This season on Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels we get to see another, more vulnerable side of the aging but still sexy rock icon. Gene, who just had a facelift, is actually not an iron man. He tried to work too soon after surgery and opened up some of his stitches. His doctor was very upset with him … and so was Shannon.

While on bed rest, Shannon, who recovered from her own surgery beautifully, tells Gene and the kids that she’s going to Aspen for the weekend to hang out with her friend Pam, who was once married to KISS lothario Paul Stanley.

Sophie is upset. She wants to go to Aspen and hang with her friends and snowboard, but Shannon says no. Later on, Sophie convinces her daddy to take them to Aspen because he can relax there too. Gene, who’s ever the softie when it comes to his baby girl, brings her and Nick to the mountains.

He should’ve stayed home.

Later on, after learning that Sophie’s friend is a boy, Gene hits the slopes although he can’t ski. He is very protective of Sophie and doesn’t want her dating until “she’s 56” like most dads of beautiful teenage girls. He hurts himself and has to be taken off the mountain in an ambulance. We’re pretty sure that Gene’ll be okay, but…

Family Jewels is riveting TV, even if Gene feels embarrassed by airing his mis-haps. It makes the man with the humongous tongue more human, and thus more appealing. When reality TV makes you care about the real people in front of the camera, it is good TV, and that’s just what the Simmons-Tweed clan does. They are loving, yet humorous and surprisingly normal despite the fame and cameras surrounding them.

If you haven’t watched Gene Simmons’ Family Jewels yet, you’ve got to check it out on AETV each Sunday at 9pm ET.

In this video, Gene confirms to Alison Fahey that the series is truly unscripted: