Ep 3. Driving Me Crazy

In episode 3 of Gene Simmons Family Jewels, titled "Driving Me Crazy," we see the Simmons family dealing with the difficulties of learning to drive. Gene is determined to teach his son Nick how to drive, despite having no experience as a driving instructor. He sets up cones in the driveway and makes Nick practice driving forward and backward, but it quickly becomes clear that Nick is not a natural behind the wheel.

Meanwhile, Shannon is having her own troubles with driving. She's been using Gene's car since hers broke down, but she's terrified of driving on the freeway. Gene tries to coach her through it, but Shannon is too anxious to get behind the wheel. She ends up taking public transportation to run errands, which irritates Gene.

As the episode progresses, we see Gene and Nick's driving lessons turn into a competition. Gene challenges Nick to a race around the block, but the race quickly turns into a disaster. They take turns crashing into parked cars, and Gene runs over a neighbor's mailbox. Despite the chaos, they both seem to be having fun and bonding over the experience.

Later in the episode, Shannon decides she needs to face her fear of freeway driving and start taking Gene's car on longer trips. She recruits her friend Christine to ride shotgun and help calm her nerves. They take a trip to the mall, and although Shannon is nervous at first, she starts to gain confidence as they go. They even make it onto the freeway without incident, which is a huge accomplishment for Shannon.

The episode concludes with Gene and Nick deciding to take their driving lessons to a professional instructor. Although Gene is disappointed that he couldn't teach his son himself, he's glad that they'll be getting proper instruction. Shannon also feels more confident behind the wheel after her trip to the mall, and Gene is relieved that she's no longer relying on public transportation.

Overall, "Driving Me Crazy" is a lighthearted episode that focuses on the challenges of learning to drive. We see the Simmons family struggling with the same issues that many of us face when we first start driving, and it's refreshing to see them dealing with these everyday problems despite their larger-than-life personas. As always, Gene's sense of humor and competitive nature shine through, and we get to see a more intimate side of the family's dynamics.