The Osbournes Go to Fox -- and to the Dogs

Today's cuppa: hotel coffee

This spring, Fox Broadcasting pulls all the stops with "Osbournes Reloaded," a very different take on the variety show featuring former Black Sabbath frontman and solo rock star Ozzy Osbourne, his outspoken wife Sharon and their kids, son Jack and daughter Kelly, who were teens when the family did the hit 2002-2005 MTV reality show "The Osbournes."

The six-episode variety show premieres in the spring -- and features such craziness as Ozzy Osbourne trying to take an order at a fast-food window -- but it won't be the first time an Ozzy takes center stage in 2009.

The difference is, one's a human and one's a dog.

Reality-show producer Mike Fleiss ("The Bachelor") is going to the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and not just as as a spectator.

With wife Alexandra Vorbeck, Fleiss is the co-owner of Champion Nighthawk's Born for Highwood, which answers to Ozz, a Rottweiler competing in this year's show with handler Perry Payson. Click here for a picture of Ozz.

Emails Fleiss, "Yeah, Ozzy the Rottweiler is my boy. My wife and I have owned, bred and loved Rotts for 20 years. Ozzy was basically my 40th birthday present from my wife, who is one of the country's top breeders of Rottweilers. He was a goofy pup that turned out to be a spectacular dog. So proud.

"I named him after one of my idols -- Ozzy Osbourne. I'm a huge Black Sabbath fan.

"Ozzy and Sharon are friends of mine, and they too are excited about Ozzy's (the dog) success. I have a photo of Ozzy winning best in show, and Ozzy (the prince of darkness) signed it for me.

"Now my boy is going to Westminster as the nation's number-one Rottweiler. What an honor!"

During the Television Critics Association Press Tour session for "Osbournes Reloaded" this afternoon, I asked the Osbournes what they thought of his namesake's trip to Westminster. Sharon had to repeat the question to Ozzy (results of years of loud rock shows) and then answered it herself.

"We actually know him," she said. "He's a friend of ours. It's amazing. We're very flattered. It's fantastic. Of course, we'll be watching."

The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show airs (all times eastern) group judging on Monday, Feb. 9, live on USA Network from 8-9 p.m., then switches (because of USA's "WWE Raw") to live on CNBC from 9-11 p.m. On Tuesday, the group judging and best in show air live on USA Network from 8-11 p.m.