the Senate to ratify it — now. We must end the race to create new nuclear weapons by signing a truly comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty — this year.
As we remember what happened in the Japanese subway, we can outlaw poison gas forever if the Senate ratifies the Chemical Weapons Convention — this year. We can intensify the fight against terrorists and organized criminals at home and abroad if Congress passes the anti-terrorism legislation I proposed after the Oklahoma City bombing- now. We can help more people move from hatred to hope all across the world in our own interest if Congress gives us the means to remain the world’s leader for peace.
My fellow Americans, the six challenges I have just discussed are for all of us. Our seventh challenge is really America’s challenge to those of us in this hallowed hall tonight: to reinvent our government and make our democracy work for them.
Last year this Congress applied to itself the laws it applies to everyone else. This Congress banned gifts and meals from lobbyists. This Congress forced lobbyists to disclose who pays them and what legislation they are trying to pass or kill. This Congress did that, and I applaud you for it.
Now I challenge Congress to go further- to curb special interest influence in politics by passing the first truly bipartisan campaign reform bill in a generation. You, Republicans and Democrats alike, can show the American people that we can limit spending and open the airwaves to all candidates.
I also appeal to Congress to pass the line-item veto you promised the American people.
Our administration is working hard to give the American people a government that works better and costs less. Thanks to the work of Vice President Gore, we are eliminating 16,000 pages of unnecessary rules and regulations, shifting more decision-making out of Washington, back to states and local communities.
As we move into the era of balanced budgets and smaller government, we must work in new ways to enable people to make the most of their own lives. We are helping America’s communities, not with more bureaucracy, but with more opportunities. Through our successful Empowerment Zones and Community Development Banks, we are helping people to find jobs, to start businesses. And with tax incentives for companies that clean up abandoned industrial property, we can bring jobs back to places that desperately, desperately need them.
But there are some areas that the federal government should not leave and should address and address strongly. One of these areas is the problem of illegal immigration. After years of neglect, this administration has taken a strong stand to stiffen the protection of our borders. We are increasing border controls by 50 percent. We are increasing inspections to prevent the hiring of illegal immigrants. And tonight, I announce I will sign an executive order to deny federal contracts to businesses that hire illegal immigrants.
Let me be very clear about this: We are still a nation of immigrants; we should be proud of it. We should honor every legal immigrant here, working hard to become a new citizen. But we are also a nation of laws.
I want to say a special word now to those who work for our federal government. Today our federal government is 200,000 employees smaller than it was the day I took office as President.
Our federal government today is the smallest it has been in 30 years, and it’s getting smaller every day. Most of our fellow Americans probably don’t know that. And there is a good reason: The remaining federal work force is composed of Americans who are now working harder and working smarter than ever before, to make sure the quality of our services does not decline.
I’d like to give you one example. His name is Richard Dean. He is a 49 year-old Vietnam veteran who’s worked for the Social Security Administration for 22 years now. Last year he was hard at work in the Federal Building in Oklahoma City when the blast killed 169 people and brought the rubble down all around him. He reentered that building four times. He saved the lives of three women. He’s here with us this evening, and I want to recognize Richard and applaud both his public service and his extraordinary personal heroism.
But Richard Dean’s story doesn’t end there. This last November, he was forced out of his office when the government shut down. And the second time the government shut down he continued helping Social Security recipients, but he was working without pay.
On behalf of Richard Dean and his family, and all the other people who are out there working every day doing a good job for the American people, I challenge all of you in this Chamber: Never, ever shut the federal government down again.
On behalf of all Americans, especially those who need their Social Security payments at the beginning of March, I also challenge the Congress to preserve the full faith and credit of the United States- to honor the obligations of this great nation as we have for 220 years; to rise above partisanship and pass a straightforward extension of the debt limit and show people America keeps its word.
I know that this evening I have asked a lot of Congress, and even more from America. But I am confident: When Americans work together in their homes, their schools, their churches, their synagogues, their civic groups, their workplace, they can meet any challenge.
I say again, the era of big government is over. But we can’t go back to the era of fending for yourself. We have to go forward to the era of working together as a community, as a team, as one America, with all of us reaching across these lines that divide us- the division, the discrimination, the rancor- we have to reach across it to find common ground. We have got to work together if we want America to work.
I want you to meet two more people tonight who do just that. Lucius Wright is a teacher in the Jackson, Mississippi, public school system. A Vietnam veteran, he has created groups to help inner-city children turn away from gangs and build futures they can believe in. Sergeant Jennifer Rodgers is a police officer in Oklahoma City. Like Richard Dean, she helped to pull her fellow citizens out of the rubble and deal with that awful tragedy. She reminds us that in their response to that atrocity the people of Oklahoma City lifted all of us with their basic sense of decency and community.
Lucius Wright and Jennifer Rodgers are special Americans. And I have the honor to announce tonight that they are the very first of several thousand Americans who will be chosen to carry the Olympic torch on its long journey from Los Angeles to the centennial of the modern Olympics in Atlanta this summer- not because they are star athletes, but because they are star citizens, community heroes meeting America’s challenges. They are our real champions.
Now, each of us must hold high the torch of citizenship in our own lives. None of us can finish the race alone. We can only achieve our destiny together — one hand, one generation, one American connecting to another.
There have always been things we could do together -dreams we could make real- which we could never have done on our own. We Americans have forged our identity, our very union, from every point of view and every point on the planet, every different opinion. But we must be bound together by a faith more powerful than any doctrine that divides us — by our belief in progress, our love of liberty, and our relentless search for common ground.
America has always sought and always risen to every challenge. Who would say that, having come so far together, we will not go forward from here? Who would say that this age of possibility is not for all Americans?
Our country is and always has been a great and good nation. But the best is yet to come, if we all do our part.
Thank you, God bless you and God bless the United States of America. Thank you.
December 17, 1994 – January 27, 1995:
Here Comes The Hotstepper – Ini Kamozi
January 28 – February 24:
Creep – TLC
February 25 – April 14:
Take A Bow – Madonna
April 15 – June 2:
This Is How We Do It – Montell Jordan
June 3 – July 7:
Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman – Bryan Adams
July 8 – August 25:
Waterfalls – TLC
August 26 – September 1:
Kiss From A Rose – Seal
September 2 – September 8:
You Are Not Alone – Michael Jackson
September 9 – September 29:
Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio
September 30 – November 24:
Fantasy – Mariah Carey
November 25 – December 1:
Exhale (Shoop Shoop) – Whitney Houston
December 2, 1995 – March 22, 1996:
One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
(Data is compiled from various charts including Billboard’s “Pop,” “Rock,” “Airplay,” “R&B/Dance” and “Singles” Charts. The “Hot 100” is the primary chart used for this list.)
American Home-Grown Terrorism: Oklahoma City Bombing: a truck bomb at Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building killed 168 people and injured nearly 700 people.
The Top Song was One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men
Influential Songs include: I Wish by Skee-Lo, I Like It, I Love It by Tim McGraw, This Is How We Do It by Montell Jordan and You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette.
The Movies to Watch include Toy Story, Apollo 13, 12 Monkeys, Babe, Jumanji, Braveheart, and Mr. Holland’s Opus.
The Java computer language was invented.
People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive: Brad Pitt
Notable books include The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans and The Golden Compass by Philip Pullma.n
Price of Ballpark Hot Dogs, 16 oz: $1.49 Price of IBM Aptiva 486DX2-66 Computer, with the monitor, in 1995: $1799.00
Forbes Magazine announced that Bill Gates is the richest man in the world, with a net worth of $12.9 billion.
1 ounce of gold value: $387.00
The Funny Late Night Host: Jay Leno The Funny Late Late Night Host: Tom Snyder
The Conversation: Did O.J. Simpson kill his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman?
The Private Conversation: During the filming of Batman Forever, Jim Carrey approached Tommy Lee Jones to say hello. Jones replied, “I hate you. I really don’t like you… I cannot sanction your buffoonery.”
Year of the Pig
The year of the pig is one of the 12 years in the Chinese zodiac cycle. The pig is the twelfth and last animal in the cycle. he years of the pig include 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031, 2043, 2055, and 2067. The year of the pig is associated with good luck, wealth, and generosity. People born in the year of the pig are said to be honest, kind, and have a strong sense of responsibility. They are also said to be hardworking, brave, and have a strong sense of self-worth. They are known to be quite optimistic, and they always see the good in others. They are also known to be quite generous and are always willing to help others. They are said to be quite successful in their careers and often achieve great things. They are also known to be quite easygoing and enjoy the simple pleasures in life.
Top Ten Baby Names of 1995: Jessica, Ashley, Emily, Samantha, Sarah, Michael, Matthew, Chris, Topher, Jacob, Joshua
Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols: Claudia Schiffer, Elle Macpherson
Hollywood Hunks and Leading Men: George Clooney, Antonio Sabàto, Jr., Colin Firth, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt
“The Quotes” “Houston, we have a problem.” – Tom Hanks, in ‘Apollo 13’ (paraphrased from the actual quote – “Houston, we’ve had a problem here.”)
Russian President Boris Yeltsin’s first words to US President Clinton upon meeting him in 1995 were, “Do you think O.J. did it?” *On October 3, 1995, when OJ Simpson was acquitted of murder on both counts, so much work stopped to pay attention to the verdict that it cost American companies an estimated $480 million in lost productivity.
“No Soup For You!” The Soup Nazi on TV’s Seinfeld. he location was based on a real place and character, found at Al Yeganeh’s Soup Kitchen in New York.
“If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit!” – Defense Attorney Johnnie Cochran at O.J. Simpsons murder trial
Time Magazine’s Man of the Year: Newt Gingrich
Miss America: Heather Whitestone (Birmingham, AL)
Miss USA: Chelsi Smith (Texas)/ Shanna Moakler (New York)
The Tragedy: Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols killed 168 people in Oklahoma City, including 19 children.
The Scandals: Drew Barrymore table danced for David Letterman on his talk show, and, with her back to the audience, flashed David by lifting up her shirt.
Patrick Combs deposited one of those fake “winning lottery checks” for $95,093.35. is bank took the deposit, and after several weeks, he took out the cash.
Marlon Brando, as a guest on Larry King Live, kissed a surprised Larry on the mouth.
Cindy Crawford and husband Richard Gere took out a full-page ad in the London Times to proclaim their heterosexuality. he 1994 marriage ended in 1995.
Celebrity Paralyzed By a Horse: Christopher Reeve
Mysterious Olympian Skater Death: Sergi Grinkov, 2-time Gold Medalist, died while practicing with his partner (and wife) Ekaterina Gordeeva
Pop Culture Facts & History: The Rock and Roll Hall of fame opened in Cleveland, Ohio.
The 1995 Whitney Houston single Exhale holds the record for longest streak at #2 on the Hot 100 at thetime, having been there for 11 straight weeks. ll 11 of those weeks, it was runner-up to the same song, One Sweet Day by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men.
Newsweek published an article scoffing the future of the internet. t laughed at the idea that people would get news, learn, or buy airline tickets online.
Oasis was so popular in the UK in 1995 that a single was released in November of that year of just audio of both Noel and Liam Gallagher arguing during an interview entitled Wibbling Rivalry and it charted, peaking at 52.
Blue M&Ms didn’t exist until 1995 when a poll was held to replace the tan shade of M&M that was deemed redundant in addition to the brown M&M. The color choice was pink, blue or purple… blue won.
Dolly (the clone) the Sheep was born on July 5th and lived for seven years.
La Chupacabra, the legendary goat sucking beast was first named by Silverio Pérez, a Puerto Rican comedian, in March of 1995.
Convict Daniel Luther Heiss discovered that the key pictured on his prisoners’ information handbook was the master key for the entire Berrimah jail in Darwin, Australia. nother inmate, Shane Baker, was a trained jeweler, replicated it and both escaped.
The X Games were the first broadcast on ESPN.
Jim Carrey was nominated for Worst New Star in the 1995 Golden Raspberry Awards for his roles in Dumb & Dumber, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, and The Mask.
Starbuck’s Frappuccino was released in 1995.
Actor James Cromwell had such a significant personal experience playing farmer Hoggett in the 1995 film Babe that he became an ethical vegan.
A coffee company in Syracuse, NY, renamed itself Federal Espresso in 1995, using branding that Federal Express(FedEx) claimed belonged to them. ederal Express sued and won. he company has gone by the name Freedom of Espresso ever since.
People have been meeting online via Match.com since 1995.
AuctionWeb began in San Jose, California, on September 3, 1995, by Pierre Omidyar. he company officially changed the name of its service to ‘eBay’ in September 1997.
The first professional sports game streamed online was the Mariners vs the Yankees in September 1995. he Seattle Mariners beat the New York Yankees 6-5.
Tom Kenny (the voice of Spongebob) and Jill Talley (the voice of Karen, Plankton’s computer wife) have been married since 1995.
The automobile ‘Blind Spot’ problem was solved in 1995 when engineer George Platzer published a 16 pages paper detailing the correct setup procedure of side-view mirrors.
The George Foreman Lean Mean Grilling Machine was released.
Windows 95 was the second most installed piece of software on computers in 1995. ideo game DOOM was first.
Todd McFarlane’s Spawn action figures made action figures cool again, even for comic book geeks.
Salmon sushi wasn’t introduced in Japan until 1995 when Norwegian businessmen convinced Japanese businessmen that Atlantic Salmon was safe to eat raw.
In 1975, Leonard Nimoy published his autobiography I Am Not Spock. n 1995, he published a second volume: I Am Spock.
JavaScript was created by Netscape programmer Brendan Eich. t was first released under the name of LiveScript and included with Netscape Navigator 2.0 in September ’95. t was officially renamed JavaScript on December 4.
When he landed back on Earth on March 22, cosmonaut Valeri Polyakov returned with the record for space flight – 437 days.
“Cheese-eating surrender monkeys” is an insult used to refer to French people. t first appeared in the Simpsons (1995) when Willy says “Bonjoooouuurrr, ya cheese-eatin’ surrender monkeys” to a French class. he term has since entered two Oxford Quotation Dictionaries.
The lowest PGA score of 63 was played by Michael Bradley and Brad Faxon.
George Samuel Hurst invented the first resistive touchscreen who received US Patent (#3,911,215) on October 7, 1975. nd produced the first version in 1982.
Rock Musician Heart Failure Death: Jerry Garcia
Queen of Tejano Pop Star Murder: Selena, killed by the ex-president of her fan club.
Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1995: $1,150,000
Mysteries: After the 1995 Oklahoma City Bombing, there was a mysterious detached leg found in the rubble of the destroyed building. ince all 168 victims’ legs have been accounted for, the left leg has perplexed investigators and has yet to be traced back to an owner.
The government of China kidnapped a 6-year-old Tibetan boy, the Panchen Lama, and replaced him with a puppet of their own choosing. he real Panchen Lama was the youngest political prisoner in the world at the time of his arrest and has never been heard from since.
Doomsday Clock: 14 minutes to midnight, according to the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists. 1995: Hopes for a large post-Cold War peace dividend and a renouncing of nuclear weapons fade. articularly in the United States, hard-liners seem reluctant to soften their rhetoric or actions, as they claim that a resurgent Russia could provide as much of a threat as the Soviet Union. uch talk slows the rollback in global nuclear forces; more than 40,000 nuclear weapons remain worldwide. here is also concern that terrorists could exploit poorly secured nuclear facilities in the former Soviet Union.
Nobel Prize Winners: Physics – Martin L. Perl, Frederick Reines Chemistry – Paul J. Crutzen, Mario J. Molina, F. Sherwood Rowland Medicine – Edward B. Lewis, Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard, Eric F. Wieschaus Literature – Seamus Heaney Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel – Robert Lucas, Jr.* Peace – Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs
*Robert Lucas, upon receiving a Nobel Prize in economic sciences, was only awarded half the prize money. is ex-wife had placed a clause in their divorce settlement in 1988 stating she would receive half the prize money if he won the prize in the following 7 years.
The Habits: The First X (EXtreme) Games took place in July 1995 in Rhode Island.
The college girls (and their older/younger sisters) were all listening to Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill album.
Watching the film Babe, about a happy little pig, with your family
1st Appearances & 1995’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents: Barbie as Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady, Barbie as Maria in the Sound of Music, Barbie and Ken Star Trek giftset
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1995: Beach Music by Pat Conroy The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman Five Days in Paris by Danielle Steel From Potter’s Field by Patricia Cornwell The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney and Anita Jeram The Horse Whisperer by Nicholas Evans “L” Is for Lawless by Sue Grafton Lightning by Danielle Steel The Lost World by Michael Crichton Memnoch the Devil by Anne Rice Politically Correct Holiday Stories by James Finn Garner The Rainmaker by John Grisham The Rings of Saturn by W.G. Sebald Rose Madder by Stephen King Sabbath’s Theater by Philip Roth
Broadway Show : Smokey Joe’s Cafe (Review) Opened on March 2, 1995, and closed on January 16, 2000
Best Film Oscar Winner: Forrest Gump (presented in 1995)
1995 Entries to The National Film Registry: The Adventures of Robin Hood (released in 1938) All That Heaven Allows (released in 1955) American Graffiti (released in 1973) The Band Wagon (released in 1953) Blacksmith Scene (released in 1893) Cabaret (released in 1972) Chan Is Missing (released in 1982) The Conversation (released in 1974) The Day the Earth Stood Still (released in 1951) El Norte (released in 1983) Fatty’s Tintype Tangle (released in 1915) The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (released in 1921) Fury (released in 1936) Gerald McBoing-Boing (released in 1951) The Hospital (released in 1971) Jammin’ the Blues (released in 1944) The Last of the Mohicans (released in 1920) Manhattan (released in 1921) North By Northwest (released in 1959) The Philadelphia Story (released in 1940) Rip Van Winkle (released in 1896) Seventh Heaven (released in 1927) Stagecoach (released in 1939) To Fly! released in 1976) To Kill a Mockingbird (released in 1962)
The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo) 1. oy Story 2. atman Forever 3. pollo 13 4. ocahontas 5. ce Ventura: When Nature Calls 6. oldenEye 7. umanji 8. asper 9. Seven 10. ie Hard: With A Vengeance
1995 Most Popular TV Shows: 1. .R. (NBC) 2. einfeld (NBC) 3. riends (NBC) 4. aroline In The City (NBC) 5. he Single Guy (NBC) 6. ome Improvement (ABC) 7. oston Common (FOX) 8. 60 Minutes (CBS) 9. YPD Blue (ABC) 10. rasier (NBC)
1995 Billboard Number One Songs: December 3, 1994 – January 13, 1995: On Bended Knee – Boyz II Men
January 14 – January 27: Here Comes the Hotstepper – Ini Kamoze
September 2 – September 8: You Are Not Alone – Michael Jackson
September 9 – September 29: Gangsta’s Paradise – Coolio
September 30 – November 24: Fantasy – Mariah Carey
November 25 – December 1: Exhale (Shoop Shoop) – Whitney Houston
December 2, 1995 – March 22, 1996: One Sweet Day – Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men
Sports: World Series Champions: Atlanta Braves Super Bowl XXIX Champions: San Francisco 49ers NBA Champions: Houston Rockets Stanley Cup Champs: New Jersey Devils U.S. Open Golf Corey Pavin U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Pete Sampras/Steffi Graf Wimbledon (Men/Women): Pete Sampras/Steffi Graf NCAA Football Champions: Nebraska NCAA Basketball Champions: UCLA Kentucky Derby: Thunder Gulch
Held at: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Host: David Letterman
Eligibility Year: 1994
Trivia
Forrest Gump Dominance: The film took home six Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Tom Hanks.
First-time Oscar for Martin Landau: Won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Ed Wood.
Disney’s Golden Year: The Lion King snagged two Oscars for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.
Tarantino’s Debut: Quentin Tarantino received his first Oscar nomination and win for Best Original Screenplay for Pulp Fiction.
“Uma, Oprah”: Host David Letterman’s joke trying to introduce Uma Thurman to Oprah Winfrey became an awkward moment that’s still talked about.
Blue Sky Surprise: Jessica Lange won Best Actress for Blue Sky, a film completed in 1991 but delayed due to the bankruptcy of its studio.
Four Weddings and a Funeral Breakout: The British film was nominated for Best Picture and helped boost Hugh Grant’s career.
SFX Achievement: Speed won for both Best Sound Editing and Best Sound Mixing, proving action flicks could win in technical categories.
1995 Oscar Nominees and Winners
Best Picture: Forrest Gump – Wendy Finerman, Steve Tisch and Steve Starkey, producers (WINNER) Four Weddings and a Funeral – Duncan Kenworthy, producer Pulp Fiction – Lawrence Bender, producer Quiz Show – Robert Redford, Michael Jacobs, Julian Krainin, and Michael Nozik, producers The Shawshank Redemption – Niki Marvin, producer
Best Director: Robert Zemeckis – Forrest Gump (WINNER) Woody Allen – Bullets over Broadway Quentin Tarantino – Pulp Fiction Robert Redford – Quiz Show Krzysztof Kieslowski – Red
Best Actor: Tom Hanks – Forrest Gump as Forrest Gump (WINNER) Morgan Freeman – The Shawshank Redemption as Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding Nigel Hawthorne – The Madness of King George as King George III of the United Kingdom Paul Newman – Nobody’s Fool as Donald “Sully” Sullivan John Travolta – Pulp Fiction as Vincent Vega
Best Actress: Jessica Lange – Blue Sky as Carly Marshall (WINNER) Jodie Foster – Nell as Nell Kellty Miranda Richardson – Tom & Viv as Vivienne Haigh-Wood Winona Ryder – Little Women as Josephine “Jo” March Susan Sarandon – The Client as Regina “Reggie” Love
Best Supporting Actor: Martin Landau – Ed Wood as Bela Lugosi (WINNER) Samuel L. Jackson – Pulp Fiction as Jules Winnfield Chazz Palminteri – Bullets over Broadway as Cheech Paul Scofield – Quiz Show as Mark Van Doren Gary Sinise – Forrest Gump as Lt. Dan Taylor
Best Supporting Actress: Dianne Wiest – Bullets over Broadway as Helen Sinclair (WINNER) Rosemary Harris – Tom & Viv as Rose Robinson Haigh-Wood Helen Mirren – The Madness of King George as Queen Charlotte Uma Thurman – Pulp Fiction as Mia Wallace Jennifer Tilly – Bullets over Broadway as Olive Neal
Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen: Pulp Fiction – Written by Quentin Tarantino; Story by Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary (WINNER) Bullets over Broadway – Woody Allen and Douglas McGrath Four Weddings and a Funeral – Richard Curtis Heavenly Creatures – Peter Jackson and Frances Walsh Red – Krzysztof Kieslowski and Krzysztof Piesiewicz
Best Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published: Forrest Gump – Eric Roth based on the novel by Winston Groom (WINNER) The Madness of King George – Alan Bennett based on his stage play The Madness of George III Nobody’s Fool – Robert Benton based on the novel by Richard Russo Quiz Show – Paul Attanasio based on the book Remembering America: A Voice from the Sixties by Richard N. Goodwin The Shawshank Redemption – Frank Darabont based on the short novel “Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption” by Stephen King
Best Foreign Language Film: Burnt by the Sun (Russia) in Russian – Nikita Mikhalkov, director (WINNER) Before the Rain (Macedonia) in Macedonian, Albanian, and English – Milcho Manchevski, director Eat Drink Man Woman (Taiwan) in Mandarin Chinese – Ang Lee, director Farinelli: Il Castrato (Belgium) in French and Italian – Gérard Corbiau, director Strawberry and Chocolate (Cuba) in Spanish – Tomás Gutiérrez Alea and Juan Carlos Tabío, directors
Best Documentary Feature: Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision – Freida Lee Mock and Terry Sanders (WINNER) Complaints of a Dutiful Daughter – Deborah Hoffmann D-Day Remembered – Charles Guggenheim Freedom on My Mind – Connie Field and Marilyn Mulford A Great Day in Harlem – Jean Bach
Best Documentary Short Subject: A Time for Justice – Charles Guggenheim (WINNER) 89mm from Europe – Marcel Lozinski Blues Highway – Vince DiPersio and Bill Guttentag School of the Americas Assassins – Robert Richter Straight from the Heart – Dee Mosbacher and Frances Reid
Best Live Action Short Film: Franz Kafka’s It’s a Wonderful Life – Peter Capaldi and Ruth Kenley-Letts (WINNER) Trevor – Peggy Rajski and Randy Stone (WINNER) Kangaroo Court – Sean Astin and Christine Astin On Hope – JoBeth Williams and Michele McGuire Syrup – Paul Unwin and Nick Vivian
Best Animated Short Film: Bob’s Birthday – Alison Snowden and David Fine (WINNER) The Big Story – Tim Watts and David Stoten The Janitor – Vanessa Schwartz The Monk and the Fish – Michaël Dudok de Wit Triangle – Erica Russell
Best Original Score: The Lion King – Hans Zimmer (WINNER) Forrest Gump – Alan Silvestri Interview with the Vampire – Elliot Goldenthal Little Women – Thomas Newman The Shawshank Redemption – Thomas Newman
Best Original Song: “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King – Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Tim Rice (WINNER) “Circle of Life” from The Lion King – Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Tim Rice “Hakuna Matata” from The Lion King – Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Tim Rice “Look What Love Has Done” from Junior – Music and Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager, James Newton Howard, James Ingram and Patty Smyth “Make Up Your Mind” from The Paper – Music and Lyrics by Randy Newman
Best Sound Effects Editing: Speed – Stephen Hunter Flick (WINNER) Clear and Present Danger – Bruce Stambler and John Leveque Forrest Gump – Gloria Borders and Randy Thom
Best Sound: Speed – Gregg Landaker, Steve Maslow, Bob Beemer and David MacMillan (WINNER) Clear and Present Danger – Donald O. Mitchell, Michael Herbick, Frank A. Montaño and Art Rochester Forrest Gump – Randy Thom, Tom Johnson, Dennis S. Sands and William B. Kaplan Legends of the Fall – Paul Massey, David E. Campbell, Chris David and Douglas Ganton The Shawshank Redemption – Robert J. Litt, Elliot Tyson, Michael Herbick and Willie D. Burton
Best Art Direction: The Madness of King George – Art Direction: Ken Adam; Set Decoration: Carolyn Scott (WINNER) Bullets over Broadway – Art Direction: Santo Loquasto; Set Decoration: Susan Bode Forrest Gump – Art Direction: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Nancy Haigh Interview with the Vampire – Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo Legends of the Fall – Art Direction: Lilly Kilvert; Set Decoration: Dorree Cooper
Best Cinematography: Legends of the Fall – John Toll (WINNER) Forrest Gump – Don Burgess The Shawshank Redemption – Roger Deakins Red – Piotr Sobocinski Wyatt Earp – Owen Roizman
Best Makeup: Ed Wood – Ve Neill, Rick Baker and Yolanda Toussieng (WINNER) Forrest Gump – Daniel C. Striepeke, Hallie D’Amore and Judith A. Cory Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – Daniel Parker, Paul Engelen and Carol Hemming
Best Costume Design: The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert – Lizzy Gardiner and Tim Chappel (WINNER) Bullets over Broadway – Jeffrey Kurland Little Women – Colleen Atwood Maverick – April Ferry Queen Margot – Moidele Bickel
Best Film Editing: Forrest Gump – Arthur Schmidt (WINNER) Hoop Dreams – Frederick Marx, Steve James and Bill Haugse Pulp Fiction – Sally Menke The Shawshank Redemption – Richard Francis-Bruce Speed – John Wright
Best Visual Effects: Forrest Gump – Ken Ralston, George Murphy, Stephen Rosenbaum and Allen Hall (WINNER) The Mask – Scott Squires, Steve Spaz Williams, Tom Bertino and Jon Farhat True Lies – John Bruno, Thomas L. Fisher, Jacques Stroweis and Patrick McClung
Held at: Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
Host: Paul Reiser
Eligibility Year: October 1, 1993 – September 30, 1994
Trivia
Sheryl Crow Takes Flight: Sheryl Crow won three awards, including Record of the Year for All I Wanna Do.
King of Pop: Michael Jackson snagged a Grammy for Best Music Video for Scream, his duet with sister Janet Jackson.
Songwriting Success: Bruce Springsteen won Song of the Year for Streets of Philadelphia, which also nabbed him an Oscar the previous year.
Country Spotlight: Mary Chapin Carpenter’s Shut Up and Kiss Me won Best Female Country Vocal Performance.
Classical Crossover: Cellist Yo-Yo Ma won Best Instrumental Soloist Performance for his rendition of the six Bach Cello Suites.
New Age Aura: Enya won Best New Age Album for The Memory of Trees, adding another accolade to her decorated career.
Jazz Maestro: McCoy Tyner won Best Jazz Instrumental Solo for Impressions.
1995 Grammy Winners
Record of the Year: All I Wanna Do – Sheryl Crow
Album of the Year: MTV Unplugged, Tony Bennett (Columbia)
Song of the Year: Streets of Philadelphia (Theme from Philadelphia), Bruce Springsteen, songwriter
Best New Artist: Sheryl Crow
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: Can You Feel the Love Tonight – Elton John
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: All I Wanna Do – Sheryl Crow
Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: I Swear – All-4-One
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance: MTV Unplugged, Tony Bennett
Best Pop Instrumental Performance: Cruisin’ – Booker T and the MG’s
Best Pop Vocal Collaboration: Funny How Time Slips Away – Al Green and Lyle Lovett
Best Pop Album: Longing in Their Hearts, Bonnie Raitt (Capitol)
Best Rock Album: Voodoo Lounge, The Rolling Stones (Virgin)
Best Rock Gospel Album: Wake-Up Call, Petra (Dayspring)
Best Rock Song: Streets of Philadelphia – Bruce Springsteen, songwriter
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Male: Streets of Philadelphia – Bruce Springsteen
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female: Come to My Window – Melissa Etheridge
Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: Crazy – Aerosmith
Best Rock Instrumental Performance: Marooned – Pink Floyd
Best Hard Rock Performance: Black Hole Sun – Soundgarden
Best Metal Performance: Spoonman – Soundgarden
Best Alternative Music Performance: Dookie, Green Day
Best Rhythm and Blues: Album II, Boyz II Men (Motown)
Best Rhythm and Blues Song: I’ll Make Love to You – Babyface, songwriter
Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Male: When Can I See You – Babyface
Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Female: Breathe Again – Toni Braxton
Best Rhythm and Blues Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: I’ll Make Love to You – Boyz II Men
Best Rap Solo Performance: U.N.I.T.Y. – Queen Latifah
Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group: None of Your Business – Salt-N-Pepa
Best Jazz Vocal Performance: Mystery Lady (Songs of Billie Holiday), Etta James
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: Prelude to a Kiss – Benny Carpenter
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group: A Tribute to Miles, Ron Carter, Herbie Hancock, Wallace Roney, Wayne Shorter and Tony Williams
Best Contemporary Jazz Performance: Out of the Loop – Brecker Brothers
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance: Journey – McCoy Tyner Big Band
Best Latin Jazz Performance: Danzon – Arturo Sandoval
Best Country Album: Stones in the Road, Mary Chapin Carpenter (Columbia)
Best Country Song: I Swear – Gary Baker and Frank J. Meyers, songwriters
Best Country Vocal Performance, Male: When Love Finds You – Vince Gill
Best Country Vocal Performance, Female: Shut Up and Kiss Me – Mary Chapin Carpenter
Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: Blues for Dixie – Asleep at the Wheel with Lyle Lovett
Best Country Vocal Collaboration: I Fall to Pieces – Aaron Neville and Trisha Yearwood
Best County Instrumental Performance: Young Thing – Chet Atkins
Best Bluegrass Album: The Great Dobro Sessions, various artists (Sugar Hill)
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album: Songs of the Church – Live in Memphis, Albertina Walker (Benson)
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: Join the Band, Take 6 (Reprise/Warner Alliance)
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: Mercy, Andrae Crouch (Qwest/Warner Alliance)
Best Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel Album: I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, Alison Krauss and the Cox Family (Rounder)
Best Gospel Album By a Choir or Chorus (tie): Through God’s Eyes, Thompson Community Singers; Rev. Milton Brunson, choir director (Word) Live in Atlanta at Morehouse College, Love Fellowship Crusade Choir; Hezekiah Walker, choir director (Benson)
Best Latin Pop Performance: Segundo Romance – Luis Miguel
Best Tropical Latin Performance: Master Sessions Volume 1, Chachao
Best Mexican-American Performance: Recuerdo a Javier Solis – Vikki Carr
Best Traditional Blues Album: From the Cradle, Eric Clapton (Reprise)
Best Contemporary Blues Album: Father Father, Pops Staples (Pointblank)
Best Traditional Folk Album: World Gone Wrong, Bob Dylan (Columbia)
Best Contemporary Folk Album: American Recordings, Johnny Cash (American Recordings)
Best Reggae Album: Crucial! Roots Classics, Bunny Wailer (Shanachie)
Best New Age Album: Prayer for the Wild Things, Paul Winter (Living Music Records)
Best World Music Album: Talking Timbuktu, Ali Farka Toure with Ry Cooder (Hannibal)
Best Polka Album: Music and Friends, Walter Ostanek Band (WRS)
Best Instrumental Arrangement: Three Cowboy Songs – Dave Grusin, arranger
Best Instrumental Arrangement With Accompanying Vocal(s): Circle of Life – Lebo Morake and Hans Zimmer, arrangers
Best Instrumental Composition: African Skies – Michael Brecker, composer
Best Musical Show Album: Passion, Original Broadway cast (Angel)
Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television: Schindler’s List, John Williams, composer
Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television: Streets of Philadelphia (From Philadelphia), Bruce Springsteen, songwriter
Best Classical Contemporary Composition: Cello Concerto – Stephen Albert, composer
Best Classical Album: Bartok, Concerto for Orchestra; Four Orchestral Pieces, Op. 12, Pierre Boulez conducting Chicago Symphony Orchestra (Deutsche Grammophon)
Best Chamber Music Performance: Beethoven and Mozart, Quintets, Daniel Barenboim, piano; Dale Clevenger, horn; Larry Combs, clarinet; Daniele Damiano, bassoon; Hansjorg Schellenberger, oboe
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (With Orchestra): The New York Album (Works of Albert, Bartok and Bloch), David Zinman conducting Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; Yo-Yo Ma, cellist and alto violinist
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (Without Orchestra): Haydn, Piano Sonatas nos. 32, 47, 53 and 59, Emmanuel Ax, pianist
Best Orchestral Performance: Bartok, Concerto for Orchestra; Four Orchestral Pieces, Op. 12, Pierre Boulez, conducting Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Best Opera Recording: Floyd, Susannah, Kent Nagano conducting Orchestra and Chorus of Opera de Lyon; solos: Studer, Hadley, Ramey and Chester (Virgin Classics)
Best Performance of a Choral: Work Berlioz, Messe Solennelle, John Eliot Gardiner, choir director, the Monteverdi Choir, Orchestra Revolutionnaire et Romantique and various artists
Best Classical Vocal Performance: The Impatient Lover (Italian Songs by Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, etc.), Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo-soprano; Andras Schiff, piano
Best Spoken Comedy Album: Live From Hell, Sam Kinison (Priority Records)
Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album: Get in the Van: On the Road With Black Flag, Henry Rollins (Time Warner Audiobooks)
Best Musical Album for Children: The Lion King – Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, various artists (Walt Disney Records)
Best Spoken Word Album for Children: The Lion King Read-Along, original cast (Walt Disney Records)
Best Recording Package: Tribute to the Music of Bob Willis and the Texas Playboys, Buddy Jackson, art director (Liberty)
Best Recording Package – Boxed: The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books, Chris Thompson, art director (Verve)
Best Album Notes: Louis Armstrong: Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, 1923?1934, Dan Morgenstern and Loren Schoenberg, album notes writers (Columbia/Legacy/Smithsonian)
Best Historical Album: The Complete Ella Fitzgerald Song Books on Verve (Verve)
Best Music Video, Short Form: Love Is Strong – The Rolling Stones
Best Music Video, Long Form: Zoo TV: Live From Sydney, U2
December 25, 1993 – January 21, 1994: Hero – Mariah Carey January 22 – February 11: All For Love – Bryan Adams/Rod Stewart/Sting February 12 – March 11: Power of Love – Céline Dion March 12 – April 8: The Sign – Ace of Base April 9 – May 20: Bump N’ Grind – R. Kelly May 21 – August 5: I Swear – All-4-One August 6 – August 26: Stay (I Missed You) – Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories August 27 – December 2: I’ll Make Love To You – Boyz II Men December 3, 1994 – December 16th: On Bended Knee – Boyz II Men December 17, 1994 – January 27, 1995: Here Comes The Hotstepper – Ini Kamozi
(Data is compiled from various charts including Billboard’s “Pop,” “Rock,” “Airplay,” “R&B/Dance” and “Singles” Charts. The “Hot 100” is the primary chart used for this list.)
The Hobby: Beanie Babies Mania began. Many people ‘invested’ in them, and now have millions of Beanies carefully preserved in attics and closets.
The Top Song was I’ll Make Love To You by Boyz II Men
The Movies to Watch include Forrest Gump, The Lion King, Angels in the Outfield, Clear and Present Danger and The Crow
The Most Famous Person in the World was probably Nelson Mandela
Notable books include: Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney
Price of 10 oz Cheex-it crackers in 1994: $1.99 Price of a daily newspaper: 25 cents
The Funny Old Guys were: Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks
The Funny Young Guy was: Martin Lawrence The Funny Movie Guy was: Jim Carrey
The Conversation: The biggest Pop Culture Event was the “O.J. Simpson White Bronco Car Chase” televised live on nearly every network.
The Other Conversation: Was National Figure Skating Champ Tonya Harding responsible for the attack on her rival Nancy Kerrigan?
Year of the Dog The year of the dog is one of the 12 years in the Chinese zodiac cycle. The dog is the eleventh animal in the cycle. The years of the dog include: 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030, 2042, 2054, and 2066 The year of the dog is associated with loyalty, honesty, and a sense of justice. People born in the year of the dog are said to be honest, loyal, and have a strong sense of justice. They are also said to be reliable, responsible, and have a strong sense of duty. They are known to be quite independent, and they don’t like to be told what to do. They are also known to be quite intelligent, and they are often able to think things through before acting. They are said to be quite successful in their careers, and they are often able to achieve great things. They are also known to be quite straightforward, and they don’t like to beat around the bush.
Top Ten Baby Names of 1994: Jessica, Ashley, Emily, Samantha, Sarah, Michael, Chris, Topher, Matthew, Joshua, Tyler
Fashion Icons and Sex Symbols: Claudia Schiffer, Elle Macpherson
Leading Men and Hollywood Hunks: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, John Travolta
“The Quote:” “My momma always said that life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get” – Tom Hanks in ‘Forrest Gump’
Time Magazine’s Man of the Year: Pope John Paul II
Miss America: Kimberly Aiken (Columbia, SC)
Miss USA: Lu Parker (South Carolina)
The Scandals: Tonya Harding (the antagonist) and Nancy Kerrigan (the protagonist) ice skating rivalry resulted in some friends of Tonya, including her husband Jeff Gillooly and associates Shawn Eckhardt and Shane Stant, attempting to bust Nancy’s kneecaps at the U.S. Figure Skating Championship. She had to withdraw, but did well for herself with endorsements and winning the Silver Medal in the Olympics in 1994.
On June 17th, a white Ford Bronco belonging to Simpson’s friend, Al Cowlings, was watched by the entire nation since it was carrying a now fugitive, O.J. Simpson, who was “holding a gun to Al’s head”. A note from O.J., sounding like a suicide note, was read to police by his lawyer.
Aaliyah (1/16/1979) was 15 years old when she married R. Kelly (1/8/1967) on 8/31/1994. He was 28 and she was 16 when their marriage was annulled on 2/7/1995.
Brief Celebrity marriages: Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford
Rock and Roll Death: Kurt Cobain (suicide)
Serial Killer Prison Death: Jeffrey Dahmer
Beloved Comedian Death: John Candy
Disgraced Politician Death: Richard Nixon. We don’t have him to kick around anymore.
RIP: Rebecca Schaeffer, a 21-year-old actress, was shot at her front door by an obsessed fan and later died created calls for the Nation’s first anti-stalking Law’s in 1990. In 1994, the ‘Driver’s Privacy Protection Act’ made it illegal to release people’s private addresses.
World News: The University of Erfurt in Germany was founded in 1379 and closed in 1816. But it was re-established in 1994 following Germany’s reunification. It probably is both the oldest and youngest University in Germany.
According to his biography, Kim Jung-Il first picked up a golf club in 1994, at North Korea’s only golf course, and shot a 38-under par round that included no fewer than 11 holes in one. Satisfied with his performance, he reportedly immediately declared his retirement from the sport.
Pop Culture Facts & History: Soul Asylum’s 1994 music video for Runaway Train helped find 25 of the 36 missing children featured in the music video.
Michael Crichton, the screenwriter of Jurassic Park, had a novel (Disclosure) and a television show (ER) reach the US number one at the same time the film did in 1994. He is the only person to achieve these hits simultaneously.
For one November week in 1994, Tim Allen had the #1 movie at the box office (The Santa Clause), The #1 rated TV show (Home Improvement), and the #1 NY Times bestselling book (Don’t Stand Too Close to a Naked Man).
The first series produced by Cartoon Network was Space Ghost Coast to Coast in 1994, to target an older audience.
The Beastie Boys coined the term “mullet” to refer to a hairstyle in 1994 in their song Mullet Head. No earlier use of the term “mullet” that refers to a hairstyle has been found.
The Wonderbra was invented.
Liam Neeson turned down the role of James Bond in Goldeneye in 1994 because he “has never been interested in starring in action movies”.
At the time of its release, True Lies was the most expensive film ever made, as the first film to have over a $100 million production budget.
Despite being a trained Broadway singer, Matthew Broderick only voiced the speaking role of adult Simba in 1994’s The Lion King. Simba’s singing voice was provided by Joseph Williams, the lead singer of Toto.
Voiced-over trailers hit their peak in 1994 when all top 10 box office movies featured one.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Codex Hammer was purchased for $30,802,500 in 1994 by Bill Gates; 3 years later he released a digital version of the historic diary for all the world to see.
Pearl Jam canceled their 1994 summer tour after they found out Ticket Master was demanding a ‘service charge’ for fan’s tickets.
Country music star Alan Jackson was asked to use a pre-recorded version of his song Gone Country when performing live at the Country Music Awards. He protested by having his drummer perform with no drum sticks in his hand the whole performance.
Frank Sinatra’s acceptance speech for a Legend Award at the 1994 Grammys was cut short due to commercial breaks. In response, Billy Joel stopped halfway through his performance of The River of Dreams later on, simply looking at his watch and saying ‘valuable advertising time going by…’.
Lisa Loeb was the first artist ever to have a number one hit without being signed to a record label with the song Stay in 1994. She didn’t even have an album out when the song became a number one single.
Thrift Shop by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis was the first song since 1994 to reach No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart without the support of a major record label.
Kevin Briggs, a San Francisco Highway Patrol Officer and a veteran of the US Army, has talked approximately 200 people out of suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge since 1994.
Harley-Davidson filed a trademark application in 1994 for the sound produced by their motorcycles. After many objections and even litigation, they dropped all efforts in 2000.
Finding the proof for Fermat’s last theorem (x^n+ y^n = z^n) was considered as the most difficult math problem and was even listed in the Guinness book of world records. Andrew Wiles cracked it in 1994 and won $ 700,000. When n=2 this is the Pythagoras Theorem.
After Sports Illustrated published its “Bag It, Michael” cover story about his less-than-stellar baseball career in 1994, Michael Jordan cut off all official communication with the magazine.
NFL officials used to use a gunshot to signal the end of a quarter. In 1994 they switched to using a whistle.
The 1967 Velvet Underground album The Velvet Underground & Nico didn’t reach the UK charts until 1994 and peaked in 2013 after Velvet Underground singer Lou Reed died.
Procter & Gamble argued that Pringles were only 42% potato flour, with the rest mostly a slurry of wheat starch, corn and rice flour, and vegetable oil. They made this argument because according to Britain’s 1994 VAT Act, potato products were subject to a 17.5% tax.
From 1994-1999 George Foreman was paid about 40% of the profits on each Foreman grill sold, earning him $4.5M a month in payouts at its peak. In the period it’s estimated he received over $200M, more than he did as a boxer.
George Foreman first became the Heavyweight World Champion in 1973 by knocking out Joe Frazier. In 1994, at 45 years old, he regained the title. After 4 title defenses, he finally lost the title in 1997 just a few months short of his 49th birthday.
Cost of a Super Bowl ad in 1994: $900,000
The Mystery: In 1994, Oakville, WA experienced a rainstorm in which gelatinous blobs fell onto a farm. The blobs were examined and found to contain human white blood cells but they did not contain nuclei, which is something human white cells do have. Theories persist, but none have been proven correct.
The Love Letter: Johnny Cash wrote a letter to June Carter in 1994 was voted the greatest love letter of all time. They were married from 1968 till June passed away in 2003. Johnny died 4 months later.
Happy Birthday Princess, We get old and get use to each other. We think alike. We read each others minds. We know what the other wants without asking. Sometimes we irritate each other a little bit. Maybe sometimes take each other for granted. But once in awhile, like today, I meditate on it and realize how lucky I am to share my life with the greatest woman I ever met. You still fascinate and inspire me.You influence me for the better. You’re the object of my desire, the #1 Earthly reason for my existence. I love you very much. Happy Birthday Princess. John
The Habit: Watching ER on NBC.
1st Appearances & 1994’s Most Popular Christmas Gifts, Toys and Presents: Starting Lineup statuettes, Barbie as Scarlett O’Hara & Ken as Rhett Butler, Barbie as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz, Blurt!
Popular and Best-selling Books From 1994: Accident by Danielle Steel The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield The Chamber by John Grisham Debt of Honor by Tom Clancy Disclosure by Michael Crichton The Gift by Danielle Steel Gun, With Occasional Music by Jonathan Lethem The Ice Storm by Rick Moody Insomnia by Stephen King Disney’s The Lion King (adapted by) Justine Korman Politically Correct Bedtime Stories by James Finn Garner Remember Me by Mary Higgins Clark Slow Waltz in Cedar Bend by Robert James Waller Taltos by Anne Rice Who Will Run the Frog Hospital? by Lorrie Moore Wings by Danielle Steel
Broadway Show: Beauty and the Beast (Musical) Opened on April 18, 1994, and closed on July 29, 2007 Grease (Musical) Opened on May 11, 1994, and closed on January 25, 1998 (revival)
Best Film Oscar Winner: Schindler’s List (presented in 1994)
1994 Entries to The National Film Registry: The African Queen (released in 1951) The Apartment (released in 1960) The Cool World (released in 1963) A Corner in Wheat (released in 1909) E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (released in 1982) The Exploits of Elaine (released in 1914) Force of Evil (released in 1948) Freaks (released in 1932) Hell’s Hinges (released in 1916) Hospital (released in 1970) Invasion of the Body Snatchers (released in 1956) The Lady Eve (released in 1941) Louisiana Story (released in 1948) The Manchurian Candidate (released in 1962) Marty (released in 1955) Meet Me in St. Louis (released in 1944) Midnight Cowboy (released in 1969) A MOVIE (released in 1958) Pinocchio (released in 1940) Safety Last! (released in 1923) Scarface (released in 1932) Snow White (released in 1933) Tabu (released in 1931) Taxi Driver (released in 1976) Zapruder Film (released in 1963)
The Big Movies: (according to boxofficemojo) 1. Forrest Gump 2. The Lion King 3. True Lies 4. The Santa Clause 5. The Flintstones 6. Dumb and Dumber 7. Clear and Present Danger 8. Speed 9. The Mask 10. Pulp Fiction
1994 Most Popular TV Shows: 1. Seinfeld (NBC) 2. E.R. (NBC) 3. Home Improvement (ABC) 4. Grace Under Fire (ABC) 5. NYPD Blue (ABC) 6. Murder, She Wrote (CBS) 7. Friends (NBC) 8. Roseanne (ABC) 9. Mad About You (NBC) 10. Madman of the People (NBC)
1994 Billboard Number One Songs: December 25, 1993 – January 2, 19941: Hero – Mariah Carey
January 22 – February 11: All For Love – Bryan Adams/Rod Stewart/Sting
February 12 – March 11: Power of Love – Céline Dion
August 6 – August 26: Stay (I Missed You) – Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories
August 27 – December 2: I’ll Make Love To You – Boyz II Men
December 3, 1994 – January 13, 1995: On Bended Knee – Boyz II Men
Sports: World Series Champions: No one…Major League Baseball Players Association was on strike. Super Bowl XXVIII Champions: Dallas Cowboys NBA Champions: Houston Rockets Stanley Cup Champs: New York Rangers U.S. Open Golf Ernie Ells U.S. Tennis: (Men/Ladies) Andre Agassi/Sanchez Vicario Wimbledon (Men/Women): Pete Sampras/Conchita Martinez NCAA Football Champions: Nebraska NCAA Basketball Champions: Arkansas Kentucky Derby: Go For Gin World Cup (Soccer): Brazil
Johnny Cash’s Love Letter to his wife, June Carter Cash June 23, 1994
Happy Birthday Princess, We get old and get use to each other. We think alike. We read each others minds. We know what the other wants without asking. Sometimes we irritate each other a little bit. Maybe sometimes take each other for granted. But once in awhile, like today, I meditate on it and realize how lucky I am to share my life with the greatest woman I ever met. You still fascinate and inspire me.You influence me for the better. You’re the object of my desire, the #1 Earthly reason for my existence. I love you very much. Happy Birthday Princess. John
Held at: Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Los Angeles, California
Host: Whoopi Goldberg
Eligibility Year: 1993
Trivia
Whoopi’s Hosting Debut: Whoopi Goldberg stepped onto the Oscars stage as the host, marking her first time hosting the ceremony.
Spielberg’s Sweep: Schindler’s List was the big winner, taking home seven Oscars including Best Picture and Best Director for Steven Spielberg.
Hanks on a Roll: Tom Hanks won Best Actor for Philadelphia, making him one of the few actors to win the award in consecutive years.
Holly Hunter’s Big Year: Holly Hunter won Best Actress for her role in The Piano, and was also nominated for Best Supporting Actress for The Firm.
Double Duty: The Piano didn’t just net Holly Hunter an Oscar; Anna Paquin won for Best Supporting Actress at just 11 years old.
Asian Recognition: Farewell My Concubine and The Wedding Banquet were both nominated for Best Foreign Language Film, but lost to Belle Époque from Spain.
Special Achievements: A special Honorary Award went to Deborah Kerr for her lifetime of work, while a Scientific and Engineering Award went to Petro Vlahos for his work in blue and green screen technology.
Best Picture:
Schindler’s List – Steven Spielberg, Gerald R. Molen, and Branko Lustig, producers (WINNER)
The Fugitive – Arnold Kopelson, producer
In the Name of the Father – Jim Sheridan, producer
The Piano – Jan Chapman, producer
The Remains of the Day – John Calley, Mike Nichols, and Ismail Merchant, producers
Best Director:
Steven Spielberg – Schindler’s List (WINNER)
Jim Sheridan – In the Name of the Father
Jane Campion – The Piano
James Ivory – The Remains of the Day
Robert Altman – Short Cuts
Best Actor:
Tom Hanks – Philadelphia as Andrew Beckett (WINNER)
Daniel Day-Lewis – In the Name of the Father as Gerry Conlon
Laurence Fishburne – What’s Love Got to Do with It as Ike Turner
Anthony Hopkins – The Remains of the Day as James Stevens
Liam Neeson – Schindler’s List as Oskar Schindler
Best Actress:
Holly Hunter – The Piano as Ada McGrath (WINNER)
Angela Bassett – What’s Love Got to Do with It as Tina Turner
Stockard Channing – Six Degrees of Separation as Ouisa Kittredge
Emma Thompson – The Remains of the Day as Sarah “Sally” Kenton
Debra Winger – Shadowlands as Joy Davidman
Best Supporting Actor:
Tommy Lee Jones – The Fugitive as U.S. Marshal Samuel Gerard (WINNER)
Leonardo DiCaprio – What’s Eating Gilbert Grape as Arnie Grape
Ralph Fiennes – Schindler’s List as Amon Goeth
John Malkovich – In the Line of Fire as Mitch Leary
Pete Postlethwaite – In the Name of the Father as Giuseppe Conlon
Best Supporting Actress:
Anna Paquin – The Piano as Flora McGrath (WINNER)
Holly Hunter – The Firm as Tamara “Tammy” Hemphill
Rosie Perez – Fearless as Carla Rodrigo
Winona Ryder – The Age of Innocence as May Welland
Emma Thompson – In the Name of the Father as Gareth Peirce
Best Original Screenplay:
The Piano – Jane Campion (WINNER)
Dave – Gary Ross
In the Line of Fire – Jeff Maguire
Philadelphia – Ron Nyswaner
Sleepless in Seattle – Nora Ephron, David S. Ward, and Jeff Arch
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Schindler’s List – Steven Zaillian based on the non-fiction book by Thomas Keneally (WINNER)
The Age of Innocence – Martin Scorsese and Jay Cocks based on the novel by Edith Wharton
In the Name of the Father – Jim Sheridan and Terry George based on the autobiographical book Proved Innocent by Gerry Conlon
The Remains of the Day – Ruth Prawer Jhabvala based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro
Shadowlands – William Nicholson based on his play
Best Foreign Language Film:
Belle Epoque (Spain) in Spanish – Fernando Trueba, director (WINNER)
Farewell My Concubine (Hong Kong) in Mandarin Chinese – Chen Kaige, director
Hedd Wyn (United Kingdom) in Welsh – Paul Turner, director
The Scent of Green Papaya (Vietnam) in Vietnamese – Anh Hung Tran, director
The Wedding Banquet (Taiwan) in Mandarin Chinese – Ang Lee, director
Best Documentary Feature:
I Am a Promise: The Children of Stanton Elementary School – Susan Raymond and Alan Raymond (WINNER)
The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Peter – David Paperny and Arthur Ginsberg
Children of Fate: Life and Death in a Sicilian Family – Susan Todd and Andrew Young
For Better or for Worse – David Collier and Betsy Thompson
The War Room – D. A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus
Best Documentary Short Subject:
Defending Our Lives – Margaret Lazarus and Renner Wunderlich (WINNER)
Blood Ties: The Life and Work of Sally Mann – Steven Cantor and Peter Spirer
Chicks in White Satin – Elaine Holliman and Jason Schneider
Best Live Action Short Film:
Schwarzfahrer – Pepe Danquart (WINNER)
Down on the Waterfront – Stacy Title and Jonathan Penner
The Dutch Master – Susan Seidelman and Jonathan Brett
Partners – Peter Weller and Jana Sue Memel
The Screw (La Vis) – Didier Flamand
Best Animated Short Film:
The Wrong Trousers – Nick Park (WINNER)
Blindscape – Stephen Palmer
The Mighty River – Frédéric Back and Hubert Tison
Small Talk – Bob Godfrey and Kevin Baldwin
The Village – Mark Baker
Best Original Score:
Schindler’s List – John Williams (WINNER)
The Age of Innocence – Elmer Bernstein
The Firm – Dave Grusin
The Fugitive – James Newton Howard
The Remains of the Day – Richard Robbins
Best Original Song:
“Streets of Philadelphia” from Philadelphia – Music and Lyrics by Bruce Springsteen (WINNER)
“Again” from Poetic Justice – Music and Lyrics by Janet Jackson and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
“The Day I Fall in Love” from Beethoven’s 2nd – Music and Lyrics by Carole Bayer Sager, James Ingram, and Clif Magness
“Philadelphia” from Philadelphia – Music and Lyrics by Neil Young
“A Wink and a Smile” from Sleepless in Seattle – Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Ramsey McLean
Best Sound:
Jurassic Park – Gary Rydstrom, Gary Summers, Ron Judkins, and Shawn Murphy (WINNER)
Cliffhanger – Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer, and Tim Cooney
The Fugitive – Donald O. Mitchell, Michael Herbick, Frank A. Montaño, and Scott D. Smith
Geronimo: An American Legend – Chris Carpenter, Doug Hemphill, Bill W. Benton, and Lee Orloff
Schindler’s List – Andy Nelson, Steve Pederson, Scott Millan, and Ron Judkins
Best Sound Effects Editing:
Jurassic Park – Gary Rydstrom and Richard Hymns (WINNER)
Cliffhanger – Wylie Stateman and Gregg Baxter
The Fugitive – John Leveque and Bruce Stambler
Best Art Direction:
Schindler’s List – Art Direction: Allan Starski; Set Decoration: Ewa Braun (WINNER)
Addams Family Values – Art Direction: Ken Adam; Set Decoration: Marvin March
The Age of Innocence – Art Direction: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Robert J. Franco
Orlando – Art Direction: Ben Van Os and Jan Roelfs
The Remains of the Day – Art Direction: Luciana Arrighi; Set Decoration: Ian Whittaker
Best Makeup:
Mrs. Doubtfire – Greg Cannom, Ve Neill, and Yolanda Toussieng (WINNER)
Philadelphia – Carl Fullerton and Alan D’Angerio
Schindler’s List – Christina Smith, Matthew W. Mungle, and Judith A. Cory
Best Costume Design:
The Age of Innocence – Gabriella Pescucci (WINNER)
Orlando – Sandy Powell
The Piano – Janet Patterson
The Remains of the Day – Jenny Beavan and John Bright
Schindler’s List – Anna B. Sheppard
Best Cinematography:
Schindler’s List – Janusz Kaminski (WINNER)
Farewell My Concubine – Gu Changwei
The Fugitive – Michael Chapman
The Piano – Stuart Dryburgh
Searching for Bobby Fischer – Conrad Hall
Best Film Editing:
Schindler’s List – Michael Kahn (WINNER)
The Fugitive – Dennis Virkler, David Finfer, Dean Goodhill, Don Brochu, Richard Nord, and Dov Hoenig
In the Name of the Father – Gerry Hambling
In the Line of Fire – Anne V. Coates
The Piano – Veronika Jenet
Best Visual Effects:
Jurassic Park – Dennis Muren, Stan Winston, Phil Tippett, and Michael Lantieri (WINNER)
Cliffhanger – Neil Krepela, John Richardson, John Bruno, and Pamela Easley
The Nightmare Before Christmas – Pete Kozachik, Eric Leighton, Ariel Velasco Shaw, and Gordon Baker
Held at: Radio City Music Hall, New York, New York
Host: Garry Shandling
Eligibility Year: October 1, 1992 – September 30, 1993
Trivia
Garry Shandling Returns: The comedian hosted again, entertaining the audience with his unique style of humor.
Houston’s Heavy Haul: Whitney Houston’s I Will Always Love You dominated, winning Record of the Year, Album of the Year for The Bodyguard Soundtrack, and Female Pop Vocal Performance.
Rap’s Recognition: Digable Planets won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group for Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat).
New Age Nod: Best New Age Album was claimed by In My Time by Yanni.
Nirvana Noted: The song All Apologies by Nirvana won for Best Alternative Music Album.
Tony Triumphs: Tony Bennett’s Steppin’ Out was honored as Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.
Grammy’s Grunge: Pearl Jam’s Vs was nominated for Best Rock Album but didn’t win.
Blues Back in Business: Buddy Guy won Best Contemporary Blues Album for Feels Like Rain.
First Latin Pop Category: Luis Miguel’s Aries won the inaugural award for Best Latin Pop Album.
1994 Grammy Winners
Record of the Year: I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
Album of the Year: The Bodyguard – Original Soundtrack Album, Whitney Houston (Arista)
Song of the Year: A Whole New World (Theme From Aladdin), Alan Menken and Tim Rice, songwriters
Best New Artist: Toni Braxton
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male: If I Ever Lose My Faith in You – Sting
Best Pop Vocal Performance, Female: I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
Best Pop Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: A Whole New World (Theme From Aladdin), Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance: Steppin’ Out, Tony Bennett
Best Pop Instrumental Performance: Barcelona Mona – Bruce Hornsby and Branford Marsalis
Best Rock Gospel Album: Free at Last, DC Talk (ForeFront)
Best Rock Song: Runaway Train – David Pirner, songwriter
Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo: I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That), Meat Loaf
Best Rock Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: Livin’ on the Edge – Aerosmith
Best Rock Instrumental Performance: Sofa – Zappa’s Universe Rock Group Featuring Steve Vai
Best Hard Rock Performance With Vocal: Plush – Stone Temple Pilots
Best Metal Performance With Vocal: I Don’t Want to Change the World – Ozzy Osbourne
Best Alternative Music Album: Zooropa, U2 (Island)
Best Rhythm and Blues Song: That’s the Way Love Goes – Janet Jackson, James Harris III and Terry Lewis, songwriters
Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Male: A Song for You – Ray Charles
Best Rhythm and Blues Vocal Performance, Female: Another Sad Love Song – Toni Braxton
Best Rhythm and Blues Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: No Ordinary Love – Sade
Best Rap Solo Performance: Let Me Ride – Dr. Dre
Best Rap Performance By a Duo or Group: Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat), Digable Planets
Best Jazz Vocal Performance: Take a Look, Natalie Cole
Best Jazz Instrumental Solo: Miles Ahead – Joe Henderson
Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group: So Near, So Far (Musings for Miles), Joe Henderson
Best Contemporary Jazz Performance (Instrumental): The Road to You, Pat Metheny Group
Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance: Miles and Quincy Live at Montreux, Miles Davis and Quincy Jones
Best Country Song: Passionate Kisses – Lucinda Williams, songwriter
Best Country Vocal Performance, Male: Ain’t That Lonely Yet – Dwight Yoakam
Best Country Vocal Performance, Female : Passionate Kisses – Mary Chapin Carpenter
Best Country Performance By a Duo or Group With Vocal: Hard Workin’ Man – Brooks and Dunn
Best Country Vocal Collaboration: Does He Love You – Reba McEntire and Linda Davis
Best Country Instrumental Performance: Red Wing – Asleep at the Wheel featuring Eldon Shamblin, Johnny Gimble, Chet Atkins, Vince Gill, Marty Stuart and Reuben Lucky Orleans Gosfield
Best Bluegrass Album: Waitin’ for the Hard Times to Go, Nashville Bluegrass Band (Sugar Hill)
Best Traditional Soul Gospel Album: Stand Still, Shirley Caesar (Word Record and Music)
Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album: All Out, Winans (Qwest/Warner Alliance)
Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: The Live Adventure, Steven Curtis Chapman (Sparrow)
Best Southern Gospel, Country Gospel or Bluegrass Gospel Album: Good News, Kathy Mattea (Mercury)
Best Gospel Album By a Choir or Chorus: Live… We Come Rejoicing, Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir; Carol Cymbala, choir director (Warner Alliance)
Best Latin Pop Album: Aries, Luis Miguel (WEA Latina)
Best Tropical Latin Album: Mi Tierra, Gloria Estefan (Epic)
Best Mexican/American Album: Live, Selena (Capitol/EMI Latin)
Best Traditional Blues Album: Blues Summit, B.B. King (MCA)
Best Contemporary Blues Album: Feels Like Rain, Buddy Guy (Silvertone)
Best Traditional Folk Album: The Celtic Harp, Chieftains (RCA Victor)
Best Contemporary Folk Album: Other Voices/Other Rooms, Nanci Griffith (Elektra)
Best Reggae Album: Bad Boys, Inner Circle (Big Beat/Atlantic)
Best New Age Album: Spanish Angel, Paul Winter Consort (Living Music)
Best World Music Album: A Meeting by the River, Ry Cooder and V.M. Bhatt (Walter Lily Acoustics)
Best Polka Album: Accordionally Yours, Walter Ostanek and His Band (WRS)
Best Arrangement on an Instrumental: Mood Indigo – Dave Grusin, arranger
Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s): When I Fall in Love – Jeremy Lubbock and David Foster, arrangers
Best Instrumental Composition: Forever in Love – Kenny G, composer
Best Musical Show Album: The Who’s Tommy – Original Cast Recording, original cast (RCA Victor)
Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television: Aladdin, Alan Menken, composer
Best Song Written for a Motion Picture or for Television: A Whole New World (Theme From Aladdin), Alan Menken and Tim Rice, songwriters
Best Contemporary Composition: Violin Concerto, Elliott Carter, composer
Best Classical Album: Bartók, The Wooden Prince and Cantata Profana, Pierre Boulez conducting Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; John Aler, tenor; John Tomlinson, baritone (Deutsche Grammophon)
Best Chamber Music Performance: Ives, String Quartets nos. 1 and 2; Barber String Quartet Op. 11 (American Originals), Emerson String Quartet
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (With Orchestra): Berg, Violin Concerto; Rihm, Time Chant, Anne-Sophie Mutter, violinist; James Levine conducting Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Best Classical Performance, Instrumental Soloist(s) (Without Orchestra): Barber, The Complete Solo Piano Music, John Browning, pianist
Best Orchestral Performance: Bartók, The Wooden Prince, Pierre Boulez conducting Chicago Symphony
Best Opera Recording: Handel, Semele, John Nelson conducting English Chamber Orchestra and Ambrosian Opera Chorus; solos: Battle, Horne, Ramey, Aler, McNair, Chance, Mackie and Doss (Deutsche Grammophon)
Best Performance of a Choral Work: Bartók, Cantata Profana, Pierre Boulez conducting Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Chorus; Margaret Hillis, choral director
Best Classical Vocal Performance: The Art of Arleen Auger (Works of Larsen, Purcell, Schumann, Mozart), Arleen Auger, soprano; Joel Revzen, accompanist
Best Spoken Comedy Album: Jammin’ in New York, George Carlin (Eardrum/Atlantic)
Best Spoken Word or Non-Musical Album: On the Pulse of Morning, Maya Angelou (Random House Audio Books)
Best Musical Album for Children: Aladdin (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), various artists (Walt Disney Records)
Best Spoken Word Album for Children: Audrey Hepburn’s Enchanted Tales, Audrey Hepburn (Dove Audio)
Best Recording Package: The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945 – 1959, David Lau, art director (Verve)
Best Album Notes: The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945 – 1959, Buck Clayton, Phil Schaap and Joel E. Siegel, annotators (Verve)
Best Historical Album: The Complete Billie Holiday on Verve 1945 – 1959, Billie Holiday (Verve)
Best Music Video, Short Form: Steam – Peter Gabriel
Best Music Video, Long Form: Ten Summoner’s Tales – Sting
Producer of the Year (Non-Classical): David Foster
The Zapatista uprising in Chiapas, Mexico, began on January 1, 1994, led by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in protest against the Mexican government’s policies and the effects of globalization on indigenous people.
The uprising coincided with implementing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and was led by the charismatic and enigmatic Subcomandante Marcos. The EZLN, composed primarily of indigenous Mayan people, sought to address land rights, social justice, and autonomy issues for Mexico’s marginalized indigenous communities. The conflict began when the Zapatistas seized several towns in the southern state of Chiapas, including the city of San Cristóbal de las Casas.
The Mexican government, led by President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, quickly responded with military force, resulting in a brief but intense period of armed conflict. An estimated 100 to 200 people were killed during the initial fighting. A ceasefire was declared on January 12, 1994, and peace negotiations began shortly thereafter. Despite multiple rounds of talks and agreements, many of the Zapatistas’ demands remain unmet, and tensions continue to simmer in the region.
The Zapatista uprising significantly impacted popular culture, both in Mexico and internationally. The movement’s emphasis on indigenous rights, social justice, and resistance to globalization resonated with many activists around the world. Subcomandante Marcos became a symbol of revolutionary struggle, and his writings and speeches gained international attention.
The Zapatistas’ use of the Internet and digital media to communicate their message and build global solidarity was innovative for the time and has since influenced other social movements. In popular culture, the Zapatistas have been the subject of numerous documentaries, books, and songs, and their iconic ski masks and red bandanas have become symbols of resistance and rebellion.
While the Zapatista movement has not achieved all of its objectives, it has undoubtedly raised awareness about the plight of indigenous people in Mexico and inspired grassroots activism worldwide.
November 29, 1992 – March 5, 1993:
I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston
March 6 – March 12:
A Whole New World (Aladdin’s Theme) – Peabo Bryson & Regina Belle
March 13 – April 30:
Informer – Snow
May 1 – May 14:
Freak Me – Silk
May 15 – July 9:
That’s The Way Love Goes – Janet Jackson
July 10 – July 23:
Weak – SWV (Sisters With Voices)
July 24 – September 11:
I Can’t Help Falling In Love – UB40
September 11 – November 5:
Dreamlover – Mariah Carey
November 6 – December 10:
I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) – Meat Loaf
December 11 – December 24:
Again – Janet Jackson
December 25, 1993 – January 21, 1994:
Hero – Mariah Carey
(Data is compiled from various charts including Billboard’s “Pop,” “Rock,” “Airplay,” “R&B/Dance” and “Singles” Charts. The “Hot 100” is the primary chart used for this list.)
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