Alright, picture this: it's the early 90s. Leg warmers are fading, grunge is blooming, and MTV is...well, MTV is being MTV. Music videos are king, but a little something *different* is brewing.
Before There Was "Real World"...
We often think of The Real World as MTV's grand entrance into the world of reality TV. It's iconic! The theme song is stuck in your head *right now*, isn't it? (Sorry, not sorry.)
But hold on a second! Before Puck, before Pedro, before the endless drama of sharing a bathroom with seven strangers...there was something else. Something wilder. Something...more '80s.
Enter "Remote Control"
Prepare yourself for a blast from the past: Remote Control. Yes, you read that right! Think game show meets sketch comedy meets…your slightly unhinged friend's basement.
This show, which premiered in 1987, was all about contestants answering pop culture trivia while lounging on couches shaped like, you guessed it, giant recliners. The goal? To avoid getting "zapped" out of the game!
Seriously, contestants got literally ejected from their comfy seats by a monstrous hand appearing from behind the set when they answered questions incorrectly. It was gloriously cheesy!
Why "Remote Control" Is the OG
Okay, so you might be thinking, "A game show? That's not reality TV!" But hear me out. Remote Control wasn’t just any game show. It was a game show that was ridiculously aware that it was a game show.
It was packed with quirky characters, ridiculous scenarios, and a healthy dose of self-deprecating humor. Remember, back then, TV wasn't all that self-aware.
The host, Ken Ober, was the king of sarcasm and eye-rolling. The "VJ" (before VJs were a THING!), Colin Quinn, provided running commentary and generally acted like he couldn't believe he was getting paid for this.
Beyond the Trivia
The beauty of Remote Control was in its embrace of the absurd. It celebrated pop culture in the most ridiculous way possible. It was like a party that you were invited to, and everyone was in on the joke.
Sure, the questions were about TV, movies, and music, but it wasn't just about knowing the answers. It was about being cool, being quick-witted, and being able to roll with the punches (or the giant hand that throws you off a sofa).
Imagine a world where you got points for knowing the name of Punky Brewster's dog. That was Remote Control!
Pure unadulterated, gloriously '80s fun.
The Verdict
While The Real World definitely paved the way for modern reality TV as we know it, let’s not forget the pioneer that was Remote Control. It wasn't about "real" people in "real" situations, but it was about *entertaining* people in a way that felt fresh and rebellious.
So next time you're binge-watching your favorite reality show, take a moment to remember Remote Control, the delightfully wacky ancestor that paved the way. It was the beginning of MTV embracing the, at the time, unheard-of concept of everyday people on TV.
It might not have been "reality" in the strictest sense, but it was certainly real entertainment. And that's what MTV was all about, after all.
