April 2, 2009 8:01 pm

The Osbournes vs. The Variety Show: Is There a Winner?

First, let me just say that the easily offended should not watch The Osbournes: Reloaded (censored last night by some FOX affiliates, but available to watch now at Amazon Video On Demand). Neither should people who want to remember Ozzy as the semi-doddering but still relatively badass rock star, as they’ll never be able to get the image of him doing the Flashdance audition scene out of their minds, no matter how hard they try.



I want to like the Osbornes. I appreciate that no matter what they do, they seem laugh a lot and to love each other in their uniquely foul-mouthed way. But unlike the charming old Osbournes show, this new thing features uncomfortable audience participation hosted by the self-described “first family of being (bleeped) up.” Sort of variety meets reality via Springer. You can see the first couple of minutes for free here, and it will basically tell you all you need to know. It will also allude to hilarity that seems to have been cut from the final product, but really, a few seconds is enough.



Rosie O’Donnell’s take on the variety show a few months ago was more traditional (singing, dancing, no strangers making out for money), yet no more successful. Which begs the question: Can variety shows thrive in the 21st century, or have they been supplanted by competitions like Dancing with the Stars and American Idol? If there’s no one to root for, can we ever be hooked the same way? – Stephanie Reid-Simons, Amazon Video On Demand