‘There would be nothing without you': Why Ozzy was the original Kardashian
It's a bizarre dual legacy for Osbourne to leave, following his death at age 76 on Wednesday. And while endless words will be written about his contribution to heavy metal and his shifting of the musical zeitgeist, it's only fair to mark his contribution to TV. Through his seminal MTV series, The Osbournes, the Prince of Darkness was also the father of reality TV as we know it.
Though it would go on to run for 52 episodes over four seasons, The Osbournes began in 2002 as a total experiment. And a risky one at that. The established musician who had struggled with sobriety had everything to lose by letting cameras into his private life; and at age 53 for the series launch, he was well outside the usual demographic for the youth channel (even though the cartoon stars of Beavis and Butt-Head loved him).
The show – which followed Osbourne, his wife Sharon and their two teenage children Kelly and Jack going about everyday life in their Beverley Hills home – was conceived as a 'documentary sitcom' off the back of the success of The Real World. The family had shot a segment for MTV's other new show, Cribs, which looked inside the homes of celebrities, and producers realised there was something worth exploring about the 'loving, dysfunctional, chaotic' nature of their home.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Yungblud vows to keep honouring Ozzy Osbourne
Yungblud has vowed to spend the rest of his life honouring Ozzy Osbourne. The 28-year-old singer regarded the late Black Sabbath rocker - who died last month at the age of 76 - as a friend and mentor and he is determined to ensure "everyone" knows all about the Paranoid hitmaker. He told The Sunday Times Culture magazine: 'He taught me self-belief and so I'm going to take his spirit and make sure everybody knows for the rest of my life who Ozzy Osbourne was — he meant everything to me.' Yungblud - whose real name is Dominic Harrison - was stunned when he heard Ozzy had died, just two weeks after he had been part of the rocker's farewell show in his native Birmingham. He said: 'Ozzy was effervescent. 'I told a friend that I thought Ozzy had another five albums in him. I didn't think he was going to sing live any more, but that day he was so full of life and being hilarious, laughing that laugh of his. And then he did the show and then he died. It's so overwhelming.' The 11 Minutes hitmaker gave a reading at Ozzy's funeral on the request of his family and he admits he gets "emotional" talking about his idol because he had always meant so much to him. He choked up as he said: 'I just love him and right till the very end he supported me. 'I get emotional, because I've loved him since I was about two. 'He was such a character — I remember his glasses. He looked cool and he got me through a lot as a young person. He fuelled rebellion within me — made me determined to be myself. But when I got to know him I realised he was completely different to who I thought he was. 'He was just a human being. 'I saw the man behind the character on stage — that guy who made me a salami sandwich when we first met. I saw that his heart was as big as I believed it would be. "I had a moment with him, and now he's passed on to the next life.'
7NEWS
2 days ago
- 7NEWS
Documentary will show ‘final chapter' of life of Black Sabbath's Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne's 'final chapter' will be charted in a new documentary. The BBC's new film Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home will centre on the story of the Black Sabbath rocker – who died aged 76 in June – and his wife Sharon Osbourne as they bid to fulfil their dream of moving back to the UK. The documentary will show viewers how Ozzy battled Parkinson's disease to be fit enough to perform at Black Sabbath's farewell show in Birmingham last month and the consequences of his health issues. The one-hour film is told through 'intimate' access to the Osbourne family – including Ozzy and Sharon's children Kelly and Jack Osbourne - and will air on August 18 on BBC One. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer. The project was initially announced in 2022 and was planned to be a series called Home to Roost, but it later developed into a one-hour film as the Crazy Train artist's health worsened. Ben Wicks and Colin Barr, who serve as executive producers on the documentary for Expectation, said: 'It was an incredible privilege to spend the last few years with Ozzy, as well as Sharon, Jack and Kelly. 'Ozzy wanted to make it back to the UK and appear on stage one last time – our film is an inspiring and poignant account of him fulfilling that dream.' They continued: 'Ozzy was loved by millions around the world not just for his music, but for his sense of mischief and his honesty, all of which we saw plenty of in the final years of his life. 'But one thing shone through even more brightly to us, and that was Ozzy's intense love for his exceptional family who were by his side through it all.' Claire Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, said: 'We are honoured to have had the opportunity to film with Ozzy and his family. 'The film captures an intimate glimpse into their journey as they prepare to return to the UK. It features family moments, humour, reflection and shows the enduring spirit that made Ozzy a global icon. 'We hope it brings comfort and joy to Ozzy's fans and viewers as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.'
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- The Advertiser
Doco will show 'final chapter' of Ozzy Osbourne's life
Ozzy Osbourne's "final chapter" will be charted in a new documentary. The BBC's new film Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home will centre on the story of the Black Sabbath rocker – who died aged 76 in June – and his wife Sharon Osbourne as they bid to fulfil their dream of moving back to the UK. The documentary will show viewers how Ozzy battled Parkinson's disease to be fit enough to perform at Black Sabbath's farewell show in Birmingham last month and the consequences of his health issues. The one-hour film is told through "intimate" access to the Osbourne family – including Ozzy and Sharon's children Kelly and Jack Osbourne - and will air on August 18 on BBC One. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer. The project was initially announced in 2022 and was planned to be a series called Home to Roost, but it later developed into a one-hour film as the Crazy Train artist's health worsened. Ben Wicks and Colin Barr, who serve as executive producers on the documentary for Expectation, said: "It was an incredible privilege to spend the last few years with Ozzy, as well as Sharon, Jack and Kelly. "Ozzy wanted to make it back to the UK and appear on stage one last time – our film is an inspiring and poignant account of him fulfilling that dream." They continued: "Ozzy was loved by millions around the world not just for his music, but for his sense of mischief and his honesty, all of which we saw plenty of in the final years of his life. "But one thing shone through even more brightly to us, and that was Ozzy's intense love for his exceptional family who were by his side through it all." Claire Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, said: "We are honoured to have had the opportunity to film with Ozzy and his family. "The film captures an intimate glimpse into their journey as they prepare to return to the UK. It features family moments, humour, reflection and shows the enduring spirit that made Ozzy a global icon. "We hope it brings comfort and joy to Ozzy's fans and viewers as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life." Ozzy Osbourne's "final chapter" will be charted in a new documentary. The BBC's new film Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home will centre on the story of the Black Sabbath rocker – who died aged 76 in June – and his wife Sharon Osbourne as they bid to fulfil their dream of moving back to the UK. The documentary will show viewers how Ozzy battled Parkinson's disease to be fit enough to perform at Black Sabbath's farewell show in Birmingham last month and the consequences of his health issues. The one-hour film is told through "intimate" access to the Osbourne family – including Ozzy and Sharon's children Kelly and Jack Osbourne - and will air on August 18 on BBC One. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer. The project was initially announced in 2022 and was planned to be a series called Home to Roost, but it later developed into a one-hour film as the Crazy Train artist's health worsened. Ben Wicks and Colin Barr, who serve as executive producers on the documentary for Expectation, said: "It was an incredible privilege to spend the last few years with Ozzy, as well as Sharon, Jack and Kelly. "Ozzy wanted to make it back to the UK and appear on stage one last time – our film is an inspiring and poignant account of him fulfilling that dream." They continued: "Ozzy was loved by millions around the world not just for his music, but for his sense of mischief and his honesty, all of which we saw plenty of in the final years of his life. "But one thing shone through even more brightly to us, and that was Ozzy's intense love for his exceptional family who were by his side through it all." Claire Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, said: "We are honoured to have had the opportunity to film with Ozzy and his family. "The film captures an intimate glimpse into their journey as they prepare to return to the UK. It features family moments, humour, reflection and shows the enduring spirit that made Ozzy a global icon. "We hope it brings comfort and joy to Ozzy's fans and viewers as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life." Ozzy Osbourne's "final chapter" will be charted in a new documentary. The BBC's new film Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home will centre on the story of the Black Sabbath rocker – who died aged 76 in June – and his wife Sharon Osbourne as they bid to fulfil their dream of moving back to the UK. The documentary will show viewers how Ozzy battled Parkinson's disease to be fit enough to perform at Black Sabbath's farewell show in Birmingham last month and the consequences of his health issues. The one-hour film is told through "intimate" access to the Osbourne family – including Ozzy and Sharon's children Kelly and Jack Osbourne - and will air on August 18 on BBC One. It will also be available on BBC iPlayer. The project was initially announced in 2022 and was planned to be a series called Home to Roost, but it later developed into a one-hour film as the Crazy Train artist's health worsened. Ben Wicks and Colin Barr, who serve as executive producers on the documentary for Expectation, said: "It was an incredible privilege to spend the last few years with Ozzy, as well as Sharon, Jack and Kelly. "Ozzy wanted to make it back to the UK and appear on stage one last time – our film is an inspiring and poignant account of him fulfilling that dream." They continued: "Ozzy was loved by millions around the world not just for his music, but for his sense of mischief and his honesty, all of which we saw plenty of in the final years of his life. "But one thing shone through even more brightly to us, and that was Ozzy's intense love for his exceptional family who were by his side through it all." Claire Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, said: "We are honoured to have had the opportunity to film with Ozzy and his family. "The film captures an intimate glimpse into their journey as they prepare to return to the UK. It features family moments, humour, reflection and shows the enduring spirit that made Ozzy a global icon. "We hope it brings comfort and joy to Ozzy's fans and viewers as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life."
