A hundred years from now, when historians sift through the rubble
of reality television in hopes of understanding turn of the century pop culture, they’re likely to stumble upon the gem of MTV’s “The
Osbournes.”
Since the show’s 2002 premiere, Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly and Jack have become household names. The unlucky viewers without cable, however, may have felt out of the loop at the water cooler during the show’s first season run. For these unfortunate souls, the newly released DVD chronicling the entire first season gives a crash course in the antics of this endlessly entertaining “all-American family.”
“The Osbournes” works on countless levels. It’s simultaneously outrageous and universal in its depiction of the legendary Black Sabbath front man and his brood. The show gives us a family that’s both brash and sweet. These people, like any family, have the capacity to bring out the worst or the best in each other at any given moment — screaming at one another one second and sharing genuine, enviable affection the next. The Osbournes are like nothing you have ever seen, but at the same time are a reflection of all families.
Above all, “The Osbournes” blows the lid off our preconceptions that successful entertainers exist in some alternative universe, free of the banality of everyday life: Witness Ozzy picking up the shit left on the floor by one of the numerous family dogs. Witness Ozzy changing trash bags in the kitchen.
The Osbournes may have a load of cash, but the riches don’t define who they are, and people might get the sense that this group would behave exactly the same if they lived in a two bedroom townhouse in Ohio. More to the point, though it may be a natural inclination to “play-up” for the cameras, pretenses among the family members seem to have been shed early on in production. Though Jack and Kelly sometimes show shades of spoiled brattiness, they are ultimately smart, charming teenagers.
However, Ozzy is the real star of the show. While years of hard-living have taken a physical toll on the rocker, there is much behind those ponderous eyes. And every word out of his mouth — when you can understand him — is classic.
The DVD is a perfect format for the show, presenting all 10 episodes like chapters in a book. And once you see the foursome moving into a brand new Beverly Hills home, you can’t turn away.
Among the not-so-special features, each episode has a “so-what” commentary option featuring “uncensored” moments that seem to have remained on the cutting-room floor for a reason, and games that are just, well, a waste of time.
It’s my prediction that “The Osbournes” will age well. The show belongs to a time and place in American pop culture that already feels nostalgic.