1997, the year South Park came out. That was one heck of a year
Events
Biggie Smalls, Princess Diana, and Mother Teresa pass away
NASA's Mars Pathfinder and Sojourner land on Mars
Golden Bauhinia Square, where sovereignty of Hong Kong is handed over from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China
Kyoto Protocol is signed
Luxor Massacre occurs
Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth
Japanese embassy hostage crisis is ended
Central European flood happens in the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany; Tropical Storm Linda occurs in southern Vietnam
Movie releases
Good Burger
Men in Black
Titantic
Anastasia
Hercules
Television shows
Bear in the Big Blue House (Season 1)
Animaniacs (Season 5)
King of the Hill (Seasons 1 and 2)
The Simpsons (Season 8)
Pokémon: Indigo League (anime debut)
Recess (Season 1)
Seinfeld (Season 8)
Friends (Season 3)
Books
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Goosebumps: The Haunted School
The Red Tent
The Dark Tower IV: Wizard and Glass
Songs
"Something About the Way You Look Tonight" Elton John
"I'll Be Missing You" Puff Daddy and Faith Evans featuring 112
"My Baby Daddy" B-Rock and the Bizz
"My Heart Will Go On" Celine Dion
Video games
Final Fantasy VII
Castlevania: Symphony of the Night
Star Fox 64
Diddy Kong Racing
Grand Theft Auto