Product Details

• Actors: Shannon Tweed, Nick Simmons, Sophie Simmons, Gene Simmons, Tracy Tweed
• Directors: Greif Company
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A&E Entertainment
• DVD Release Date: December 19, 2006
• Run Time: 285 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000H5U5U8
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,405 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• Learn more about "Gene Simmons - Family Jewels - Season One" on IMDb

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

"It's good to be me," says Gene Simmons, and the Kiss bassist-frontman could hardly find a better vehicle for himself than Family Jewels, the first season of which (13 episodes, plus extras) is presented here on two discs. There has rarely been anyone as shamelessly and gleefully skilled at self-promotion as Simmons, who makes P.T. Barnum look like a shrinking violet and pro football player Terrell Owens seem modest. Whether he is glorifying or parodying his Rock God image (the show features both in roughly equal measure), he knows that either way, it's all about him--and it was ever thus for a guy whose success has always depended at least as much, if not more, on image and marketing as on music.

Fast-paced, tongue-in-cheek, and just naughty enough, the 22-minute episodes keep it short and simple, focusing on Simmons' principal preoccupations: his disdain for matrimony (although he and former Playboy playmate Shannon Tweed have been together for decades, they've never married), and, of course, his legendary reputation as a sex machine (the current estimate is 4,600 conquests). Thus we find Gene going to a Hooters opening in Las Vegas; conducting auditions for his latest scam, a video series called "Sexercise"; weekending at a health spa with Tweed, who refuses to sleep with him unless he drops a few pounds; and appearing on a Playboy Channel show with porn stars like Jenna Jameson… while Tweed and/or their two kids (teens Nick and Sophie), who love to goof on Dad, are at home setting fire to his rock star pants or some such shenanigans. The existence of a blooper reel among the bonus material hardly supports the notion that the show is unscripted and spontaneous; Simmons' day with an almost frighteningly obsessive Kiss fan, during which he confides to Tweed that at times the adulation "just becomes too much," provides one of the few "real" moments. Little matter. Despite his bluster, or more likely because of it, Simmons is good-natured, smart, and genuinely likeable; so are his kids, who are kinda snarky (but then, what teenager isn't?) but seem well-adjusted and a lot brighter than Ozzy Osbourne's sullen brood. If there's one obvious omission, it's that so little of Family Jewels has anything to do with music (a ten-minute bonus feature called "Lost Songs" is about it). Then again, those uninterested in rock 'n' rolling all night and partying every day may consider that a major selling point. --Sam Graham

Product Description

The new real-life A&E family series GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS steps into the home of the legendary, tongue-wagging rocker demon of KISS and Shannon Tweed, former Playmate of the Year, actress, model and mom. Gene and Shannon have been happily UNmarried for 23 years and have no plans to get married anytime soon. And their kids, Nick and Sophie, are surprisingly charming, well-behaved teenagers dealing with the trials and tribulations of adolescence, even though Mom and Dad are like no one else s parents on earth. Yes, Gene is a world-famous rock star and multi-media magnate, but he s also the kind of dad who brings Gatorade to his daughter s soccer games and stands in the front row of his son s rock band when the play gigs.

GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS: THE COMPLETE SEASON 1 reveals a side of Gene that he has kept hidden from the world at large until now, and shows how the most non-traditional family in America manages to make normal life work under the oddest of circumstances.

DVD Features: Rough Cut of Pilot Episode; Unseen Couch Interviews; Inside the Demon s Lair; Gene s History of Rock and Roll; The Lost Songs; Bloopers; Behind The Makeup Featurettes; Gene Simmons 24/7; Simmons Family Text Biographies; Interactive Menu; Scene Selection

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A funny show, and good-natured as well. November 2, 2006

By John Emm

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I started watching the show out of pure older-fan curiosity, and I didn't have particularly high expectations. But I got hooked with the first episode, and have enjoyed every show this season. Yes, they sometimes seem a bit contrived--most noticeably in the episode where the daughter gets a horse--but generally, this was good for laughs, and I believe we're seeing these folks as they really are. Not completely candid, of course, but not phony either.

And, not least of all, how refreshing to see a well-adjusted family for a change.

A good time here. Consider buying.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic show :-0 October 4, 2008

By Little Miss Cutey

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

In full disclosure, I am not a Kiss fan at all (with the exception of two songs I love), but wanted to buy this because through books I've read, know that Gene is meant to be a decent, family-orientated, general all round nice guy (and the show shows that he is). He comes across and a pussycat rather than a rock and roll bad boy (although there are some aspects of that part of his life shown here) and as a great partner to Shannon and a fantastic father to the kids. He's brought them up right and they seem like a genuinely nice family who are respectful, yet still love their fun.
Overall this show is hilarious too. It's fun to be a fly on the wall here. I have a couple of favourite moments from this season; I love when Shannon and Sophie go to Krav Maga lessons and he goes to pick them up, I love when he does a driving test and I love when he and Shannon go on the weekend retreat and he pays someone in the staff to go get him some real food and a tv.
I would have assumed he'd be an arrogant kind of guy for someone of his success, and while he openly admits to how gorgeous he believes himself to be, I found myself really liking him. I love how they've put family video footage in here too and I love his personality and the relationship he has with his family. Even if you aren't a Kiss fan, you should check this out because it's a brilliant reality show that gets you hooked right from the start. It's fun and enjoyable and I love it - hope you will too.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good laugh August 17, 2008

By M. T. Clarke

Format:DVD

We enjoy watching Gene Simmons and his family. He is such a rock star on stage but its fun to watch Shannon and his kids bring him down a few notches. And...who doesn't love those big feeted red pajamas!!!

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Seeing Gene in a different light January 5, 2007

By Nightwing's Fan VINE™ VOICE

Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase

Wow! This has got to be the best "reality" show ever!! Starring the greatest rockstar/entreprenuer=GENE SIMMONS!!

Even though Gene and family are millionaires, they seem so grounded and like a normal family. Maybe it's becuase they all live honestly and don't put on fronts. Gene and Shannon seem very open with their kids and you can really feel a great love between them all. Maybe NOT getting married is the key to true happiness!!! Seriously, you can see why Gene & Ms. Tweed seem content in thier 20 plus year relationship=they don't get jealous over each other, they talk openly and trust each other. Something that is VERY RARE in relationships today. They also treat their children with respect and as equals, and you can see it certainly has benefited them. They are very well-rounded young poeple who are polite and smart.

I've been a KISS fan since I was 4 (i'm 33 now) and knew Gene and the boys were great musicians, entertainers and business poeple. But Gene is THE MASTER! He is a great inspiration, pure example of the american dream and really does have a heart. Since KISS has whined down in the last couple of years, Gene has taken on great non-kiss business ventures and has been successful with many=author of 2 books, lectures dvd, solo album, INDY and now, Family Jewels.

Now more about this product: Packaging is cool, BUT!! after opening the flap of the plastic box to get to the phot album/dvd case=it snapped right off and I had to fix it with tape...I wish they would have but this in a cardboard box with a clear window instead of the plastic box, cuase, again, it broke after only being opened 3 times!!

The photo album case is top quality. cool idea for this dvd set.... It was worth the $$$ for this (to me) becuase it came with the A&E Biography and a two song cd that previews the long awaited 100 song Gene box set, which should be awesome!!! And, of course, the season one of this show is just great. Just seeing gene day to day at home with the family and seeing him work on new projects and the ideas he comes up with is great!! I LLOOVVEE his office with all the cool KISS stuff. Wierd thing about it, though, no Paul Stanley. We see Tommy Thayer at the house and I see old clips of Eric Singer from the Revenge days and that's it. Could it be true that Paul & Gene really are just strictly KISS-Business Partners and nothing more these days?

All in all, this is a great show and package. Even poeple not aware of KISS or are not KISS fans could learn alot from Gene. It's a show that can reach different poeple and is just all around interesting. Read more ›

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Business. Money. And, oh yeah..... Family December 26, 2006

By Bryan

Format:DVD

Gene Simmons, by his own admission, is delusional and a workaholic. What makes the show interesting is that it's sad and admirable at the exact same time. Admirable once you understand how he grew up and how his being raised in a poor one parent household in Israel had an affect on him(in the episode "Shrink Wrapped") and sad because you see his family get dissapointed over and over because they want to do things with him but he chooses to leave his West coast home for various business meetings, sometimes on the East coast(he missed his daughter's soccer game in one episode). You will see his family roll their eyes or walk off while he's in mid sentence talking about something business related that only he cares about. There are occasional touching moments also: Gene putting on his makeup and his dauaghter brings him a popsicle and she asks him to put the makeup on her. From watching this show, it would seem he would be much worse if he did not have his family to keep him grounded and keep his swelled head from floating into the sky and damaging satellites in space. I liked 'The Osbournes', and have been a HUGE fan of both musicians for years and years so I'm not necessarily slamming either of them -they've got a ton of money from me over 25+ years. lol-, but Family Jewels is a lot easier to watch versus 'The Osbournes' because Simmons and family seem to be a little bit more NORMAL and the viewer does not have to hear a censored beep about every 10 seconds and everyone, in general, seems to be a bit more grounded and not so quick to fly off the handle at any given moment(there's no Kelly Osbourne in Gene's show. lol).... Sophie, Gene's 13yo daughter, makes a joke about 'The Osbournes' when Gene jokingly yells at Shannon inside a snowboard store and calls her "Sharon Tweek" to which Sophie replies "Wrong Show." Obviously, Gene did this show for money, along with his whole "I Am Indy" car racing thing-which is odd since Gene never drove a car until he was 34yo(you will understand when you watch just ONE episode. ANY episode about how money plays a big part in every decision he makes) but what he has done in the process is demystify his 'Demon' image that has followed him for 30+ years, which is not necessarily a bad thing. One episode he spends the entire day with a fan who won a radio contest and it's quite interesting. I never thought I'd see 'The Demon' playing mini golf and riding around in bumper boats and go karts. He was really nice to this fan despite what I've read from fan letters on his website who seemed to judge everything on a 22-minute episode when Gene spent what looked like at least 8-10 hours with his 'biggest fan'. I didn't see the issue at all and remember we only saw roughly 20 minutes of an 8 or 10 hour day with this fan. This family is funny and there are so many good natured, self depriciating comments in every episode that you can't help but laugh at it all. Some moments, at least to me, seem to be quite set up just for a 'tv moment', the pregnant or not pregnant final episode and the bull ranch episode titled fittingly 'Loose Change', for example: Gene goes to find out why he lost $20,000 he invested only to end up 'collecting' certain fluids from the Bulls to help increase profit for the ranch and, thus, for himself. Who does that, what rock star would do that? Isn't $20,000 to Gene about like $2 to the normal everyday person? It just seemed odd among this entire show to me but like one of his kids said, when it comes to business he "has no off switch". The bonus material, adding up to slightly over an hour, is pretty entertaining also and worth a look(although the bloopers weren't as funny as I hoped they'd be). You get to see more of his KISS office and each family member takes you through it seperately. Great DVD for any Kiss fan, old or new. Yes, Nick, us older fans are rolling our walkers into the nearest store to buy this DVD so you can continue to buy cool retro clothes that Jim Morrison or Ian Astbury would be proud of. Looking forward to season 2 which I have heard will be 20 episodes. Kiss fans should definetly own this... and don't forget KISSOLOGY on DVD! Read more ›