Ozzy Osbourne Boasts Family's Show Was Unscripted Unlike Modern Reality TV
By Afouda Bamidele on December 13, 2023 at 11:00 AM EST
Ozzy Osbourne has some strong opinions about the current state of reality TV shows.
In a recent interview, the legendary frontman of Black Sabbath, who has since moved into the podcast scene with his family, slammed modern reality shows for being overly scripted. He claims that his family's former show was a stark contrast due to its commitment to unscripted and unfiltered content.
Ozzy Osbourne Slams Scripted Reality TV Shows
"The Osbournes" was a groundbreaking reality show from 2002 to 2005, offering an unfiltered glimpse into the lives of the Prince of Darkness, his wife Sharon, and their two children, Jack and Kelly.
The show became a runaway success, captivating audiences with its chaotic humor, family dynamics, and his signature wit and gruff charm. This commitment to authenticity made their show a cultural phenomenon, paving the way for a new era of reality TV.
In a candid conversation with Spin magazine, Ozzy reflected on the evolving landscape of the genre over the past two decades. He lamented the shift towards scripted reality, emphasizing that the authenticity of today's shows paled in comparison to the raw, unfiltered portrayal of his family's life. He says:
"What they do now is kind of scripted reality. It's not raw. It's not the real, real reality."
While discussing their groundbreaking series, the 75-year-old asserted, "With our show, what you saw was what really went on. It wasn't contrived. It wasn't scripted." The father-of-five also stated:
"The reality show wasn't anything different than our regular life because that's the way we are anyway. We didn't become the Osbournes that you see just for the show. That's the way we are, and all they did was take funny bits out of it."
Ozzy also revealed that the decision to continue each season was a family affair, with his wife orchestrating the annual deliberations. However, as the famous family faced mounting pressure to stage contrived scenarios, the rock legend admitted:
"After the third year, the [production crew and MTV] started to ask us to do things that we wouldn't normally do. At that point, I lost interest in it."
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The refusal to compromise their authenticity ultimately led to the decision to conclude their reality TV journey.
Since then, the singer's family moved on to other things, including starting a family podcast in 2018. However, after taking a five-year hiatus, they made a triumphant return with a second season in September.
Still committed to authenticity, the podcast promised 20 episodes delving into topics ranging "from romance to true crime." Recorded within the walls of the songwriter and his wife's home, the series would feature Ozzy Osbourne sharing the mic with longtime friend and musician Billy Morrison.
The family unveiled two teasers for the first two episodes to build anticipation. One showed the media personality humorously questioning his son Jack about his activities over the past five years, prompting Sharon's witty response about "making babies."
The second teaser took a lighthearted turn as the family joked about their matriarch's supposed "two-year tune-up" – a playful comparison to a car's maintenance routine.
Sharon And Ozzy Osbourne Celebrated 40 Years Of Love And Laughter
In a heartwarming tribute to enduring love, the lovebirds took to Instagram to celebrate their remarkable 40 years of marriage. The "Blizzard of Ozz" singer shared a nostalgic glimpse into the past by posting a photo from their wedding day.
Alongside the image, he penned a caption that echoed his heartfelt sentiment: "40 Years Ago Today! Happy Anniversary My Love." At the same time, his wife reciprocated the sentiment with a touching tribute on her own Instagram page, capturing the essence of their remarkable journey together.
Her post read, "2022 is a special year for me. It marks 40 years of marriage to my darling Ozzy. We first met when I was 18, over 52 years we have been friends, lovers, husband & wife, grandparents, and soulmates. Always at each other's side. I love you Ozzy – Sharrrrrrron x."
The couple's love story has weathered various storms, from the highs of joy to the lows of challenges, including infidelity, addiction, and the revelation of Ozzy's battle with Parkinson's Disease. As the proud parents of Jack, Aimee, and Kelly and grandparents to three, their love has remained resilient, standing the test of time.