The Osmonds (TV series)

1972 American TV series or program

The Osmonds

Title card

Written by| Earl Doud
William J. Keenan
Claire Merrill
Romeo Muller
Iris Rainer
Directed by| Arthur Rankin, Jr.
Jules Bass
Voices of| Paul Frees
Iris Rainer
Alan Osmond
Wayne Osmond
Merrill Osmond
Jay Osmond
Donny Osmond
Jimmy Osmond
Theme music composer| George Jackson
Opening theme| "One Bad Apple"
Ending theme| "One Bad Apple" (reprise)
Composers| Maury Laws
Alan Osmond
Wayne Osmond
Merrill Osmond
Country of origin| United States
United Kingdom
No. of seasons| 1
No. of episodes| 17
Production
Producers| Arthur Rankin, Jr.
Jules Bass
Running time| 30 min.
Production companies| Rankin/Bass Productions
Halas and Batchelor
Original release
Network| ABC
Release| September 9, 1972 (1972-9-9) –
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

[edit]

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.| Title| Original release date

|
|

1| "And Away They Go"| September 9, 1972 (1972-9-9)

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 (1972-9-16)

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 (1972-9-23)

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 (1972-9-30)

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 (1972-10-7)

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 (1972-11-4)

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 (1972-12-2)

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 (1972-12-9)

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

[edit]

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 March 14, 2020.206-207&rft.pub=Scarecrow+Press&rft.date=1983&rft.isbn=0-8108-1557-5&rft.aulast=Woolery&rft.aufirst=George+W.&rft_id=https://archive.org/details/childrenstelevis0000wool/page/206/mode/2up&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:The+Osmonds+(TV+series)" class="Z3988">
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 978-1538103739.437-438&rft.pub=Rowman+&+Littlefield&rft.date=2018&rft.isbn=978-1538103739&rft.aulast=Perlmutter&rft.aufirst=David&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:The+Osmonds+(TV+series)" class="Z3988">

## External links

[edit]

* The Osmonds at IMDb

* v
* t
* e

The Osmonds

* Alan Osmond
* Wayne Osmond
* Merrill Osmond
* Jay Osmond
* Donny Osmond
* Marie Osmond
* Jimmy Osmond

Studio albums|

* The Wonderful World of The Osmond Brothers
* Hello! The Osmond Brothers
* Osmonds
* Homemade
* Phase III
* Crazy Horses
* The Plan
* Love Me for a Reason
* The Proud One
* Osmond Christmas Album

Live albums|

* The Osmonds Live

Compilation albums|

* Osmondmania!

Singles|

* "Mister Sandman"
* "Ovan Regnbagen"
* "Taking a Chance on Love"
* "One Bad Apple"
* "Yo-Yo"
* "Down by the Lazy River"
* "Hold Her Tight"
* "We Can Make it Together"
* "Crazy Horses"
* "Goin' Home"
* "Let Me In"
* "Love Me for a Reason"
* "I Can't Stop"
* "Having a Party"
* "The Proud One"
* "I'm Still Gonna Need You"
* "I Can't Live a Dream"
* "I Think About Your Lovin'"
* "Never Ending Song of Love"
* "Anytime"

Discographies|

* The Osmonds discography
* Donny and Marie Osmond discography
* Donny Osmond discography
* Marie Osmond discography

Films|

* Goin' Coconuts
* Side by Side: The True Story of the Osmond Family
* Inside the Osmonds

Television series|

* The Osmonds (1972)
* Donny & Marie (1976)
* Marie (1980 variety show)
* Donny & Marie (1998)

Related articles|

* George V. Osmond Sr. (father)
* Olive Osmond (mother)
* Tom Osmond (brother)
* Aaron Osmond (nephew)
* George Osmond (politician) (great-grandfather)
* The Osmonds (stage musical)
* Stadium of Fire

* v
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* e

Rankin/Bass Productions

* Arthur Rankin Jr.
* Jules Bass

Television specials|

* Return to Oz
* Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
* The Edgar Bergen & Charlie McCarthy Show
* The Ballad of Smokey the Bear
* Cricket on the Hearth
* The Mouse on the Mayflower
* The Little Drummer Boy
* Frosty the Snowman
* The Mad, Mad, Mad Comedians
* Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town
* Here Comes Peter Cottontail
* The Enchanted World of Danny Kaye: The Emperor's New Clothes
* Mad Mad Mad Monsters
* Willie Mays and the Say-Hey Kid
* The Red Baron
* That Girl in Wonderland
* 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
* The Year Without a Santa Claus
* The First Christmas: The Story of the First Christmas Snow
* The First Easter Rabbit
* Frosty's Winter Wonderland
* Rudolph's Shiny New Year
* The Little Drummer Boy, Book II
* The Easter Bunny Is Comin' to Town
* The Hobbit
* Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey
* The Stingiest Man in Town
* Jack Frost
* The Return of the King
* Pinocchio's Christmas
* The Leprechaun's Christmas Gold
* The Flight of Dragons
* The Coneheads
* The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus
* The Wind in the Willows

Feature films|

* Willy McBean and His Magic Machine
* The Daydreamer
* The Wacky World of Mother Goose
* Mad Monster Party?
* King Kong Escapes
* Marco
* The Last Dinosaur
* The Bermuda Depths
* Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July
* The Bushido Blade
* The Ivory Ape
* The Last Unicorn
* The Sins of Dorian Gray
* The King and I

Television series|

* The New Adventures of Pinocchio
* Tales of the Wizard of Oz
* The King Kong Show
* The Smokey Bear Show
* The Tomfoolery Show
* The Reluctant Dragon & Mr. Toad Show
* The Jackson 5ive Show
* The Osmonds
* Kid Power
* Festival of Family Classics
* ThunderCats
* SilverHawks
* The Comic Strip
* TigerSharks

See also|

* Best Christmas Ever
* 25 Days of Christmas
* Filmography
* Elf (film)

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