Remote Control (1987–1990) User Reviews

MTV's First Game Show a Fun and Campy Success

[hfan77 · 7/10 · 5 November 2009]

I remember watching the first game show ever aired on MTV, Remote Control and thought it was a fun and campy show. The show, hosted by "The Quizmaster of 72 Whooping Cough Lane", Ken Ober, featured three college student contestants who answered TV trivia questions in categories such as "Dead or Canadian", "What's Their Line" and "Brady Physics". There were also some offbeat categories that featured such as "The Laughing Guy", who laughed the words to TV theme songs, "Wheel of Torture", "You Laugh, You Lose" and my favorite "Sing Along With Colin", where contestants had to sing the next line to a badly sung song by the show's off-key announcer, Colin Quinn.

Also taking part in the fun was a young Adam Sandler who portrayed the "Trivia Delinquent." Ober had several female assistants throughout the show's run.

I also remember the bonus round where the winning contestants were strapped in a Craftmatic adjustable bed and had to identify nine music videos in 30 seconds. When Remote Control aired in syndication, the winner was strapped to the "Wheel of Jeopardy" where they won a prize that corresponded to the space the wheel stopped on.

Remote Control was a memorable and funny show that should be rerun someday. Get ready for a snack break.

Too Bad, the Old MTV is gone too!

[Sylviastel · 9/10 · 17 November 2009]

Remote Control wasn't your average kind of game show. You have three contestants in recliner with a remote control. You have game show host, Ken Ober, and Colin Quinn as a announcer. I don't remember the prizes but that wasn't the purpose. This thirty minutes of game time was nothing more than entertainment rather than enlightenment. This show premiered on MTV back in the day where music videos were the majority of the network's programming. Remote Control was never about prizes but about the silly knowledge that you get by watching television. Ken Ober was a natural game show host if there ever was one. Hearing upon his passing, I felt compelled to write about how the game show was quite unconventional from other shows. Yes, there was prizes but it was more about having fun and a good time at it.

Eric Clapton Question

[beechcat · 10/10 · 8 March 2008]

My favorite moment on this show was when Ken Ober asked the question, "Name 3 bands that Eric Clapton played with." No one answered, so he changed it to two bands. No one still could answer, so he changed it to one. When no one answered that, he hit the eject button, and kicked all the contestants off the show, and brought in 3 more contestants. To me, that was game show history! I loved it! This was a game show that had to be the most underrated game show in television history. If this game would have been on a prime time network, it would still be on today. I wish that one of the networks would try it out again. I mean, they put on "My Dad is better than Your Dad" for goodness sake!

Ken Ober kicks major butt!

[RNMorton · 16 January 2003]

One of the best game shows in television history, I didn't even remember that Adam Sandler was Stud Boy until I saw this webpage! "Plot" of show was that three contestants answered questions from recliners in Ken Ober's basement. Lots of good comedy as well as real quiz action. Ken Ober is, in my mind, one of the funniest guys to ever appear on television - sort of the Chris Berman of the comedy/rock/quiz world - but he's never been given much of a vehicle to work with beyond this show. There's still time on the clock........

the ultimate sizzling cool show

[nuntukamen · 3 August 2004]

remote control was one of the best and most creatively innovative game shows to ever sparkle on television...its impossible to see a mitsubishi eclipse and not hear kari wuhr's fly girl rap on the top prize...the talent that vested the hip basement stage is a Saturday night live cast knockout...adam sandler was a scream as the juvenile delinquent and its a crime against humanity that mtv doesn't show re-runs of this true classic...colin quinn and ken ober were terrific and filled the show with howls of laughter with the ad-libs that were center of its entertainment...never a weak moment night to night...just fun and hilarity and kari wuhr is hot, hot, hot...c'mon mtv, wake up and smell the coffee; the world will be a better place when this program is aired again

COOL!!!

[pologuy · 29 June 1999]

haha, remote control was cool!!! adam sandler got his start here as the stupid, yet funny, stud boy. this show was so totally 80s too!!! they strapped college students in lazy boys, using a remote control to buzz in. when you lost the wall would suck you in. HAHA!!! it was a great game show too!!! another great show that i grew up with!