What was the title of MTV’s first original non-music program, launched in 1987?

Remote Control was MTV’s first original non-music program, launched in 1987.

Remote Control premiered on MTV in 1987 as a comedy game show created by Michael Dugan and Joe Davola. Ken Ober hosted the program, while Colin Quinn served as announcer and several future television personalities appeared in its cast. Contestants answered questions from categories presented through a fictional television set.

The show was deliberately different from MTV’s standard music-video schedule. Its premise followed a cable-TV-obsessed character named Stanley, allowing the series to parody television habits while still fitting the channel’s irreverent tone. Its success demonstrated that MTV could build original entertainment around comedy and games rather than music videos.

Yo! MTV Raps and Club MTV were important music programs, but neither was the channel’s first original non-music series. 120 Minutes was also a music program. Remote Control is therefore the specific title associated with MTV’s early expansion into original non-music programming.