The 2000s was a bizarre time for television, and nothing attests to this quite like the rock musician reality TV trend. It all started with the success of MTV's The Osbournes, which brings viewers into the home of Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne. From there, both popular and washed-up rock stars followed suit with their own shows.
Beyond all the black eyeliner, hair spray, and leather, most of these reality TV ventures try to make their subjects look like normal, everyday people. Others incorporate dating shows, survivalist contests, or Big Brother-type premises in order to add an edge. These series may not hold up over time, but they remain symbols of an interesting moment for popular TV.
The Osbournes (2002 - 2005)
The insanely popular and bizarre The Osbournes is like Leave it to Beaver meets Spinal Tap. Famed, fumbling rock star Ozzy Osbourne invited a reality TV crew into his Los Angeles mansion in order to showcase his day-to-day life with his wife Sharon, daughter Kelly, and son Jack.
On the air for three seasons, The Osbournes proved to be a massive hit for MTV, even though some of its scenes are very clearly staged. The show made celebrities out of the entire family and even launched additional series like Ozzy & Jack's World Detour.
Gene Simmons Family Jewels (2006 - 2012)
In the wake left behind by The Osbournes rose the longest-running series on this list: Gene Simmons Family Jewels. The series follows Kiss bassist and singer Gene Simmons, known for his unforgettable stage persona and especially long tongue.
The A&E series formats itself just like The Osbournes, wherein it inserts a TV crew into the come Simmons shares with his long-time partner Shannon Tweed and their two children, Nick and Sophie. Second only behind Dog the Bounty Hunter, Family Jewels remained on the air for seven seasons.
Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen And Dave (2004)
This short-lived, long forgotten MTV show traces the short-lived, long-forgotten romance between guitarist Dave Navarro and model Carmen Electra. Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen and Dave follows the couple as they plan and execute their unconventional wedding.
Electra and Navarro were married in 2003, as documented in the season finale.; however, Electra filed for a divorce in 2006. Navarro can be seen these days hosting Ink Master.
Rock Of Love With Bret Michaels (2007 - 2009)
Hair metal musician Bret Michaels took a few cues from rapper Flavor Flav and assembled his own crew of women to fight for his affections on television. The result, Rock of Love, is exactly like its predecessor Flavor of Love.
A couple of dozen women participate in scripted challenges, tests, and drills in order to win dates with Michaels, who claims to be looking for true love. Whatever the case may be, Rock of Love follows Michaels through three seasons as he scrutinizes women much younger than him.
Married To Rock (2010)
Coming on the tail end of the 2000s, Married to Rock is the product of a decade's worth of rock star reality TV. Instead of the musicians themselves, this Real Housewives wannabe centers around the spouses of famous musicians.
Famous may be a stretch by today's standards, but the ladies are wed to members of groups like Jane's Addiction, The Cult, and Guns N' Roses. The E! series didn't gain enough of a following to last beyond its first season.
Supergroup (2006)
Another one-season wonder, Supergroup sees various members of dated rock bands join forces to perform together in Las Vegas. Recorded for VH1, the series brings together Sebastian Bach, Jason Bonham, Scott Ian, Ted Nugent, and Evan Seinfeld.
The hot-headed men spend two weeks together in a house while they prepare for their big show and make moves toward future success. The group they formed, Damnocracy, didn't survive past the show and officially disbanded in 2020.
Surviving Nugent (2003 - 2004)
Before Supergroup, controversial guitarist Ted Nugent invited contestants to compete for prizes at his Texas ranch for this VH1 series. Surviving Nugent didn't survive it's first season, mostly thanks to its host's inappropriate commentary and awkward presence.
One of the disregarded series' contestants is the infamous Tila Tequila - who appears in her reality TV debut here. Tequila would later be kicked off Celebrity Big Brother for expressing support for Adolf Hitler and white nationalism.
Growing Up Twisted (2010)
Twisted Sister vocalist Dee Snider hoped to find reality TV success by inviting a crew into his Long Island home, but the A&E series Growing Up Twisted didn't survive past seven episodes. Far from twisted, it turns out Snider lives a pretty normal life with his wife of many years and their four children.
Framed as a "parents against kids" show, Growing Up Twisted arrived on the tail end of the rock star reality TV trend. Snider still performs, and he has appeared on other reality TV shows like MTV Cribs.
Tommy Lee Goes To College (2005)
Former Motley Crue member Tommy Lee remained a tabloid fixture for quite a few years after his very public relationship with Pamela Anderson came to an end in 1998. Even with Lee's record of domestic abuse and racist comments, VH1 still invited him to star in a reality TV show in 2005.
Tommy Lee Goes to College is exactly what it sounds like: a show that follows Lee, a high school dropout, as he tries to blend in at the University of Nebraska. Much more scripted than realistic, the show ended after six episodes.
The Surreal Life (2003 - 2006)
There's The Real World, there's Big Brother, and then there's The Surreal Life. Not explicitly a rock star reality TV show, each of The Surreal Life's six seasons follows a group of celebrities who spend two weeks together in singer Glen Campbell's Hollywood Hills mansion.
The first season includes Motley Crue singer Vince Neil, as well as rapper MC Hammer. Subsequent seasons feature C.C. DeVille, Jane Wiedlin, and Steve Harwell.