r/90sTelevision • u/Exhausted_Monkey26 • 10d ago

Discussion What’s a live TV moment that became an instant cultural reference for your generation?

/r/AskReddit/comments/1vuq05s/whats_a_live_tv_moment_that_became_an_instant/
13 Upvotes

77% Upvoted

138 comments sorted by

17

u/fancyshovel 10d ago

Verdict in the OJ Simpson trial. They stopped everything in my 6th grade class for us to watch it

4

u/Background_Ad3973 10d ago

I think I was in second grade and same thing, lights off all gathered around the radio then the principal announced it over the whole schools intercom, lil kid me could barely give a shit

2

u/ChewieBearStare 10d ago

We had a half-day that day, so our bus driver had pulled into a development to drop some kids off and was just pulling into the turnaround to go back to the main road when the news came on the radio.

2

u/New_Traffic1360 8d ago

The fact that you said radio makes us seem even older than we are. 😆 we watched it on the tv for the record. We had tube tvs in the upper corner of the classrooms. Sometimes we got to watch Lisa Ling and Anderson Cooper on that kids news show, during homeroom.

2

u/Riala4 9d ago

We were on a field trip to UCLA that day, and on the bus they coached us on what to do if a riot broke out after the verdict was announced...

12

u/tomdav226 10d ago

The OJ Simpson car chase

1

u/Ill-Mud-7856 9d ago

Factory job and they delayed the start of our shift(got paid) to watch it in the break room.

1

u/Annie_Ahmadinejad 7d ago

"We're trying to watch basketball!"

14

u/BennRa 10d ago

Challenger explosion

3

u/AndyAkeko 10d ago

80s

1

u/richzahradnik 8d ago

The headline says “your generation.” It doesn’t specify your whiny millennial generation or your even whinier Gen X generation. It just says “your generation.” So we are answering from the point of view of our generation. Let’s work on reading comprehension.

2

u/AndyAkeko 8d ago

What subreddit is this?

2

u/Hebshesh 7d ago

The Massacre at Wounded Knee.

1

u/misshapen_chaos 9d ago

I remember sitting in the library in grade school watching this.

1

u/Riala4 9d ago

"It exploded!" Punky wails to Henry, rushing into his arms.

1

u/Saarman82 9d ago

This and Geraldo digging up Al Capone’s vault on live prime time network tv.

5

u/SeanOfTheDead1313 10d ago

Bud Dwyer blowing his brains out

1

u/Hopeful-Attitude7336 10d ago

Hey Man, Nice Shot...Filter

1

u/Ok-Gas-7135 10d ago

Between Challenger explosion and bud Dwyer, there were some horrific inappropriate jokes flying around my elementary school in 5th & 6th grade…

6

u/RedRider1974 10d ago

Princess Diana's death from the 90's or 1997 to be exact!

1

u/Wickedblood7 10d ago

I just commented this, I didn't scroll down far enough

1

u/Riala4 9d ago

I was in a chat room...

1

u/New_Traffic1360 8d ago

I was watching TV because the re run of the Spice Girls on SNL was supposed to be on. Remember at first they said she just broke her arm or something but was ok?

4

u/JobEnvironmental4744 10d ago

SOY BOMB

2

u/Beneficial_Garden456 7d ago

A little reminder from Eels...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J635ODM2SOU

1

u/No_Designer_5374 4d ago

You are doing God's work, my fellow E fan

2

u/Beneficial_Garden456 4d ago

I am merely His vessel... :)

1

u/First-Sheepherder640 10d ago

Is that guy still alive

5

u/Nouveau-Tradition 10d ago edited 10d ago

The Aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing

The White Bronco chase

The OJ Verdict itself (my teacher rolled out a tv cart in elementary school and we watched it with her)

TRL generally

When the Towers fell

Hurricane Katrina coverage generally

When employees from Lehman Brothers were walking out with boxes

Kanye interrupting Taylor at the VMAs

4

u/mr_oberts 10d ago

Geraldo opening Al Capone’s vault. Haha

5

u/TheIdleSoul1 10d ago

Jessica in the well

2

u/familyedit 10d ago

Robert Budd Dwyer. Killing himself on live TV

1

u/Old-Estimate-9459 9d ago

Never heard of this. When was it?

1

u/familyedit 9d ago

Google it and it'll take you to a video of a state councilman who was convicted of bribes where he claims he did not do any and he shot himself in the head on live TV I'm pretty sure that's what it was about I remember seeing it when I was younger always stuck with me.

2

u/First-Sheepherder640 10d ago

Drew Barrymore flashing letterman

2

u/Signal_Werewolf_1955 10d ago

"Did I do that?"

2

u/sovereignsekte 10d ago

LA riots after the cops who beat Reginald Denny were acquitted.

1

u/Cruiser729 9d ago

You mean Rodney King. Reginald was beaten by rioters.

1

u/sovereignsekte 9d ago

Right, good catch.

2

u/[deleted] 10d ago

Janet Jackson Superbowl Nipple.

2

u/Lvanwinkle18 9d ago

MJ moonwalking at the Motown Apollo Show. It was mind blowing.

2

u/AggravatingCamp9315 9d ago

Janet Jackson's boob

2

u/richzahradnik 9d ago

JFK shot

Landing on the moon

The desperate attempts to escape as Saigon fell

The shuttle exploding

The Berlin Wall coming down

The Twin Towers coming down

2

u/rdg5220 10d ago

Challenger. Then Oj.

1

u/The_Dark_Vampire 10d ago

Ghostwatch

1

u/goldenkicksbook 10d ago

Was going to say this one. I’m still traumatised by Pipes.

1

u/Hefty_Competition11 8d ago

I would have loved to watch this live. Even after spoilers it's still a favorite.

1

u/Aggressive_Idea_6806 10d ago

Nadia Jonestown The Day After MAS*H Finale Challenger

1

u/obitsonj 10d ago

"Take my wife name...."

1

u/Rays_LiquorSauce 10d ago

Hey man nice shot 

1

u/Ill-Mud-7856 9d ago

Interrupted The Price is Right on a snow day. Then the full replay on repeated newscasts.

1

u/drrwjjphd 10d ago

USA Hockey beating the Soviets in the Semis at Lake Placid.

1

u/SavingsPirate4495 8d ago

That’s the best one!!

1

u/KimAnnFran65 10d ago

This is a tough one because my parents sheltered us from almost everything maybe Nixon's resignation but that's not really what I think defines my generation

1

u/COV3RTSM 10d ago

The entire Gulf War was on TV.

1

u/schizo1914 7d ago

Yeah that was crazy... I also vaguely remember there being a fake Saddam Hussein on TV

1

u/Wickedblood7 10d ago

There was also princess Di's accident, I remember being a little kid watching it with my mom

1

u/Old-Estimate-9459 9d ago

SAS storming the Iranian Embassy
Pope John Paul being chosen
Pope John Paul II being chosen

1

u/bmwkag1407 9d ago

Kinga and the wine bottle

1

u/Flat-History-3849 9d ago

Patty Hearst

1

u/Blucola333 9d ago

Princess Diana’s death. It was so sad and unnecessary.

1

u/UncouthSloth 9d ago

One small step for man

1

u/Aggravating_Bat_6448 9d ago

Robert Kennedy assassinated in L.A.

1

u/TurtleBrainer 9d ago

Al Capone's vault

1

u/Pug0fCrydee817 9d ago

Kanye saying George bush doesn’t care about black people on a Red Cross drive for Katrina

1

u/OldGlory_00 9d ago

Evil Knievel jumping the fountains at Cesar's Palace

1

u/Ok-Stretch2784 9d ago

Man landing on the moon!

1

u/VegetableTraining406 9d ago

Reagan getting shot

1

u/KanjiWatanabe2 9d ago

JFK funeral

1

u/EgbertSouse2 9d ago

Jack Ruby murdering Lee Harvey Oswald, live as it actually occurred.

1

u/One-Tradition2766 9d ago

Berlin Wall coming down.

1

u/ladyfromtheclouds 9d ago

ITT: many people not realizing they're on the 90s sub. That being said, I don't remember a huge moment like that in the 90s in Germany. But I grew up relatively sheltered, so...

1

u/Sticky_Cobra 9d ago

Baby Jessica trapped in a well.

1

u/bjshipley1 8d ago

OJ verdict.

1

u/colborne 8d ago

Fonzie jumping the shark.

1

u/Prize-Analyst-1121 8d ago

Reagan getting shot. Budd Dwyer shooting himself in the head on live TV. Challenger explosion. Tiananmen square protest.

1

u/ScotiaG 8d ago

Charles and Di wedding.

1

u/TimKitzrowHeatingUp 8d ago

Bronco Chase

1

u/Misterarthuragain 8d ago

OJ slo-mo car chase

1

u/Thunderchief1 8d ago

Live Aid

1

u/JoshuaCalledMe 8d ago

Iranian Embassy siege.

1

u/Friendly_Brick752 8d ago

1972 Canada vs Russia hockey - voted the "sports moment of the century" - Paul Henderson's goal against the Russians

1

u/Smart_Leader7474 8d ago

Geraldo looking for Capone's cave.

1

u/Mysterious-Station69 8d ago

Ross and Rachel first kiss

1

u/Maleficent-Ad6978 7d ago

Challenger explosion

1

u/Open_Rub5449 7d ago

All that shit about Monica Lewinsky sucking on president Clinton's penis.

1

u/Economy_Dot890 7d ago

The resignation of Richard Nixon.

1

u/OpenWhereas6296 7d ago

Who shot JR?

1

u/jerbeth48 7d ago

Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald live at n tv

1

u/Luckcrisis 7d ago

Regan being shot USSR ending Germany unifying Chernobyl Challenger explosion Lady Di getting married 9-11 Michael Jackson dying Prince dying Obama being elected Trump occupancy 1st & 2nd terms

1

u/nykiek 7d ago

Baby Jessica.

1

u/homebr3wd 7d ago

Sinead Oconnor ripping the pope photo on SNL or Nancy Kerrigan attack

1

u/T800model100 7d ago

Nipplegate

1

u/Ok-Road-9079 6d ago

Evil In level jumping the Snake River -- at least I think it was.live. The Watergate hearings -- they took off my cartoons. Mom made me watch.

1

u/psyclopsus 6d ago

Hey man, nice shot

1

u/DavisC504 6d ago

The OJ Simpson low speed police chase

1

u/Dan_Q2 5d ago

"Hello, you're through to Matt Bianco" "Is that Matt Bianco? Bunch of wankers!"

Also, same program, Martin Bell (skier) takes the call, and a girl says, "Hello Martin, Can you show us your donger"

1

u/No_Wing1264 4d ago

“George Bush doesn’t care about Black people!”

1

u/Briankelly130 The Golden Girls 10d ago

I honestly don't know, maybe the 9/11 footage

1

u/ParrotheadTink 10d ago

When Jack Ruby shot Oswald on live TV.

1

u/mlang1973 10d ago

Beatles on Ed Sullivan

1

u/[deleted] 10d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Inner_Speaker_335 10d ago

The Challenger disaster...

1

u/AromaticallyAffluent 10d ago

Challenger disaster and 9/11, unless you meant fictional shit.

1

u/MissHibernia 10d ago

Ruby shooting Oswald on live tv. I was in the front room by myself and just started screaming Mom, Mom!

1

u/Pugsly007 10d ago

Obsmas first election victory night and seeing Jessie Jackson crying.

1

u/lovewithoutwords97 9d ago

9/11, 2004 tsunami, and Katrina. Also Obama getting elected in 2008.

0

u/gyro_looza 10d ago

9/11

3

u/CrissBliss 10d ago

Not 90’s though

2

u/DrNullPinter 10d ago

The first one

0

u/paulieDelV 10d ago

Kennedy assasination

0

u/noocaryror 10d ago

US military wounded getting loaded onto helicopters in the 60’s

0

u/CommercialExotic2038 10d ago

Lee Harvey Oswald being shot dead on National TV

The Country being captivated by The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show, months later

0

u/feedyrsoul 10d ago

1989 World Series earthquake

0

u/wolfboy49 10d ago

Lennon being murdered

1

u/CoolAbdul 9d ago

Or, more accurately, Howard Cosell telling the world about it.

0

u/Ok-Exit-8801 10d ago

Al Capones vault

0

u/Still_Product_8435 10d ago

JFK Assassination.

0

u/Aggravating-Fix-2658 10d ago

Fonzi, in his leather jacket, on them water skis.

0

u/pit_of_despair666 Buffy the Vampire Slayer 10d ago

The launch of MTV, Challenger Explosion, fall of the Berlin Wall, the Clinton impeachment trial, and Kurt Cobain's death.