You probably know the voice before you even see the face. That sharp, unmistakable British accent calling out "Ozzy!" through a sprawling Beverly Hills mansion. Honestly, it’s hard to imagine what the modern TV landscape would even look like without Sharon Osbourne. She didn't just appear on TV; she basically invented the blueprint for the celebrity reality shows we're all obsessed with today.
But if you’re trying to pin down exactly what show was Sharon Osbourne on, the answer is actually a lot longer than most people realize. She hasn't just been a reality star. She’s been a daytime host, a cutthroat talent judge, and a music manager who could out-negotiate anyone in the business.
The Show That Changed Everything: The Osbournes
Before the Kardashians were even a thought in a producer's mind, there was The Osbournes. It premiered on MTV in March 2002 and, man, it was a total shock to the system.
People expected the "Prince of Darkness" to be living in some gothic castle surrounded by bats. Instead, we got Ozzy struggling to work the TV remote and Sharon trying to get the dogs to stop pooping on the carpet. It was raw, it was sweary, and it was hilarious.
Sharon wasn't just a "cast member." She was the engine. While the show focused on the family—Ozzy, Jack, and Kelly (oldest daughter Aimee famously declined to participate)—Sharon was the one holding the chaos together. She even filmed her battle with colon cancer during the second season, refusing to let the cameras stop. That kind of transparency was unheard of back then. The show won a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Nonfiction Reality Program, and for a few years, it was the biggest thing on cable.
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Moving to the Judge’s Table: X Factor and AGT
Once the MTV cameras left, Sharon didn't exactly go into hiding. She pivoted into the "mean judge" era of the mid-2000s, but with a twist. She wasn't cold like Simon Cowell; she was the "mama bear" who would flip a switch and get vicious if you insulted her acts or, heaven forbid, her husband.
She was one of the original judges on The X Factor in the UK, starting in 2004. She had multiple stints there—2004 to 2007, a comeback in 2013 where her mentee Sam Bailey actually won, and another run from 2016 to 2017.
Across the pond, she became a household name for a whole new generation on America’s Got Talent. She sat at that judging table for six seasons (from 2007 to 2012). If you remember the early days of AGT, she was usually the one trying to be kind to the eccentric acts while Piers Morgan was busy hitting his buzzer.
The Talk and That Controversial Exit
For over a decade, Sharon was the face of CBS daytime. She was an original co-host on The Talk, starting in 2010. For 11 years, she was the anchor of that panel. She saw co-hosts come and go—Leah Remini, Holly Robinson Peete, Julie Chen—but Sharon stayed put.
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Until 2021.
The exit was messy. It basically started with a heated on-air debate regarding Piers Morgan and his comments about Meghan Markle. Things got emotional between Sharon and her co-host Sheryl Underwood. The show went on a hiatus, an internal review happened, and CBS ultimately decided that Sharon’s behavior didn't align with their values. She was out.
It was a massive story at the time. Some fans felt she was "canceled," while others felt her departure was long overdue after years of controversial comments. Regardless of where you stand, it marked the end of an era for daytime TV.
Recent Projects and What's Happening Now
Since leaving The Talk, Sharon hasn't exactly retired to a quiet life of knitting. She briefly moved back to the UK airwaves with a show also called The Talk (talkTV), where she reunited with Piers Morgan.
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In early 2024, she popped up as a "celebrity lodger" on Celebrity Big Brother in the UK. Even though she was only there for a short stay, she stayed true to form, dropping truth bombs about her former coworkers and celebrity feuds.
Most recently, in late 2025 and early 2026, the big focus has been the documentary Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home. This project followed the couple for three years as they planned their move back to the English countryside. Sadly, it became a much more somber film following Ozzy’s passing in 2025. It’s a deeply personal look at their final years together and Sharon’s role as the fierce protector of his legacy.
A Quick List of Sharon's Key Shows:
- The Osbournes (MTV, 2002–2005)
- The Sharon Osbourne Show (Syndicated Talk Show, 2003–2004/2006)
- The X Factor UK (Judge, 2004–2007, 2013, 2016–2017)
- America's Got Talent (Judge, 2007–2012)
- The Celebrity Apprentice (Contestant, 2010)
- The Talk (CBS Co-host, 2010–2021)
- Celebrity Big Brother UK (2024)
- Sharon & Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home (Documentary, 2025)
Why It Matters
Sharon Osbourne basically proved that you don't have to be "likable" in the traditional sense to be a superstar. You just have to be real. She’s been fired, she’s been loved, she’s been the villain, and she’s been the hero.
If you're looking to catch up on her best moments, most of The Osbournes is tricky to find on streaming due to music licensing issues, but her later documentary work is currently available on platforms like Peacock and the BBC iPlayer.
If you want to dive deeper into her career, the best place to start is actually her first autobiography, Sharon Osbourne Extreme. It covers the stuff the TV cameras missed, including her brutal upbringing in the music industry. You can also check out the recent Coming Home documentary to see the final chapter of her life with Ozzy.