Ken Ober, ‘Remote Control’ Host, Is Dead

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

Source: New York Times

Updated | 4:29 p.m. Ken Ober, a brassy comedian best known as the host of the 1980s-era MTV game show “Remote Control,” died this weekend, Mark Measures, an agent at Abrams Artists who worked with him, said on Monday. Mr. Ober, who lived in Santa Monica, Calif., was 52. The cause of death was not immediately known.

Lee Kernis, a manager at Brillstein Entertainment Partners who represented Mr. Ober for more than 20 years, said that Mr. Ober was found dead on Sunday. He said that Mr. Ober was last heard from on Saturday night, when he spoke to a friend and complained of a headache and flu-like symptoms. Mr. Ober told the friend that he was going to take something and would see a doctor as soon as possible.

Mr. Ober, who was born in Brookline, Mass. and raised in Hartford, Conn., grew up idolizing game show hosts like Bob Barker and Bob Eubanks, and went on to host four game shows of his own, including a revived version of “Make Me Laugh” in 1997. But his breakthrough came a decade earlier when Mr. Ober, a contestant on the televised talent show “Star Search,” became the host of the MTV series “Remote Control” in 1987.

That show, which was the network’s first original series to focus on non-musical content, tested participants on their knowledge of television, music-video and pop-culture trivia. The show, which also provided a launching pad for the careers of comedians like Adam Sandler and Colin Quinn, drew much of its sarcastic, self-mocking spirit from the culturally obsessive Mr. Ober, who ran the program like a late-night talk show (or frat party) and gleefully teased players who gave wrong answers.

Read more: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/ken-ober-remote-control-host-is-dead/

[CreekDog]

1. i remember that show

[Hawkeye-X]

5. Me too.

I had the computer version of Remote Control.

and was wondering what happened to this dude.

[Vidar]

14. RIP Mr. Ober.

[CrownPrinceBandar]

2. Jeez, way too young...............

Unfortunately, "RC" also gave us the likes of Colin Quinn, but I thought Adam Sandler's "Stud Boy" was hilarious.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grK66SReEFA

RIP, Ken Ober.

edit: spelling and added clip

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Used to love that show

Yeah, it was the beginning of MTV's descent into being anything BUT a "music channel", but it was funny as hell. And then there was Kari Wuhrer.... :evilgrin:

Rest in peace, Ken. Hope it wasn't the piggie flu :(

[CreekDog]

13. Wanna feel old?

Most of the contestants on that show are now in their 40s.

[AngryAmish]

15. Kari...ahhh

[Tempest]

4. #16 on the greatest game shows of all time list

http://www.zimbio.com/Shandi+Finnessey/articles/2/25+Greatest+Game+Shows+Time

Host: Ken Ober
Years on TV: 1987 - 1990

This MTV game show classic combined pop culture with quirky host Ken Ober, a unique format and a set that was supposed to be Ken’s mom’s basement. Losing contestants were sucked off the set in their leather recliners and don’t forget the final challenge – naming music videos from clips played on a pile of TVs.


I loved the show and rarely missed it.

[shadowknows69]

6. Shit, I used to love that show.

RIP Ken.

[proteus_lives]

7. Oh geez, I liked that show.

RIP Ken Ober.

[eShirl]

8. MTV Breaking News: "Ken Ober: A Remembrance" by Kurt Loder

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1626387/20091116/story.jhtml

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

9. I used to watch that show, too. RIP, Ken.

[thelordofhell]

10. R.I.P. Remote Control

Kenny wasn't like the other kids
TV mattered nothing else did
Girls said, "Yes.", but he said, "Nooooo."
Now he's got his own game show

[DainBramaged]

11. Ah man, that sucks...........

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

12. last thing I remember him doing was turning up in some Blues Traveler videos

he has a bit part in Runaround
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pCDs_0zbNo

and was the star of Hook
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjukZs6R6LI