TVSquad

Poor Marie Osmond. Apparently, her upcoming daytime talk show has been pulled already due to poor ad sales, despite being cleared on stations reaching 80% of the TV audience. It was going to be broadcast from Las Vegas where she and her brother Donny are performing nightly at the Flamingo Hotel as a result of selling their souls.

I guess that Dancing With The Stars career boost didn't really pay off. Or perhaps it was just unfortunate circumstances given how the economy is tanking. However, things are getting better and it's entirely possible that she'll be back in the talk show market in a few years.

I recognize that the Donny and Marie talk show lasted two seasons, but isn't that the franchise that most people recognize nowadays when then think of her (if they're of a certain age)? Her previous solo variety show in 1980 only lasted a year. Does she think that this talk show would last longer?

When I first came across this video on my web travels, I thought it was part of that infamous Star Wars Holiday Special that aired in the 70s and hasn't been seen on television since (I think George Lucas is trying to forget it even exists). However, this is actually from Donny & Marie, and it's just as surreal, if not more. Long before she was dancing with other stars, Marie played Princess Leia to Donny's Luke Skywalker. Kris Kristofferson plays Han Solo (and looks like he'd rather be someplace else), the voice of Darth Vader is Thurl Ravenscroft (Tony the Tiger!), and General Harkin is played by...Paul Lynde!

The most incredible part though is Redd Foxx, who hovers above and gives little bits of wisdom. The 70s were a very screwed up time. I also don't think that Donny & Marie would get very far if they tried out for American Idol. I used to watch this show though.

(Note, the first video after the jump is completely out of ;sync. Believe me, it wouldn't be any better if the sound and video were together.)

Well, one of my Festivus wishes may be coming true after all. As we reported last week there are rumors that Donny & Marie (it is never Donny and Marie, always Donny & Marie) may be returning to television in perhaps a daytime talk show format or a reality program. My hope is that they shelve all of that and give us another variety show. And, if they can get it up in time, then we can have an Osmond Family Christmas.

Just like the one in this video, which seems to be from the latter (or last) season of the ABC variety show Donny & Marie. I probably remember these episodes the most because they featured every single Osmond that was still alive. In this example we see the Osmond Family band, including Jimmy on trumpet, Merrill on banjo, and Dad (may he rest in peace) on the bass guitar. We even get to see Marie play a little xylophone during the set.

Word on the street is that Donny and Marie Osmond may be returning to TV. After being prominently featured on ABC's Dancing with the Stars, the brother and sister duo have found a new audience.

Marie came in third place in the latest season of DWTS and Donny made appearances on the show as well as working for Entertainment Tonight as a special DWTS correspondent.

I don't think my older sister reads this blog, so I think I'm safe in announcing this to the entire world: she had crushes on several Osmonds in the 70s. And now, though she's happily married with children, she might get a chance to relive those days. "And they call it, puppy looooooo-oooove."

Donny Osmond has announced that five of the Osmond brothers - himself, Wayne, Jay, Merrill, and Jimmy - might reunite for a one-time only TV special. They haven't performed together in 25 years, though all of them, including sister Marie, still perform. Alan was diagnosed with MS several years ago.