Gene Simmons Family Jewels Season Opener Is Emmy Worthy
Monday, December 6, 2010 at 11:29pm
Written by Dan Savoie/www.rockstarweekly.com
I’ve never taken the time to review or even comment about the content of any reality television show because the content of these reality shows is, more often than not, prefabricated rubbish for the sake of entertainment. Tonight’s episode of Gene Simmons Family Jewels, called Face Your Demons, was an exception to the rule and quite frankly one of the most important episodes of any documentary or reality program ever aired on television – it’s the only Emmy worthy reality show moment in history.
The sixth season debut episode captures a highly personal moment for Gene as he is forced to finally face his childhood demons and his mother’s tragic past when visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. For those who have read his biography KISS and Makeup and the KISS book Behind The Mask, the early moments with his mother and his emigration to the United States were the most personal and revealing passages of the books. It’s fun to hear about the rock and the girls, but to truly know who Gene Simmons is, you have to read the early chapters.
KISS fans have known how important his mother Florence is to him, and as proud as he is to tell the world how much he loves her, he’s always kept the pre-American and World War II pieces close to his chest.
Gene and Shannon spent some quality time with a young fan writing a school report on Gene. Things took a very emotional turn when the subject matter switched from music to his mother and her experiences as a holocaust survivor. After a soul baring tour of Anne Frank's home, Gene and Shannon meet the boy's family, which share a common history with Gene's mom.
In this episode we learn that his mother and Anne Frank were approximately the same age when they went into concentration camps and seeing how Anne lived, struck an emotional chord with Gene. His emotional release was honest and heartfelt.
Maybe it was the bond with the young fan or being back in Holland, but something resonated in the most realistic way and it’s a moment that Gene should treasure for the rest of his life. It also opened my heart in a very real and emotional way to a world that I had only read about in World War II history.
And with that notion, I truly hope this episode helps others realize the harsh realities of our world history so that we can learn from these mistakes. The episode is a big tip of the hat to Florence and all the holocaust survivors, but more importantly, it served as a modern tribute to the millions who lost their lives at the hands of Nazi Germany.
Canadians should keep an eye out for an episode of Family Jewels where Gene and Shannon return to Shannon's hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where they catch a Blades hockey game.
Monday, December 6, 2010 at 11:29pm
Written by Dan Savoie/www.rockstarweekly.com
I’ve never taken the time to review or even comment about the content of any reality television show because the content of these reality shows is, more often than not, prefabricated rubbish for the sake of entertainment. Tonight’s episode of Gene Simmons Family Jewels, called Face Your Demons, was an exception to the rule and quite frankly one of the most important episodes of any documentary or reality program ever aired on television – it’s the only Emmy worthy reality show moment in history.
The sixth season debut episode captures a highly personal moment for Gene as he is forced to finally face his childhood demons and his mother’s tragic past when visiting the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. For those who have read his biography KISS and Makeup and the KISS book Behind The Mask, the early moments with his mother and his emigration to the United States were the most personal and revealing passages of the books. It’s fun to hear about the rock and the girls, but to truly know who Gene Simmons is, you have to read the early chapters.
KISS fans have known how important his mother Florence is to him, and as proud as he is to tell the world how much he loves her, he’s always kept the pre-American and World War II pieces close to his chest.
Gene and Shannon spent some quality time with a young fan writing a school report on Gene. Things took a very emotional turn when the subject matter switched from music to his mother and her experiences as a holocaust survivor. After a soul baring tour of Anne Frank's home, Gene and Shannon meet the boy's family, which share a common history with Gene's mom.
In this episode we learn that his mother and Anne Frank were approximately the same age when they went into concentration camps and seeing how Anne lived, struck an emotional chord with Gene. His emotional release was honest and heartfelt.
Maybe it was the bond with the young fan or being back in Holland, but something resonated in the most realistic way and it’s a moment that Gene should treasure for the rest of his life. It also opened my heart in a very real and emotional way to a world that I had only read about in World War II history.
And with that notion, I truly hope this episode helps others realize the harsh realities of our world history so that we can learn from these mistakes. The episode is a big tip of the hat to Florence and all the holocaust survivors, but more importantly, it served as a modern tribute to the millions who lost their lives at the hands of Nazi Germany.
Canadians should keep an eye out for an episode of Family Jewels where Gene and Shannon return to Shannon's hometown of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, where they catch a Blades hockey game.


