Remote Control part 1 - Behind the Scenes 1988

[BBQTater]

4minutes 15 seconds in....HA ha...Me and my buddy sitting there in the Audience

[ChrisIller]

@BBQTater Glad you found the video. Who knew I had you on my home video all these years?

[chrisuncleahmad]

What were Ken and Kari like in person?

[ChrisIller]

@chrisuncleahmad I liked both Ken and Kari.  I liked the whole troop. Bunch of nice people with a good sense of humor.

[reversekarma1]

the beginning of the end for music on MUSIC television

[allnewtpir]

Couple of questions:

When & how did you set up the Craftmatic & the board for the endgame?

Were the "Snack Breaks" actual food?

Was Steve Trecase playing the theme live at the start of the show?

[ChrisIller]

They just wheeled the stuff out during the commercial break.

Yes, it was actual food on the snack breaks.

I believe the theme song was pre-recorded, but who took over right after the theme song was done.

[messngretz]

Disney MGM Studios theme park opened in 1989. Were the working studios really open prior to that?

[ChrisIller]

Yep. The them park was in the process of being finished, but when it opened they wanted to give tours of the productions that were going on there. So the Soundstages were the first things built. Superboy (TV series) was filming on Stage 1 in September of 1988. Remote Control came in around November 1988 for 2 months on Stage 2. Mickey Mouse Club (MMC) was on Stage 3. All before the theme park opened to guests. You have to make sure everything is before you invited the public in, right?

[messngretz]

yeah makes sense...what was the first season of Remote Control and where did the production take place, Cali?

I remember finally getting cable in NY back in 1985, it was BQ Cable (Brooklyn-Queens). It was the greatest.

[ChrisIller]

I only worked on the 3rd season...the only season shot in Florida, because I was living in Florida. I'm pretty sure the first two seasons were shot in New York City...or at least in the tri-state area.

[TheQuinnNash]

R.I.P. Ken Ober.

Thanks for the memories

[JoseTwitterFan]

R.I.P. Ken Ober

July 3, 1957 November 15, 2009

[emlsox4life]

I like when you went backstage and see what really goes on when somebody went Off The Air.

[taiwanbrownshow]

Phil Moore... cool....! I never knew what he did before Nick Arcade!

[BigCheeseMC26280]

lol, that guy making the audience clap.

[Wheeloffortunefan999]

i remember my friend used to have a HUGE crush on phil moore,

[akat32]

Pretty cool foot in the door job for a kid. Can I ask how you got that job?

[ChrisIller]

I was in college, and in Orlando. They just opened up Disney MGM studios, and I was doing an internship on another TV show, and MTV moved in next door to do this show for a season. They were looking for extra help...so I applied.

[akat32]

Right place, right time. Good for you. Hope it was a springboard for better things to come.

[scttlessma]

Did you ever work with Adam Sandler? and how is he as a regular guy?

[taiwanbrownshow]

what soundstage was this? I worked at disney/mgm... but as a castmember

[ChrisIller]

Soundstage #2. The one right in the middle. Superboy was filming on Stage #1 and MMC was filming on Stage #3. After Superboy moved on, MMC went over to Stage #1.

[taiwanbrownshow]

wow thanks man... I am actually 22 so I was one here... lol! I worked at Disney 2/3 years ago and stage 1 is an attraction and 3 is storage... I've gone in 3 a few times... Cool to see Disney / MGM was really a working studio... I kept reading that for disney to have "mgm" it had to be a studio and "mgm" wanted out after dis stopped renting out the studios / purposely raised the prices. THANKS FOR THE INFO AND VIDEO!

[starqz]

Oh I fuckin LOVED this show!!

[Wheeloffortunefan999]

(humming "remote control" theme song)

[jordanhass]

Phil Moore is a jerkbag. No wonder he couldn't get off Nickeloden.

[estestim]

is that Phil Moore From Nick Arcade? i mean before he was on nick arcade he still look the same.

[ChrisIller]

Yes, that is Phil Moore from Nick Arcade...before he was on nick arcade. MTV hired Phil as the warm up guy for Remote Control...then he got the gig at Nick Arcade...also owned by MTV.

[Wheeloffortunefan999]

wow.

[TimothyRed1990]

yeah but this was totally a mistake, and ken and colin spot it before she does. she is like 18, and mortified. its classic!!

[slivnok]

Great scott!!!! What great footage! It's 1989, and people wear denum jackets and L.A. Gear shoes! This stuff is priceless. BTW, Timothy Red. I'd be interested, but Kari made a living letting her boob pop out for a while.

[TimothyRed1990]

ive got a vhs of kari wuhrer's boob slipping out, during end credits. but its on vhs, any interest?

[polytechnickk]

ummm......OK

[newhat07]

YES.

[Haynes1994]

I attended a taping of this show in the fall or winter of 1988 in Florida. My chorus group was recruited to attend while we were at Epcot. I would LOVE to find a copy of it!!

[garysgrl1]

I bet it was man....those were the days right?? I wish that this generation could appreciate what good music is and know how great MTV "use" to be. Sorry that ya dont stay in touch w/ anyone. I have seen the Daily Buzz, here (in Va.) I think its an alright show. Hey, thnx for responding.....you're a cool dude. Its amazing what talent that lil show brought the industry...can I get the show on DVD that you know of?? Thnx!

[ChrisIller]

I have a few of the episodes on DVD...I recorded them back in the day. Glad to hear you've seen the Daily Buzz. I was the Marketing Director for the show for a couple years, but have kind of been with them since they started. They are owned by the same company I currently work for. I still think Ken Ober would be a good host for the Daily Buzz. Oh well.

[garysgrl1]

I remember this show and watching it back in '88-'89. I loved it!!!! What are you up to now ChrisIller?? Love to hear back!!!

[ChrisIller]

I'm a Creative Services Director at a TV station duopoly in New Mexico. I help with ad campaigns, contests, promotions, etc. So I'm still in the TV biz.

[garysgrl1]

Well, thats wuzzup! Happy to hear that you are still in the bussiness. Obviousley, this is something you enjoy. So, were you there when Adam Sandler made his occasional appearance(s)? Also, do you stay in touch w/ any one from the show. One last comment....I am part of the MTV generation. I really am disappointed that it is not the way it use to be. Then, it was all about the music. Thats why I enjoyed "Remote Control," believe it or not I actually learned something.

[ChrisIller]

I am with you on the MTV stuff. I hate the channel now. It's just awful.

Yes, I was there when Adam made his appearances on Remote Control. I did his cue cards. I don't keep in touch with any of them.

[ChrisIller]

I did run into Colin last year when I was working on a TV show called The Daily Buzz. He came on as a guest and we chatted about those days. But he didn't seem to remember me specifically...but I do look different then I did 17 years ago.

[ChrisIller]

I talked to Ken Ober on the phone about 3 years ago when I was just starting at that TV show I just mentioned. I called him up to see if he would be interested in being one of our hosts. But he declined since he was currently working with Colin's show on Comedy Central. But I haven't seen any of the others since back then. It was a fun time.

[heine71]

This was done in Florida? Remote Control was taped in either Philadelphia or New York prior to this.

[ChrisIller]

Yes...the third season was done in Florida at Disney MGM Studios just prior to their grand opening...thats when I worked on the show. As far as I know the rest of the seasons were done in New York City.

[mbetush]

wow, phil moore from nick arcade fame at about the 3:10 mark.

[ChrisIller]

Yep, he was the audience warm up guy for the show. A funny side note with that. When Remote Control came to Florida to do a season of the show, they hired another audience warm up guy (comedian) who didn't work out and was fired after the first or second day, and Phil Moore was brought in. The guy that was fired...was Darrell Hammond. He later went on to work with Colin Quinn on Saturday Night Live.

[smashwhammy]

Was this before, during, or after his time hosting Nick Arcade?

[ChrisIller]

It was before.