Ken Ober, best (and only?) known as the host of the 1980s-era MTV game show "Remote Control," was found dead over the weekend in his home in Santa Monica. He was 52, and you may insert your "cancelled" jokes here.The cause was not immediately known, but Kari Wurher is not suspect.
Lee Kernis, who represented Ober, confirmed the death, saying he was last heard from on Saturday night, when he spoke to a friend and complained of a headache and flu-like symptoms. Ober told the friend that he was going to take something and would see a doctor.
His breakthrough came from the national exposure as a contestant on "Star Search," reaching the semifinal round in the comedy competition, when MTV hired him in 1987 to be the host of "Remote Control." It was among the network's first original series to focus on nonmusical content. "Remote Control" tested participants' knowledge of television, music-video and pop-culture trivia. The show, which was a launching pad for the careers of comedians like Adam Sandler and Colin Quinn, drew much of its sarcastic, self-mocking spirit from Ober, who ran the program like a late-night talk show (or frat party) and gleefully teased players who gave wrong answers.
In recent years Ober was a producer on "comedy" (yes, in quotes) series like "Mind of Mencia" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine."
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