(ABC Primetime, 1976 - 1979, "Donny and Marie"; ABC Sunday Nights, 1979, as "The Osmond Family Show"; NBC Primetime, 1980 - 1981, as "Marie".) [The Osmond Brothers singing group had made appearances as boys on the Andy Williams variety show; An animated cartoon called "The Osmonds", a whimsical account based upon their life, aired two seasons on ABC Saturday Mornings from 1972 - 1974; But after reaching their teenage years, it was the youngest little brother Donny Osmond and his even younger sister Marie who were eventually given the chance to "step out" and headline their own network variety series. It was a wholesome "family" entertainment featuring the clean-cut brother-sister act who were under a lot of pressure as it turned out...But seemed to be able to deliver each week with their mix of "a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll", not to mention quite a lot of teeth grinning from ear to ear. They were promoted by teenage fan magazines during those years and cross-promoted their recordings which helped their sales on pop charts. This phenomena reached its frenzied peak, but as with many teen idols, seemed to create a downward momentum for Donny and Marie as soon as fresh teen idols were promoted. The close-knit Osmond family was able to produce their family series from a beautiful TV studio in the foothills south of Salt Lake City, Utah near their home, with some help from producers Sid and Marty Kroft. And the other Osmond brothers were still working behind the scenes in this family business...including composing a lovely closing THEME song. But Donny and Marie lasted on the network in that form for just three seasons. After the "Donny and Marie" series ended in 1979, a short-lived successor was tried out called "The Osmond Family Show" which attempted to broaden its appeal by bringing back more family members to perform, and make it less focused on just Donny and Marie; It began in mid-season...but ended just before the summer of 1979; However "Osmond Family Christmas Specials" were a nice tradition that continued. Then in 1980, Marie Osmond, now a young woman and also a young mother, was given her own show on NBC called "Marie"; Its time slot was moved around in order to find and build an audience, but it was on the air for only one season.]
[above is the title as filed for copyright; alternate title... aka: "Il Faut Etre Deux"; this had been recorded by several artists from 1966...and had been a hit for Ike and Tina Turner; This THEME was heard on an aircheck of the show opening rebroadcast on cable television in 2018; Although the opening of the show used various pieces during its run including "A Little Bit Country, and A Little Bit Rock And Roll", and whatever songs were being promoted by Donny and/or Marie on the pop or country charts...] Composers: Sylvia Rose Moy (BMI) and William Stevenson (BMI) 1978 Publishers: 2002 Publishers: Stone Agate Music (BMI) c/o EMI Music Publishing of New York, NY Published Copyright Date: Mar. 15, 1966; EP 214 841. Published Renewal Date: Oct. 13, 1994; RE-678-577. Recordings:
Composers: Alan Ralph Osmond (BMI); M. Wayne Osmond (BMI); and Merrill Davis Osmond (BMI) 1978 Publisher: 2002 Publisher: OsMusic Publishing Co. Special Acct. (BMI) c/o Mike Curb Music div. of Curb Records of Nashville, TN Copyright Date: Renewal Date: Recordings:
[above is the title as filed for copyright] Composers: music by Alan Ralph Osmond (BMI); M. Wayne Osmond (BMI); and Jimmy Osmond (BMI); with lyric by Ronald Charles Myers (ASCAP) 2002 Publisher: OsMusic Publishing Co. Special Acct. (BMI) c/o Mike Curb Music div. of Curb Records of Nashville, TN; and Donarie Music Co. (BMI) c/o The Osmond Network of Orem, UT Copyright Date: Nov. 3, 1980; PAu-273-634. Renewal Date: Recordings: