Product Details

• Actors: Gene Simmons, Shannon Tweed, Nick Simmons, Sophie Simmons, Tracy Tweed
• Directors: Adam Reed, Chad Greulach
• Producers: Adam Reed, Chad Greulach, Ben Hatta, Brian Caldirola, Colleen Childe
• Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Region: All Regions
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: A&E Home Video
• DVD Release Date: December 19, 2006
• Run Time: 285 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000H5U5U8
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,786 in Movies & TV (See Bestsellers in Movies & TV)

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  #4 in	Movies & TV > Television > Funny Families > Gene Simmons: Family Jewels
  #90 in	Movies & TV > Television > Reality Shows

• For more information about "Gene Simmons - Family Jewels - Season One" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

• This is item 1 in The Gene Simmons Family Jewels Series.

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

GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS is your personal invitation to go home with rock 'n roll superstar Gene Simmons. Enter the extraordinary Simmons household where former KISS front man Gene Simmons and Playmate of the Year Shannon Tweed have raised two charming, well-behaved teenagers, Nick and Sophie. Or is it the other way around? From a surprise birthday party that turns into a surprise wedding, to driving lessons that take a wrong turn for father and son, to horseplay that puts a daughter in hot water, day-to-day family life has never been so outrageously unpredictable--and surprisingly touching. The story of a uniquely American family fully unveiled in the original thirteen episodes from the debut season on DVD. DVD Features: Exclusive interviews with the Simmons family; Cast Biographies; Photo Gallery; Interactive Menu; Scene Selection 8/7/06 Happily Unmarried (#1) 8/7/06 Next Generation Rock Star (#3) 8/14/06 The Demon Lives (#10) 8/14/06 Driving Me Crazy (#2) 8/21/06 Food or Sex? (#6) 8/28/06 Sexercise (#8) 9/11/06 The Un-Anniversary (#12) 9/18/06 Loose Change (#9) 9/25/06 Fan... Tastic (#7) 10/2/06 Horsin’ Around (#5) 10/16/06 Gene’s Addiction (#4) 10/23/06 Shrinkwraped (#11) 10/30/06 Behind the Makeup (#13)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addictive and Entertaining, January 9, 2007

By	Michael Ladano "Rock Aficionado" (Kitchener, ON) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's tough to discuss this show without mentioning the more popular Osbournes. The Osbournes came first, the Osbournes was a big hit...heck, even my dad (who knows nothing about rock n' roll) watched that show. He thought Ozzy was funny. But this is the better show. And this is why.

First of all, there's hardly any cussing. Very rarely do you hear the "beeps" (and yes, it's all beeps, no actual cussing). Second, this family is much more likable. Nick Simmons is a bright, funny young guy, and Shannon Tweed is absolutely hilarious. Third, you can understand what Gene is saying, unlike the Ozzman. And last, you can tell right away how much this family loves each other. I got tired of the Osbournes always fighting. These guys joke around and play pranks, but there's very little fighting going on. And although Gene is well-known for his love of women, there's very little bare skin on this show.

I'm writing this and I haven't even finished the first disc yet. I just like this show. I think it's hilarious and I can't stop watching (except to get a Pepsi and write this)! I haven't even gotten to the "lost songs" yet...can't wait to hear them.

There was one episode in particular, the "unaired pilot" in which Gene is grilling the boy who is about to take young Sophie Simmons out to the dance. I saw visions of my own future as a father there. Just a priceless moment. I felt very sorry for that poor young man who had to sit across a very large desk from Mr. Simmons and be grilled about dating his young daughter.

This is an excellent show, and I highly recommend it, whether you like Kiss or not. Just give it a shot.

18 of 19 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 "kissfan" (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

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.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Little Miss Cutey (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

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.