View source for The Osbournes

{{Short description|American reality television series (2002–2005)}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2008}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Osbournes title.jpeg
| caption              = Season 4 title card
| alt                  = Title frame
| camera               =
| runtime              = 24 minutes
| director             = Donald Bull<br />[[CB Harding]]<br />Sarah Pillsbury<br />Todd Stevens
| starring             = [[Ozzy Osbourne]]<br />[[Sharon Osbourne]]<br />[[Kelly Osbourne]]<br />[[Jack Osbourne]]
| country              = United States
| network              = [[MTV]]
| executive_producer   = R. Greg Johnston<br />[[Jeff Stilson]]<br />Sharon Osbourne<br />Lois Clark Curren
| producer             = Ann Meek
| editor               = Charles Kramer
| cinematography       = Robert Erbeznik<br />Zach Kovek
| company              = iCandy TV<br />Big Head Productions<br />JOKS Productions<br />[[MTV]]
| theme_music_composer = [[Ozzy Osbourne]]<br />[[Randy Rhoads]]<br />[[Bob Daisley]]
| open_theme            = "[[Crazy Train]]" <br /> performed by Lewis LaMedica <ref>{{cite magazine |last=Brow |first=Jason |date=July 23, 2025 |title=Pat Boone Shares Startling Revelation About Ozzy Osbourne |url=https://parade.com/news/pat-boone-mourns-ozzy-osbourne-tribute |magazine=Parade |location= |publisher= |access-date=2025-07-24}}</ref>
| first_aired          = {{Start date|2002|03|05}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2005|03|21}}
| num_seasons          = 4
| num_episodes         = 52
| list_episodes        = List of The Osbournes episodes 
}}
'''''The Osbournes''''' is an American [[reality television]] series featuring the domestic life of English [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] singer [[Ozzy Osbourne]] and his family— his wife [[Sharon Osbourne|Sharon]], their daughter [[Kelly Osbourne|Kelly]], and their son [[Jack Osbourne|Jack]]. The series premiered on [[MTV]] on March 5, 2002, and, in its first season, was cited as the most-viewed series ever on MTV. The final episode aired on March 21, 2005.

''The Osbournes'' is considered to be a pioneering [[reality television]] series which ushered in an era of shows focusing on celebrity family life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/ozzy-osbourne-dies-reality-tv-legacy-the-osbournes/|title=Ozzy Osbourne, the Prince of Darkness, Transformed Reality TV Forever|last=Donaldson|first=Kayleigh|website=The Wrap|date=22 July 2025|access-date=22 July 2025|language=en}}</ref> The show was developed as a result of the success of the Osbourne family being featured in the September 2000 pilot episode of ''[[MTV Cribs]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thethings.com/how-mtvs-cribs-gave-birth-to-the-osbournes/|title=How MTV's 'Cribs' Gave Birth To 'The Osbournes'|last=Parker|first=Dylan|website=The Things|date=16 March 2022|access-date=15 August 2025|language=en}}</ref> — also focusing on celebrities, a new series (''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Osbourne#Career Union Jack]'') premiered in 2003, with [[Jack Osbourne]] interviewing famous friends (such a pastor Jack Stahl and [[Adam Grace]]), in a parallel series to ''The Osbournes''.<ref>https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0379674/fullcredits/</ref><ref>[Jack Osbourne scores C4 show | Channel 4 | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/media/2003/aug/29/channel4.broadcasting#:~:text=5pm:%20Hell%2Draising%20teenager%20and%20reality%20TV%20star,series%20on%20Channel%204%20later%20this%20year. Hell-Raising Teenager and Reality Star Series]</ref>

==Overview==
The show was filmed from October 2001 to March 2005,<ref>{{cite news |last=Reed |first=J. |title=The Hot Seat with Ozzy Osbourne |url=https://nypost.com/2005/03/20/the-hot-seat-with-ozzy-osbourne/ |work=New York Post |date=March 20, 2005 |access-date=October 20, 2025}}</ref> and documents the daily lives of the Osbourne family, primarily in their [[Beverly Hills]] home. In addition to [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] singer [[Ozzy Osbourne]], the show features his wife and manager [[Sharon Osbourne|Sharon]], and their children [[Jack Osbourne|Jack]] and [[Kelly Osbourne|Kelly]]. The couple's other child, [[Aimee Osbourne|Aimee]], declined to participate in the show and publicly criticised her parents for their antics on the show. In most family photos shown on the show, she is either absent or blurred. The series also followed the family as they dealt with major events such as Sharon's battle with [[colon cancer]], the aftermath of a 2003 ATV accident that nearly killed Ozzy and Kelly's entry into rehab for addiction to painkillers. In May 2009, he confirmed in an interview on BBC Radio he was "stoned during the entire filming of ''The Osbournes''" and would not watch the episodes for this reason.<ref>{{cite news|title=Reality Is I Was Stoned|first=Rick|last=Fulton|newspaper=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]]|pages=14–15|date=May 4, 2009|location=[[Glasgow]], [[Scotland]]|access-date=April 21, 2010|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/2009/05/04/i-was-stoned-while-filming-the-osbournes-admits-ozzy-osbourne-86908-21330497/}}</ref>

Jack and Kelly's friend Robert Marcato made regular appearances on the show;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/robert-marcato/person/154621/summary.html|title=Robert Marcato|work=[[TV.com]]|access-date=September 2, 2012|archive-date=November 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103075005/http://www.tv.com/robert-marcato/person/154621/summary.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sharon took him in during the second season after his mother died of cancer. While a constant presence in front of the camera, few plots revolved around Robert and he had few lines. After the series ended, it was reported that the Osbournes had sent Robert back to [[Rhode Island]] to live with his father after spending a week at a psychiatric ward. The Osbournes were assumed to have adopted Robert, but Sharon has denied this.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/jose/entries/2008/01/30/the_osbourne_family_kicks_baby.html|title=The Osbourne family kicks 'Baby' out of feathered nest|last=Lambiet|first=Jose|work=[[The Palm Beach Post]]|date=January 30, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616230449/http://www.palmbeachpost.com/blogs/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/jose/entries/2008/01/30/the_osbourne_family_kicks_baby.html|archive-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref> Another person who makes recurring appearances on the show is Melinda, Sharon's Australian-born executive assistant and nanny, married to Ozzy's former tour manager.<ref name="battle">Adams, Cameron. [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22680257-5006024,00.html Ozzy Osbourne battles on]. ''The Herald Sun''. November 1, 2007.</ref> She is often seen trying to get Jack out of bed while he berates and belittles her, telling her to "get a real job."<ref name="battle" />

The show was both famous and controversial for the family's frequent use of [[profanity]],<ref>{{cite news |last=Kemp |first=Jeff |title=Parents, clean up your language |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=October 9, 2002 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Parents-clean-up-your-language-1098019.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Unknown |first=Unknown |title='The Osbournes' changed reality TV thanks to that 'swearing bloke on the telly.' |work=Vulture |date=July 27, 2025 |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/ozzy-osbourne-on-how-the-osbournes-changed-his-life.html}}</ref> which was censored in MTV broadcasts of the series in the United States. In an interview, Ozzy stated that while he was happy that the Canadian broadcasts were uncensored, he preferred the censored version because the cursing was more noticeable due to the bleeps.{{Citation needed|date=February 2010}} The Canadian broadcasts on CTV and UK broadcasts on MTV and Channel 4 are uncensored.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Osbournes premiere sans 'bleeping' nets CTV 1.67 million viewers|first=Angela|last=Pacienza|agency=[[The Canadian Press]]|location=[[Toronto, Ontario]], [[Canada]]|date=September 19, 2002}}</ref> Some episodes were also aired uncensored to Australian audiences when shown on [[Network Ten]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ozzy-speak defies bleeper|first=Neil|last=Melloy|newspaper=[[The Courier-Mail]]|location=[[Brisbane, Australia]]|date=June 22, 2002|page=18}}</ref> It is broadcast uncensored on MTV Australia.

Contrary to popular belief,<ref>[https://www.nme.com/news/music/pat-boone-on-ozzy-osbourne-ill-always-remember-his-warm-friendliness-as-my-next-door-neighbour-3880579 Pat Boone on Ozzy Osbourne]</ref> veteran singer [[Pat Boone]] never covered "[[Crazy Train]]" for the show’s theme. The version audiences heard was actually performed by session singer Lewis LaMedica,<ref>[https://eu.azcentral.com/story/entertainment/media/2025/07/22/ozzy-osbourne-reality-tv/85327978007/]</ref> who flew to Los Angeles specifically for the recording.<ref>[https://www.dailypress.com/2003/12/14/low-key-singer-makes-mark-in-the-land-of-oz/ Low Key Singer Makes Mark in the Land of Oz]</ref><ref>[https://www.dailypress.com/2003/12/19/veteran-crooner-is-heard-by-millions-but-remains-an-unknown/ Veteran Crooner is Heard by Millions but Remains an Unknown]</ref> Boone had previously covered "Crazy Train" for his 1997 album ''[[In a Metal Mood: No More Mr. Nice Guy]]'', but this is not used in the series, although LaMedica would adopt Boone's [[big band]] style for his own version. Boone, a former neighbour of the Osbournes, later lamented "I'm flattered, but I wish they had used me. I would have done it for free," while the show’s  executive producer Greg Johnston stated "We never suspected Pat Boone would give us that."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,235237,00.html|title=Mighty Neighborly|date=May 10, 2002|issue=653|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|first=Nancy|last=Miller|access-date=October 30, 2010|archive-date=June 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607183131/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,235237,00.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Concurrent with the success of the series, Kelly launched a brief career as a singer, while Sharon hosted ''[[The Sharon Osbourne Show]]''. The family also parodied their TV series during cameo appearances at awards shows and in the film ''[[Austin Powers in Goldmember]]''.

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of The Osbournes episodes}}

==Staging==
Jack and Kelly stated in an interview that some of the situations on the show, including the visit from the dog therapist, were arranged by MTV producers.<ref name="staged">[https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=125571 Osbourne Kids Says Some Shows Were Scripted]. ABC News. Retrieved May 24, 2014.</ref> Ozzy Osbourne's publicist denied that any reactions were staged.<ref name="staged" />

==After filming==
On November 30 and December 1, 2007, items belonging to the Osbournes and featured in the show were auctioned off to the public. The two-day event listed memorabilia as well as furnishings of the home. Bidders could bid through the [[Auction Network]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.beverlyhillspeople.com/pages/OsbourneAuction.html|title=FURNISHINGS, ART AND MEMORABILIA FROM HOMES OF SHARON AND OZZY OSBOURNE|website=BeverlyHillsPeople.com|access-date=March 24, 2018|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014022226/http://www.beverlyhillspeople.com/pages/OsbourneAuction.html|archive-date=2007-10-14}}</ref>

In 2009, the Osbournes reunited for the debut of their new variety show ''[[Osbournes Reloaded]]'' for the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] network. Produced by [[Fremantle Media]] North America, the series debuted on March 31, 2009, at 9:25PM ET/PT, following ''[[American Idol]]''. It consisted of sketches, stunts, celebrity cameos, music performances, and pretaped segments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Kelly+and+Ozzy%3A+Osbournes+Reloaded+/|title=Kelly and Ozzy: Osbournes Reloaded|publisher=[[SuicideGirls.com]]|date=March 26, 2009|access-date=March 26, 2009}}</ref> The show was canceled after [[List of television series canceled after one episode|airing its first episode]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/osbournes-over-and-out-fox_4939|title=The Osbournes: Over and Out at Fox|date=August 6, 2009|website=thewrap.com|access-date=March 24, 2018|archive-date=August 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090809012412/http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/osbournes-over-and-out-fox_4939|url-status=dead}}</ref> On its debut, 26 Fox affiliates pre-empted or delayed the program due to its racy content, which the stations felt was more appropriate for older viewers.<ref name="wapo">{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/31/AR2009033104198.html|title=Lisa de Moraes - TV Column by Lisa de Moraes: Some Fox Stations Won't Air 'Osbournes: Reloaded'|first=Lisa |last=de Moraes|date=April 1, 2009|access-date=March 24, 2018|website=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref>

From 2016 to 2018, Ozzy and Jack starred in ''[[Ozzy & Jack's World Detour]]'', a reality-series that initially aired on [[History (U.S. TV network)|History]] before moving to [[A&E (TV channel)|A&E]] for its second season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5725682/reference|title=Ozzy & Jack's World Detour (TV Series 2016– )|access-date=March 24, 2018|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref> On January 23, 2018, Jack revealed on his official [[Instagram]] page that the series had been picked up for a third season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BeTbTcujLny/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/jackosbourne/1698821568220412402 |archive-date=2021-12-23 |url-access=subscription|title=Jack Osbourne on Instagram: "Everyone keeps asking if we're doing a season 3 of World Detour... well guess what today is? Day 1 of season 3 baby!!! Woooohoooo…"|website=Instagram|access-date=March 24, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The eight-episode third season premiered on A&E on June 13, 2018, with Jack's sister [[Kelly Osbourne]] joining the cast.

More recently, ''The Osbournes Want to Believe'' was released on August 2, 2020, on Travel Channel. The show focused on Ozzy, Sharon and Jack reacting to video clips and photographs purportedly containing supernatural and unexplained phenomena before determining if they are either real, fake or inconclusive.<ref>{{Cite web|last=ozdiyar|first=Yunus Emre|date=2020-07-12|title=Ozzy Osbourne Returns with The Osbournes Want to Believe Series|url=https://chaospin.com/ozzy-osbourne-returns-the-osbournes-want-to-believe-tv-series/|access-date=2020-07-13|website=Chaospin|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Planned revival==
In October 2015, Kelly Osbourne stated that she was open to the idea of a revival that was new and different, saying that "we did it on MTV and that had never been done before so if we're going to come back, we'd want to do it in a way that has never been done before either."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/news/a671497/kelly-osbourne-wont-rule-out-a-revival-of-the-osbournes-wed-have-to-do-it-in-a-brand-new-way.html#~pqsoOu9bNkM2YN|title=The Osbournes could return someday|date=October 1, 2015|website=digitalspy.com|access-date=March 24, 2018}}</ref>

In August 2025, the BBC announced that it planned to air a documentary called ''[[Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home]]'', which was released on [[BBC One]] and [[BBC iPlayer]] on 2 October 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-09-17 |title=BBC's delayed Ozzy Osbourne film gets new broadcast date |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn836401g0qo |access-date=2025-09-18 |website=BBC News |language=en-gb}}</ref> Filmed over a three-year period, it follows his return to the UK, efforts to perform one last time, and his death shortly after a final concert in Birmingham. Originally planned as a series called ''Home to Roost'', it was released as a one-hour film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home – BBC announces details of brand-new one-off documentary |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/2025/bbc-announces-details-of-brand-new-one-off-documentary-ozzy-osbourne-coming-home/ |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=www.bbc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

==Broadcast and distribution==
===Home releases===
Only seasons one and two (released in two sets as season two and two 1/2 or 2.5<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/10938/osbournes-2-1-2/|title=Osbournes 2 1/2 - DVD Talk Review of the DVD Video|access-date=January 12, 2011}}</ref>) have been released on DVD by [[Miramax Home Entertainment]] and [[Buena Vista Home Entertainment]].

===YouTube===
Beginning on 29 March 2025, 20 years after the show ended, full episodes were uploaded to The Osbournes official YouTube channel. Since 16 July 2025, all Seasons 1, 2, 3 and 4 are available to watch.<ref>{{cite web | title=The Osbournes | website=[[YouTube]] | url=https://www.youtube.com/@TheOsbournesTV/playlists }}</ref>

===International airings===
The series aired on [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] and [[MusiquePlus]] in Canada, [[Channel 4]] in the UK and [[MTV UK and Ireland]] in Ireland and the UK, [[VH1 India]] in India, [[RTÉ Two]] in Ireland, [[Network Ten]] and [[MTV Australia]] in Australia, TV2 Denmark, [[MTV Finland]] and [[Nelonen (television)|Nelonen]] in Finland, [[MTV Latin America]] in Latin America, [[MTV Portugal]] in Portugal, [[TV2 (New Zealand)|TV2]] in New Zealand, [[MTV Germany]] in Germany, [[MTV Ukraine]] in Ukraine, [[MTV Polska|MTV Poland]] in Poland, [[MTV Brasil]] in Brazil, [[MTV Italia]] in Italy, MTV Nederland in the Netherlands and [[MTV Europe]].

==Compilation album==
''[[The Osbourne Family Album]]'', a various artists compilation based on the show, was released in June 2002.

== Awards and nominations ==
As well as achieving the highest ratings in MTV history, ''The Osbournes'' won the [[54th Primetime Emmy Awards|2002]] [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/onair/osbournes/hub_sharon2.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040509122136/http://www.mtv.com/onair/osbournes/hub_sharon2.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 9, 2004|title=MTV Onair - Osbournes|publisher=[[MTV]]|access-date=February 8, 2010}}</ref>

==In popular culture==
* ''The Osbournes'' has a slot game adaptation created by [[Microgaming]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slotsonline.com/online-slots/reviews/the-osbournes-1209.htm|title=Play The Osbournes Slot - Read the Review, Play for Fun or Real Money|website=www.slotsonline.com}}</ref>
* The retro looking typeface used for the main title is called Swanky and was designed by Stuart Sandler of Font Diner.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Font You Love to Hate |url=https://theoutline.com/post/2862/fontdinerdotcom-origin-marvelous-mrs-maisel |website=theoutline.com}}</ref>
* In the ''[[South Park]]'' episode "[[My Future Self 'n' Me]]", [[Stan Marsh]] is watching the show on MTV before his mom changes the channel by force, claiming that it will make him retarded.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Television|United States}}
* ''[[Hogan Knows Best]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Gene Simmons Family Jewels]]'' (2006)
* ''[[Rock of Love with Bret Michaels]]'' (2007)

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
*{{Cite news |last=Eakin |first=Marah |date=2022-03-03 |title=America's Favorite Dysfunctional Family: The Oral History of 'The Osbournes' |url=https://www.theringer.com/2022/3/3/22958446/osbournes-oral-history-20th-anniversary |access-date=2023-10-03 |website=The Ringer |language=en}}

== External links ==
* {{IMDb title|0306370}}

{{The Osbournes}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for ''The Osbournes''
|list =
{{EmmyAward RealityProgram}}
{{Teen Choice Award for Choice TV - Reality Series}}
}}
{{Ozzy Osbourne}}
{{Kelly Osbourne}}
{{MTVNetwork Shows}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Osbournes, The}}
[[Category:2002 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:2005 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2000s American reality television series]]
[[Category:Television series based on singers and musicians]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:MTV reality television series]]
[[Category:Censorship in the United States]]
[[Category:Ozzy Osbourne]]
[[Category:Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program winners]]
[[Category:Kelly Osbourne]]
[[Category:Osbourne family]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Chicago]]
[[Category:Television shows set in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:Celebrity reality television series]]