How Ken Ober and 'Remote Control' Changed MTV Forever

Remote Control Host Ken Ober's Death Has Fans Reminiscing Bout MTV's Good Ol' Days

It may have been just a game show, but on a cable television network that was devoted to music 24/7, it was a big deal. MTV's Remote Control, hosted by comedian Ken Ober, was the beginning of big changes for the Music Television network back in 1987. Remote Control host Ken Ober died this past weekend at the age of 52, prompting fans to recall MTV's first original game show. The cause of Ober's death is unknown but according to the L.A. Times, Ober's spokesman, Lee Kernis, said Ober complained of flulike symptoms and headaches on Saturday night.

When MTV launched the quirky game show Remote Control in 1987, it was the first time the station aired original programming that wasn't music oriented. The premise of the show was simple: three contestants, lounging comfortably in leather recliners, answered pop culture trivia questions. The question categories ranged from "Brady Physics" and "Wheel of Torture" to "Sing Along With Colin". The running joke on the show was that it was taped in Ken Ober's basement, a fictional address at 72 Whooping Cough Lane. Ober's "mother" would often call down into the basement in the middle of the show.

The show featured Ober, his sidekick Colin Quinn, and model/actress Kari Wuhrer. Celebrities also appeared on Remote Control, including LL Cool J and Adam Sandler.

MTV has always been a forward-thinking network, so it's no wonder that just a few years into their "all music all the time" format, they decided to try something new with a game show like Remote Control. Remote Control paved the way for a changed MTV lineup. On a network that today is riddled with reality shows like The Real World, The Hills and 16 and Pregnant, MTV wouldn't have stood a chance if the network had stuck with the all-music format. Today, kids can hop onto Youtube and watch any music video they want instantaneously anyway.

While only a small slice of today's MTV viewers likely remember Ken Ober's Remote Control, one thing is for sure: Remote Control was a refreshing change from all the glam metal videos that were overtaking MTV in the late 80's. To many fans of the music TV network, Remote Control came just in time.

Sources:

MTV.com