Donny & Marie Through the Years — From Their TV Variety Show to Vegas!

1974: ‘I’m Leaving It All Up to You’

Things really kicked off for the team of Donny & Marie in 1974 with their first album, I’m Leaving It All Up to You. That led to appearances on The Perry Como Show in April and The Tonight Show (with Joey Bishop substitute hosting for Johnny Carson) in August. They then had a busy September: On the 1st, they taped a segment for an Andy Williams special, the next day taped an appearance with Johnny Carson for The Tonight Show and, afterward, immediately jumped on a plane to Philadelphia, where they guest hosted on the syndicated Mike Douglas Show for a week. Notes Osmondmania.com of that week, “Donny gave karate demonstrations and Marie cooked Shepherd’s Pie for Mike Douglas and Ken Berry. Other guests included The Hudson Brother, Sonny James, Olivia Newton-John and The Lettermen. Olivia shared some stories on Donny and Marie with Mike Douglas and the audience. Donny was a participant on The Dating Game, which was also on Mike’s show.” Those episodes were broadcast on September 16 through the 20.

1975: ‘Make the World Go Away’

Album wise, the duo had Make the World Go Away. In January they appeared on The Mac Davis Show (alongside Mrs. Brady herself, Florence Henderson). In April they taped a week’s worth of episodes of the game show The Hollywood Squares and made an appearance on the talk series The Merv Griffin Show, and in October made a return appearance to the Mike Douglas Show to promote their first, and upcoming, TV special. That special actually owes its existence to their week-long stunt co-hosting the Mike Douglas Show — ABC entertainment president Fred Silverman watched them and their chemistry and believed they would make the perfect hosts of a variety show.

‘Donny & Marie’: The Pilot Episode

Taping for the pilot episode of The Donny & Marie Show began on November 4 and aired to great success on the 16. Their guests included Bob Hope, Paul Lynde, Kate Smith, The Osmond Brothers, Jimmy Osmond, Shipstads and the Johnson Ice Follies, with cameo appearances by Lee Majors (starring on the network’s The Six Million Dollar Man) and Chuck Norris. The ratings of the special were strong enough that Donny and Marie were given a mid-season order for the weekly variety show they would be headlining. Producer Marty Krofft described the series as following the format established by the special with comedy, colorful background such as an ice rink and a swimming pool, and a big finale for each episode that would be a salute to Americana, such as the West, the ’50 and similar themes. Besides The Osmond Brothers, who would appear on several episodes, there would be a minimum of two guest stars in every show.

1976: ‘Deep Purple’

Two albums this year, Deep Purple and Songs From Their TV Show. Speaking of the latter, that show made its debut on January 30 with guest stars Bob Hope, the Harlem Globetrotters, Ted Knight, Jimmy Osmond and Ice Vanities. There would be 14 episodes produced for the first season.

In June, Donny and Marie flew to Los Angeles to tape the Bob Hope Bicentennial Star-Spangled Spectacular, which would air on July 4. Also that month, they were honored by the American Academy of Achievement as Captains of Achievement. The second season of their variety show kicked off on September 24 and would have a total of 22 episodes; in October they appeared on the Sonny & Cher show and on November 29 they taped The Donny & Marie Christmas Show, which would air on December 17.

Donny & Marie and a Bunch Named Brady

In the same way that their appearance on the Mike Douglas Show inspired ABC’s Fred Silverman to give Donny and Marie their own show, an appearance by cast members of The Brady Bunch on their show inspired Silverman to give the green light for The Brady Bunch Variety Hour. On November 28, 1976, Donny and Marie taped an appearance on that show.

1977: ‘Winning Combination’

Their album for the year was Winning Combination, while February saw the release of their own dolls, which were available in stores around the country. On March 12, says Osmondmania.com, “Donny and Marie were contracted by High Interest Teaching Systems to participate in a special reading program for elementary school children. The program was new and authored by the USD education expert, Grayce A. Ransom, and featured songs and lessons written by ModuLearn, which were put to music by the Osmond family and performed by Donny and Marie.”

In April, the duo participated in San Francisco’s March of Dimes Walkathon, hosted by radio station KFRC; May 19 saw their return to the Mike Douglas Show, and September 23 marked the kick off of season three of their show, with guests Redd Foxx, Kris Kristofferson, The Osmond Brothers, Ice Angels, and, from the original Star Wars, C3P0, R2D2 and Chewbacca. There would be 18 episodes produced for Season 3.

1978: ‘Goin’ Coconuts’

Their album was the soundtrack to their first and only movie, Goin’ Coconuts, which was released on October 17. Here’s the official description of the plot: “While performing in concert with Donny in Hawaii, Marie acquires a lovely necklace, unaware that it’s coveted by a group of thieves and by a mysterious woman. Plenty of trouble soon follows, with Donny and Marie getting into one jam after another.” It actually sounds a lot like The Beatles’ Help!, but, you know, without The Beatles.

On January 8, Donny and Marie appeared on Bob Hope’s All-Star Comedy Tribute to the Palace Theater and were honored on the 18th with a Georgie Award as Top Entertainers for 1977. On July 11, they were guests on The Merv Griffin Show, and on September 4 returned to The Tonight Show. The fourth and final season of their variety show kicked off on September 22 with guests Bob Hope, K.C. and the Sunshine Band and Olivia Newton-John, with cameo appearances by Eight is Enough‘s Dick Van Patten, Lassie, Robert Conrad, Betty White and John Wayne. On November 14, they were given the Morality in Media award, and on December 22 they sang the National Anthem at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego.

1979: ‘The Donny & Marie Christmas Special’

Things really began slowing down for Donny and Marie in 1979. In January, they were guests on the Cerebral Palsy Telethon; March 8 saw them receive a People’s Choice Award; and on December 14, ABC aired The Donny & Marie Christmas Special, featuring guest stars Erik Estrada, Cindy Williams, Adam Rich and Dorothy Hamill.

1981: Performing for President Reagan

On January 19, Donny and Marie performed at President Reagan’s Presidential Inauguration Gala. Flash forward to 1983 and January 17, when the duo presented at the 10th Annual AMA Awards. Their album that year was Donny and Marie, The Osmond Brothers and Jimmy — The Glory of America; and they also toured both America and Australia. Between 1984 and 1988, they performed a lot of concerts.

1998: Donny & Marie Get Their Own Talk Show

On their way to their Donny & Marie talk show, which debuted on September 21, 1998, Donny had gotten into a very public argument with Rosie O’Donnell, who at that time had her own talk show. He had referred to her as fat on a previous show, which resulted in a lot of outrage. Well, Rosie had gotten her revenge on the July 26, 1996, episode of her show where, for Donny to be forgiven, he had to dress up like a puppy dog and sing “Puppy Love” to Rosie. That seemed to do the trick.

Moving on to 1998, Donny and Marie enjoyed a run of their own talk show that lasted until May 19, 2000, which allowed them to interact humorously with a wide variety of celebrities and musicals guests.

2010: ‘Donny & Marie: A Broadway Christmas’

They offered up a holiday production called Donny & Marie: A Broadway Christmas, which had originally been scheduled to run at Broadway’s Marquis Theater from December 9 to the 19, but was extended until January 2, 2011. This was followed from December 6-24, 2011, with Donny & Marie: Christmas in Chicago, which played the Ford Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre. The Broadway show was revived again in 2014.

Viva Las Vegas!

Back on September 9, 2008, Donny and Marie brought their act to Las Vegas’ Flamingo Hotel, and they’ve been a sensation ever since. The show is officially described as follows: “Superstar siblings Donny and Marie Osmond just can’t get enough of Las Vegas. The brother-sister duo has been performing their stage spectacular, Donny & Marie, since 2008. In show business since they were young children, the timeless Donny and Marie have both recorded multiple albums, toured the world and hosted their famed television variety show. Their timeless roster of material is captured in this homage, showing off both their well-known pop duets and covers as well as solo numbers … Chronicling five decades in a 90-minute show, Donny gets a little rock ‘n’ roll and then Marie goes country in ‘These Boots Were Made For Walking.’ Dancing With the Stars season nine champion Donny delivers a commanding performance, featuring hits from his solo career and an updated hip hop rendition of The Osmond Brother’s classic ‘Yo-Yo’ complete with innovative choreography. With a supreme band, sparkling costumes and plenty of high-energy dance numbers, this Strip production show is the only place to see these megastars belt out their popular hits old and new.”

Unfortunately, despite the show’s continuing success, it will be coming to an end this November. As Donny related on a Las Vegas talk show, “We’ve been talking about it for a long time, but, definitely, our countdown has started. It was supposed to be six weeks at the Flamingo. It will be 11 years, and it will be the end.”

Maybe, but it certainly feels like the magic of Donny & Marie will continue for years to come.