Gene Simmons reality show comes to A&E

Have you been missing the days when you could watch “The Osbournes� every day on MTV? If you said yes, you’re crazy, but A&E just might have the show for you. Starting in August, the network will begin airing “Gene Simmons Family Jewels,� a reality show about the Kiss frontman and his family.

Simmons stars in the show along with his girlfriend of 20+ years, Playboy Playmate and late-night Cinemax staple, Shannon Tweed and their children, Nick Tweed-Simmons, 17, and Sophie Tweed-Simmons, 14. Said A&E Executive Vice President Bob DeBitetto, "Suffice it to say, [Gene] lives in an interesting world, both unconventional and traditional at the same time."

Don’t expect the sort of restriction-free environment that the Osbournes allowed in the Tweed-Simmons house. At the recent Television Critics Association summer meeting, Simmons said, "Our responsibility is to protect our kids, supply the money and the structure and the love. Their job is to do well in school and behave, period. This notion of parents having to go negotiate with their children who just learned to wipe their butts is out of the question."

But mother Shannon isn’t the sort of nightmare mom that expects her children’s rooms to be spic and span every moment of the day, either. She says, “We focused more on the important things in life, like your school work. The kids have their priorities straight - staying sober and paying attention."