'Run's House': Reality comedy offers traditional approach by dad

By HAL BOEDEKER
THE ORLANDO SENTINEL
"Run's House," a reality comedy, deserves points for offering a positive look at a celebrity family. The MTV program, debuting Thursday, avoids the bizarre hijinks of "The Osbournes" and the cringe-inducing moments of "Being Bobby Brown."
Instead, this saga of Joseph Simmons, founding member of hip-hop pioneers Run-D.M.C., and now an ordained minister known as Rev Run, sticks to familiar concepts. Father knows best in this setup, and he freely imparts his wisdom. "Life gives to the giver and takes from the taker," Rev Run tells his three sons.
Traditional approach
The show's traditional approach explains its appeal as well as its limits. It's reassuring to see a no-nonsense father who's worried about his children's grades, clothing and behavior. In an amusing scene, Rev Run helps daughter Angela, who is 18, buy a swimsuit. Dad also limits spending on Angela's graduation party.
But Rev Run also tends to overwhelm wife, Justine, a former rapper, and he undercuts his points with extravagant gestures. When he comes up with his parting words of wisdom, he does it from a bubble bath in his mansion in Saddle River, N.J.
It should be intriguing to see how this show plays with the MTV crowd. And will viewers cotton to the problems of an affluent family in a world recently reshaped by natural disasters?
In a July preview, the show's noted producers outlined their hopes. "This is really a good family, a great family for us to highlight," says executive producer Sean "Diddy" Combs.