Memories of Donny Osmond
I received an email from my friend Beverly asking me if I would recap Dancing with the Stars. Although I think Bev is precious, I can’t seem to stomach an entire recapping of a show that I’m just not invested in at all.
Let the record show that I love Dmitry and Mya. And when Maks stepped in to save the day when Juliann’s little brother got sick, that was a glimmer of hope for a show that is slowly becoming a tired version of what it used to be.
And although Donny Osmond has been in my life in more ways than I should probably admit at such a young age, I just can’t seem to wait more than 15 seconds before putting his campy routine out of its misery by fast forwarding on my DVR.
But I do have a few fond memories of Donny and his lovable sister and sidekick Marie.
1. I remember seeing the dynamic duo sing “Little Bit Country, Little Bit Rock-N-Roll” and wondering why Donny would ever think he was rock-n-roll. It was more like country and disco if you asked me, but no one did. Catchy tune though. I’d be willing to be that will be a routine number of Donny goes far in the Dancing with the Stars stratosphere.
2. Did any of you have Donny and Marie dolls?
My sister and I LOVED these dolls. I remember thinking that Marie’s dress was sooooo pretty. Purple and pink? Are you kidding me?! And the fact that they had microphones! C’MON! For a kid who put on Christmas plays with her 56 Barbies (that’s right…no judging) I was in hog heaven now that Donny and Marie were members of my Barbie repertoire. They were the headliners. Peaches-N-Cream was an ice skater and Suntan Barbie sang O Holy Night with Cowboy Ken.
The rest were audience members and the choir.
I’m getting off track.
One day, our cousins Mandy and Chris came to visit and our first order of business was to choreograph a variety show full of song and dance numbers for all our Barbies. Naturally, Donny and Marie would be the stars.
Chris was older, bored and therefore had little interest in our variety show. I don’t remember when he snuck away, but the next thing we knew, Donny was on a noose dangling down from the balcony upstairs, swaying side-to-side in the den below. And then his head popped off and body went flying into the La-Z-Boy my Dad still sits in to this day.
Needless to say, the three girls were devastated and Chris was in big trouble. Donny was never the same again. I’m pretty sure my mother threw him away with that night’s Hamburger Helper remnants.
3. As many of you know, I worked at Disney World after college in an internship program. My entire family came to visit for Thanksgiving and on one of my days off, we all went to MGM Studios. I told my family to be on the lookout for cast members in plaid vests, because that meant they were escorting a famous person. Typically, you would see one a week, but rarely knew who they were.
We were on our way to the Tower of Terror when my Mother performs and about face out of nowhere and begins running the opposite direction. We all turn and look at her as she gallops…yes…GALLOPS by this man walking briskly with a kid in tow and a plaid vested woman to the side. She’s smiling big and hand gesturing wildly. The rest of our party scurry off after her and this is what I hear:
“You’re Donny Osmond! I KNEW IT! I am a huge fan. I’m Linea. My daughter works here. Both of my girls had your Barbie doll. And Marie too! They loved you. But their cousin Chris hung you and your head popped off so I had to throw you away.”
Donny proceeds to stop and finally take notice of my Mom so the security guards can catch up and remove the “crazy” lady from Mr. Osmond’s general vicinity.
I would understand you thought I was lying if we didn’t have the entire episode on video.
Now it’s your turn. Any awesome Donny Osmond memories? Any memories from other “stars” from the show? Is DWTS as boring to you as it is to me this season?
WOW, Lindsey! I have been following you for a year, and never put in my 2 cents, but this time I just had to reply! OK- Donny Osmond was one of me and my sister’s first crush- AND my Mom was great-( and brave enough)- 2 take 4 screamimg girls to his concert when I was nine! At the time it was THE thrill of our young lives! We played all of his records- in our bedroom, with hairbrush in hand. GOOD TIMES, good times……
I am reasonably certain that the Osmond’s have no talent whatsoever and are clearly perfect for a reality show blog like IHGB.
I went to college with an “Osmond.” I can’t remember if his name was Brian or Donny – anywho, we used put on our motorcycle helmets and streak campus and the volleyball courts. He’s a medical doctor now. True story.
I have no Donny and Marie stories, but I did enjoy yours. I can not STAND, however, to see or hear one more minute of Donny and Marie. How and why did this “comeback” occur? Why is he on ET or Access Hollywood or whatever it is? So so so so so so so so cheesy. My only positive comment is that Marie looks darn good for however old she is, and her plastic surgeon(s) did a fine job.
Just heard a rumor that an acquaintance is going to be on The Bachelor. Will DEFINITELY have some stories if she goes very far!
You don’t even want to know the bitterness that stills run deep every time I remember that my mom sold my Donny and Marie dolls in a garage sale. For a quarter.
DWTS is awful this season…..can’t wait for it to be over…..bp
I had Marie and still have the dress but have no idea where the doll is. My daughter now uses the dress for her Barbies. It still rocks!
I did not have the dolls, but I did have every Osmond and Donny album ever recorded. And, I must beg to differ. Donny was rock and roll. One of things that I wish I had never confessed to my husband, was that at age 11, I did not like the Crazy Horses album because I thought (insert blush here) that it was too ELECTRIC. I don’t even know what I meant by that, but I was horrified.
Tonight, I made him watch DWTS. It’s my birthday and he had to do as I said even though he is now watching Monday Night Football. I confessed that I know his wife’s name is Debbie because I remember when she snatched him from my clutches even though I am not Mormon, had never met him and I have never set foot in the state of Utah.
I actually MET Donny Osmond at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo when I was 13 years old…I’ll never forget it! I remember standing with a group of girls (about 20) backstage and out came THE DONNY OSMOND. I was at the back of the group, but visible and remembered reading in Tiger Beat Magazine that Donny did not like forward girls, but was attracted to the more shy variety. I was just sure he was going to see me standing in the back and say, “Wait…you there…I would like to meet you…you are just my type.” Of course, Tiger Beat was a big fat liar and that did not happen at all. All of the sudden his manager comes out and announces that it’s time for Donny to go. Well, I turned from a shy girl to an extremely forward one, pushed my way through the crowd, and held out my paper and pen (both of which I still have). The one thing that stands out was when I hugged him, he didn’t hug me back. That’s when I realized that I would never be Mrs. Donny Osmond. Oh well, that’s o.k…I think I would be a little embarassed to me married to him now!!
My older sisters – born 63 and 64 – would choreography Osmond routines in our front lawn using whatever supplies my mother had on hand. Spoons for microphones, bar stools, chairs, etc. I wasn’t there to enjoy it, but the stories and pictures are priceless!
I saw Donny live twice when he was the lead in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. I was in junior high and that was when I completely fell in love with Broadway musicals. I’ve not been watching DWTS at all this season, but I’m sure I’d be cheering for Donny if I was into it this time around (especially considering I don’t know who half the stars are this season).
DWTS is definitely tired already!
Amen to those who say that DWTS is not so great this season! I can’t bring myself to watch it, in spite of my love for Melissa Joan Hart…Clarissa Explains it All and Sabrina the Teenage Witch were a large part of my preteen and teen years.
I have no specificmemories of Donny Osmond, but I do refer to him as “My favorite Mormon”
I am totally bored this season. Nothing keeps it interesting and I’ve barely watched a full episode. Lets hope they do better next time round with their choices for celebs.
I haven’t watched DWTS at all this season so I don’t know what celebrities are even on it BUT I did meet George Strait once. Surely that tops any of the stars that are on the show right now. I had been following (I hesitate to use the work stalking) George for a while. I once sat outside of a truck stop in San Marcos for 30 minutes watching them fill his bus with gas and do something to the engine, thinking that any minute George would step out and see me and forget that he was married to Norma Jean. Didn’t happen. Of course George is not actually on the bus when they are doing routine maintenance and getting gas but a girl could hope. I also stole a piece of junk mail from his mailbox once (can you say Federal Felony)! My friends did not believe I had figured out where George lived. I had to prove them wrong. They were forever humbled when I showed them the advertisement with his name on it. Soon after, George moved to San Antonio to a gated community. Not sure why!?! Anyway, I went to a taping of Austin City Limits one year and after much talking (and a little flirting) with the nerdy guy who was in charge of stacking the chairs, he showed my friend and I where George was actually watching the show being played back. We stood in the back of the room watching my beloved George about 15 feet away watching the show and giving his input about what parts they should actually use. After we were all ushered outside, my friend and I set up a vigil at the door to his bus. We were not going to miss this opportunity. After about a hour of waiting, there he was, in all his wrangler and pressed shirt glory. I stood at the bus, he signed my paper and I walked off crying hysterically. It was the best time!!!
I loved Donnie and Marie. Couldn’t wait to watch their show every week. My older sister and I used to play their album over and over. She sang all the Marie songs and I did all the Donnie songs. We really rocked on I’m a Little Bit Country….Ah the memories. I never had the dolls, still a bit sad about that. LOL