From Bat-Biting Rocker to Brow-Beaten Dad Who Changed TV

After his death at 76, everyone is celebrating Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy as a pillar of heavy metal. In reality, though, Ozzy was a giant who transcended metal or even rock as a whole. He was a giant of music in its full spectrum: the good, the bad, the horrible, and the great and wonderful that is being an artist. A total frontman and also a maniac.

But BFG pays tribute to another of his legacies, as one who radically changed our perception of how we watch and consume television. Ozzy was a rebel, but also the seed that spawned the addiction to celebrity reality shows. 

The Osbournes debuted back in 2002. That was the same year as — actually a month before — HBO’s The Wire and just as The Sopranos was peaking during its third season. It was the beginning of great disruptive television; MTV—already forgetting about music videos and shifting its radar toward reality TV — dropped an unexpected bombshell: The Osbournes. A reality show about the domestic live of Ozzy, Sharon, Jack, Kelly (and the other daughter who never wanted to appear on camera). We’re talking about perhaps the three best TV series — in their respective genres — ever made. My God, it was a glorious, rule-free year.

George Bush Jr. is President. And, just as important, Tony Soprano was coming off a memorable and lamentable second season, when he had to “take care” of his great friend — but FBI informant — Salvatore “Big Pussy” Bonpensiero. That was devastating. For Tony and for the audience. Just as unexpected perhaps, was that the man famous for biting a bat at a concert would have a hit reality show about his family life. At home with Ozzy Osbourne, would anyone care?

A month later, HBO would take us through the darkness of Baltimore’s ghettos and corruption on all levels. The Wire arrived to make history. Each of those shows was the epitome of entertainment. But they went beyond that; they were reflections of different realities. That was the great framework, the big canvas. And The Osbournes, being a reality show, was a phenomenon. It could have stopped there: after its surprising and fascinating unique first season. But we already know the industry follows the money.

The show’s unexpected impact on his legacy had a key: let’s watch the man behind the myth; a relatable, if chaotic, family figure. Instead of rehashing his music career, the show humanized him, potentially even overshadowing his musical achievements in the public eye, particularly for younger generations.

The show was not intended to be a legacy-defining piece, yet it became one. This unexpected turn was a compelling narrative. The “Prince of Darkness” became “crazy dad.” This angle, turning a rock legend into a family dude who wears Adidas pants, cooks eggs and bacon for his family, has trouble with his tv remote control, doesn’t know what a DVD is, lives in a house full of dogs and picks up their poop, resonated with both longtime fans and those who pretty much didn’t know who he was. It was The Munsters, but for real.

The show’s unique format (fly-on-the-wall, unscripted) and its unprecedented popularity was groundbreaking. Not about music rather than about the family dynamic: And portrayed Ozzy as a flawed but ultimately loving husband and father, a stark contrast to his on-stage persona. Younger viewers who didn’t experience Black Sabbath firsthand saw Ozzy as a reality TV star first and a musician second. And for MTV’s audience of young people who think their parents are mad, this show was a perfect fit.

Ozzy and his family showed us the real problems many of us face: trying to live as a family, whether you’re rich or poor; dealing with neighbors; and finding order in the chaos of marital and parent-child relationships. Yes, it was the Osbournes and their eccentricities, but it was us too. And that was the ticket to television immortality.

That year, The Sopranos reached a deep, personal level as a family, showcasing family conflicts; The Wire struck a chord with us by showing how the American dream was crumbling; and The Osbournes were the most overwhelming reflection of any family’s problems.

Now Ozzy is dead, and to all of our surprise, his life changed not only rock, but TV and mainstream culture. It set a path to today’s obsessive reality addictions. Yes he was a rock star but he was also the guy who brought us into the tawdry delights of real famous people’s personal lives.

I don’t know if it’s a good or bad legacy… but the man did everything his way.

RIP Ozzy