History Series / RemoteControl

Losers were ceremoniously thrown "Off the Air" and [[EjectTheLoser yanked through the back wall while still in their chairs]]. This part was copied from the 1975 ''[[Series/MusicalChairs1975 Musical Chairs]]'', albeit in [[FamilyUnfriendlyViolence a much more violent manner]].

Contestants played by selecting one of nine channels on the "Big [[ProductPlacement Zenith]]", each of which represented a category; Ober would then ask questions related to that category for increasing amounts of points. Of course, some of the channels were less pleasant than others: "[[SubvertedKidsShow Ranger Bob]]" and "Home Shopping Zone" took away points, and others such as "Wheel of Torture" and "[[DoubleEntendre Beat the Bishop]]" required the contestant to complete (or endure) a challenge to earn the points.

** The first season episodes in general were this: simpler set (including the Big Zenith being to Ken's left instead of the right), a slightly-different Off the Air (and all three chairs were simply pulled back into the wall), no SpeedRound, and often the category cards would be shown full-screen to the viewers, as opposed to just on the Big Zenith. The Big Zenith's indicator lights also didn't turn red to signify that channel was closed off.

* ShoutOut: '''Constantly''', to {{Game Show Host}}s, other shows, etc. For example, The Bob Eubanks head PEZ Dispenser. Parodied on some episodes which were themed "salutes" to random objects.

* ResetButton: Employed in an early episode in which all three contestants were completely clueless; at the end of Round 1, Ober and his "mother" had all three of them yanked Off the Air simultaneously, and they were replaced with new players picked from the audience after the commercial break.

* EjectTheLoser: While not the first to use it, this is the show that made an art form of it. While losing contestants were originally just sent back through the breakaway wall, this soon expanded to different walls that reacted in various ways as well as one chair that flipped the contestant upwards and backwards out of the studio. The first contestant to go (via "Off the Air") was additionally taunted by Ober and Quinn while the audience sang a CrowdSong. Turned UpToEleven with computer and video game adaptations of the game, which showed the contestants being ''[[MadeOfExplodium blown up]] or [[ShockAndAwe struck by lightning]]'' (although this may be more due to the limitations of the software at that time, which might not have been capable of animating the actual ejections as seen on the show). Not everyone had a sense of humor about it: in his appearance, Music/LLCoolJ positioned a grumpy-looking bodyguard directly behind his chair to avoid getting tossed.

** The first season episodes in general were this: simpler set, a slightly-different Off the Air (and all three chairs were simply pulled back into the wall), no SpeedRound, and often the category cards would be shown full-screen to the viewers, as opposed to just on the Big Zenith. The Big Zenith's indicator lights also didn't turn red to signify that channel was closed off.

* EjectTheLoser: While not the first to use it, this is the show that made an art form of it. While losing contestants were originally just sent back through the breakaway wall, this soon expanded to different walls that reacted in various ways as well as one chair that flipped the contestant upwards and backwards out of the studio. The first contestant to go (via "Off the Air") was additionally taunted by Ober and Quinn while the audience sang a CrowdSong. Turned UpToEleven with computer and video game adaptations of the game, which showed the contestants being ''[[MadeOfExplodium blown up]] or [[ShockAndAwe struck by lightning]]'' (although this may be more due to the limitations of the software at that time, which might not have been capable of animating the actual ejections as seen on the show).

GameShow about TV trivia that was Creator/{{MTV}}'s first venture out of music videos (and thus the very beginning of NetworkDecay to some). The premise was that host Ken Ober grew up addicted to game shows and longed to host his own, [[StartMyOwn so he set one up in his basement]] and bombarded contestants that dared to enter with [[BreadEggsMilkSquick questions about television, junk food, and threats to their well-being]]. The supporting cast was shockingly good for a low-budget cable show of the era and featured Creator/AdamSandler and Colin Quinn before they made it to ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''; Creator/DenisLeary before he developed ''Series/RescueMe''; actresses Marisol Massey, Creator/KariWuhrer and Alicia Coppola, who have worked consistently in film and TV since then; and future TV writer Rick Rosner.

* GettingCrapPastTheRadar

* ConsolationPrize: Losers got a "Television's Greatest Hits" CD and a [[ProductPlacement Zenith remote control]].

* ExpositoryThemeTune: This little gem:

** The first season episodes in general were this- simpler set, more music being played during the rounds, and often the category cards would be shown full-screen to the viewers, as opposed to just on the Big Zenith. The Big Zenith's indicator lights also didn't turn red to signify that channel was closed off.

* TransAtlanticEquivalent: Had several foreign adaptations (including Britain and Australia), while Canada had the equivalent show ''Test Pattern'' which, as befitting Creator/MuchMusic content of the time was low-budget (yes, even lower-budget than this show was) but still tons of fun.

[[quoteright:294:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/remotecontrol_3129.jpg]]

* DoubleTheDollars

* [[DoubleTheDollars Double the Points]]
* EjectTheLoser: While not the first to use it, this is the show that made an art form of it. While losing contestants were originally just sent back through the breakaway wall, this soon expanded to different walls that reacted in various ways as well as one chair that flipped the contestant upwards and backwards out of the studio. The first contestant to go (via "Off the Air") was additionally taunted by Ober and Quinn while the audience sang a CrowdSong.
** Turned UpToEleven with computer and video game adaptations of the game, which showed the contestants being ''[[MadeOfExplodium blown up]] or [[ShockAndAwe struck by lightning]]'' (although this may be more due to the limitations of the software at that time, which might not have been capable of animating the actual ejections as seen on the show).

->Kenny wasn't like the other kids,
->Remote Control!
->TV mattered, nothing else did!
->Remote Control!
->Girls said yes, but he said no!
->Remote Control!
->Now he's got his own game show!
->Remote Control!

* {{Zonk}}: The product you were forced to "buy" with your points if you hit "Home Shopping Zone" or "Fashion Zone".

* [[ExpositoryThemeTune Expository]] [[TitleThemeTune Title]] ThemeTune: "Kenny wasn't like the other kids... ''Remote Control''!"
* MsFanservice: Kari. The other hostesses, to an extent.

* LongRunner: It ran for four years, but the show claimed it had been around for ''much'' longer.

* PungeonMaster / SoUnfunnyItsFunny: PlayedForLaughs with "Mr. Baggy Pants".

* ShoutOut: '''Constantly''', to {{Game Show Host}}s, other shows, etc. Parodied on some episodes which were themed "salutes" to random objects.
** The Bob Eubanks head PEZ Dispenser.

** In the pilot episodes only, a penalty space marked "Off The Air" [[OneHitKill eliminated the contestant landing on that category from further play]]. From the second episode onward, all contestants played two standard rounds, with the lowest-performing contestant eliminated thereafter.

GameShow about TV trivia that was Creator/{{MTV}}'s first venture out of music videos (and thus the very beginning of NetworkDecay to some). The premise was that host Ken Ober grew up addicted to game shows and longed to host his own, [[StartMyOwn so he set one up in his basement]] and bombarded contestants that dared to enter with questions about [[BreadEggsMilkSquick television, junk food, and threats to their well-being]]. The supporting cast was shockingly good for a low-budget cable show of the era and featured Creator/AdamSandler and Colin Quinn before they made it to ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''; Creator/DenisLeary before he developed ''Series/RescueMe''; actresses Marisol Massey, Creator/KariWuhrer and Alicia Coppola, who have worked consistently in film and TV since then; and future TV writer Rick Rosner.

** MTV (season 1): Nine monitors playing nine screens, some sideways, upside down etc. The player had to identify the artists in 30 seconds while strapped onto a [[ProductPlacement Craftmatic Adjustable Bed]].

* SpecialGuest: ''Series/TheNewlywedGame'' and ''CardSharks'' host Bob Eubanks paid a visit to the show in Season 2, ostensibly to give Ken some pointers on how to host. The episode is especially hilarious for when one of the contestants began heckling Bob ("You got your own show - let Ken do his business here!"), and [[WhatTheHellPlayer Bob responds in kind]] ("Don't let your mouth write a check your butt can't cash!") The SpeedRound then consisted of one word from a TV show's title being replaced with "Whoopie", and the contestants having to supply the correct word.

* BonusRound: Two were done, each involving getting a certain number of answers. Each answer won a prize, while getting all the answers also earned a grand prize:

** MTV: Nine monitors playing nine screens, some sideways, upside down etc. The player had to identify the artists in 30 seconds while strapped onto a [[ProductPlacement Craftmatic Adjustable Bed]].

GameShow about TV trivia that was Creator/{{MTV}}'s first venture out of music videos (and thus the very beginning of NetworkDecay to some). The premise was that host Ken Ober grew up addicted to game shows and longed to host his own, [[StartMyOwn so he set one up in his basement]] and bombarded contestants that dared to enter with questions about [[BreadEggsMilkSquick television, junk food, and threats to their well-being]]. The supporting cast was shockingly good for a low-budget cable show of the era and featured Creator/AdamSandler and Colin Quinn before they made it to ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''; Creator/DenisLeary before he developed ''Series/RescueMe''; actresses Creator/KariWuhrer and Alicia Coppola, who have worked consistently in film and TV since then; and future TV writer Rick Rosner.

The show originally aired from December 7, 1987 until December 13, 1991, with a concurrent syndicated version running for the 1989-90 season. Two episodes (one each from the first and last seasons) were aired by MTV[[note]](2 in the wee hours of the morning)[[/note]] in tribute after Ober's death in late 2009.

* HomeGame: A board game, a PC version, and a video game for the NintendoEntertainmentSystem.

-->--'''Colin Quinn''', introducing host Ken Ober.

GameShow about TV trivia that was Creator/{{MTV}}'s first venture out of music videos (and thus the very beginning of NetworkDecay to some). The premise was that host Ken Ober grew up addicted to game shows and longed to host his own, [[StartMyOwn so he set one up in his basement]] and bombarded contestants that dared to enter with questions about [[BreadEggsMilkSquick television, junk food, and threats to their well-being]]. The supporting cast was shockingly good for a low-budget cable show of the era and featured Creator/AdamSandler and Colin Quinn before they made it to ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''; Creator/DenisLeary before he developed ''Series/RescueMe''; actresses Kari Wuhrer and Alicia Coppola, who have worked consistently in film and TV since then; and future TV writer Rick Rosner.

GameShow about TV trivia that was Creator/{{MTV}}'s first venture out of music videos (and thus the very beginning of NetworkDecay to some). The premise was that host Ken Ober grew up addicted to game shows and longed to host his own, [[StartMyOwn so he set one up in his basement]] and bombarded contestants that dared to enter with questions about [[BreadEggsMilkSquick television, junk food, and threats to their well-being]]. The supporting cast was shockingly good for a low-budget cable show of the era and featured Creator/AdamSandler and Colin Quinn before they made it to ''Series/SaturdayNightLive''; Creator/DenisLeary before he developed ''RescueMe''; actresses Kari Wuhrer and Alicia Coppola, who have worked consistently in film and TV since then; and future TV writer Rick Rosner.