Some features inaccessible without touchpad?

Is it possible to access the Quick Bar with the Siri remote touchpad turned off? (I find it more annoying than useful.) I thought I read that you could tap (or double-tap) down, but it's not working.

Pressing down on the remote shows it.

Ok, I figured it out. It only works if you have Channel Surfing turned off. I didn't think that would affect watching a recording, but apparently it does.