10 Craziest Events Caught On Live TV in the 90s
Princess Diana’s Funeral
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The death of the People’s Princes on August 31, 1997, shocked not only the UK, but also the planet. Princess Diana, her partner, the Mercedes-Benz’s driver, and her partner’s bodyguard were all traveling in a car that crashed into a pillar inside Paris’s Pont de l'Alma tunnel at 12:23 am. For hours, both the world and the media’s attention were fixed firmly on the status of the grievously injured Diana. Following a 6:00 am news conference held by anesthetist Bruno Riou announcing her demise, the Princess of Wales’ funeral would be broadcast live several days later. Drawing an estimated 2.5 billion global viewers, the September 6th ceremony was one of history’s biggest televised events, but it also unfortunately resulted from a huge tragedy.
Mike Tyson Bites Evander Holyfield
We tell you to name a famous moment in boxing, and chances are you’ll quickly mention the Mike Tyson ear bite. The fight was between Tyson and Evander Holyfield, and they were battling for the WBA Heavyweight Championship. It took place in the MGM Grand Garden Arena and was broadcast live pay-per-view. However, the fight ended in a startlingly anticlimactic but legendary manner when Tyson bit off a piece of Holyfield’s hearing organ. Tyson was disqualified, ending the bout in less than three full rounds. But when the initial disappointment wore off, it left behind an iconic piece of pop culture history.
The San Diego Tank Rampage
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On May 17, 1995, an ex-Army soldier named Shawn Nelson took possession of an M60 tank from the California Army National Guard and drove it through the streets of San Diego. The incident lasted nearly half an hour, with Nelson destroying objects like utility poles, bus benches, and citizen vehicles. Luckily, no one was injured, and Nelson’s proved to be the only fatality when he was shot by responding police officers. The unique chase was captured by news cameras and televised, with viewers likely glued to the screen to witness this once-in-a-lifetime event.
The O. J. Simpson Bronco Chase
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Throughout the 1970s, O.J. Simpson was a household name for another reason. Regarded as a stellar running back, Simpson earned fame and set rushing records during his time with the Buffalo Bills. That obviously changed in 1994, when Simpson was accused of murdering Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. This resulted in the now-legendary Bronco chase of June 17, which saw Simpson fleeing the police in a white Ford Bronco. The slow chase down Interstate 405 was extensively covered by the news, who were following from above in helicopters. Multiple major networks stopped their programming to broadcast the chase, and approximately 95 million people watched it unfold. This was event television, and it started one of the most famous criminal trials of our time.
Ayrton Senna Crashes
A three-time Formula One champion, Ayrton Senna was participating in the 1994 San Marino Grand Prix when he tragically lost his life. No one had died at a Formula One race in twelve years, with the last incident occurring at the 1982 Canadian Grand Prix. During the live race, Senna left the track and struck a concrete barrier at 131 miles per hour. It was immediately obvious that something was wrong, as Senna wasn’t moving in the car. An overhead helicopter captured the immediate aftermath, with medical personnel pulling Senna from the car and giving him an emergency tracheotomy. He was rushed to the hospital but died later that night, having suffered severe head trauma.
The Northridge Earthquake
Top 10 Craziest Events Caught on Live TV
At 4:30 AM on January 17, 1994, Los Angeles was rocked by a massive earthquake that caused widespread destruction throughout the city, making it look much like a war-torn battlefield and resulting in dozens of casualties and thousands of injuries. The initial quake was not captured on live TV, as most people were asleep and cameras were not rolling. But we’re including the live broadcast of KNBC. Going on air just three minutes after the earthquake occurred, the footage shows Joe Rico in a rattled state as he gets the broadcast going, worries about his family, and even experiences a few major aftershocks - including one that shakes the camera. It’s a chilling microcosm of the sheer panic that millions endured, and it serves as a crazy event in and of itself.
The Waco Siege
Another Top 10 Craziest Events Caught on Camera
On February 28, 1993, federal agents and Texan law enforcers stormed Mount Carmel Center in Axtell, Texas. This was a compound belonging to a religious cult called The Branch Davidians. They were hoping to serve warrants stemming from the illegal stockpiling of weapons, but the raid instigated a deadly shootout. This in turn resulted in the Waco siege, which infamously culminated 51 days later when the compound burned to the ground. This fire was captured on live television, most notably by CNN, which broadcast some of the more famous visuals from that fateful day. It’s startling footage, depicting large explosions, a raging inferno, and thick black smoke towering into the air. 76 Branch Davidians, including leader David Koresh, died in the fire, igniting a ferocious controversy that continues to this day.
Hurricane Andrew
For many years, Hurricane Andrew held some rather unfortunate records. At the time, it was the hurricane that caused the most financial loss in American history, causing $27 billion in property damage. It was also the first tropical cyclone in 23 years to make landfall as a Category 5, and it would be the last for another 26 years. Forming on August 16, 1992 and lasting nearly two weeks, Hurricane Andrew was extensively covered in the media, with many channels capturing the unbelievable and unprecedented destruction as it occurred. It all makes for very sobering footage, as water floods streets and human-made structures get battered, ripped away, and destroyed by the forces of nature.
The Los Angeles Riots
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Years of racial tensions and police brutality finally exploded, literally, on the evening of April 29, 1992. It began when the four officers charged with the beating of Rodney King were acquitted, sparking civil unrest in South Central Los Angeles. The violence and outrage spread from there and covered much of the greater L.A. area, resulting in 63 deaths, over 2,000 injuries, and $1 billion in property damage. The immense looting and destruction of property was extensively covered by the media over the next week. Some of the riot’s most famous events, including the attack on truck driver Reginald Denny, were broadcast on live tv despite the horrific violence.
The Hubble Space Telescope Launch
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Despite being built in the 1970s, the Hubble Space Telescope didn’t launch until 1990. The delay was attributed to multiple factors, including fiscal constraints, technical difficulties and the catastrophic Challenger disaster of 1986. But with much fanfare and news coverage, the Telescope was officially launched on April 24, 1990 via the Space Shuttle Discovery. The mission, titled STS-31, lasted five days and drew much public attention. It was also captured by various IMAX cameras, the footage of which appeared in the movie “Destiny in Space.” The successful mission helped re-establish faith in the Space Shuttle program, and the Telescope has gone on to make some of the most important astronomical discoveries of our time.
