40 Stats and Figures to Put on Your Trophy Shelf Next to Your Mathlete Participation Trophies

40 Sincere Bits of Trivia That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

Kaitlin Olson Says She Practiced ‘Balls-to-the-Wall’ Physical Comedy in Front of Her Parents When She Was a Kid

40 Random Bits of Pop-Culture Trivia We Plucked Out of Our Sponge Daddy

12 Farm-Fresh Trivia Tidbits for Wednesday, March 19, 2025

30 Facts About the ‘90s That Eat Our Shorts

[Insert humorously dated ‘90s slang!]

30 Facts About the ‘90s That Eat Our Shorts

November 27, 2023

How do you describe the ‘90s to someone who wasn’t there? It was a bit like the ‘80s, with the bad fashion and high hair, but… a little more technologically advanced? Also, Bill Clinton was there, and Bart Simpson, and that weird purple and green spray paint pattern that was all over every paper cup you laid eyes on. Okay, so it was basically a slightly ironic and sardonic fever dream — but a lot of important things happened!

Google first appeared in the '90s, as well as the equally important block of Nicktoons shows like Ren & Stimpy, Doug and Rugrats. Sonic the Hedgehog debuted for the first time, eventually exposing an entire generation to strange, sexualized, Lovecraftian fanart. Also, man, Titanic! Beanie Babies! AOL and the Hamster Dance! Not to mention, a bunch of complex political matters that I am not qualified to talk about in this 150-word intro that most people are gonna skip anyway.

The ‘90s!

30

Sea Monkeys

Sea-monkeys are actually brine shrimp. THE LIVE Inc. ES Sea-Monkeuse OCEAN-ZOO The World's Only Include Port E TIME JIME Institut Sea-Monkeys Life Parch OCEAN-ZOO The Morid's Only Instant Pits! Commenteed to adidas The species (a cross-bred version of brine shrimp) doesn't exist in nature. They breath through their feet and grow a second eye in maturity. Gross. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

29

Nicktoons

1991 was a big 995 11 1994 year for Nickelodeon 993 cartoons. 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 993 1994 1995 1996 1997 It was the 094 debut of their first animated series: Doug, 1994 1995 Rugrats, and Ren & Stimpy. 1993 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

28

The Dow Jones Record

On April 17, 1991, the Dow Jones 1991 1992 1990 1999 1993 closed above 1993 994 3,000 1995 98 1999 1996 1997 for 1996 the first time. 093 1994 1995 1997 1998 1999 1990 1991 1992 1993 The The world puts ice stock in UI - Tim 1997 1992 1993 1994 1995 These days the Dow closes 1992 1993 at well over 27,000. 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 CRACKED.COM NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

27

Sonic the Hedgehog and Resident Evil

Sonic the LOS 1994 1995 IN 1992 1993 1994 Hedgehog 1999 1990 1996 made 199 090 1992 199 1994 1999 his 1998 debut 1990 in 1992 1991. 1993 1998 1997 1991 1995 And Resident was 10 STATE Evil was released in 1996. 1992 1993 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

26

The Human Genome Project

The Human Genome Project was 1990 1991 1992 1998 1999 1990 launched in 19 1990. 1998 1999 996 1997 So was LOVE the Hubble 996 1997 1995 Space Telescope. 1992 1993 1990 1991 199 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

25

The Disney Renaissance

The '90s are 1994 1995 15 1992 1993 1994 sometimes called LAND the 1997 199 Disney the the 992 Renaissance. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1999 1997 in late with the wildly successful It began The Little 1989 Mermaid, 1005 1996 reached its peak in popularity with The Lion King in 1994, and ended in 1999 with Tarzan. 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

24

Seattle Grunge Begins

Seattle became 1993 1994 the 1. 1994 epicenter of new music, thanks 1992 to Grunge. 199 097 1998 1999 1995 1996 1997 1993 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Seattle bands were getting 96 signed to major labels at the rate 1997 of one a week during April, 1992. 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

23

George H.W. Bush and Boris Yeltsin

In 1992, President 995 19 993 George H.W. Bush met 199 with Russian President 1999 Boris Yeltsin. 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 the 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 At the meeting, they 5 1996 1997 994 1995 formally declared that 992 1993 the Cold 1993 War is over. 1990 1991 1994 1995 1996 1998 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

22

Lorena Bobbitt

In 1993, Lorena Bobbitt cut off her husband's d*ck while he 1998 was 1999 asleep. 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Then she got in her car, 1997 1995 drove off, and 991 ditched 1993 it in a field. 997 1998 1999 1990 1991 395 1996 1997 1998 1999 CRACKED.COM NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

21

The Original Pogs

Pogs were a rip-off of the Japanese game Menko. Menko's been popular since the 1600s, travelling to Hawaii when Japanese people imigrated in the early 20th century. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

20

Skydancers were... dangerous?

Skydancers were recalled in 2000. 8.9 million were recalled after about 150 reports of injuries, from eye injuries to facial lacerations to a broken rib. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

19

Baby Spice

Baby Spice wasn't in the original Spice Girls line-up. Michelle Stephenson was originally the fifth member. She was replaced by Abigail Kisand and finally Emma Bunton. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

18

Aaron Paul as Francis

Producers didn't let Aaron Paul audition for the role of Francis. MALC THe IN LM MIDDLE On Malcom in the Middle, Bryan Cranston and Paul could have been coworkers a lot sooner, but they rejected him even though he desperately wanted it. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

17

Linwood Boomer Created Malcolm in the Middle

A Little House on the Prairie Actor Created Malcom in the Middle. MALC IN THe LM MIDDLE Linwood Boomer, who played Mary Ingalls' husband, based the character of Malcom on himself as a kid. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

16

Major Websites Were Founded

Some absolutely 1994 huge websites were 199 launched in the '90s. 1999 1993 1995 1994 1997 - MNM M/2K Sec SAGE Over Hoppe - BRANDA Beertween Dermtellung Vertad Facation 100% grough Association +tab Center - в Schweler - - Invtyliaren منا Google Disney Google Deutschland IMDb (1993), EBay (1995), Amazon (1994), GeoCities (1994), Netscape (1994), Yahoo! (1995), AltaVista (1995), ICQ (1996), Hotmail (1996), Google (1998), and Napster (1999). 1999 are CRACKED.COM NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

15

The Spice Girls

The '90s were the 095 19 decade the Spice 1993 Girls ruled the 1996 pop 1997 world. 1998 1990 199 1998 1999 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 I AVAIL 1506 They were the most commercially successful British group since the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, 995 and Led Zeppelin. 1998 1999 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 CRACKED.COM NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

14

My Heart Will Go On

James Cameron didn't want My Heart Will Go On for Titanic, and Celine Dion didn't want to sing it Dion was convinced by her creepy husband-manager, and Cameron was convinced by her demo. Smart business move for both of them. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

13

Beanie Babies Fraud

The creator of Beanie Babies was charged with tax fraud. The billionaire creator Ty Warner had to pay a $100,000 fine but no jail time (?!) for hiding millions of dollars. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

12

Drive Me Crazy

The movie Drive Me Crazy was named after the Britney song. Melissa Joan Hart fought the name change, saying Britney was going to be just a flash in the pan. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

11

You Got Mail!

Elwood Edwards was the You Got Mail voice. Disappointing. I always imagined he looked like the AIM Buddy icon. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

10

The Hamster Dance

The Hamster Dance was created to win a bet. THE HAMPSTER DANCE dance the night away Art student Deidre LaCarte created the website in a bet over who could get the most views on a site. Gonna go out on a limb and say she won. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

9

Tara Lipinski's Roller Skating

Tara Lipinski started as a roller skater. She went to nationals at age 9, when she switched to gymnastics. (Which is geriatric in gymnast years.) CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

8

Oversized Jeans

In the '90s, we 198 wore stupidly- 1991 1992 1999 1990 199 oversized jeans. 97 1998 1999 N5 1996 1997 And if you've 1992 202 got 1001 $300, 1997 1995 you can buy them now. 1993 1991 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

7

Diagnosis: Murder

In the '90s we 994 1995 15 1992 1993 1994 watched crime dramas 1996 199 199 like 1990 Diagnosis: Murder. 1999 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 will 1000 PART And Jake and the Fatman. 1998 1999 1997 Because there's nothing more 1995 entertaining than formulaic 1993 crime-of-the-week bro dramas. 991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

6

Freddie Mercury

Freddie Mercury 15 1994 November 1092 died on 100g TOOT 24, 1000 1991.H 1000 He v was LA 45. 199 97 999 1001 1000 1002 1001 1005 ДНА 1592 1993 1950 The cause: AIDS-induced 995 1999 1990 1991 1992 1993 pneumonia. 97 1998 1999 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

5

The Los Angeles Riots

April 1992 marked the 1999 start of the Los Angeles 1992 riots over the acquittal of 990 199 998 officers in the Rodney King case. LYNN THA4 1990 1990 1987 INHO The riots lasted six days and resulted in 63 deaths and over a billion dollars in damages. 991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

4

The First Web Server

In 1990, Tim 1994 1995 15 1992 1993 1994 Berners-Lee created the first web server. 1999 1997 The قطب adidas حمد NOT JOWN PROPRIETE CERN 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 That 1991 first server made the worldwide web 1990 possible. 1991 991 1999 1993 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

3

Sony and Nintendo

In 1992, Sony and Nintendo briefly 99 1992 1990 1992 joined forces. INHE 1997 1998 1999 1995 1996 1997 SONY SONY PlayStation + START SELECT Their love child was a single 096 1997 prototype that played both Nintendo cartridges and Sony CD-ROMs. 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 NOW YOU KNOW: THE '90s CRACKED.COM — Source: 22 Amazing, Now-You-Know Things That Happened In The 1990s

2

JTT's Lifetime Achievement Award

JTT won the first-ever Kids Choice Lifetime Achievement Award Jonathan Taylor Thomas won the award at age 18, which maaay have been premature. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

1

Ryan Gosling could have been a Backstreet Boy if AJ McLean called him back. backstreet boys Talk about the call that changed destiny... Gosling turned down McLean's initial offer to join, but left an unreturned message that he had changed his mind. CRACKED.COM — Source: 17 (Forgotten) 90's Things

Scroll down for the next article

Must Read

Movies & TV

Styx’s Lawrence Gowan Says the Band’s Enduring Popularity Is All Thanks to ‘South Park'

Trivia & Jokes

40 Random Bits of Trivia That Broke Off of the International Space Station and Landed on Our Roof

Movies & TV

5 One-Joke Premises That ‘SNL’ Ran Into the Ground

Trivia & Jokes

36 of the Funniest Tweets from Wednesday, March 19, 2025

Movies & TV

Science Verifies George Constanza’s Kink

Movies & TV

The TV Star Who Had a Sword Fight With Chris Farley While Peeing

VIRAL ON CRACKED

1

40 Random Bits of Trivia That Broke Off of the International Space Station and Landed on Our Roof

2

13 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show' Trivia Tidbits

3

20 Famous Actors That Didn't Get The Part (For Dumb Reasons)

4

40 Sincere Bits of Trivia That Say What They Mean and Mean What They Say

5

This Host Is to Thank/Blame for ‘SNL’ Bringing Back Characters Ad Nauseam