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The Osmonds (TV series)

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The Osmonds
Title card
Written byEarl Doud
William J. Keenan
Claire Merrill
Romeo Muller
Iris Rainer
Directed byArthur Rankin, Jr.
Jules Bass
Voices ofPaul Frees
Iris Rainer
Alan Osmond
Wayne Osmond
Merrill Osmond
Jay Osmond
Donny Osmond
Jimmy Osmond
Theme music composerGeorge Jackson
Opening theme"One Bad Apple"
Ending theme"One Bad Apple" (reprise)
ComposersMaury Laws
Alan Osmond
Wayne Osmond
Merrill Osmond
Country of originUnited States
United Kingdom
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes17
Production
ProducersArthur Rankin, Jr.
Jules Bass
Running time30 min.
Production companiesRankin/Bass Productions
Halas and Batchelor
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 9 (1972-09-09) –
December 23, 1972 (1972-12-23)

The Osmonds is a 1972 ABC-TV Saturday morning cartoon series produced by Rankin/Bass Productions starring the Osmond Brothers.[1] Each episode features the family in a different location around the world, with young Jimmy's antics usually driving the plot of the episode. As with most television series oriented around bands, the Osmonds' songs were featured prominently in the series. The series also featured their talking pet dog, Fuji.[2] Marie Osmond did not appear in the series (save for being briefly depicted in "Transylvania,") as she would not make her performing debut until 1973. An abridged version of their hit song "One Bad Apple" was used for the opening and closing credits of the show.

Like The Jackson 5ive, it used a laugh track created by Rankin/Bass,[3] but unlike the Jacksons, the Osmond brothers provided their own speaking voices in their series.[4]

Episodes

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Each episode features one song by the Osmonds as a group and one solo song by either Donny or Jimmy. Songs are followed by the albums on which they were included. Most of the Osmonds group songs came from their rock-era albums Phase III and Crazy Horses.

No.TitleOriginal air date
1"And Away They Go"September 9, 1972 (1972-09-09)

The pilot episode introduces the six brothers, their talking pet dog Fuji, and Donny's biggest fan, Hortense Bird. The brothers have a chance to audition to go around the world, but Jimmy and Fuji ruin their chances.

Songs: "One Bad Apple" (Osmonds), "Go Away Little Girl" (Donny solo, To You With Love, Donny)
2"China"September 16, 1972 (1972-09-16)

The brothers arrive in China and there are bad vibes between Jimmy and Fuji. The brothers play a ping pong game for America vs. China.

Songs: "Don't Panic" (Phase III), "Sweet and Innocent" (Osmonds and The Donny Osmond Album)
3"Jimmy and James in London"September 23, 1972 (1972-09-23)

The brothers visit London and Jimmy is mistaken for a prince who looks exactly like him.

Songs: "In the Rest of My Life" (Phase III), "Why" (Donny solo, Too Young)
4"Sir Donald of Bavaria"September 30, 1972 (1972-09-30)

The brothers arrive at a museum in Bavaria, and Donny dreams that he, Jimmy and Fuji are sent back to medieval times.

Songs: "Do You Want Me (We Can Make it Together)" (Donny solo, To You With Love, Donny), "Business" (Phase III)
5"Paris"October 7, 1972 (1972-10-07)

The brothers are in Paris and they must save a restaurant from going out of business.

Songs: "Promise Me" (Donny solo, Portrait Of Donny), "Shuckin' and Jivin'" (Homemade)
6"Monte Carlo"October 14, 1972 (1972-10-14)

The brothers are in Monte Carlo and Jimmy makes a very popular film. Donny falls for the wrong girl.

Songs: "Wake Up Little Susie" (Donny solo, The Donny Osmond Album), "Getcha Goin' My Way" (unreleased until 2012)

Note: The Osmonds' single, "Crazy Horses", and their album of the same name, were released on this date.
7"Denmark"October 21, 1972 (1972-10-21)

The brothers arrive in Denmark and Jimmy travels underwater with a mermaid.

Songs: "Love Me" (Donny solo, Portrait Of Donny), "Hold Her Tight" (Crazy Horses)
8"India"October 28, 1972 (1972-10-28)

The brothers arrive in India and Jimmy makes friends with a genie.

Songs: "And You Love Me" (Crazy Horses), "Hey Girl" (Donny solo, Portrait Of Donny)
9"The Yukon"November 4, 1972 (1972-11-04)

Jimmy accidentally books the brothers to go to the Yukon.

Songs: "All I Have to Do Is Dream" (Donny solo, Portrait Of Donny), "My Drum" (Phase III)
10"The Black Forest"November 11, 1972 (1972-11-11)

The brothers have to fix a clock or a whole town will be put to sleep forever.

Songs: "Going Going Gone (To Somebody Else)" (Donny solo, Portrait Of Donny), "Girl" (Crazy Horses)
11"Italy"November 18, 1972 (1972-11-18)

Jimmy finds a valuable coin and a girl tries to get it from him by going on a date with Donny.

Songs: "What Could It Be" (Crazy Horses), "This Guy's in Love with You" (Donny solo, Portrait Of Donny)
12"Australia"November 23, 1972 (1972-11-23)

The Osmonds visit Australia, where a kangaroo falls in love with Jimmy.

Songs: "It's You Babe" (Phase III), "Lonely Boy" (Donny solo, Too Young)
13"Transylvania"November 25, 1972 (1972-11-25)

The Osmonds are invited to a vampire's party.

Songs: "Killer Joe" (Jimmy solo, Killer Joe), "We All Fall Down" (Crazy Horses)
14"Rio"December 2, 1972 (1972-12-02)

The brothers visit Rio and Jimmy gets lost at a costume contest.

Songs: "Pretty Blue Eyes" (Donny solo, Too Young), "Hey Mr. Taxi" (Crazy Horses)
15"Don Osmondo in Spain"December 9, 1972 (1972-12-09)

The brothers arrive in Spain and Donny becomes a bullfighter to impress a girl. Songs: "Puppy Love" (Donny solo, Portrait Of Donny), "Yo-Yo" (Phase III)

Note: This episode aired on Donny Osmond's 15th birthday.
16"Luck of The Osmonds"December 16, 1972 (1972-12-16)

The brothers arrive in Ireland and Jimmy is mistaken for a leprechaun.

Songs: "Down by the Lazy River" (Phase III), "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool" (Jimmy solo, Killer Joe)

Note: This episode's air date coincided with Jimmy's "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool" reaching "Christmas number one" in the United Kingdom.
17"Coming Home to Utah"December 23, 1972 (1972-12-23)

After 15 weeks (or in this case, episodes) of touring around the world, the Osmonds return to their home state of Utah.

Songs: "Utah" (Crazy Horses), "Too Young" (Donny solo, Too Young)

Note: Rankin/Bass planned a live-action finale featuring the real Osmonds, who would discuss all their adventures touring the world during the series, and the many friends they made along the way. They would also thank the viewers for supporting their travels, and also hope to tour the world again, only this time, for real. However, the finale did not materialise.

References

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  1. ^ Woolery, George W. (1983). Children's Television: The First Thirty-Five Years, 1946-1981, Part 1: Animated Cartoon Series. Scarecrow Press. pp. 206–207. ISBN 0-8108-1557-5. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  2. ^ Erickson, Hal (2005). Television Cartoon Shows: An Illustrated Encyclopedia 1949 Through 2003 (2nd ed.). McFarland & Co. p. 597. ISBN 978-1476665993.
  3. ^ Iverson, Paul R. (February 1994, rev. December 2012), "The Advent of the Laugh Track" (2nd ed.), Hempstead, New York: Hofstra University archives Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Perlmutter, David (2018). The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 437–438. ISBN 978-1538103739.
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