VH1's Sunday night "Celebreality" lineup is an interesting concept-- it's a series of reality shows that feature celebrities. The newest show that has been added to the VH1 lineup is "Hogan Knows Best".
When I first heard about this show, I wasn't all that interested. It stars former WWF wrestler Hulk Hogan, and while he' big and tough and cool and all that, I was never really a fan. Plus, I had read some review of the show before it aired-- reviews that compared the show to MTV's hit show "The Osbournes". I wasn't in the mood to watch another show where foul mouthed kids berate their parents.
Still, curiosity got the best of me (as always) so I tuned into "Hogan Knows Best" last weekend to give it a fair try. Boy, I'm glad I did. Out of all of the reality shows out there, this one actually has a fresh twist. Sure, it's a show about a family that is fronted by a famous dad-- yes, we've seen that before. But unlike the dysfunctional Osbourne household, the Hogan house is headed by a dad that is really on top of things. With all due respect to Ozzy, he seemed to be in somewhat of a fog during most of his series. Not true for Terry "Hulk" Hogan.
The Hogan kids, 16 year old Brooke and 14 year old Nick, don't curse at their parents and they also don't get away with much. Papa Hulk knows their every move. In this day in age, and especially when it comes to rich kids, I don't think it's a bad thing to protect your children no matter what the extremes. And Hulk sure does go to extremes.
When 16 year old Brooke goes out on a date with an older guy, Hogan gets a GPS tracking system installed in her car without her knowledge. Then he spends the night on the computer, making sure she is going where she says she is going. Would Hogan have done this same stunt had there not been a camera crew filming him? That I don't know for sure. But something tells me he probably would have.
On the latest episode, 14 year old Nick is getting a little too serious with his girlfriend. Hulk is on top of that one too, scheduling time to hang out and have some "guy time' with his son, and forbidding the boy to hang out in his bedroom with the girl. He even tries to sabotage one of Nick's dates in a playful way-- arranging for Nick's favorite model to interrupt things (and it works-- Nick's girlfriend is furious about it). Hogan's wife Linda is around, too, although the show is centered mostly on Hulk and the kids. Still, Hulk and Linda try to stay on the same page when it comes to raising their kids.
Considering they live in a sprawling mansion, these kids seem amazingly well balanced and down to earth. They're open to talking to their parents-- even about embarrassing topics--without giving them any lip. They seem like good, wholesome, respectful kids. They couldn't be further from the Osbournes.
And with all due respect to the Osbourne family, I highly doubt that either of the Hogan kids will ever end up in a rehab. Not with a dad like Hulk Hogan tracking their every move.
