Pasadena, CA, January 12, 2005 – Production has begun on GENE SIMMONS FAMILY JEWELS. Dad is Gene Simmons – the legendary, tongue wagging demon of KISS. Mom is Shannon Tweed -- former Playmate Of The Year, actress and model. And their kids, Nick and Sophie, are, well...surprisingly charming, well-behaved teenagers dealing with the trials and tribulations of adolescence, even though Mom and Dad are like no one else’s parents.
Gene and Shannon have been happily UNmarried for 22 years and have no plans of getting married any time soon. Gene is a rock star, and a multi-media magnate. He is also the kind of dad who brings Gatorade to his daughter's soccer games and stands in the front row of his son's rock band when they play gigs. This series will reveal the side of Gene that he has kept hidden until now, and shows how the most non-traditional, traditional family in America manages to make it work under the oddest of circumstances.
Gene Simmons is co-founder of KISS, a band which has broken box office records worldwide set by Elvis and the Beatles and has 2,500 licensed and merchandised products, from KISS VISA cards to KISS condoms (www.GENESIMMONS.com). Gene also runs Simmons Records, Simmons Audio Visual and Gene Simmons Game magazine. He is Chairman of a forthcoming television network and is busier than ever in another of his new ventures: SIMMONS ABRAMSON MARKETING, which handles worldwide branding/marketing and branding for the Indy Racing League.
Nancy Dubuc and Didi O’Hearn are the A&E Executive Producers. Andy Berg is A&E Supervising Producer. Gene Simmons, Leslie Greif, Lisa Knapp and Adam Reed are Executive Producers. FAMILY JEWELS is produced for A&E Network by The Greif Company/A Day With, Inc and the Gene Simmons Company.
About A&E Network
Now reaching more than 88 million homes, A&E Network brings viewers a diverse mix of high quality entertainment; ranging from critically acclaimed original movies to the very best dramatic series, the most successful justice shows on cable to the Emmy Award-winning Biography® series. Not to mention, the A&E Network’s powerhouse Real-Life Series franchise. In 2005, A&E Network holds the distinct record for the most Primetime Emmy nominations (10) for a basic cable network
New original series premiered in 2006 include: Rollergirls, a richly captured non-scripted drama from the makers of “Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County” that follows the antics and over-the-top athletic competitions of women from the TXRD Lonestar Roller Derby whom are united by the wildest and most American of sports, roller derby; and Dallas Swat, an action-packed new real-life series that explores the professional and personal lives of the Dallas Police Department's Tactical Unit. Other series slated for 2006 include: King of Cars which reveals the secret life of one of America’s most successful used car dealerships; Working Title: Polar Posse follows the escapades of a daring teenage arctic rescue squad; and Driving Force follows champion dragster John Force and his three drag-racing daughters as they compete not only in the high-speed field of drag racing but also face the day-to-day challenges of family life. Returning real-life series include Dog the Bounty Hunter, Intervention, Criss Angel Mindfreak, Inked, Flip This House and The First 48.
In addition to some of the best drama series on television including; The Sopranos, CSI Miami, MI-5 and 24, award winning original movies remain the heart and sole of the A&E Network brand. Upcoming movies include Flight 93 and Touch the Top of the World. Also set to debut in 2006 are topical and timely documentary specials under the A&E IndieFilm® banner including multi-award winning Murderball and Rock School.
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