GENE SIMMON'S FAMILY JEWELS

GENE SIMMON'S FAMILY JEWELS

AUGUST 7, 2006

Now into its sixth season, Family Jewels just keeps cranking out episode after episode of attention grabbing reality genius.

By now, we all know it is Nick Simmons and not Gene Simmons that keeps the show interestingly funny. Nick has the best combination of his parent’s attributes. Gene gave him his comedic timing, artistic talent and a good business sense. Shannon Tweed disbursed him with common sense with a smattering of incredible humor. Shannon and Sophie Simmons are like secondary players in a sitcom. As we all know, sometimes the secondary players become fan favorites. Just ask Will & Grace's sidekicks Jack and Karen. Without these two characters, Will & Grace would not have become the success it was. Sophie seems to have the same drive as her father. In the opinion of this writer, she will be victorious in the field of her choice.

Gene at times is a lot like Ozzy. Week after week I watch in awe of how this man has built such an empire, yet has no idea how the family around him often laughs at him as opposed to with him. Gene continues on as if nothing has happened at his expense. In contrast, his business sense is astonishing when you think of how he learned it on the streets of Israel at a young age. If anyone can take a penny and turn it into a dollar in a short period of time it is Gene Simmons. While listening to his book Sex Money Kiss on disc it is amazing how only gene could be the choice for the reading. It never feels like he is reading from the book, but just telling a story directly from his memory. Sex Money Kiss is a great read for anyone who has a mind for making money, rock ‘n’ roll or living the big life.

11/29/10

RUSTY

8/7/06

-6/14/11

--BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
this will be the most incredibly real season this family has ever recorded. I find myself reflecting on my own life choices and the things I have never been able to rectify. I have always believed that Gene would never put himself in a position to let another women come between himself and Shannon. I still would never believe gene would cheat on Shannon because he has too much love in his heart for her. At the same time, I put Shannon on a pedestal in regard to her being a strong woman and having complete trust in Gene. I found myself wiping tears from my eyes as Gene sits in therapy, unable to open up and discuss the turmoil that has begun to swarm his personal life with Shannon. For Gene to open up, he has to let go of a little control and find a balance with Shannon and this is the wall that he has built up around himself. To salvage his life with Shannon, he will have to begin to take those bricks down possibly one at a time. The conversation with Sophie was a testament to Shannon’s great parenting showing their daughter having the most honestly blunt discussion with her father. Children should never choose between their parents, but I believe she needed to let Gene know where she stood. Neither parent took a stand that made her feel she had to choose, this was completely her own decision. Next week’s episode, "Kiss Your Family Goodbye" should be a window into the world of rock star personified re-evaluating his priorities. Often, I have felt that some of the reality shows have had set-ups and then let the cameras roll. This is one time that I felt there was no set up here. This is true a cross roads for Shannon and Gene and their family. Reflection is a painful challenge and this family has a lot of work to do.

-12/5/10

--FACE YOUR DEMONS

There are times that I can get down on this show for concocting incidents which the Simmons family can play off of for positive audience response. That will not be the case for this particular episode. The emotions shown from Shannon and Gene were so real; it was the first time in a long time that I have been affected by a television program. The Anne Frank story runs strong through Gene's veins and it was visible throughout his time in the building where she spent months confined in those small quarters. I do not think Gene was expecting his emotions to come pouring out so suddenly. Shannon, who often comes off in a mocking way towards Gene, was moved as much from where she was standing as well as from what she was seeing escape from Gene. This episode is a must see for all children and adults so it is never forgotten what so many suffered and the potential in our lives now for it to happen again.

On the Wikipedia page regarding Gene Simmons it has a quote from Gene that reads,

"I wasn't born here. But I have a love for this country and its people that knows no bounds. I will forever be grateful to America for going into World War II, when it had nothing to gain, in a country that was far away... and rescued my mother from the Nazi German concentration camps. She is alive and I am alive because of America. And, if you have a problem with America, you have a problem with me". I have the utmost respect for people who know what America is supposed to be all about. I believe in the America of old but the new America has gotten so out of control in having to be "politically correct" that we sometimes forget about true freedom.

The time that Shannon and Gene took with the family of a young fan who wanted an interview for a school project was so genuine. We all know it is not possible to do this with every fan. The choice to follow up with the letter handed to Gene from the young boy outside the hotel was a great one. It was all because of the great eye of Shannon to recognize the boy’s handwriting and see the determination of this young fan. I tip my hat to Shannon for this one.