Ken Ober, the comedian and TV producer best known for being the host of the late eighties MTV game show Remote Control, died on November 15 at the age of 52. For those of us who were weaned on MTV during the Reagan/Bush era, Remote Control was an important touchstone, tailor-made for Gen Xers—a game show that was all about pop culture, that was deeply ironic about pop culture, that was peppered with absurdist humor from comedian bit players that were about to become household names: Adam Sandler, Denis Leary, Colin Quinn. I remember watching the show religiously with my fellow pop culture-crazed high school friends; it was our Jeopardy! I remember so much of it with great fondness… except for the Ken Ober part. Isn’t that terrible? I feel horrible writing this, considering the only reason why I’m even waxing nostalgic about Remote Control is because of Ober’s death, but for the life of me, as I sit here trying to summon an image of Ober hosting the show, and I can’t. I even had to look on Wikipedia to be reminded that, per the theme song, the whole premise of the show completely hinged on Ken Ober. Reading about his death fills me with melancholy—but to be honest, I think it’s more about feeling me my age and mourning my youth than it is about missing Ken Ober. Nonetheless, allow me to pay some respect to guy whose signature work made me laugh as a kid–and reflected, affirmed and further nourished my own pop culture sensibility.
Photo Credit: Everett Collection
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first.
nobody cares
I care. It’s hard to be the first to grieve. That’s what you meant, right cb?
I do remember Ken and I always thought he did a great job. Too bad that his career faltered after that. He was a talented and engaging host.
I am….The Stud Boy.
??? really
I have vivid memories of watching Ken on remote control and enjoying it immensely. I was practically raised by MTV. This legacy, however, is decidedly mixed in my mind. Remote Control was basically the beginning of the end of MTV. By that, of course, I mean, it was a first step toward scripted series and away from playing music videos. It is largely because of the greatness of Remote Control that we have an MTV today that is almost entirely devoid of music, its original purpose and the source of the network’s name. So while I fondly remember these moments from my childhood, I cannot help but be a little bitter about the MTV that has resulted.
Ken Ober if i recall was also in the Blues Traveler 1995 video for “Run Around”. RIP
The Real World, which preceded Remote Control on MTV, is what signaled the end of music videos on the network, not Remote Control. I mean, MTV is full of reality crap now, not gameshows, right?
Check your timeline, Joe. RW did not precede Remote Control.
Bc is right: Remote Control came first. But let’s not forget The Young Ones a good four years earlier, which – while brilliant – had no business being on MTV. Sure, there was a musical act in each episode, but only for BUDGETARY reasons (the BBC provided more production money to shows with music in them). That was the true beginning of the end for MTV.
Loved Ken and Remote Control RIP Ken
ken Ober was hilarious as host. Adam Sandler when he was funny … Colin Quinn … Kari Wuhrer … oh, man Kari Wuhrer. Loved that show!
I used to watch the show with my uncle,back in the day…Those were fun times…
I remeber the punchline to one bit they did on teh show,
SPACKLE IT !!!!!
I dunno what’s worse: truly being sad over a show that impacted my entire childhood or admitting I’m old enough to remember Ober and the show. RIP to MTV’s FIRST original non-musical programming!!! You made me and ALL my friends want to be in the layzboy on the right that actually flipped when a contestant when Off the Air! *sigh* ahhh Brady physics lmao
This is the first I heard of this news. Now i know why MTV 2 was airing RC tonight. Couldn’t understand why until now. I still hate the show. No nostalgia. Sorry.
Do you guys remember Martha Quinn.. That is who I remember the most with MTV..
Dead, Alive or Canadian …..
Lorne Greene – trick question – both dead AND Canadian!
I was very sad when I heard about Ken’s passing – I loved this show.
RIP Ken.
Remote Control should be revamped. At least there would be a show that is less crappy than what is currently on MTV. I mean The Hills?! Seriously? MTV has become as much fun as a trip to the dentist. :-/
Remote Control was one of the things I remember (although it’s all quite hazy now) from MTV along with the videos, when MTV first started airing (as a free channel) in Greece in 1988. I used to love listening to pop music and I used to love watching stuff like this. Too sad to hear about Ken’s death, there have been too many deaths of 80s icons this year, and above all it’s sad to see MTV is nothing like the music channel I used to love.