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THE OSBOURNES
Season One - Uncensored
Review by Michael Jacobson
Stars:
Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly and Jack Osbourne
Directors: Various
Audio: Dolby Surround
Video: Full Frame 1.33:1
Studio: Miramax
Features: See Review
Length: 210 Minutes
Release Date: March 4, 2003
“I’m
sorry, but I’m not picking up another turd.
I’m a rock star…”
Who’d
have thought? Ozzie and Harriet is
one thing, but Ozzy and Sharon? And
family?
By
simply bringing their cameras into the Osbourne’s new home and filming
anything and everything as it happened, with no scripts or set-ups, MTV had a
surprise monster hit on its hands. The
Osbournes became unintentional send-ups of the traditional American family
sitcom, with the aging rock star himself becoming a part of that great tradition
of lovable but inept husbands and/or father figures, like Fred Flintstone, Ralph
Kramden, Kingfish or Al Bundy.
The
tattooed Ozzy, like a king of a chaotic household, frequently strolls around in
his bathrobe, has trouble with the modern remote controls that operate his
home’s gadgets, and complains about the barrage of animals that have taken
over his world (and that constantly relieve themselves anywhere and everywhere).
His wife and manager, the dutiful Sharon, is sweet and funny but hardly a
June Cleaver, particularly with her misadventures with some rude and noisy
neighbors (did you ever think the Osbournes would be the ones to complain about
loud music?).
And
of course, there’s the kids…the daughter Kelly with her neon hair and the
son Jack, who’s working on starting a record label of his own. I’m
sure they love each other…they just have a royally screwed up way of showing
it.
The
whole family’s a trip, whether they’re being loving or arguing, whether
they’re discussing shopping or sex, drugs and rock and roll. Dysfunctional has been a word thrown around a lot, but it’s
probably a lot easier than some of us would like to admit to see our own
families at play in the day to day lives of the Osbournes.
“I love you,” Ozzy tells his clan at one point.
“I love you more than life itself.
But you’re ALL F—KING MAD!!”
The
two disc set contains all ten episodes from season one in your choice of
censored or uncensored versions (though if you pick up the uncensored ones, you
can turn the ‘bleeping’ on if you prefer).
It’s
really hard to describe the appeal of this show…you really have to see it for
yourself. Whether it’s the
Christmas dinner that collapses into argument, Kelly’s new tattoo, the
defecating animals, Jack’s late night club hopping, or the finale, “Dinner
With Ozzy” that kind of sums it all up rather beautifully and humorously, this
is just a family that has to be seen to be believed.
Video
***
For
coming from a videotape source, these episodes look pretty good…the lighting
and level of detail in the Osbourne home are extremely well rendered, with good
coloring and images probably sharper than should be expected for video.
Well done!
Audio
***
The
surround tracks are a treat, with plenty of music to accentuate the happenings
(the swing band version of “Crazy Train” is a hoot). Dialogue is always clean and clear…well, as clear as can be
for Ozzy-speak. Dynamic range is
fair and serviceable.
Features
****
What
a fun filled package! For starters,
the Osbournes are all over the DVD menus, like they’re sitting down to watch
the discs for the first time with you…it’s funny stuff. The commentary tracks with “the Osbourne family” might
seem a bit misleading; you only get Sharon and Jack.
But it’s still a good way to have a few extra laughs per episode.
Though some may question the tastefulness of Sharon commenting on how
much weight she’s lost and Jack reminding her “that’s because you have
cancer, Mum…”
There
is some unaired footage for each of the 10 episodes, a “Too Oz for TV”
blooper reel that’s absolutely hysterical, cast interviews, season highlights
for each family member (and Lola the dog), a “Name That Dookie” game (where
you have to match the feces to the maker) and an “edit a scene” project,
Osbournes bingo (you get to mark your card for certain characters’ actions),
and the very funny “Ozzy’s Ten Commandments”.
Also,
as mentioned, if you buy the uncensored version, you can activate the
‘bleeps’ if you want. You can
also pick the Ozzy Translator, if you have a little trouble from time to time
understanding the Prince of Darkness’ dialect.
Finally, some DVD ROM extras and Easter eggs round out the whole package!
Summary:
