Ozzy Osbourne, the legendary Prince of Darkness himself, recently sat down with SiriusXM to shed light on a chapter in his life that stirred up quite a controversy: his reality TV show, ‘The Osbournes.’ The candid conversation revealed Ozzy’s perspective on being accused of “selling out” when he and his family decided to open their lives to the world through the MTV series.
The story behind ‘The Osbournes’ began with a simple idea.
As Ozzy recalled:
“People were saying to me, ‘Have you sold out?’ and all this. I’m in the entertainment game. Somebody came, and I thought, ‘Give it a shot.'”
The initial concept emerged from MTV’s ‘Cribs,’ a show where celebrities showcased their homes. Ozzy saw the potential in creating an extended version of ‘Cribs’ centered around the Osbourne household.
However, the journey from this idea to the reality TV phenomenon known as ‘The Osbournes’ was far from straightforward.
Ozzy explained how the concept evolved organically:
“It grew out of ‘If we did ‘Cribs,’ then it was an extended ‘Cribs’ for a week at the Osbournes, which turned into a month at the Osbournes. Which turned into ‘The Osbournes,’ which started this f*cking whole thing.”
One crucial point Ozzy made was the authenticity of their show compared to modern reality TV.
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He emphasized that ‘The Osbournes’ was not scripted, setting it apart from today’s reality programs that meticulously plan storylines. Theirs was a genuine portrayal of their lives from 2002 to 2005.
One of the most challenging moments captured on the show was Sharon Osbourne’s diagnosis with colon cancer during its second season. Ozzy praised his wife’s courage, recalling the crew’s offer to leave while she underwent treatment. Sharon’s response was resolute:
“No, let him stay.”
Despite facing criticism and mixed reactions, Ozzy and his family have decided to bring back ‘The Osbournes’ in podcast form. The second season of ‘The Osbournes Podcast’ reunites Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly, and Jack Osbourne, with the first episode set to release on September 12th.
Additionally, the BBC announced a ten-part docu-series titled ‘Home to Roost,’ focusing on Ozzy’s decision to leave the US and return to the UK.
While the family eagerly anticipates this new endeavor, they’ve faced delays due to the challenging real estate market in Los Angeles and await renovations in their new home to accommodate Ozzy’s care for Parkinson’s disease.
Ozzy Osbourne’s interview with SiriusXM offers a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes story of ‘The Osbournes,’ shedding light on the reality behind the reality show. Despite the criticism, Ozzy remains unapologetic, emphasizing that he’s always been in the entertainment game, and ‘The Osbournes’ was just another chapter in his extraordinary life.
You can listen to Ozzy Osbourne’s interview with Sirius XM and catch a glimpse of ‘The Osbournes Podcast’ trailer to relive some of the iconic moments from the Osbourne family’s journey.