Gene Simmons - Family Jewels on A&E

[Lzen]

Let me preface this by saying that I'm really not into the whole reality show fad that's been dominating television for the past 5 years or so. However, a couple of recent shows have piqued my interest.

The newest one is Gene Simmons - Family Jewels, which debuted last night on A & E. They showed 2 episodes back to back. I didn't think I'd be that interested when I first saw the previews, but I gotta say that I enjoyed it. Simmons is a character. And his family seems like a typical family (other than the being rich and famous part). This isn't like Ozzy's show where everyone watched it because people can't help but watch a disaster(the Osbournes is/was like watching a car wreck).

[Nzoner]

I watched both episodes and liked it,of course with it being on Monday I'll have to record it if I plan to keep up,no way is MNF Countdown and the like getting bumped for it.

[jlscorpio]

This show kix Ozzy's @$$

[Stewie]

I didn't watch this show when it first came out, but I've been recording it on A&E recently which is showing several shows per week. Much better than Ozzy and his kids seem to be fairly normal and pretty funny. Gene's alot different than what I envisioned.

[JD10367]

I've watched this show for a while. Gene is pretty much a smart Ozzy. He's great at business but just as clueless as Ozzy when it comes to family.

It's been a fairly lighthearted show throughout, with the darker undertone of Gene and Shannon's unusual relationship. That has come to the forefront as their relationship is either crumbling or strengthening, depending on how it goes. I think the teaser for the next (and IIRC final) episode of the season makes it looks like he finally proposes; I just wonder, after all the years of suffering silently, if Shannon hasn't had enough, 'cause it would be tragically funny if she says no (after years of waiting for him to ask).

[Brock]

It needed a ratings boost, apparently.

[Jawshco]

This show should have ended before this. It was fun seeing Gene & Fam doing their thing, but now the kids have moved on and Gene's therapy stuff is just depressing. It's no longer something I want to see. Some things should be private- however, this may be the most scripted reality show I've watched.

[Easy 6]

I'd watched several episodes over the years but nothing that could be called 'regular viewing', tho i've recently started watching again when i can & i gotta say i really do enjoy it because they are by far the most down to earth, realistic reality family i've ever watched.

The ones i've been into lately are all about the possible divorce & i honestly dont see any fakery for ratings, all i see is a real family in turmoil & God knows i've seen enough turmoil to spot a fake when i see it.

They've done a killer job raising their kids, i really like both of them, they are as unpretentious & cool as any kids that rich & famous can be... very Un-Hollywood in so many ways.

[JD10367]

Originally Posted by Jawshco

This show should have ended before this. It was fun seeing Gene & Fam doing their thing, but now the kids have moved on and Gene's therapy stuff is just depressing. It's no longer something I want to see. Some things should be private- however, this may be the most scripted reality show I've watched.

I totally disagree, and I don't know what you see that makes you think it's scripted.

In fact, in the most recent episodes the daughter Sophie clearly didn't want to talk about family issues in front of the camera because she didn't think it was the place for it. Her mom Shannon basically said, "Well, this IS a reality show...". Which I found cool of her. Yeah, it's voyeuristic to watch people's dirty laundry being aired; on the other hand, if you can take the big paychecks from the cable network for showing fluff-filled half-hours of your life, then you can sack up and earn the money when things don't go so rosy and you have to show some of the seamier side.

[BigRedChief]

Originally Posted by JD10367

I totally disagree, and I don't know what you see that makes you think it's scripted.

In fact, in the most recent episodes the daughter Sophie clearly didn't want to talk about family issues in front of the camera because she didn't think it was the place for it. Her mom Shannon basically said, "Well, this IS a reality show...". Which I found cool of her. Yeah, it's voyeuristic to watch people's dirty laundry being aired; on the other hand, if you can take the big paychecks from the cable network for showing fluff-filled half-hours of your life, then you can sack up and earn the money when things don't go so rosy and you have to show some of the seamier side.

I saw the shows where gene went to Israel and visited his dads grave. No way that was fake, he's not that good of an actor. Pretty damn good tv.

[BigRock]

Originally Posted by JD10367

I don't know what you see that makes you think it's scripted.

Well, Gene, Shannon, and the shrink always wearing the exact same clothes during the counseling scenes doesn't help the realism. Seriously, if you're going to film all those scenes in one day, at least change your outfit a few times.

Using actors to play everyday people, as they've done in previous seasons, doesn't exactly put forth a strong feeling of realism either. There's an episode where Shannon and her sister buy something in an antique store and find these old love letters in it. So they track down the woman who the letters were sent to, who's now an old lady.

The first time I saw that episode, literally, the very same day, I saw the same old lady on a rerun of Everybody Loves Raymond.

[Jawshco]

Originally Posted by BigRock

Well, Gene, Shannon, and the shrink always wearing the exact same clothes during the counseling scenes doesn't help the realism. Seriously, if you're going to film all those scenes in one day, at least change your outfit a few times.

Using actors to play everyday people, as they've done in previous seasons, doesn't exactly put forth a strong feeling of realism either. There's an episode where Shannon and her sister buy something in an antique store and find these old love letters in it. So they track down the woman who the letters were sent to, who's now an old lady.

The first time I saw that episode, literally, the very same day, I saw the same old lady on a rerun of Everybody Loves Raymond.

Everything in the show seems very intentional. The entire show in Canada was a big set up to show the contrast from the last episode and to highight Gene's weaknesses as a partner to Shannon.

Comparing Ozzy and Gene musically is tough. Both have huge hits. Ozzy was more influential overall, but KISS is pretty high up there too. I prefer Sabbath & agree that Ozzy thrived off of being around talented musicians (Geezer Butler even wrote most of his lyrics in Sabbath), but I respect Gene too. Musicians give Gene flack for being crap bassist, but as a bassist- the guy is solid and writes some cool licks. He's not in Geddy's league, but he doesn't need to be. That quick lick of his in Detroit Rock City is as technical as Gene ever need be, and it's awesome because of that. And I prefer Gene's singing to Paul's FWIW.

[Easy 6]

Originally Posted by Jawshco

Everything in the show seems very intentional. The entire show in Canada was a big set up to show the contrast from the last episode and to highight Gene's weaknesses as a partner to Shannon.

Comparing Ozzy and Gene musically is tough. Both have huge hits. Ozzy was more influential overall, but KISS is pretty high up there too. I prefer Sabbath & agree that Ozzy thrived off of being around talented musicians (Geezer Butler even wrote most of his lyrics in Sabbath), but I respect Gene too. Musicians give Gene flack for being crap bassist, but as a bassist- the guy is solid and writes some cool licks. He's not in Geddy's league, but he doesn't need to be. That quick lick of his in Detroit Rock City is as technical as Gene ever need be, and it's awesome because of that. And I prefer Gene's singing to Paul's FWIW.

Dammer! you had me right up to where you said Genes a better singer than Paul.

[Stewie]

Originally Posted by BigRock

Using actors to play everyday people, as they've done in previous seasons, doesn't exactly put forth a strong feeling of realism either. There's an episode where Shannon and her sister buy something in an antique store and find these old love letters in it. So they track down the woman who the letters were sent to, who's now an old lady.

The first time I saw that episode, literally, the very same day, I saw the same old lady on a rerun of Everybody Loves Raymond.

I think you missed the point of that episode. The old lady is an actress and her son is involved in the business. That's why Shannon and Tracy were so embarrassed when they found out the letters were props and the lady's son used his mom's name on the envelopes.

[BigRock]

Originally Posted by Stewie

I think you missed the point of that episode. The old lady is an actress and her son is involved in the business. That's why Shannon and Tracy were so embarrassed when they found out the letters were props and the lady's son used his mom's name on the envelopes.

Uh-huh.

Except they never actually said the old lady was an actress. They did say her son was a propmaster on a TV show, and apparently he was the world's most thorough propmaster, since even though nobody would ever see what was inside these prop envelopes he created, he actually wrote dozens of fake love letters to put in them. Fake letters that were so touching and well-written that two grown women wept while reading them.

And they said the old lady's name was Esther Cooper, when it's actually Norma Michaels.

But other than that, I'm sure it was completely on the level.