Gene Simmons' Family Jewels
 

I just love this show. I don't watch too many reality shows, but this one--the family is well-adjusted and funny, the kids are adorable, the wife smart and wisecracky, and Gene seems like a real dad of a real family (albeit with a few . . . quirks). :) Like someone I'd like to know, unlike some of the other celebrity reality life shows.

Gene: "You got business; you got boobs."
Son: "Just boobs? What about the rest of the woman?"
Gene: (Dad wisely refuses to be baited, just gives him a look)

I like it to - hilarious - especially the driving episode. and he seriously cares about his kids.

Me 3. I just can't remember to add it to my list. So, I just catch it from time to time.

Counter-opinion: Mr. Simmons has as much personality as he has musical ability.

I don't "love to hate him", as I do Mr. Danny Bonaduce, who at least is shot out of a cannon and therefore interesting. I hate to hate him, in that each and every time I see him I am terribly disappointed and lose faith in the human race.

Some reality TV people make you feel better about yourself because at least you're not as big a loser as they are. Gene Simmons makes you feel better about being a loser because you're not in the "winner" group that includes Gene Simmons. He defines success down. Kind of like Trump but with even worse hair. Hey Simmons, you got all that money, you can afford something better than "Just For Men".

I love the show...it's like "The Osbournes" minus the out-of-control-edness.

Be honest, UT...you just hate him because he's a fellow bass player who has made more money than you can ever think about in your lifetime. ;)

The show shines in comparison to other reality shows, imo, but of course not everyone will be a fan. I was never a big KISS fan, though I did see them in concert once -- huh-- just remembered that.

UT--I don't agree that GS has no personality; I think he's kind of interesting. I'll be happy to concede to you on any musical opinion, though. :)

I feel silly but I just noticed today that Sophie, the daughter, has a prominent birthmark on her face. They were showing old home movies in an ep I saw today, and it was very noticeable. Guess she covers it with makeup now.

I love the show and Nick is CUTE! I wonder if he's "proportional"?

well, he's 6'7" -- that's quite a hefty proportion!

I can take it.

you'll have to take it up with him, then. he's got a gf though

So has about 1/4 of the guys I've been with. ;-)

I wish you luck in your endeavor, then!

Gene Simmons Kids
 

Gawwwd, I can't stand these celebrity rich kids. I just saw the Gene Simmons children ask their parents to leave their Mexico vacation and only invite them back when they needed more pesos. First of all "volunteering to assist dolphins" only to stay in a 5-star resort and then get private dolphin rides is not volunteering. If that is volunteering than I have been philanthropically misinformed. I should start demanding rides around the park from every homeless person I hand out sandwiches too.
Next, who paid for that vacation? Here's a clue, if daddy is paying, he can do anything he wants. If you got a real job and saved your money to go on vacation, you might have a leg to stand on. It was just sad to watch.
Daddy's black amex card will not build character. With your connections and money you could make a difference. Cut it up and do something cool. Join the peace core. Hire your own heavies to beat up people who litter. Go work on a ranch incognito.
I will give you credit for not being as disgusting as the Hogan kids. Brooke calls the cops because someone sprayed her with water? Then we got to watch the self-righteous screaming afterwards. What a treat.
You still have a chance to make something original of yourselves!
Sincerely,
ronelemon@gmail.com

Sorry to say this, but you actually watched those shows and now you're complaining?

Oh and welcome to the cellar :D

yeah, they're spoiled rich kids; and part of the "shtick" is that Gene is overprotective.

But they still exude genuine family feeling, and that's what I watch it for.

Certainly not for Gene's hairdo!

They are the last thing our kids need to aspire to.

Never been a "Kiss Army" type, I prefer music with some actual thought behind the arrangements (particularly horn charts). Watching the show, it looks to me like Gene doesn't make money playing bass, he plays bass as a way to make money, notwithstanding the gazlllions he makes from merchandising. Don't see much musicianship in him.
The best parts are when Shannon "zings" him good.

Gene Simmons did two series over here (6 shows each usually), called Rock School. The first was at a private school which specialised in music. His challenge was to get the classically trained children to "rock out" and also to accept that there might be different types of music that were equally valid (even if it wasn't his). There were personality clashes and some teen hormone issues, but mostly it was a clash of cultures and they respected eachother in the end.

The first one was a walk in the park compared to the second though. He did the same thing with in a comprehensive (public school) and worked with the "problem" kids. His challenge there was to get them to commit, to listen, to show any enthusiasm, to pay attention, to turn up, to do anything apart from sit with sulky looks and then bugger off down the chip shop moaning that everything is crap and there's nothing to do round here. Fucking Gene Simmons in your school starting a band!

They finally perked up a little - those that showed enough commitment to stay in the band! - when they got to LA and saw his house. Because they could dismiss him as a has-been all they liked, but he lived in a house bigger than their local police station. But even then, there were temper tantrums.

Both were interesting to watch. I liked the fact most of the kids met their match in him, especially the dont-care-wont-care ones. But then I also quite liked the fact that a bunch of English schoolkids refused to be awed by him and dismissed him in turn. Of course it wouldn't have affected his ego (and nor should it I suppose) but it certainly made him pause.

I admired him for sticking at it. I had no idea he had children (that he acknowledged). His attitude and patience makes more sense now. He might have been hamming it up, but he did seem to care.