Gangnam Style Came Out WHEN!?!?

Script written by Nick Spake This Week in History: December 16-22 2018 Ah, those were the days. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be opening up our time capsule to tell you what happened this week in history, December 16-22. For this list, we’re scouring our memory banks and the history books to find five interesting stories that’ll make you say, “oh, yeah, that was a thing.” Be sure to keep an eye on our Community Tab to vote for your favorite memories on upcoming episodes! 24 Years Ago Harry and Lloyd Head to Aspen, California December 16th, 1994 Can you believe it’s been 24 years since we landed on the moon? Okay, that’s not entirely accurate, but it has been 24 years since we first heard the most annoying sound in the world. Throughout the 90s, Jim Carrey was the biggest name in comedy, and 1994 marked his breakout into superstardom. On the heels of “Ace Ventura: Pet Detective” and “The Mask,” Carrey finished the year with “Dumb and Dumber.” 20 years later, Carrey and co-star Jeff Daniels hopped aboard the Shaggin’ Wagon again in “Dumb and Dumber To.” Director Peter Farrelly must really like road trips, because in 2018 he brought us “Green Book”, another film about two men on the road. 29 Years Ago The Simpsons Adopt Santa’s Little Helper December 17th, 1989 With 30 seasons and over 600 episodes under its belt, “The Simpsons” is considered the longest-running scripted program in all of primetime. While Homer, Bart, Marge, Lisa, and Maggie are all household names today, they started off as sketchy caricatures of creator Matt Groening’s actual family on “The Tracey Ullman Show.” The Springfield locals branched off on their own 29 years ago in a Christmas special entitled “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire.” While the show’s animation and jokes were still being perfected in 1989, the special has no shortage of classic moments, from Santa’s Little Helper officially becoming a Simpson, to Bart’s tattoo mishap, to the family’s rendition of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” 6 Years Ago “Gangnam Style” Breaks the Internet December 21st, 2012 Although South Korean singer Psy had already achieved domestic success, he wouldn’t garner international recognition until 2012 with a little K-pop single entitled “Gangnam Style.” The song’s music video hypnotized audiences with its infectious beat, funky dance choreography, and vivid visuals, becoming on December 21st YouTube’s first video to accumulate a billion views. If you weren’t watching the music video for the hundredth time, you were probably watching one of the countless satires or reaction videos. The song not only dominated the internet, but pop culture in general. While it might not get as much attention six years later, it was reported in 2018 that “Gangnam Style” likely inspired more people to learn Korean. 12 Years Ago “Dick in a Box,” the Gift That Keeps on Giving December 16th, 2006 The Lonely Island and JT have been collaborating on hilarious music videos for over a decade and it all started with this “SNL” Digital Short. The Nintendo Wii might’ve been the hottest Christmas toy in 2006, but Andy Samberg and Justin Timberlake showed consumers that you don’t need a wad of cash to make the holidays special for your significant other. All you need is a box, some wrapping paper, and well, you know. We’re not sure what’s funnier: the video’s bizarre premise, the overtly sexual lyrics, or the fact that it actually gives up step by step instructions. In any case, this Creative Arts Emmy-winning sketch hasn’t lost its touch even after 12 years. 17 Years Ago Nickelback Hits the Big Time with a Line We’ll Always Remember December 22nd, 2001 Earlier in 2018, “Saturday Night Live” treated audiences to a blast from the past when Mrs. Gomez sang her epic dying words. Suddenly, we were all given flashbacks to 2001 when Nickelback’s signature song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single that propelled the Canadian rock band to another frontier of fame, “How You Remind Me” was inspired by Chad Kroeger’s dysfunctional relationship with his ex-girlfriend Jodi. Seventeen years ago, you couldn’t turn on the radio without stumbling across the tune and chances are it was one of the first songs you downloaded onto your shiny new iPod. Today, the opening verse alone is enough to remind us of the early 2000s.