Micro Machines, 130, 130–31
Microsoft, 14, 219
Midler, Bette, 135
Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (TV show), 131–32, 132
Mike’s Hard Lemonade, 227
Millenium Bug, 225–26
Miller, Dennis, 194
Miller Clear, 46–47
Million Little Pieces, A (Frey), 148
Milli Vanilli, 16, 133
Mills, Haley, 172
Milton Bradley, 61
Mix-a-Lot, Sir, 8–9
Mizrahi, Isaac, 68
“MMMBop” (Hanson), 134–35
M&M’s, 196–98, 197
mobile phones, viii
Monkees, 30, 184
Monopoly from McDonald’s, 50
Monsters, Inc. (movie), 59
Montana, Joe, 208
Moore, Mandy, 184
Moore, Mary Tyler, 45, 175
“More You Know, The” public service announcements, 202–3
Morris, Zack (TV character), 84, 85
Mortal Kombat (game), 211–12
Morvan, Fab, 133
Moschitta, John, Jr., 131
Mountain Dew, 190
movie rental stores, 135–36
movies, celebrity, 43–44
movies with twist endings, 136–37
Mr. Nanny (movie), 44
Mr. Rogers (TV show), 27
MTV, 6, 7, 8, 17, 140, 149, 161, 173
Mulan (Disney princess), 165, 166
Mulan (movie), 162
Mulder, Fox (TV character), 221, 222
Munster, Herman (movie character), 111
Murphy, Eddie, 118, 143, 144
Murray, Bill, 74, 88, 89
Myers, Michael (movie character), 172
Myers, Mike, 1, 132, 144, 213, 214
My Pretty Topsy Tail doll, 205
My So-Called Life (TV show), 137–38
Mystery Date, 60
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (TV show), 16, 138–39
NBC, 13, 169, 202
Nealon, Kevin, 47
Nelson, Matthew and Gunnar, 139–40
Nelson, Ozzie, Harriet, Ricky, Tracy, 140
Nerf football, 207–8
Nerf guns, 141, 141–42
Netflix, 135, 136
New Coke, 7
New Edition, 30
New Kids on the Block, 30, 31
Newsies (movie), 142–43
newspapers, viii
New York magazine, 66
New York Observer, 175
New York State Library at Albany, 229
New York Times, 27, 29–30, 209
Nickelodeon, 2, 9, 25, 45, 46, 80, 169, 170, 192, 193, 200
Nick in the Afternoon show block, 193
Night at the Roxbury, A (movie), 201
Night (Wiesel), 148
90210 (TV show), 34
1990s, vii–ix
98 Degrees, 29, 30
“99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall,” 12
Nintendo, 75, 77, 82
Nirvana, 16, 89, 90
“Nobody puts Baby in a corner,” 99
Non-Expanding Recreational Foam (NERF), 142
“No Rain” (Blind Melon’s video), 16–17
Norbit (movie), 144
Nox-Zima, 227
NPR, 43
’N Sync, 30, 66
nuclear fears, ix
Numb3rs (TV show), 21
Numeroff, Laura, 96–97
Nutty Professor, The (movies), 143–44
Nye, Lanky, 21
NYU, 2, 165
O.C., The (TV show), 54
Oakland A’s, 126
Obama, Barack, 15, 215–16
O’Connor, Sinead, 6
O’Donnell, Rosie, 112, 204
OK Soda, 144–45, 145
Old Navy, 24
Olsen twins (Mary-Kate, Ashley), 146
One Direction, 31
One Tree Hill (TV show), 54
Onion, The, 107
online services, 147–48
Oprah’s Book Club, 148–49
Orbison, Roy, 158
Orbitz, 149–50, 150
Oregon Trail, The (game), vii, 57, 150–51
Organ Trail, The (game), 151
Original Battle Troll dolls, 207
Ortega, Kenny, 142
Oscars, 22, 52, 73, 94, 100, 144
Osment, Haley Joel, 137
Osmond, Donny and Marie, 162, 194
Outbreak (movie), 65
Oxford English Dictionary, 43
oxygen bars, 30
Padalecki, Jared, 203
pajama pants, 151–52
PalmPilot PDA, 152–54, 153
Palms Casino suite, 161
Paltrow, Gwyneth, 144
Paquin, Anna, 76
Parent Trap, The (movie), 172
Party of Five (TV show), 154–55, 172
Pascal, Francine, 10
PBS, 11, 12, 21, 75
Peanuts (comic strip), 74, 75
Pearl Jam, 17
People, 39
Pepperidge Farm Milano Melts, 124
Pepsi, 190
Pepsi Clear, 47
perms, 11
Perry, Matthew, 219
personal digital assistants, 152–54, 153
Pesci, Joe, 94
Pet Rocks, 111, 112
Pet Sematary (movie), 111
Phoenix, Joaquin, 66
photographic film, viii
Picard, Captain Jean-Luc (TV character), 187, 188
Pikachu, Pokémon character, 157
Pilatus, Rob, 133
Pinkett, Jada, 40, 144
Pitt, Brad, 66
Planters Cheez Ball, 58
Play-Doh, 80
Playschool, 204
Pocahontas (Disney princess), 165
Pogs (passion fruit, orange, guava), 155–56, 156
Pokémon, 156–57
Polly Pockets, 156
Pop, Iggy, 2
Pope, Brad “Chip,” 7–8
Pop Up Video, 138, 157–58
Porky’s (movie), 114
Portlandia (TV show), 8, 165
Posh (Spice Girl), 183, 184
Postman, The (movie), 213
Pound Puppies (movie), 170
Power Rangers, Might Morphin (TV show), 131–32, 132
Powter, Susan, 194
Pratt, Jane, 164
Preston, Richard, 65
Pretty in Pink (movie), 6
Pretty Woman (movie), 158–59
Prima, Louis, 191
Primal Fear (movie), 136
Primary Colors (movie), 22
Princess and the Frog, The (movie), 166
princesses (Disney), 165–66
Proclaimers, The, 97–98
Prodigy, 147
public service announcements, 202–3
Publisher’s Clearing House, 50
Pulitzer Prize, 49, 71
Pulp Fiction (movie), 160
Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, 88
Pussycat Dolls, 185
Pyramid (TV show), 162
Radio (movie), 52
Raphael, Sally Jesse, 194
Rapunzel (Disney princess), 166
Razr, 85
reality TV, ix, 161
Real Live Brady Bunch, The (TV show), 32
Real World, The (TV show), 7, 161
Red Tails (movie), 52
Reed, Lou, 139
Reed, Robert, 158
Regis and Kathie Lee (TV show), 191
Reid, Charlie and Craig, 97–98
Ren and Stimpy (TV show), 192
Reno, Janet, 102, 103
Resident Evil (game), 212
“Rethink Possible” ad, 93
Retton, Mary Lou, 132
Revson, Rommy, 175
Richter, Andy, 32
Richter, Jason James, 76
Riff Trax, 139
“Right Now” (Van Halen), 47
Ring Pops, 163, 163–64
Ringwald, Molly, 6
riot grrrl movement, 17, 46, 164–65, 183
Ripken, Cal, Jr., 209
Rivera, Geraldo, 194
Riverdance (stage show), 166–67
Robbins, Arizona (TV character), 168
Roberts, Julia, 158
Roddenberry, Gene, 188
Rodman, Dennis, 44
Rogers, Fred, 114
Rollerblades, 100
Roller Blade Seven, The (movie), 101
roller shoes, 167–68
Rolling Stone, 135
Rolling Stones, 219
Romeo, Darby, 34
Roseanne (TV show), 101, 168–69
Ross, Bob, 26–28, 27
Rowsdower, Zap (movie character), 139
Roxette, 159
Rugrats (TV show), 192
Rumble in the Jungle (Foreman vs. Ali), 83
“Rump Shaker,” 9
Ruth, Babe, 210
Saget, Bob, 3, 146
Sajak, Pat, 194
SaladShooters, 116
Salingers of Party of Five (TV show), 154, 155
Salute Your Shorts (TV show), 169–70
Samberg, Andy, 1
Sandler, Adam, 1–2
Santa Rosa City School District Governing Board, 173
Santa with Muscles (movie), 44
Sanz, Horatio, 52
SARS, 65
Sassy, 164, 228
Satellite of Love from Mystery Science Theater 3000 (TV show), 139
Saturday Night Live (movies), 201
Saturday Night Live (TV show), 1–2, 6, 47, 92, 102, 146, 213–14
Saturday-night TV programming, ix, 192–93
Savage, Dan, 64
Savannah Smiles (movie), 135
Saved by the Bell (TV show), 53, 84, 171–72, 173
Say Cheese and Die (Stein), 86
scanning, 71
Scared Stupid (movie), 44
Scary (Spice Girl), 183, 184
Schildkraut, Joseph, 52
Schulz, Charles, 150
Schwarzenegger, Ahnold, 110
Schwimmer, Benji, 191
Schwimmer, David, 202
Scooby-Doo (TV show), 91
Screamer (Nerf football), 208
Scream (movie), 172–73
Scream 2 (movie), 40
scrunchies, 173–75, 174
Scully, Dana (TV character), 221
Secret World of Alex Mack, The (TV show), 46
Seinfeld (TV show), 77, 159, 175–76
Selleck, Tom, 93
Semisonic, 49
Seven (movie), 136
Sex and the City (TV show), 25
sexting, 43
Shalala, Donna, 102
Shallow Hal (movie), 144
Shamrock Shake from McDonald’s, 126–27
Shave N Style Ken, 64
Shining, The (movie), 97
Short, Martin, 70
Showgirls (movie), 171
Shyamalan, M. Night, 137
Silly Putty, 80
Simba from The Lion King (movie), 117, 118
Simmons, Gene, 132
Simmons, Richard, 144
Simon Sez (movie), 44
Simple Plan, A (movie), 22
Simpsons, The (TV show), 18, 127, 137, 148, 154, 204
Sinclair, Madge, 119
16 and Pregnant (TV show), 161
Sixth Sense, The (movie), 136–37
Skip-It, 176–77
slap bracelets, 177–78, 178
Slate, 227
Sleater-Kinney, 165
Sleeping Beauty (Disney princess), 165
Sleeping Beauty (movie), 166
Sleepless in Seattle (movie), 73
Slime, 80
Sling Blade (movie), 22
Slinkys, 111
Slumber Party Massacre (movie), 135
smart phones, 40
Smell My Gak, 81
“Smells Like Teen Spirit” (Nirvana), 16
Smith, Chris “Daddy Mac,” 112
Smith, Erin and Don, 228
Smith, Kevin, 48
Smithsonian’s Museum of American History, 224
Smud, 80
Snackbar Confidential, 228, 228
Snapple, 179, 179–80
sneakers, light-up, 115–16
SNICK (Saturday Night Nickelodeon), ix, 192–93
Snoopy (comic strip character), 40
Snow White (Disney princess), 165
Snow White (movie), 117
Social Network, The (movie), 94
Socker Boppers, 180–81, 181
“Song That Never Ends, The” (Lewis), 114
Sonny and Cher, 88
Son of the Beach (TV show), 13
Sopranos, The (TV show), 75
Sound and the Fury, The (Faulkner), 107
Souphanousinphone, Kahn (TV character), 3
sour candy, viii, 182, 182–83
Sour Patch Kids, 182
Sour Punch Straws, 182
Soviet Union, ix
So You Think You Can Dance (TV show), 191
Spacey, Kevin, 102, 136
SpaghettiO’s, 12, 109
Spears, Britney, 184
Spice Girls, 183–85, 184
Spice World (movie), 185
spin shoes, 168
Spock, Mr. (TV character), 187
SpongeBob SquarePants (TV character), 9
Sporty (Spice Girl), 183, 184
Springsteen, Bruce, 74, 148
Spuds Mackenzie (Honey Tree Evil Eye), 185–86
Squeezit drinks, 186–87
Squinkies, 156
Squirrel Nut Zippers!, 191
Stallone, Frank, 101
star-69, 39, 40
“Start Me Up” (Rolling Stones), 219
Star Trek: The Next Generation (TV show), 187–88
Star Trek (movies), 188
Star Trek (TV show), 55, 75, 114, 131, 147
Star Wars (movies), 74, 75, 131, 160, 189
Star Wars prequel mania, 188–89
Stay Out of the Basement (Stein), 86
Stay Out of the Bathroom (Stein), 86
Step by Step (TV show), 192
Stern, Daniel, 94
Stern, Howard, 13, 125
Steve, Sister (TV character), 140
Stewart, Anthony, 36
Stewart, Martha, 71, 124–25
Stine, R. L., 85–86, 86
Stipe, Michael, 2
Stone Cold (movie), 43
Strayed, Cheryl, 149
streaming video, 135, 136
Streep, Meryl, 18
Stuart Saves His Family (movie), 201
Stunt Copter! (game), 120
Suburban Commando (movie), 44
Subway, 101–2
Suite Life of Zack & Cody, The (TV show), 140
Summer Olympics, 184–85
Super Bowl, 47
“Super Freak” (James), 125
Super Friends (movie), 124
Super Mario (game), 65, 82
Supernatural (TV show), 203
Superstar (movie), 201
Suplee, Ethan, 123
Surge soda, 189–90, 190
“surprise suckas!” movies, 136–37
Surreal Life, The (TV show), 126
Sweeney, Julia, 47, 201
Sweet Bee, 17
Sweet Valley High (Pascal), 10
Swine Flu, 65
swing dancing, 191
Swingers (movie), 191
Tab Clear, 46–47
Taco Bell Chihuahua, 193
“Take Me to the River” (Big Mouth Billy Bass), 20
Tale of Two Cities, A (Dickens), 149
talk show boom, 194–95
Talk Soup (TV show), 138
Tamagotchi, 195, 195–96
Tangled (movie), 166
tan M&M’s, 196–98, 197
Tanner, Michelle (TV character), 146
Tarantino, Quentin, ix, 136, 160
Taster’s Choice, 36
TBS, 111
technology advances in 1990s, viii
Teddy Ruxpin, 198, 198–99
Teenage Gang Debs,
228
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 199–200, 200
Teen Spirit deodorant, 90
televisions, viii
terrible Saturday Night Live (movies), 201
Tetris (game), 57, 82
texting, 40, 70, 82
TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday, Thank Goodness It’s Funny), ix, 63, 192–93
“Thanksgiving Song” (Sandler), 1
Theismann, Joe, 5
Third Eye Blind, 49
Thirtysomething (TV show), 138
“this is your brain on drugs” public service announcement, 202
Thomas Kinkade’s Christmas Cottage (movie), 203
“Thong Song,” 9
Thoreau, William, 107
Thornton, Billy Bob “William Robert,” 22
Three’s Company (TV show), 115
Thurman, Uma, 160
Tiana (Disney princess), 166
Tickle Me Elmo, 204
Tidwell, Rod (movie character), 52
Tiger Electronics, 177
Timberlake, Justin, 49
Time magazine, 36, 157, 177, 194
Titanic (movie), 99, 100
TLC, 25
TNT, 111
“Tom’s Diner” (Vega), 176
Tone Loc, 186
Tonight Show, The (TV show), 193
Topps, 164, 209
Topsy Tail, 205
Toys R. Us, 79
Toy Story 3 (movie), 64
trading cards, 209–10
Transformers (movies), 87
Travolta, John, 74, 160
Troll dolls, 206, 206–7
TRS-80s, 119
True Blood (TV show), 35
Trump Castle 3 (game), 72
T-shirts, viii, 95–96
Turbo football, 207–8
Turner & Hooch (movie), 73
TV Guide, 12, 223
TV Guide Network, 195
Twilight (TV show), 33, 35
twist endings, movies with, 136–37
Tyco, 205
Tyson, Mike, 180
Ty toy company, 15
“U Can’t Touch This” (Hammer), 125
UPN/WB, 36
Upper Deck baseball cards, 209–10
Urge soda, 190
Urkel, Steve (TV character), vii, 210, 210–11
USA, 111
USA Today, 149
Usual Suspects, The (movie), 136
Vader, Darth (movie character), 117
Valley Girls of 1980s, 216
Van Der Beek, James, 54
Van Halen, 47
Vanilla Ice, 43–44
Variety, 80
Vasquez, Rickie (TV character), 138
Vaughn, Vince, 32, 191
Vedder, Eddie, 34
Vega, Suzanne, 176
Ventura, Jesse “The Body,” 221
Very Brady Christmas, A (movie), 32
VH1, 158
VHS tapes, 135
Video Archives in California, 136
video-store industry, 135–36
vinyl albums, 42
violent video games, xi, 211–12
virtual pets, 195, 195–96
Visit from the Goon Squad, A (Egan), 49
Vogue, 132
Voorhees, Jason (movie character), 23, 172
Walberg, Mark (talk-show host), 194
Waldenbooks, 148
Wall Street (movie), 84
Walmart, 63
Walsh, Brenda (TV character), 32–34
Walt Disney World’s Hall of Presidents, 198
The Totally Sweet ’90s: From Clear Cola to Furby, and Grunge to “Whatever,” the Toys, Tastes, and Trends That Defined a Decade Page 19