23 Years Later, Controversial Show Gains New Viewership Despite Its Chaotic Legacy

August 3, 2025

3

Ozzy Osbourne has passed away, and metalheads all over the world are in deep mourning, but some of Ozzy’s fans may not even like that type of music – when The Osbournes debuted in 2002, the story of Ozzy and his family captured the imaginations of viewers from all walks of life. It paved the way for family-centered reality shows like The Kardashians.

In some ways, The Osbournes had even more charm and character than The Kardashians. What made The Osbournes great? Well, it’s the legacy of the family’s patriarch, Ozzy. While he often got a clownish edit on the series, and it seemed like his wife, Sharon Osbourne, wore the pants in the family, the truth is more complicated.

Ozzy Was A Relatable Presence On The Show

But He Was Still A Legend

Ozzy, surfing the Weather Channel relentlessly from his couch in a Los Angeles mansion, or preparing an endless stream of burritos, was dealing with health problems. His hearing was shot after decades of performing in front of adoring audiences. He seemed to have balance problems also, and would later be open about living with Parkinson’s disease.

He often seemed to be out of it on the show, not knowing what was going on. But he couldn’t hear the way other people do. A lot of that “space cadet” stuff was not real. Ozzy was simply living with hearing loss which made it harder for him to be really dialed into other people.

The man who could energize any stadium crowd with iconic metal masterpieces like Black Sabbath’s “Sweet Leaf” and “War Pigs” was more than a bumbling dad (way more), but sometimes, he was that too. He bought Kelly a house in China – a unique gift as singular as the man himself. It was hard to see her pale, stricken face at his funeral. It’s such a great loss.

Sharon fiercely loved the man. She physically attacked a woman for insulting Ozzy while they appeared on a trashy talk show. Sharon was like a banshee while defending the man that she adored. The King of heavy metal definitely picked the right Queen.

The hotheaded Sagittarius man, whose music brought joy to millions of fans despite its dark, edgy themes, was an eternal optimist, losing his temper onscreen now and then, but quickly reverting to his cheery self. His down-to-earth philosophy – to get on with things – served him well in the cutthroat music business.

What was awesome about Ozzy is that he wasn’t a snob.

All through his career, he took time to really talk to fans and reporters. He treated them like equals despite a dazzling legacy that’s made him one of the most ripped-off musicians in history. Tony Iommi’s grimy and satisfying riffs, tuned down to perfection, and Ozzy’s vocal pyrotechnics created musical alchemy – their experiences turned into pure gold… songs that will never, ever die.

If ever anyone got close to pure immortality with music, it was Ozzy. In this pantheon, there is Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon, George Harrison…it’s a rarefied space for the true wonders of rock… the maestros.

Although this great man is gone, and fans’ hearts are broken, they can remember him through The Osbournes. His openness about his own failings was one reason why his reality show was possibly better than The Kardashians. The Kardashian-Jenners are an image-conscious clan – they don’t like to show a lot of weakness.

Yes, the Kardashian-Jenners fight, but they always have their business ventures to protect. They keep their eye on the bottom line. Ozzy never cared much about his reputation.

With Ozzy, whether he was searching for a missing ring in his home (he called it his “Penjamin”) or bickering with his children, including Kelly Osbourne, who wasn’t afraid to answer back, he was so genuine. Ozzy never faked it for anyone – what fans saw was what they got – onscreen, onstage… in real life, off camera.

The outpouring of love for this man says it all. During his final concert, where Yungblud dazzled with a cover of “Changes,” it was all about saying goodbye. Ozzy knew his time was short, and he wanted to give his fans “the great gig in the sky.” And he did. His goodbye speech was so pure, so honest.

He opened up about the way his disease ravaged his body – he was not afraid to tell the truth.

Then, the proceeds from that amazing show, where he sang so beautifully for the crowd, were donated to Parkinson’s Disease research. Once again, his legacy was to be the Prince of Darkness who was really a bringer of light. The experience of listening to Black Sabbath is usually a happy one – sometimes, the band, who asked logical questions about life, and loved fantasy, are deeply misunderstood.

Before the show, he stopped taking his medication, so his head would be clear while he sang. He endured so much pain for his fans. This kind of love for other people is why people are still crying even though the wondrous Prince of Darkness is now buried. Fans will never, ever forget this amazing man and what he gave them.

It’s the issue of genius that sets The Osbournes apart from The Kardashians. While they’re business masterminds, could one call the Kardashian-Jenner family members geniuses? Perhaps Caitlyn Jenner, whose athletic achievements were inspiring. However, it could be argued that Ozzy’s legacy is even more powerful.

Ozzy didn’t have anything to prove on The Osbournes – he was just there, living his life. He’d already lived through so much by the time the show wrapped in 2005. On the series, he got real about his infidelity, as well as his love for Sharon, who forgave him. He didn’t hide behind some picture-perfect PR facade. Ozzy showed the world who he really was, and sometimes, it seems like the Kardashians are more contrived.

Both shows have value. They’re just different. For the Black Sabbath fan, The Osbournes was a charming foray, if controversial. It wasn’t always easy to watch Ozzy being used as the comic relief. This is a VERY great man. He changed music FOREVER.

As well, his confessional style may have made him seem like a villain, but really, rock stars are exposed to incredible temptations. Most of them surrender to those temptations sometimes. In the same position, many people would do the very same.

Now, Ozzy is gone, and his family’s devastated They’ve lost the charming, fiery and funny man who lit up their lives. Fans who swayed in unison when he performed at his final celebration are celebrating his life. He doesn’t want them to cry, but maybe they can’t help it. They miss him terribly, just like his other children Jack and Aimee Osbourne do.

Some people are just one of a kind – Ozzy made everyone’s heavy metal dreams come true, and while The Kardashians is fun, it doesn’t have The Osbournes‘ chaotic, spontaneous energy.