Ozzy was a rock star and reality TV dad: Look back at iconic moments from 'The Osbournes'
The Black Sabbat frontman, 76, died on July 22, his family announced in a statement Tuesday. But Osbourne was a pioneer in more than rock music; his stint on reality television set the stage for every such show that followed, ultimately winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program for "The Osbournes."
The show, packaged like a sitcom about Ozzy and his family, premiered on MTV in March 2002 and offered a glimpse into the domestic life of the "Prince of Darkness" himself, his wife Sharon, and their two children, Kelly and Jack. It was dubbed MTV's most viewed series ever in its first season.
Naturally, the family's on-camera antics were less "Full House" and more "Crazy Train," though Ozzy's habit of bellowing his wife's name in many episodes (Sharon!) was vaguely reminiscent of something out of the Flintstones (Wilma!), though with much more colorful language.
While Osbourne later told New Music Express in 2013 that he regretted doing the show, the series has gone down in the annals of entertainment history and inspired the explosion of celebrity reality television. Countless iconic moments were born from the venture — so much so that some are still referenced in pop culture today.
Ozzy's catchphrase and doggy dilemma
Ozzy is known for bellowing his wife's name, "Sharon," throughout the series, including during "Bark at the Moon" (season 1, episode 2), when he's upset that the family's pets are tearing up the furniture, pooping, and peeing in the house.
"It's not like a little squirt, he must have an extra tank," he said of one of the family's dogs, adding: "I'm not picking up dog (expletive). I'm a rock star!"
He later spoke directly to the dog's butt, asking it not to poop anymore. Though initially resistant to the family's suggestion of calling a dog trainer — "You don't need to hire a dog therapist! You just need to wake up at 7 a.m. and open the (expletive) door," Ozzy exclaimed — the Osbournes eventually ended up bringing in a pro for help.
Neighborly feud
In "Won't You Be My Neighbor?" (season 1, episode 4), the Osbournes enter into a noise battle against their neighbors. How does one manage to be loud enough to tick off the family of one of the hardest musicians of all time? By singing folk music early in the morning, of course.
Jack blasted Sabbath tunes to compete with the noise until he and Sharon decided to kick things up a notch, throwing bagels and an entire ham into the neighbor's yard. The feud ends, at least temporarily, when the police arrived at the Osbournes' home and advised the family to call them next time instead of wasting good food.
The Osbournes vs. OB/GYN
In the same eventful episode, Kelly bemones her older sister, Aimee (who refused to participate in the show), taking it upon herself to book her a gynecology appointment. Ozzy, who appeared less in the moment like the man who played to sold-out stadiums and more like a befuddled father unsure of how to comfort his daughter, responded: "Tell her to book me a gynecologist appointment, I wouldn't mind."
"All you have to do is say (expletive) off when the vagina doctor calls," he added, before the conversation turned to him inquiring about Kelly's sexual activity — a conversation no teen girl wants to have with her dad.
Presidential address
In "What Goes Up" (season 2, episode 1), Ozzy and Sharon attended the White House Correspondents' Dinner, where President George W. Bush recognized Ozzy from the podium.
"What a fantastic audience we have tonight. Washington power brokers, celebrities, Hollywood stars, and Ozzy Osbourne," Bush says. Ozzy stood, raised his arms, and blew a kiss toward the stage before thanking host Greta Van Susteren, telling her it was the "best night of my life."
Bird rescue
When Ozzy tried to feed the family's pet bird in "Must Come Down" (season 2, episode 3), the animal reacted in a way that made the rock icon think it required medical attention.
"This bird is having a seizure. This (expletive) bird is going into a seizure!" he yelled.
When the bird (which he called a parrot) relaxed, Ozzy took it out of its cage and brought its beak to his mouth to transfer food like a mother bird — a tense scene for anyone familiar with the tale of Osbourne biting off the head of a bat.
Sharon Osbourne's cancer diagnosis
In a rare break from its predominantly reverent tone, a segment of "It Must Come Down" touched on Sharon's newfound colon cancer diagnosis, which she seemed to take in stride with her characteristic sense of humor.
We followed Sharon as she has a chest port implanted and recovered from her first treatment while Ozzy is away on a tour and "on a detox," according to his wife. We also witnessed Ozzy's struggle with sobriety on the road after a stint of what Sharon called "self-medicating" due to the stress of her diagnosis.
"She's my whole world," he said at one point, while Kelly described finding out about her mother's diagnosis as a feeling like "something stabbing me."
That one argument over Christina Aguilera
In perhaps one of the show's more dramatic moments, Kelly and Jack resorted to full-on fisticuffs after Jack danced with Kelly's arch nemesis, Christina Aguilera, in "What A Boy Wants" (season 2, episode 11).
"When you hate someone, I hate someone!" she told her brother, who insisted Aguilera had nothing but nice things to say about Kelly. "You just wanted to say you danced with Christina Aguilera," Kelly said before both siblings hurled a string of insults at one another.
After the two exchanged a few pushes and slaps, Sharon intervened, later telling Kelly she would regret the time the two spent arguing. The two hug and make up by the end, much to their mother's delight.
ATV anarchy
In "The Accidental Tourist" (season 3, episode 5), Ozzy suffered an accident while riding an ATV on the family's English estate.
Cameras followed Ozzy as he zipped around the property at high speed until the scene went black, cutting to an image of him lying unconscious on the ground. His bodyguard knelt over him, shouted his name, and asked if he could breathe. In a dramatic cliffhanger ending, viewers heard "he stopped breathing for a while" as an ambulance pulled up to the home.
In the following episode, "The English Patient," the family patriarch leaves the hospital in a neck brace after three weeks, telling cameras he "died twice" and was put on "life support."
"I'd never died before," he said.
Jack later explained that his father suffered a collapsed collarbone, pinching his main artery, which had to be repaired, as well as a punctured lung and "cracked neck." Ozzy later said that he also suffered several broken ribs.
He eventually flew back to Los Angeles at the end of the episode, where he was overjoyed to see his family. He and Sharon agreed to take a break from working unless they find a project they can work on together, saying they've wasted too many years being apart.
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"I wanted the song to touch on how overwhelming and isolating it feels to be constantly misunderstood and the importance of choosing to break free from that and just believing in yourself," Aimee told Rolling Stone. "It's so valuable to always try and put yourself in someone else's shoes. I hope this song reminds people of that." Kelly Osbourne Ozzy and Sharon welcomed daughter Kelly in London in October 1984. Kelly Osbourne Details Her Conversations About Parenting With 'Beat Shazam' Cohost Nick Cannon While appearing on The Osbournes from 2002 to 2005, Kelly began pursuing a music career. She released her debut album, Shut Up!, in 2002, followed by Sleep in Nothing in 2005. However, she ultimately followed in Sharon's footsteps by becoming a TV host and judge on Project Runway, Project Catwalk and Fashion Police. Kelly also competed on Dancing With the Stars in 2009 and finished in third place. Kelly began dating Slipknot's Sid Wilson in 2022. The pair welcomed son Sidney later that year. They also got engaged backstage at Ozzy's final Black Sabbath concert. "F*** off, you're not marrying my daughter," Ozzy jokingly told Wilson, as seen in a video shared via Kelly's Instagram. However, Wilson told her, 'Nothing would make me happier than to spend the rest of my life with you. So, in front of your family and all of our friends, Kelly, will you marry me?' Jack Osbourne Sharon and Ozzy welcomed son Jack in November 1985 in London. The family lived in the U.K. until Jack was 6 years old, at which point they relocated to California temporarily before going back to England. However, when Jack was 11 years old, they moved from England back to California. Kelly Osbourne Says Son's 'Terrible Twos' Have Left Her 'Exhausted': 'It's Insane' Jack has followed his own path, becoming a paranormal investigator. However, he still involved his parents in his career. His Travel Channel series The Osbournes Want to Believe features Jack showing Ozzy and Sharon footage of paranormal activity and asking for their input. Jack was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at 26 years old in 2012. 'I have had some alternative therapy treatments over the years. I do not take traditional MS medication currently,' he said on 'The Osbournes Podcast' in 2024. Jack married actress Lisa Stelly in October 2012, and the pair welcomed daughters Pearl Clementine, Andy Rose and Minnie Theodora. He and Stelly divorced in March 2019, and he got engaged to Aree Gearhart in December 2021. Jack and Gearhart welcomed daughter Maple Artemis in March 2022. Solve the daily Crossword
