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2009 | 2008 | 2001
1-20 of 36 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
After Ken Ober's death, remembering the Gen X touchstone 'Remote Control'
17 November 2009 6:33 PM, PST | EW.com - PopWatch | See recent EW.com - PopWatch news »
Ken Ober, the comedian and TV producer best known for being the host of the late eighties MTV game show Remote Control, died on November 15 at the age of 52. For those of us who were weaned on MTV during the Reagan/Bush era, Remote Control was an important touchstone, tailor-made for Gen Xers—a game show that was all about pop culture, that was deeply ironic about pop culture, that was peppered with absurdist humor from comedian bit players that were about to become household names: Adam Sandler, Denis Leary, Colin Quinn. I remember watching the show religiously with my »
- Jeff Jensen
R.I.P. Ken Ober
17 November 2009 5:00 PM, PST | Getback - TV | See recent Getback - TV news »
The host of one of MTV's early non-music series "Remote Control" passed to that great game show in the sky this week. The 1980s pop culture quiz show tested contestants' knowledge of TV, music videos, and all things entertainment by strapping them into recliners and handing them a remote used to chose categories. Ober was quick-witted and casual, a perfect combo for the MTV fare. He was the Wink Martindale of Generation X, going on to host three more game shows ("Make Me Laugh," "Smush," and "Perfect Match") before trading in his blue cue cards for a job behind the camera. Most recently he produced comedies like "Mind of Mencia" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine." He is credited with helping launch the careers of several comedians including "Rc" regulars like Adam Sandler who said he was one of "sharpest, quickest, sweetest guys I ever met," and Denis Leary added, »
- AmyandNancy
Stars in Rewind: Ken Ober & 'Remote Control'
17 November 2009 3:45 PM, PST | Cinematical | See recent Cinematical news »
Attention children of the '80s: If you haven't already heard, television's Ken Ober died at the age of 52. The cause of death is not yet determined, although his agent noted that Ober "complained of headaches and flu-like symptoms on Saturday night." While he produced shows like Mind of Mencia and The New Adventures of Old Christine, he's probably best known for his time as the host of MTV's '80s quiz show: Remote Control.
Remember it? Three players would get strapped into arm chairs, answer questions about television and film (basically anything that could be found on TV), find food raining down on their heads, and get entertained by the likes of Colin Quinn, Kari Wuhrer, Denis Leary, and Adam Sandler. It was part classic MTV ridiculousness, and part media junky geek party.
In memory of the host and show, I thought I'd take us back in time for »
- Monika Bartyzel
Colin Quinn remembers Ken Ober in his special way
17 November 2009 11:28 AM, PST | AOL - TVSquad | See recent AOL - TVSquad news »
The sudden and shocking of passing of TV writer, producer and host Ken Ober turned a lot of heads. Here's one of Ober's head (ahem) getting turned, for a change.
Collin Quinn, Ober's longtime friend and Remote Control co-host, posted a hilarious picture on his Twitter page of himself, Ober and the uber-cute Kari Wuhrer on the set of their equally hilarious game show.
I'm tempted to let Bob use this for our weekly Subtle Subtitles post, but am worried the funniest of the comments will get us banned from every library in the country assuming, of course, that reading is still going on in America's libraries.
Continue reading Colin Quinn remembers Ken Ober in his special way
Filed under: Other Comedy Shows, Obituaries, Game Show, Reality-Free
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- Danny Gallagher
Ken Ober: 1957-2009
17 November 2009 7:49 AM, PST | Comicmix.com | See recent Comicmix news »
Ken Ober, best known as the host of the MTV game show Remote Control, has died at the age of 52. No cause of death has been identified as yet.
Ober was the host of the series for five seasons on MTV, airing first in 1987. The series helped launched the careers of several notables, including Colin Quinn, Kari Wuhrer, Denis Leary and Adam Sandler. He followed the series as producer of Mind of Mencia for Comedy Central and also as a consulting producer for several episodes of The New Adventures of Old Christine on CBS. Ober got his start as a stand up comedian on Star Search in 1984 where he was named the Comedian Champion.
If you want to get a bit nostalgic with us, come on along with us back to the late 80's... and yes, there may even be an odd comic book tie-in for this episode:
»
- Glenn Hauman
Ken Ober Remembered: Colin Quinn Called Him 'Hilarious And Spontaneous'
17 November 2009 7:42 AM, PST | MTV Newsroom | See recent MTV Newsroom news »
Ken Ober was a unique talent. As the host of the MTV game show "Remote Control" (which ran on the network from 1987 until 1990), he was given the task of not only driving the show (reading questions, announcing prizes, keeping up the pace) but also providing laughs, pausing for skits and interacting with his wacky team of sidekicks, which included future stars Adam Sandler, Dennis Leary and Colin Quinn. The veteran stand-up comic and television producer passed away over the weekend at age 52.
Quinn weighed in on Ober's passing yesterday, but the top MTV News archivists resurrected an interview with him from 1999 (which was taped for an episode of "Uncensored" that contained a behind-the-scenes look at "Remote Control"). Ober and Quinn began on the stand-up circuit in New York in the '80s, so they were old friends who managed to elevate themselves to the strange cable creation that was "Remote Control. »
- Kyle Anderson
Ken Ober, MTV legend and host of ‘Remote Control,’ dead at 52.
17 November 2009 4:28 AM, PST | Atomic Popcorn | See recent Atomic Popcorn news »
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, »
- Jaspers
Sandler & Leary Pay Tribute To Ober
16 November 2009 10:41 PM, PST | WENN | See recent WENN news »
Adam Sandler and Denis Leary have paid tribute to U.S. TV personality Ken Ober, who died on Sunday.
Ober was found dead at his Santa Monica, California home, aged 52. His cause of death was unknown as WENN went to press.
The actor and former game show host was best known for his presenting duties on MTV show Remote Control from 1987 to 1990.
The game show launched the careers of Sandler and Leary, and they have been quick to pay tribute to their mentor.
Sandler says, "Ken Ober was one of the sharpest, quickest, sweetest guys I ever met. He was always a great friend and I will miss him very much."
And Leary echoed his pal's sentiments, adding, "Kenny Ober was and always will be the quickest wit in the room. As the star and host of Remote Control, he was a welcoming ringmaster who helped to kickstart the careers of numerous talents, including Adam Sandler, Colin Quinn and myself.
"He will be remembered always by each of his friends not only for his massive talent but for his true, deep and enduring friendship."
Ober is survived by his mother, father, stepmother and a brother. »
Remembering Ken Ober, The Voice Of 'Remote Control'
16 November 2009 3:16 PM, PST | MTV Newsroom | See recent MTV Newsroom news »
This was a sad day at MTV, as we had a death in the family. Ken Ober, the longtime comedian, television producer and host of early MTV game show "Remote Control," passed away at age 52.
Arguably, Ober's most indelible legacy is "Remote Control," which premiered in 1987 and was one of MTV's first attempts at crafting an original television series. The premise was delightfully low-fi: Ober posited that he hosted a media-obsessed game show out of the basement of his parents' house, and he was joined by a cast of characters who wandered through the set (including fellow comedian and former "Saturday Night Live" cast member Colin Quinn, who acted as the Andy Richter to Ober's Conan O'Brien). The show featured three contestants getting asked a barrage of pop culture questions about movies, music, television shows, sports and, of course, music videos. Along the way, the show was interrupted by comedy skits, »
- Kyle Anderson
Remote Control host Ken Ober dead at 52
16 November 2009 2:27 PM, PST | AOL - TVSquad | See recent AOL - TVSquad news »
Wow, it's one thing to write about the death of someone like Edward Woodward, someone who was older and not in good health, but it's another thing to write about the death of someone only 52. Ken Ober, who hosted the classic (well, in my mind it's a classic) MTV game show Remote Control in the late 80s, died yesterday of unknown causes.
If you've never seen Remote Control, it was a wacky pop culture trivia game show that supposedly was filmed in Ober's basement. Besides being a really fun game show (especially for someone raised on television), it costarred a lot of people who later became household names, such as Adam Sandler, Denis Leary, and Colin Quinn.
Continue reading Remote Control host Ken Ober dead at 52
Filed under: Celebrities, Obituaries, Reality-Free
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- Bob Sassone
Paul F. Tompkins Tweets Confirmation of Ken Ober's Death; Host of MTV's Remote Control Was 52
16 November 2009 11:10 AM, PST | Movieline | See recent Movieline news »
Sad news has been circulating today throughout Twitter, Facebook and elsewhere, that Ken Ober, host of Remote Control -- the MTV game show that featured a pre-fame Colin Quinn and Adam Sandler -- died suddenly over the weekend. No official statement has come from reps for the comedian and TV writer-producer, who in recent years worked on shows like The New Adventures of Old Christine and Mind of Mencia; further confusing the issue are several online reports saying the reports are false. Sadly, however, everything we're hearing is that Ober did pass away, with reputable colleagues like P.F. Tompkins now confirming the news via Twitter. After the jump, some video from 1989 of Ober holding court over Remote Control at the show's tiled podium. Developing »
Ken Ober Remembered By Adam Sandler, Denis Leary, More
16 November 2009 5:55 AM, PST | MTV Music News | See recent MTV Music News news »
Former 'Remote Control' host passed away earlier this week.
By MTV News staff
Photo: MTV
As the news spread on Monday (November 16) of "Remote Control" host Ken Ober's death, his friends, colleagues and former coworkers began paying tribute to his career and his memory. "Remote Control" helped to launch the careers of Adam Sandler and Denis Leary, and they were among the first to send statements to MTV News.
"Ken Ober was one of the sharpest, quickest, sweetest guys I ever met," Sandler said. "He was always a great friend and I will miss him very much."
Leary echoed those sentiments in his statement. "Kenny Ober was and always will be the quickest wit in the room," he wrote. "He was fall-down funny from the moment he was born — a smart, fast and hilarious human being who made many of us, including myself, laugh until we cried. »
Ken Ober: A Remembrance, By Kurt Loder
16 November 2009 3:23 AM, PST | MTV Music News | See recent MTV Music News news »
Comedian/ show host passed away early this week.
Ken Ober in 2006
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images
"Remote Control," in all its fearless goofiness, was a game show so far ahead of its time that TV land still hasn't caught up with it. It was packed with soon-to-be-famous wild-card performers — the wonderfully demented Denis Leary, "Stud Boy" Adam Sandler, and gravelly sidekick Colin Quinn.
And Ken Ober, who died earlier this week of undisclosed causes, presided over their elaborate shenanigans — often just this side of out-of-control — with cheery aplomb. As Ken guided contestants through brilliant question categories like "Dead or Canadian?" and "Beat the Bishop," you could feel a new comedy form being invented by guys who had little in the way of dignity or better prospects to lose. What a time it was.
Ken was a wonderfully warm and grounded guy — the iconic success he achieved with "Remote Control" never »
'Remote Control' Host Ken Ober Dead At 52
16 November 2009 1:48 AM, PST | MTV Music News | See recent MTV Music News news »
Cause of comedian's death was not clear at press time.
By Eric Ditzian
Ken Ober in 2004
Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images
Longtime MTV "Remote Control" host Ken Ober has passed away at the age of 52, the comedian's representative confirmed to MTV News. The cause of his death was not available at press time.
Ober's career began in the mid-1980s with a turn on the talent competition "Star Search" and in more recent years segued into behind-the-scenes production positions on comedy shows like "Mind of Mencia" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine."
Starting in 1987, Ober hosted five seasons of "Remote Control," which, along with "Club MTV" and "The Week In Rock," was MTV's first foray into series television. A quiz show that tested contestants' pop-culture knowledge, the set bore a strong resemblance to a suburban home's basement. Standing behind a makeshift lectern and next to a giant television screen that helped guide the show, »
Chelsea Handler's advice for the impending Holidays
15 November 2009 12:48 PM, PST | Monsters and Critics | See recent Monsters and Critics news »
Chelsea Handler is a unique talent who combines sexy with satire, and has brilliant timing instincts that let her guests on her hip talk show "Chelsea Lately" do themselves in often times by their own words. She isn't afraid to feature equally funny comics in an opening bullpen-style segment that hearkens the old Colin Quinn "Tough Crowd" show, as they dissect pop headlines and riff on celebrity sacred cows. It's not a chat show to be trifled with. Now Chelsea is working her body and face for Playboy, a magazine that appreciates a witty broad as much as they do a great pair of gams and knockers. The December issue of the venerated men's magazine - as »
- April MacIntyre
Grown Ups - First trailer for the comedy starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock and Rob Schneider.
13 November 2009 1:30 PM, PST | Movie Jungle | See recent Movie Jungle news »
Check out the first trailer for Sony Pictures' "Grown Ups," starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Salma Hayek, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Maya Rudolph, Colin Quinn and Norm MacDonald. The comedy opens on June 25th and is helmed by Dennis Dugan from the writing by Fred Wolf. Keep up to date with future additions in the "Grown Ups" group. Grown Ups, starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and David Spade, is a comedy about five friends and former teammates who reunite years later to honor the passing of their childhood basketball coach. With their wives (Salma Hayek, Maria Bello, Maya Rudolph) and kids in tow, they spend the Fourth of July holiday weekend together at the lake house »
‘Grown Ups’ Trailer: Is It Funny?
13 November 2009 11:51 AM, PST | ScreenRant.com | See recent Screen Rant news »
Columbia Pictures has just released the teaser trailer for their upcoming comedy Grown Ups, staring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider and David Spade. While all five actors have previously worked together, this film marks the first time such a comedic ensemble has been put together in a starring role.
Here’s the synopsis:
Five friends and former teammates reunite years later to honor the passing of their childhood basketball coach. With their wives and kids in tow, they spend the Fourth of July holiday weekend together at the lake house where they celebrated their championship years earlier. Picking up where they left off, they discover why growing older doesn’t mean growing up.
While I’m sure this film is not going to be anywhere near as funny as it should be (considering all the talent involved), there is still some hope as Sandler, James, Rock, Schneider »
- Anthony Ocasio
First Trailer for Grown Ups Arrives
12 November 2009 12:42 PM, PST | MovieWeb | See recent MovieWeb news »
Yahoo! Movies has just debuted the first trailer from the new comedy Grown Ups, which is set for a summer release on June 25, 2010. Click below to watch this first trailer from this new ensemble comedy from Happy Madison.
Grown Ups stars Kevin James, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Salma Hayek, Maya Rudolph, Colin Quinn, Maria Bello and will be released nationwide on June 25, 2010.
»
Ashley and Mary-Kate Keep Their Cool With a Full House
10 November 2009 11:00 AM, PST | Popsugar.com | See recent Popsugar news »
It was a mini Full House reunion last night at the Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine benefit in NYC, which was held to honor the Scleroderma Research Foundation. Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen posed alongside their on-screen dad Bob Saget, who also brought his own daughters Lara and Aubrey. John Stamos was there as well, and he later entertained the crowd with Bob and SNL's Seth Meyers. The Olsens took a break from promoting Olsenboye long enough to support the cause close to Bob's heart, though their latest line is apparently already on clearance. View 15 Photos › To see more from the event, just read more. View 15 Photos › Images include: Seth Meyers, Caryn Zucker, Colin Quinn, John Stamos, Mary-Kate Olsen, Bob Saget, Ashley Olsen, Jeff Ross, Aubrey Saget, Lara Saget »
- PopSugar
Tracy Morgan and Chris Kattan: Not Really on Friendly Terms
14 October 2009 11:45 PM, PDT | Celebuzz.com | See recent Celebuzz news »
In case this wasn't already evident, Tracy Morgan isn't one to mince words. Case in point, the audio version of Morgan's new autobiography, I Am the New Black. While discussing his rise through the ranks of Saturday Night Live, the 30 Rock funnyman veers just a little off the script to talk about which of his SNL cohorts he admires, and which he wouldn't cross the street to spit on. In Morgan's eye, Will Ferrell, Colin Quinn and Molly Shannon are A-ok. Chris Kattan and Cheri Oteri? Not so much. Quoth Morgan, "All I have to say about that is, where's Chris Kattan now? Where's Cheri »
- Celebuzz
2009 | 2008 | 2001
1-20 of 36 articles from 2009 « Prev | Next »
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