Ken Ober, the humorous and abrasive host of the MTV game show “Remote Control,” has passed on. He was 52.
Airing at the apex of the MTV Network’s history, 1987 through 1990, Remote Control pitted three teenage or young adult contestants in a trivia competition, answering questions about music, television, and pop culture. The show also featured skits and character sketches from new improv comedians, helping launch the careers of Colin Quinn, Denis Leary and Adam Sandler. Several episodes are available online.
Remote Control, aside from being thoroughly enjoyable even two decades later, was notable for being one of MTV’s first forays into non-music video programming. The game show paved a path for all the subversively weird programming MTV would soon become famous for: Liquid Television, Beavis and Butt-Head, The State, Jackass, and Wonder Showzen all owe a debt of gratitude to Ken Ober and his comedic dissidence.
Sadly, following Remote Control’s cancellation, Ober all but disappeared from the mainstream entertainment world. After Remote Control’s fifth season, his resume included hosting Game Show Network’s “Make Me Laugh”, USA’s “Smush” and ESPN’s short-lived “Perfect Match.”
Aside from ill-received game shows, Ober’s post-MTV career included co-hosting “Ober and Olsen,” an LA-based talk radio show with Brady Bunch alum Susan Olsen from 1995-1996. In 2002, he served as producer for the cult favorite TV show “Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn.” Most recently, he served as a consulting producer for CBS sitcom “The New Adventures of Old Christine.” Most ignobly, he served as writer and producer for the terrible Comedy Central program “Mind of Mencia.”
Regardless of his disappearance from American eyes and television screens, a great comedian and an underrated icon has passed on. On behalf of the MTV generation, pop culture junkies and game show enthusiasts everywhere, we proclaim that Ken Ober will be missed.
