As for the remote hunt, there have been a couple things go go missing at my parents' and show back up in the most obvious spot. It has gotten to the point where my dad almost seriously thinks there is something else going on in the house (supernatural). I tend to think he is just losing it.
Thankfully on our main TV the factory TV remote will also work as the Dish remote. And supposedly my phone is supposed to have the ability to be the TV remote, but it doesn't ever recognize our Dish receiver in the set up. Since we have a Samsung TV and I have a Galaxy phone, I can also do screen sharing. I have pulled up shows on HBO Go on my phone or even once an ISU game on the ESPN app and then paired with the TV to watch on the big screen.