Tivo'ing the Family Jewels

Being up late at night, plus not being able to sleep is a bad combination. Add to that the boredom that causes you to flip channels and find shows that you'd normally never watch. Then, due to the advent of the Tivo (oh how I love you!), you start taping entire seasons of the shows you'd normally never watch in the first place.

My latest Tivo find (even though it's in Season 3 already)? A&E channel's Gene Simmons Family Jewels. A show entirely about Gene Simmons, the dude with the tongue from the band Kiss, and his family. His girlfriend (0f 24 years) is Shannon Tweed, who rose to fame in the 80s as a Playboy Playmate and star of a number of Cinemax soft core porn movies (admit it, you've seen Shannon's work). Together they have 2 teenage kids; Nick, who's funny and kinda bad-boy hot, and Sophie, who seems very smart.

I have to say, for a reality show, this show is pretty good. Gene Simmons is remarkably likable, and the family as a whole, is pretty funny. I never realized the media machine that Gene Simmons continues to be. He's an extraordinary businessman who started as a humble Jewish immigrant, grew up to marry (more-or-less) a Playmate, and made millions (possibly billions?) off of his tongue, playing bass for Kiss (supposedly still around?), and marketing every item imaginable with the band's likeness. Who would have guessed it?

At any rate, if you've got insomnia, check out this show.