"Remote Control" Host Ken Ober, Dies

Ah man! Ken Ober, the host of MTV’s Remote Control has passed away at 52 in Los Angeles.

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.

I remember watching “Remote Control” on MTV when I was in school. It was when MTV still played videos, so some of you might be too young to know what I’m talking about.

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.

Colin Quinn was my favorite part of the show. Well, that and the falling snacks from the ceiling during breaks.

There’s no word on cause of death for Ken.

What a bummer.