I hate reality television. My belief is that it all needs to go and the sitcom needs to return and rule the roost of television.
I love old school rap. Run-DMC is one of the very best and the rap trio was one of the pivotal groups in bringing rap to a mainstream audience.
"Run´s House" was something I had originally thought to be completely off limits. I did not want to watch the show and see Rev Run lose his iconic status to the horrors of reality television. My middle school and high school years were all about Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys and N.W.A. The fusion of rock and roll music and the emerging artistry of rap music was slammed together when Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay busted onto the scene with their now historic album "Raising Hell." I proudly own all of the Run-DMC albums on compact disc and remember when I first made the jump to CD with "Back From Hell" in 1990. The rest of my catalog was quickly updated to the new digital format.
When the publicist responsible for the DVD release of "Run´s House: Complete Seasons 1 & 2" approached me and inquired about the possibility of reviewing the set, I was hesitant. I didn´t want to have a changed impression of Rev Run. I didn´t want to look at him with the same eyes that I view the train-wreck that is the Osbourne family. I´ve already had to sit through watching Ice Cube making children´s films and that is painful enough. This is Run or Run-DMC, the greatest rap group to hit the radio airwaves. The thought of seeing Run fall into the abyss after the death of Jam Master Jay and the end of Run-DMC was something I didn´t quite want to witness. I decided to set aside my reservations and take a chance and watch the first two seasons of the MTV show "Run´s House."
After sitting through the nearly eight hours of material on "Run´s House," my opinion of Joseph Simmons has changed. Fortunately, it is definitely not in the negative. "Run´s House" shows Rev Run as a different man than the black-clad rapper that populated MTV during the Eighties. He still wears black and sports a reverend´s collar. However, he is now a forty-one year old father of five who works hard to balance his life between his various business ventures, his rap career and his family. With a full house of five children and a loving wife, Justine who also looks to forge a business portfolio of her own, Joseph "Run" Simmons has a very full life and though he no longer commands the Top 40 as he did twenty years ago, he is still an energetic person that has embraced religion and still loves to entertain.
The two oldest daughters, Vanessa 22, and Angela, 19 are the two oldest children. They are of an age where they look to move out onto their own and attend college and work towards their own careers. The three sons are younger than the girls and have their own problems. The oldest son is Joseph "Jo-Jo" Simmons II, 17. He looks to break onto the rap scene that his father helped pioneer. The younger Daniel "Diggy" Simmons II is twelve and also aspires to be a rapper. The youngest boy is Russell "Russy" Simmons II, who is 11 years old and struggles with a temper problem. The three sons are named for the three Simmons brothers.
At its core, "Run´s House" is reality television, but at times it plays out like a modern update of "The Cosby Show." Unlike the completely dysfunctional "The Osbournes," the Simmons family is a close-knit family that enjoy the wealthy lifestyle provided by their father, but they have a better understanding of family values and morality. The Simmons children misbehave and they do cause their parents headaches, but they sit down and talk things out and work to function as a better family unit. Joseph and Justine too have problems, but they have great love for one another and work on keeping their relationship healthy and doing what is necessary for the benefit of their children. Simmons provides humor that is pertinent for today´s society. When Rev Run breaks out with a rousing rendition of a Foo Fighters song, it is pure comedy when his family just cannot understand. Confusion between Snoop Dog and Snoopy the Dog is another funny moment. Although he can be a large child at times with his behavior, he is an intelligent, articulate and caring man.
Rev Run has a different place in the world today than he had back in the days of "Raising Hell" and "Tougher Than Leather." He is a reverend and a father of five. His reality show is used to entertain and to educate. Each show ends with Rev Run taking a bubble bath and sending his numerous friends an email with the lessons he has learned during the episode. He discusses the family problems with his children and his wife and explains things in detail. Run has not given up on his career and the recent hit "Mind on the Road" is just as good as any of the material from earlier in his career. I was quite worried with watching this reality television show, and my opinion did change, but I now view Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons as a warm and caring man, who is a father of a large family and a partner in a large business empire that includes clothing, sneakers, a record label and jewelry. He may be loud and boisterous in public, but Rev Run is just as fun to watch on his reality show as he is behind the mic. I´d rather hear him spit a few rhymes, but these eight hours were well spent.
Season One: Episode Summaries:
Angela´s Graduation: This is the first episode of the series and finds Rev Run wanting to throw his very intelligent daughter a graduation party for achieving a 95% grade point average and graduating from an expensive private high school. Angela wants a million dollar party, but Run wants to spend less than ten grand and show her that a smaller and more intimate party is the way to go. This episode set the mood that Run teaches his children the value of money and that excess is not always necessary. Grade: B
Run´s Facts of Life: Run must talk to his three sons about girls and sex. This is an uncomfortable topic for the religious rapper. He must also pitch a three man white rap group to his curse-word spewing brother and media mogul, Russell Simmons. This episode was part Cosby and part "what I expected from this show" reality television. Run and Russell are very different personalities in their business and Run isn´t exactly the best daddy to talk about sex. Grade: A-
There´s No Place Like Home: I loved this episode. Vanessa and Angela decide they want to move into their own apartment in the Big Apple. Run sends them out to price some apartments and they come back with two in mind. One costs $31 million and the other, cheaper apartment is $14 million. Run sends them back out the next day and they look at two-thousand dollar a month rental units. One is next door to a prison and most of them are closet sized. The decide that there is no place like home. Especially when you live in "Run´s House." Grade: A
Do Your Best, Forget the Rest: The lesson in life here is about sportsmanship. Run´s sons struggle with sore losing and Run decides to throw a family competition to show that sportsmanship is important. I felt that Run was almost as bad as his sons when it came to trash talking and not liking of losing, but the message was important. I´d love to have a basketball court in my house. Grade: C+
The Fruits of Labor: Justine and Run are both slightly on the overweight size. They struggle over the question of weight and Justine hires a personal trainer. Angela takes an internship with her aunt-in-law, Kimora Lee Simmons. Both mother and step-daughter struggle with their goals, but find some happiness when good things and a nice feeling of self begin to turn up from their hard work. This was my least favorite episode of the first season and perhaps the entire three disc set. Grade: C-
Simmons Family Vacation: In this show, you get to see Run go on a White Water Rafting adventure and partake in other activities in Colorado. They also go fly fishing and take part in other activities that are quite foreign to the well-to-do family from New Jersey. There were some genuinely funny moments in this episode and watching Run and Jo-Jo fly fish was something I could relate to. It isn´t easy and without know-how and practice, it is a difficult thing to do. Grade: A
Season Two: Episode Summaries
Baby Fever: This episode was a bit sad, knowing the outcome of recent events in the lives of Joseph and Justine Simmons and their recent loss of their newborn baby. This was the opening topic of season two and I don´t know how they will handle this loss in Season 3. Regardless, Justine and Rev Run decide to try for a new baby after Justine gets Baby Fever. Grade: B
A Healthy Heart: I hate going to the doctors and Rev Run does too. He ends up going to a pastry shop instead of the doctor, after telling Justine that he will do so. After a ton of prodding, Run finally agrees to a checkup and learns that he is in very good shape, but should lose a little weight. One thing that finally came about in this episode was some spitting out rhymes by the Simmons family. Grade: A+
All Work and No Peace: This episode deals mostly with Run´s difficulties in balancing his empires and his family. Run talks to his brother Russell about his problems and gets little satisfaction and then talks to his braided Bishop´s advice. Russy busts up another Game Boy with his anger management issues. As Run works to find a healthy balance to his personal and professional life, Russy learns to earn his own money to replace his Game Boy SP. Little Russy really shines in this episode. Grade: A-
Maximum Growth: Vanessa is a very pretty young lady. Rev Run should be proud of his beautiful daughters, but this becomes problematic when Maxim Magazine wants Vanessa to do a photo shoot for their Hot 100 Celebrities feature. Watching Angela and Vanessa disagree on how much flesh Vanessa should show was quite entertaining. I almost forget: Rev Run buys a beautiful and expensive Lamborghini. Grade: B
Vegas Vacation: The good reverend and his family take a trip to Vegas for the Magic Clothing Convention. Jo-Jo struggles with feelings that his overbearing and ill-natured uncle Russell may not like him. Jo-Jo wants to work with Run Athletics, but Russell is not willing to make it easy for Jo-Jo. Run also shows his more romantic side when he has the five children do something special with Justine, though I felt this turned out more comedic than warm. Grade: C+
Rev´s Fix It List: Rev and Justine are having some marital problems and Justine makes a list of things for Rev to fix, but Rev cares more about his exercising. Some shopping for clothing for Russy was another hot topic of the show, but I felt this episode didn´t necessarily convey anything of substance by example and felt that both Rev and Justine were a bit selfish when it came to the list. Grade: C-
Rev Mom: Justine learns she is pregnant and they are overjoyed to be having another child. However, Run wants Justine to take it easy and relax, but Justine wants to work on her own ventures, including her jewelry line. Run didn´t fit the Mr. Mom mold too cleanly and some havoc ensued, including a horrendous haircut for the family dog. This episode was again mildly depressing knowing what happens to Justine´s pregnancy after the second season ended, but watching Run struggle as Mr. Mom was funny stuff. Grade: A-
Downward Facing Dawg: The third brother, Daniel is finally revealed in this episode. Russell, who loves to angrily shout profanities and has strong bursts of anger is calm when doing yoga. Run decides to augment his Zen room with some Yoga. This episode finally showed Jo-Jo rap. For a show based on a legendary rapper with children who have rap aspirations, there isn´t much rapping going on. Grade: B+
Anger Management: Russy breaks yet another Game Boy SP. The boy has some serious anger problems and Run enrolls him into Karate to help him cope with his anger. Angela wants to have her own magazine and Run brings together his connections to help her achieve her dream. Run takes part in the Karate lessons and helps Russy work out his anger. This was a mild, but entertaining episode. Grade: B-
Two Down and One to Grow: This was a pretty good end-of-season episode, but again was bogged down by focusing on the unborn baby. It was also sad because the two daughters were moving out and Run has to struggle with losing them from his protective home. To help compensate for this loss, he buys a jet plane and looks forward to the forthcoming baby. The family ended the season on a pivotal point and really set the stage for a different family configuration for season three.
I love old school rap. Run-DMC is one of the very best and the rap trio was one of the pivotal groups in bringing rap to a mainstream audience.
"Run´s House" was something I had originally thought to be completely off limits. I did not want to watch the show and see Rev Run lose his iconic status to the horrors of reality television. My middle school and high school years were all about Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys and N.W.A. The fusion of rock and roll music and the emerging artistry of rap music was slammed together when Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay busted onto the scene with their now historic album "Raising Hell." I proudly own all of the Run-DMC albums on compact disc and remember when I first made the jump to CD with "Back From Hell" in 1990. The rest of my catalog was quickly updated to the new digital format.
When the publicist responsible for the DVD release of "Run´s House: Complete Seasons 1 & 2" approached me and inquired about the possibility of reviewing the set, I was hesitant. I didn´t want to have a changed impression of Rev Run. I didn´t want to look at him with the same eyes that I view the train-wreck that is the Osbourne family. I´ve already had to sit through watching Ice Cube making children´s films and that is painful enough. This is Run or Run-DMC, the greatest rap group to hit the radio airwaves. The thought of seeing Run fall into the abyss after the death of Jam Master Jay and the end of Run-DMC was something I didn´t quite want to witness. I decided to set aside my reservations and take a chance and watch the first two seasons of the MTV show "Run´s House."
After sitting through the nearly eight hours of material on "Run´s House," my opinion of Joseph Simmons has changed. Fortunately, it is definitely not in the negative. "Run´s House" shows Rev Run as a different man than the black-clad rapper that populated MTV during the Eighties. He still wears black and sports a reverend´s collar. However, he is now a forty-one year old father of five who works hard to balance his life between his various business ventures, his rap career and his family. With a full house of five children and a loving wife, Justine who also looks to forge a business portfolio of her own, Joseph "Run" Simmons has a very full life and though he no longer commands the Top 40 as he did twenty years ago, he is still an energetic person that has embraced religion and still loves to entertain.
The two oldest daughters, Vanessa 22, and Angela, 19 are the two oldest children. They are of an age where they look to move out onto their own and attend college and work towards their own careers. The three sons are younger than the girls and have their own problems. The oldest son is Joseph "Jo-Jo" Simmons II, 17. He looks to break onto the rap scene that his father helped pioneer. The younger Daniel "Diggy" Simmons II is twelve and also aspires to be a rapper. The youngest boy is Russell "Russy" Simmons II, who is 11 years old and struggles with a temper problem. The three sons are named for the three Simmons brothers.
At its core, "Run´s House" is reality television, but at times it plays out like a modern update of "The Cosby Show." Unlike the completely dysfunctional "The Osbournes," the Simmons family is a close-knit family that enjoy the wealthy lifestyle provided by their father, but they have a better understanding of family values and morality. The Simmons children misbehave and they do cause their parents headaches, but they sit down and talk things out and work to function as a better family unit. Joseph and Justine too have problems, but they have great love for one another and work on keeping their relationship healthy and doing what is necessary for the benefit of their children. Simmons provides humor that is pertinent for today´s society. When Rev Run breaks out with a rousing rendition of a Foo Fighters song, it is pure comedy when his family just cannot understand. Confusion between Snoop Dog and Snoopy the Dog is another funny moment. Although he can be a large child at times with his behavior, he is an intelligent, articulate and caring man.
Rev Run has a different place in the world today than he had back in the days of "Raising Hell" and "Tougher Than Leather." He is a reverend and a father of five. His reality show is used to entertain and to educate. Each show ends with Rev Run taking a bubble bath and sending his numerous friends an email with the lessons he has learned during the episode. He discusses the family problems with his children and his wife and explains things in detail. Run has not given up on his career and the recent hit "Mind on the Road" is just as good as any of the material from earlier in his career. I was quite worried with watching this reality television show, and my opinion did change, but I now view Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons as a warm and caring man, who is a father of a large family and a partner in a large business empire that includes clothing, sneakers, a record label and jewelry. He may be loud and boisterous in public, but Rev Run is just as fun to watch on his reality show as he is behind the mic. I´d rather hear him spit a few rhymes, but these eight hours were well spent.
Season One: Episode Summaries:
Angela´s Graduation: This is the first episode of the series and finds Rev Run wanting to throw his very intelligent daughter a graduation party for achieving a 95% grade point average and graduating from an expensive private high school. Angela wants a million dollar party, but Run wants to spend less than ten grand and show her that a smaller and more intimate party is the way to go. This episode set the mood that Run teaches his children the value of money and that excess is not always necessary. Grade: B
Run´s Facts of Life: Run must talk to his three sons about girls and sex. This is an uncomfortable topic for the religious rapper. He must also pitch a three man white rap group to his curse-word spewing brother and media mogul, Russell Simmons. This episode was part Cosby and part "what I expected from this show" reality television. Run and Russell are very different personalities in their business and Run isn´t exactly the best daddy to talk about sex. Grade: A-
There´s No Place Like Home: I loved this episode. Vanessa and Angela decide they want to move into their own apartment in the Big Apple. Run sends them out to price some apartments and they come back with two in mind. One costs $31 million and the other, cheaper apartment is $14 million. Run sends them back out the next day and they look at two-thousand dollar a month rental units. One is next door to a prison and most of them are closet sized. The decide that there is no place like home. Especially when you live in "Run´s House." Grade: A
Do Your Best, Forget the Rest: The lesson in life here is about sportsmanship. Run´s sons struggle with sore losing and Run decides to throw a family competition to show that sportsmanship is important. I felt that Run was almost as bad as his sons when it came to trash talking and not liking of losing, but the message was important. I´d love to have a basketball court in my house. Grade: C+
The Fruits of Labor: Justine and Run are both slightly on the overweight size. They struggle over the question of weight and Justine hires a personal trainer. Angela takes an internship with her aunt-in-law, Kimora Lee Simmons. Both mother and step-daughter struggle with their goals, but find some happiness when good things and a nice feeling of self begin to turn up from their hard work. This was my least favorite episode of the first season and perhaps the entire three disc set. Grade: C-
Simmons Family Vacation: In this show, you get to see Run go on a White Water Rafting adventure and partake in other activities in Colorado. They also go fly fishing and take part in other activities that are quite foreign to the well-to-do family from New Jersey. There were some genuinely funny moments in this episode and watching Run and Jo-Jo fly fish was something I could relate to. It isn´t easy and without know-how and practice, it is a difficult thing to do. Grade: A
Season Two: Episode Summaries
Baby Fever: This episode was a bit sad, knowing the outcome of recent events in the lives of Joseph and Justine Simmons and their recent loss of their newborn baby. This was the opening topic of season two and I don´t know how they will handle this loss in Season 3. Regardless, Justine and Rev Run decide to try for a new baby after Justine gets Baby Fever. Grade: B
A Healthy Heart: I hate going to the doctors and Rev Run does too. He ends up going to a pastry shop instead of the doctor, after telling Justine that he will do so. After a ton of prodding, Run finally agrees to a checkup and learns that he is in very good shape, but should lose a little weight. One thing that finally came about in this episode was some spitting out rhymes by the Simmons family. Grade: A+
All Work and No Peace: This episode deals mostly with Run´s difficulties in balancing his empires and his family. Run talks to his brother Russell about his problems and gets little satisfaction and then talks to his braided Bishop´s advice. Russy busts up another Game Boy with his anger management issues. As Run works to find a healthy balance to his personal and professional life, Russy learns to earn his own money to replace his Game Boy SP. Little Russy really shines in this episode. Grade: A-
Maximum Growth: Vanessa is a very pretty young lady. Rev Run should be proud of his beautiful daughters, but this becomes problematic when Maxim Magazine wants Vanessa to do a photo shoot for their Hot 100 Celebrities feature. Watching Angela and Vanessa disagree on how much flesh Vanessa should show was quite entertaining. I almost forget: Rev Run buys a beautiful and expensive Lamborghini. Grade: B
Vegas Vacation: The good reverend and his family take a trip to Vegas for the Magic Clothing Convention. Jo-Jo struggles with feelings that his overbearing and ill-natured uncle Russell may not like him. Jo-Jo wants to work with Run Athletics, but Russell is not willing to make it easy for Jo-Jo. Run also shows his more romantic side when he has the five children do something special with Justine, though I felt this turned out more comedic than warm. Grade: C+
Rev´s Fix It List: Rev and Justine are having some marital problems and Justine makes a list of things for Rev to fix, but Rev cares more about his exercising. Some shopping for clothing for Russy was another hot topic of the show, but I felt this episode didn´t necessarily convey anything of substance by example and felt that both Rev and Justine were a bit selfish when it came to the list. Grade: C-
Rev Mom: Justine learns she is pregnant and they are overjoyed to be having another child. However, Run wants Justine to take it easy and relax, but Justine wants to work on her own ventures, including her jewelry line. Run didn´t fit the Mr. Mom mold too cleanly and some havoc ensued, including a horrendous haircut for the family dog. This episode was again mildly depressing knowing what happens to Justine´s pregnancy after the second season ended, but watching Run struggle as Mr. Mom was funny stuff. Grade: A-
Downward Facing Dawg: The third brother, Daniel is finally revealed in this episode. Russell, who loves to angrily shout profanities and has strong bursts of anger is calm when doing yoga. Run decides to augment his Zen room with some Yoga. This episode finally showed Jo-Jo rap. For a show based on a legendary rapper with children who have rap aspirations, there isn´t much rapping going on. Grade: B+
Anger Management: Russy breaks yet another Game Boy SP. The boy has some serious anger problems and Run enrolls him into Karate to help him cope with his anger. Angela wants to have her own magazine and Run brings together his connections to help her achieve her dream. Run takes part in the Karate lessons and helps Russy work out his anger. This was a mild, but entertaining episode. Grade: B-
Two Down and One to Grow: This was a pretty good end-of-season episode, but again was bogged down by focusing on the unborn baby. It was also sad because the two daughters were moving out and Run has to struggle with losing them from his protective home. To help compensate for this loss, he buys a jet plane and looks forward to the forthcoming baby. The family ended the season on a pivotal point and really set the stage for a different family configuration for season three.
I hate reality television. My belief is that it all needs to go and the sitcom needs to return and rule the roost of television.
I love old school rap. Run-DMC is one of the very best and the rap trio was one of the pivotal groups in bringing rap to a mainstream audience.
"Run´s House" was something I had originally thought to be completely off limits. I did not want to watch the show and see Rev Run lose his iconic status to the horrors of reality television. My middle school and high school years were all about Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys and N.W.A. The fusion of rock and roll music and the emerging artistry of rap music was slammed together when Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay busted onto the scene with their now historic album "Raising Hell." I proudly own all of the Run-DMC albums on compact disc and remember when I first made the jump to CD with "Back From Hell" in 1990. The rest of my catalog was quickly updated to the new digital format.
When the publicist responsible for the DVD release of "Run´s House: Complete Seasons 1 & 2" approached me and inquired about the possibility of reviewing the set, I was hesitant. I didn´t want to have a changed impression of Rev Run. I didn´t want to look at him with the same eyes that I view the train-wreck that is the Osbourne family. I´ve already had to sit through watching Ice Cube making children´s films and that is painful enough. This is Run or Run-DMC, the greatest rap group to hit the radio airwaves. The thought of seeing Run fall into the abyss after the death of Jam Master Jay and the end of Run-DMC was something I didn´t quite want to witness. I decided to set aside my reservations and take a chance and watch the first two seasons of the MTV show "Run´s House."
After sitting through the nearly eight hours of material on "Run´s House," my opinion of Joseph Simmons has changed. Fortunately, it is definitely not in the negative. "Run´s House" shows Rev Run as a different man than the black-clad rapper that populated MTV during the Eighties. He still wears black and sports a reverend´s collar. However, he is now a forty-one year old father of five who works hard to balance his life between his various business ventures, his rap career and his family. With a full house of five children and a loving wife, Justine who also looks to forge a business portfolio of her own, Joseph "Run" Simmons has a very full life and though he no longer commands the Top 40 as he did twenty years ago, he is still an energetic person that has embraced religion and still loves to entertain.
The two oldest daughters, Vanessa 22, and Angela, 19 are the two oldest children. They are of an age where they look to move out onto their own and attend college and work towards their own careers. The three sons are younger than the girls and have their own problems. The oldest son is Joseph "Jo-Jo" Simmons II, 17. He looks to break onto the rap scene that his father helped pioneer. The younger Daniel "Diggy" Simmons II is twelve and also aspires to be a rapper. The youngest boy is Russell "Russy" Simmons II, who is 11 years old and struggles with a temper problem. The three sons are named for the three Simmons brothers.
At its core, "Run´s House" is reality television, but at times it plays out like a modern update of "The Cosby Show." Unlike the completely dysfunctional "The Osbournes," the Simmons family is a close-knit family that enjoy the wealthy lifestyle provided by their father, but they have a better understanding of family values and morality. The Simmons children misbehave and they do cause their parents headaches, but they sit down and talk things out and work to function as a better family unit. Joseph and Justine too have problems, but they have great love for one another and work on keeping their relationship healthy and doing what is necessary for the benefit of their children. Simmons provides humor that is pertinent for today´s society. When Rev Run breaks out with a rousing rendition of a Foo Fighters song, it is pure comedy when his family just cannot understand. Confusion between Snoop Dog and Snoopy the Dog is another funny moment. Although he can be a large child at times with his behavior, he is an intelligent, articulate and caring man.
Rev Run has a different place in the world today than he had back in the days of "Raising Hell" and "Tougher Than Leather." He is a reverend and a father of five. His reality show is used to entertain and to educate. Each show ends with Rev Run taking a bubble bath and sending his numerous friends an email with the lessons he has learned during the episode. He discusses the family problems with his children and his wife and explains things in detail. Run has not given up on his career and the recent hit "Mind on the Road" is just as good as any of the material from earlier in his career. I was quite worried with watching this reality television show, and my opinion did change, but I now view Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons as a warm and caring man, who is a father of a large family and a partner in a large business empire that includes clothing, sneakers, a record label and jewelry. He may be loud and boisterous in public, but Rev Run is just as fun to watch on his reality show as he is behind the mic. I´d rather hear him spit a few rhymes, but these eight hours were well spent.
Season One: Episode Summaries:
Angela´s Graduation: This is the first episode of the series and finds Rev Run wanting to throw his very intelligent daughter a graduation party for achieving a 95% grade point average and graduating from an expensive private high school. Angela wants a million dollar party, but Run wants to spend less than ten grand and show her that a smaller and more intimate party is the way to go. This episode set the mood that Run teaches his children the value of money and that excess is not always necessary. Grade: B
Run´s Facts of Life: Run must talk to his three sons about girls and sex. This is an uncomfortable topic for the religious rapper. He must also pitch a three man white rap group to his curse-word spewing brother and media mogul, Russell Simmons. This episode was part Cosby and part "what I expected from this show" reality television. Run and Russell are very different personalities in their business and Run isn´t exactly the best daddy to talk about sex. Grade: A-
There´s No Place Like Home: I loved this episode. Vanessa and Angela decide they want to move into their own apartment in the Big Apple. Run sends them out to price some apartments and they come back with two in mind. One costs $31 million and the other, cheaper apartment is $14 million. Run sends them back out the next day and they look at two-thousand dollar a month rental units. One is next door to a prison and most of them are closet sized. The decide that there is no place like home. Especially when you live in "Run´s House." Grade: A
Do Your Best, Forget the Rest: The lesson in life here is about sportsmanship. Run´s sons struggle with sore losing and Run decides to throw a family competition to show that sportsmanship is important. I felt that Run was almost as bad as his sons when it came to trash talking and not liking of losing, but the message was important. I´d love to have a basketball court in my house. Grade: C+
The Fruits of Labor: Justine and Run are both slightly on the overweight size. They struggle over the question of weight and Justine hires a personal trainer. Angela takes an internship with her aunt-in-law, Kimora Lee Simmons. Both mother and step-daughter struggle with their goals, but find some happiness when good things and a nice feeling of self begin to turn up from their hard work. This was my least favorite episode of the first season and perhaps the entire three disc set. Grade: C-
Simmons Family Vacation: In this show, you get to see Run go on a White Water Rafting adventure and partake in other activities in Colorado. They also go fly fishing and take part in other activities that are quite foreign to the well-to-do family from New Jersey. There were some genuinely funny moments in this episode and watching Run and Jo-Jo fly fish was something I could relate to. It isn´t easy and without know-how and practice, it is a difficult thing to do. Grade: A
Season Two: Episode Summaries
Baby Fever: This episode was a bit sad, knowing the outcome of recent events in the lives of Joseph and Justine Simmons and their recent loss of their newborn baby. This was the opening topic of season two and I don´t know how they will handle this loss in Season 3. Regardless, Justine and Rev Run decide to try for a new baby after Justine gets Baby Fever. Grade: B
A Healthy Heart: I hate going to the doctors and Rev Run does too. He ends up going to a pastry shop instead of the doctor, after telling Justine that he will do so. After a ton of prodding, Run finally agrees to a checkup and learns that he is in very good shape, but should lose a little weight. One thing that finally came about in this episode was some spitting out rhymes by the Simmons family. Grade: A+
All Work and No Peace: This episode deals mostly with Run´s difficulties in balancing his empires and his family. Run talks to his brother Russell about his problems and gets little satisfaction and then talks to his braided Bishop´s advice. Russy busts up another Game Boy with his anger management issues. As Run works to find a healthy balance to his personal and professional life, Russy learns to earn his own money to replace his Game Boy SP. Little Russy really shines in this episode. Grade: A-
Maximum Growth: Vanessa is a very pretty young lady. Rev Run should be proud of his beautiful daughters, but this becomes problematic when Maxim Magazine wants Vanessa to do a photo shoot for their Hot 100 Celebrities feature. Watching Angela and Vanessa disagree on how much flesh Vanessa should show was quite entertaining. I almost forget: Rev Run buys a beautiful and expensive Lamborghini. Grade: B
Vegas Vacation: The good reverend and his family take a trip to Vegas for the Magic Clothing Convention. Jo-Jo struggles with feelings that his overbearing and ill-natured uncle Russell may not like him. Jo-Jo wants to work with Run Athletics, but Russell is not willing to make it easy for Jo-Jo. Run also shows his more romantic side when he has the five children do something special with Justine, though I felt this turned out more comedic than warm. Grade: C+
Rev´s Fix It List: Rev and Justine are having some marital problems and Justine makes a list of things for Rev to fix, but Rev cares more about his exercising. Some shopping for clothing for Russy was another hot topic of the show, but I felt this episode didn´t necessarily convey anything of substance by example and felt that both Rev and Justine were a bit selfish when it came to the list. Grade: C-
Rev Mom: Justine learns she is pregnant and they are overjoyed to be having another child. However, Run wants Justine to take it easy and relax, but Justine wants to work on her own ventures, including her jewelry line. Run didn´t fit the Mr. Mom mold too cleanly and some havoc ensued, including a horrendous haircut for the family dog. This episode was again mildly depressing knowing what happens to Justine´s pregnancy after the second season ended, but watching Run struggle as Mr. Mom was funny stuff. Grade: A-
Downward Facing Dawg: The third brother, Daniel is finally revealed in this episode. Russell, who loves to angrily shout profanities and has strong bursts of anger is calm when doing yoga. Run decides to augment his Zen room with some Yoga. This episode finally showed Jo-Jo rap. For a show based on a legendary rapper with children who have rap aspirations, there isn´t much rapping going on. Grade: B+
Anger Management: Russy breaks yet another Game Boy SP. The boy has some serious anger problems and Run enrolls him into Karate to help him cope with his anger. Angela wants to have her own magazine and Run brings together his connections to help her achieve her dream. Run takes part in the Karate lessons and helps Russy work out his anger. This was a mild, but entertaining episode. Grade: B-
Two Down and One to Grow: This was a pretty good end-of-season episode, but again was bogged down by focusing on the unborn baby. It was also sad because the two daughters were moving out and Run has to struggle with losing them from his protective home. To help compensate for this loss, he buys a jet plane and looks forward to the forthcoming baby. The family ended the season on a pivotal point and really set the stage for a different family configuration for season three.
I love old school rap. Run-DMC is one of the very best and the rap trio was one of the pivotal groups in bringing rap to a mainstream audience.
"Run´s House" was something I had originally thought to be completely off limits. I did not want to watch the show and see Rev Run lose his iconic status to the horrors of reality television. My middle school and high school years were all about Run-DMC, the Beastie Boys and N.W.A. The fusion of rock and roll music and the emerging artistry of rap music was slammed together when Run, DMC and Jam Master Jay busted onto the scene with their now historic album "Raising Hell." I proudly own all of the Run-DMC albums on compact disc and remember when I first made the jump to CD with "Back From Hell" in 1990. The rest of my catalog was quickly updated to the new digital format.
When the publicist responsible for the DVD release of "Run´s House: Complete Seasons 1 & 2" approached me and inquired about the possibility of reviewing the set, I was hesitant. I didn´t want to have a changed impression of Rev Run. I didn´t want to look at him with the same eyes that I view the train-wreck that is the Osbourne family. I´ve already had to sit through watching Ice Cube making children´s films and that is painful enough. This is Run or Run-DMC, the greatest rap group to hit the radio airwaves. The thought of seeing Run fall into the abyss after the death of Jam Master Jay and the end of Run-DMC was something I didn´t quite want to witness. I decided to set aside my reservations and take a chance and watch the first two seasons of the MTV show "Run´s House."
After sitting through the nearly eight hours of material on "Run´s House," my opinion of Joseph Simmons has changed. Fortunately, it is definitely not in the negative. "Run´s House" shows Rev Run as a different man than the black-clad rapper that populated MTV during the Eighties. He still wears black and sports a reverend´s collar. However, he is now a forty-one year old father of five who works hard to balance his life between his various business ventures, his rap career and his family. With a full house of five children and a loving wife, Justine who also looks to forge a business portfolio of her own, Joseph "Run" Simmons has a very full life and though he no longer commands the Top 40 as he did twenty years ago, he is still an energetic person that has embraced religion and still loves to entertain.
The two oldest daughters, Vanessa 22, and Angela, 19 are the two oldest children. They are of an age where they look to move out onto their own and attend college and work towards their own careers. The three sons are younger than the girls and have their own problems. The oldest son is Joseph "Jo-Jo" Simmons II, 17. He looks to break onto the rap scene that his father helped pioneer. The younger Daniel "Diggy" Simmons II is twelve and also aspires to be a rapper. The youngest boy is Russell "Russy" Simmons II, who is 11 years old and struggles with a temper problem. The three sons are named for the three Simmons brothers.
At its core, "Run´s House" is reality television, but at times it plays out like a modern update of "The Cosby Show." Unlike the completely dysfunctional "The Osbournes," the Simmons family is a close-knit family that enjoy the wealthy lifestyle provided by their father, but they have a better understanding of family values and morality. The Simmons children misbehave and they do cause their parents headaches, but they sit down and talk things out and work to function as a better family unit. Joseph and Justine too have problems, but they have great love for one another and work on keeping their relationship healthy and doing what is necessary for the benefit of their children. Simmons provides humor that is pertinent for today´s society. When Rev Run breaks out with a rousing rendition of a Foo Fighters song, it is pure comedy when his family just cannot understand. Confusion between Snoop Dog and Snoopy the Dog is another funny moment. Although he can be a large child at times with his behavior, he is an intelligent, articulate and caring man.
Rev Run has a different place in the world today than he had back in the days of "Raising Hell" and "Tougher Than Leather." He is a reverend and a father of five. His reality show is used to entertain and to educate. Each show ends with Rev Run taking a bubble bath and sending his numerous friends an email with the lessons he has learned during the episode. He discusses the family problems with his children and his wife and explains things in detail. Run has not given up on his career and the recent hit "Mind on the Road" is just as good as any of the material from earlier in his career. I was quite worried with watching this reality television show, and my opinion did change, but I now view Joseph "Rev Run" Simmons as a warm and caring man, who is a father of a large family and a partner in a large business empire that includes clothing, sneakers, a record label and jewelry. He may be loud and boisterous in public, but Rev Run is just as fun to watch on his reality show as he is behind the mic. I´d rather hear him spit a few rhymes, but these eight hours were well spent.
Season One: Episode Summaries:
Angela´s Graduation: This is the first episode of the series and finds Rev Run wanting to throw his very intelligent daughter a graduation party for achieving a 95% grade point average and graduating from an expensive private high school. Angela wants a million dollar party, but Run wants to spend less than ten grand and show her that a smaller and more intimate party is the way to go. This episode set the mood that Run teaches his children the value of money and that excess is not always necessary. Grade: B
Run´s Facts of Life: Run must talk to his three sons about girls and sex. This is an uncomfortable topic for the religious rapper. He must also pitch a three man white rap group to his curse-word spewing brother and media mogul, Russell Simmons. This episode was part Cosby and part "what I expected from this show" reality television. Run and Russell are very different personalities in their business and Run isn´t exactly the best daddy to talk about sex. Grade: A-
There´s No Place Like Home: I loved this episode. Vanessa and Angela decide they want to move into their own apartment in the Big Apple. Run sends them out to price some apartments and they come back with two in mind. One costs $31 million and the other, cheaper apartment is $14 million. Run sends them back out the next day and they look at two-thousand dollar a month rental units. One is next door to a prison and most of them are closet sized. The decide that there is no place like home. Especially when you live in "Run´s House." Grade: A
Do Your Best, Forget the Rest: The lesson in life here is about sportsmanship. Run´s sons struggle with sore losing and Run decides to throw a family competition to show that sportsmanship is important. I felt that Run was almost as bad as his sons when it came to trash talking and not liking of losing, but the message was important. I´d love to have a basketball court in my house. Grade: C+
The Fruits of Labor: Justine and Run are both slightly on the overweight size. They struggle over the question of weight and Justine hires a personal trainer. Angela takes an internship with her aunt-in-law, Kimora Lee Simmons. Both mother and step-daughter struggle with their goals, but find some happiness when good things and a nice feeling of self begin to turn up from their hard work. This was my least favorite episode of the first season and perhaps the entire three disc set. Grade: C-
Simmons Family Vacation: In this show, you get to see Run go on a White Water Rafting adventure and partake in other activities in Colorado. They also go fly fishing and take part in other activities that are quite foreign to the well-to-do family from New Jersey. There were some genuinely funny moments in this episode and watching Run and Jo-Jo fly fish was something I could relate to. It isn´t easy and without know-how and practice, it is a difficult thing to do. Grade: A
Season Two: Episode Summaries
Baby Fever: This episode was a bit sad, knowing the outcome of recent events in the lives of Joseph and Justine Simmons and their recent loss of their newborn baby. This was the opening topic of season two and I don´t know how they will handle this loss in Season 3. Regardless, Justine and Rev Run decide to try for a new baby after Justine gets Baby Fever. Grade: B
A Healthy Heart: I hate going to the doctors and Rev Run does too. He ends up going to a pastry shop instead of the doctor, after telling Justine that he will do so. After a ton of prodding, Run finally agrees to a checkup and learns that he is in very good shape, but should lose a little weight. One thing that finally came about in this episode was some spitting out rhymes by the Simmons family. Grade: A+
All Work and No Peace: This episode deals mostly with Run´s difficulties in balancing his empires and his family. Run talks to his brother Russell about his problems and gets little satisfaction and then talks to his braided Bishop´s advice. Russy busts up another Game Boy with his anger management issues. As Run works to find a healthy balance to his personal and professional life, Russy learns to earn his own money to replace his Game Boy SP. Little Russy really shines in this episode. Grade: A-
Maximum Growth: Vanessa is a very pretty young lady. Rev Run should be proud of his beautiful daughters, but this becomes problematic when Maxim Magazine wants Vanessa to do a photo shoot for their Hot 100 Celebrities feature. Watching Angela and Vanessa disagree on how much flesh Vanessa should show was quite entertaining. I almost forget: Rev Run buys a beautiful and expensive Lamborghini. Grade: B
Vegas Vacation: The good reverend and his family take a trip to Vegas for the Magic Clothing Convention. Jo-Jo struggles with feelings that his overbearing and ill-natured uncle Russell may not like him. Jo-Jo wants to work with Run Athletics, but Russell is not willing to make it easy for Jo-Jo. Run also shows his more romantic side when he has the five children do something special with Justine, though I felt this turned out more comedic than warm. Grade: C+
Rev´s Fix It List: Rev and Justine are having some marital problems and Justine makes a list of things for Rev to fix, but Rev cares more about his exercising. Some shopping for clothing for Russy was another hot topic of the show, but I felt this episode didn´t necessarily convey anything of substance by example and felt that both Rev and Justine were a bit selfish when it came to the list. Grade: C-
Rev Mom: Justine learns she is pregnant and they are overjoyed to be having another child. However, Run wants Justine to take it easy and relax, but Justine wants to work on her own ventures, including her jewelry line. Run didn´t fit the Mr. Mom mold too cleanly and some havoc ensued, including a horrendous haircut for the family dog. This episode was again mildly depressing knowing what happens to Justine´s pregnancy after the second season ended, but watching Run struggle as Mr. Mom was funny stuff. Grade: A-
Downward Facing Dawg: The third brother, Daniel is finally revealed in this episode. Russell, who loves to angrily shout profanities and has strong bursts of anger is calm when doing yoga. Run decides to augment his Zen room with some Yoga. This episode finally showed Jo-Jo rap. For a show based on a legendary rapper with children who have rap aspirations, there isn´t much rapping going on. Grade: B+
Anger Management: Russy breaks yet another Game Boy SP. The boy has some serious anger problems and Run enrolls him into Karate to help him cope with his anger. Angela wants to have her own magazine and Run brings together his connections to help her achieve her dream. Run takes part in the Karate lessons and helps Russy work out his anger. This was a mild, but entertaining episode. Grade: B-
Two Down and One to Grow: This was a pretty good end-of-season episode, but again was bogged down by focusing on the unborn baby. It was also sad because the two daughters were moving out and Run has to struggle with losing them from his protective home. To help compensate for this loss, he buys a jet plane and looks forward to the forthcoming baby. The family ended the season on a pivotal point and really set the stage for a different family configuration for season three.
No comments:
Post a Comment