Gene Simmons Family Jewels: The Complete Season 1

What kind of life can a rock god and a Playboy playmate possibly have together? A pretty normal one, it appears—if not too much of this A&E reality series has been staged for the cameras. Of course, exactly why Gene Simmons, still going strong as the frontman for KISS, and his not-wife, soft-core porn queen Shannon Tweed—they've been not-married for 23 years—would let TV cameras into their home to spy on their lives is a question that must be asked, but perhaps the simple answer is that they're a couple of genuine narcissists who think viewers can't get enough of them, even when they're just puttering around the house, giving the dog a bath, or canoodling in bed talking about having another baby. The pair have two kids, teenagers Nick and Sophie, and the biggest surprise about the show is how startlingly smart and well-adjusted they seem to be, considering the psychological issues their mom and dad are dealing with on a daily basis (to get a facelift, or not to get a facelift...). DVD extras on this two-disc set compiling all 13 episodes from the 2006 first season include a rough cut of the pilot episode, extra interviews, bloopers, and several featurettes—including a peek at Simmons' shrine to himself, Simmons reminiscing about his old songs, and more. Fans of KISS may be drawn to this, but for most others this is strictly optional. (M. Johanson)