May 31, 2020
Topics: L.A. Riots, Mary J. Blige, White Men Can't Jump, Def Comdey Jam (Bonus Artist: hidingtobefound)
1992 Snapshots
1. President: George H. W. Bush
2. Feb - In Indianapolis, Indiana, boxer Mike Tyson is convicted of raping Desiree Washington.
3. Mar - H. Ross Perot announces that he will run for U.S. President.
4. Apr - Mafia boss John Gotti is convicted of the murder of mob boss Paul Castellano and of racketeering, and is later sentenced to life in prison.
5. Apr - Former tennis player Arthur Ashe, 48, announces that he is suffering from the AIDS virus, which he is believed to have contracted from a blood transfusion during heart surgery in 1983.
6. Apr - In Simi Valley, California, a jury acquits four LAPD police officers accused of excessive force in the videotaped beating of black motorist Rodney King, causing the 1992 Los Angeles riots and leading to 53 deaths and $1 billion in damage.
7. May - After 30 years, Johnny Carson retires as host of NBC's The Tonight Show.
8. Jun - During a spelling bee at a Trenton, New Jersey elementary school, U.S. Vice President Dan Quayle erroneously corrects a student's spelling of the word potato, indicating it should have an e at the end.
9. Jul - 1992 Summer Olympics held in Barcelona, Spain
10. Oct - The video game Mortal Kombat is released.
11. Nov - Governor Bill Clinton of Arkansas defeats incumbent President George H. W. Bush and businessman H. Ross Perot in the US presidential election. ["It's the economy, stupid"/ "I didn't inhale."]
12. Dec - Hip hop producer and rapper Dr. Dre releases his solo debut studio album The Chronic.
13. Top 3 Pop Songs
14. #1 - End of the Road", Boyz II Men
15. #2 - "Baby Got Back", Sir Mix-a-Lot
16. #3 - ‘Jump", Kris Kross
17. Record of the Year - Eric Clapton for "Tears in Heaven"
18. Album of the Year - Eric Clapton for Unplugged
19. Song of the Year - Eric Clapton "Tears in Heaven"
20. Best New Artist - Arrested Development
21. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female - Chaka Khan for The Woman I Am
22. Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male - Al Jarreau for Heaven and Earth
23. Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal - Boyz
II Men for "End of the
24. Road"
25. Best Rap Solo Performance - Sir Mix-a-Lot for Baby Got Back
26. Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group - Arrested Development for Tennessee
27. #1 - Aladdin
28. #2 - The Bodyguard
29. #3 - Home Alone 2: Lost in New York
30. Notables: Juice, American Me, Basic Instinct, Deep Cover, Sister Act, A league of Their Own, Mo' Money, Glengarry Glen Ross, The Mighty Ducks, Reservoir Dogs, Malcolm X, The Bodyguard, A Few Good Men, Toys, White Men Can't Jump
31. Top 3Tv Shows
32. #1 60 Minutes
33. #2 - Roseanne
34. #3 - Home Improvement
35. Debuts: Hanging with Mr. Cooper and Def Comedy Jam
36. Economic Snapshots
37. Avg. Income: 30k (29.9k - previously)
38. New Home: 122.5 (120k)
39. Avg Rent: 519 (495)
40. New Car: 16.9k (16.8k)
41. Harvard: 15.4 (14.5k)
42. Movie Ticket: 4.25 (4.25)
43. Gas: 1.05 (1.12)
44. Stamp: .29 (.25)
45. Social Scene: LA Riots
46. Audio Clip
47. Open Comments
48. Question: Do riots actually serve a meaningful purpose? What
would you tell your kids if
49. they were in a riot? (On either side)
50. Music Scene
51. Top Black Songs from the top 40
52. #1. "End of the Road". Boyz II Men
53. #2. "Baby Got Back". Sir Mix-a-Lot
54. #3. "Jump". Kris Kross
55. #4. "Save the Best for Last". Vanessa Williams
56. #5. "Baby-Baby-Baby". TLC
57. #7. "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)". En Vogue
58. #9. "All 4 Love". Color Me Badd
59. #10. "Just Another Day". Jon Secada
60. #11. "I Love Your Smile". Shanice
61. #14. "Black or White". Michael Jackson
62. #16. "I'll Be There". Mariah Carey
63. #19. "Remember the Time". Michael Jackson
64. #20. "Finally". CeCe Peniston
65. #23. "Can't Let Go". Mariah Carey
66. #24. "Jump Around". House of Pain
67. #25. "Diamonds and Pearls". Prince and The New Power Generation
68. #27. "Masterpiece". Atlantic Starr
69. #29. "Giving Him Something He Can Feel". En Vogue
70. #31. "Come and Talk to Me". Jodeci
71. #33. "Humpin' Around". Bobby Brown
72. #35. "Tell Me What You Want Me to Do". Tevin Campbell
73. #36. "Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg". TLC
74. #37. "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday". Boyz II Men
75. #38. "Move This". Technotronic featuring Ya Kid K
76. #40. "Tennessee". Arrested Development
77. #41. "The Best Things in Life Are Free". Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson
78. #42. "Make It Happen". Mariah Carey
79. #44. "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss". P.M. Dawn
80. #46. "2 Legit 2 Quit". Hammer
81. #47. "Please Don't Go". KWS
82. #48. "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)". Mint Condition
83. Vote:
84. Top RnB Albums
85. Jan - Dangerous, Michael Jackson
86. Feb - Keep It Comin', Keith Sweat
87. Apr - Private Line, Gerald Levert
88. May - The Comfort Zone, Vanessa Williams
89. May - Funky Divas, En Vogue
90. May - Totally Krossed Out, Kris Kross
91. Jun - Dead Serious, Das EFX
92. Oct - What's the 411?, Mary J. Blige
93. Nov - Bobby, Bobby Brown
94. Dec - The Predator, Ice Cube
95. Vote:
96. Featured Artist: Mary J. Blige
97. Audio:
98. Open Comments
99. Movie Scene: White Men Can't Jump
100. Audio Clip
101. Open Comments
102. Question: Why do Black people LOVE basketball?
103. TV Scene: Def Comedy Jam
104. According to Russel Simmions, In his book "Life and Def: Sex, Drugs, Money + God" The inspiration for Def COmedey Jam was a club on Crenshaw Blvd in L.A. called the Comedy Act Theater. Robin Harris hosted performances there, and he already had a serious underground buzz, from House PArty and Do the Right Thing. At the same time, everywhere Russell traveled, the "Black Comedy" nights were hot, and Russel was always looking for stuff that was "hot" with his hip-hop customer base.
105. In 1989, he eventually hooked up with Hollywood power player Stan Lathan (Sanford & Son, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, Remington Steele ,Cagney & Lacey, Frank's Place, Roc and the 1984 classic feature film Beat Street) and they began creating Def Comedy Jam.
106. The original run of Def Comedy Jam ran from July 1, 1992 to January 1, 1997. In the fall of 2006 it returned to HBO. Many comedians had their careers launched by the huge success of this series!
107. Robin Harris was going to be the original host, but he died in 1990. Eddie Murphy was a big supporter of Martin Lawrence to replace Harris.
108. The show caught major criticism for using excessive foul language and a “supposed” negative representation of African Americans. Bill Cosby and Sidney Potier were major critics.
109. Def Comedy Jam, went on to become the longest running HBO series ever, launched the careers of several A-List comedians today.
110. 1992 Alumni:
111. Chris Tucker, Martin Lawrence, Steve Harvey, Bernie Mac, Bill Bellamy, DL Hughley, Adele Givens, Cedric the Entertainer, Dave Chapelle, Eddie Griffin, Joe Torry, Michael Colyar, and Ricky Harris Jr.
112. Open Comments
113. Question: Favorite bit/comedian?
114. Vote: Best/most important/favorite pop culture item from 1992?