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The variety program 'Donny & Marie' was initially broadcast on the CBS television network.
Answer: False
Explanation: Contrary to the assertion, the 'Donny & Marie' variety program originally aired on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) network, not CBS.
The television program 'Donny & Marie' was broadcast on the ABC network for an approximate duration of three years, spanning from early 1976 to mid-1979.
Answer: True
Explanation: The program 'Donny & Marie' commenced its broadcast on ABC in January 1976 and concluded in May 1979, encompassing a period of approximately three years and four months.
ABC-TV President Fred Silverman offered Donny and Marie their show after observing them co-host 'The Tonight Show'.
Answer: False
Explanation: The offer for the 'Donny & Marie' show was extended by ABC-TV President Fred Silverman subsequent to observing the siblings' performance while co-hosting a week of 'The Mike Douglas Show', not 'The Tonight Show'.
Donny and Marie Osmond established a television record by becoming the youngest entertainers to host their own variety show.
Answer: True
Explanation: Upon the premiere of their variety show, Donny and Marie Osmond, aged 18 and 16 respectively, became the youngest entertainers in television history to host their own program of this format.
The Keane Brothers later surpassed the record set by Donny and Marie Osmond for hosting the youngest variety show.
Answer: True
Explanation: The record established by Donny and Marie Osmond as the youngest entertainers to host their own variety show was subsequently surpassed by The Keane Brothers.
Competition from the series 'Wonder Woman' did not significantly impact the ratings of 'Donny & Marie'.
Answer: False
Explanation: The series 'Wonder Woman', airing in the same time slot, posed significant competition and contributed to a decline in the ratings for 'Donny & Marie' during its later seasons.
On which television network did the variety program 'Donny & Marie' make its original broadcast?
Answer: American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Explanation: The variety program 'Donny & Marie' was originally broadcast on the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) network.
What was the primary time frame during which 'Donny & Marie' was broadcast on ABC?
Answer: 1976-1979
Explanation: The television program 'Donny & Marie' aired on ABC from January 1976 to May 1979.
Identify the President of ABC-TV who extended the offer for the 'Donny & Marie' program, and specify the circumstances that led to this proposal.
Answer: Fred Silverman, subsequent to their co-hosting duties on 'The Mike Douglas Show'.
Explanation: Fred Silverman, then President of ABC-TV, extended the offer for the 'Donny & Marie' program after observing the duo's performance while co-hosting a week of 'The Mike Douglas Show'.
What significant television record did Donny and Marie Osmond establish with the premiere of their variety show?
Answer: Youngest entertainers to host their own variety show.
Explanation: Upon the premiere of their variety show, Donny and Marie Osmond, aged 18 and 16 respectively, became the youngest entertainers in television history to host their own program of this format.
What was the Nielsen rank of 'Donny & Marie' during its inaugural 1975-1976 television season?
Answer: 27th
Explanation: During its debut 1975-1976 television season, 'Donny & Marie' achieved a Nielsen rank of 27th.
A typical episode of 'Donny & Marie' commenced with a comedy sketch followed by musical performances.
Answer: False
Explanation: A typical episode of 'Donny & Marie' began with an ice skating number for the introduction, followed by comedy skits and then songs performed by the duo.
The recurring segment 'A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock 'N Roll' featured Marie performing country music selections and Donny performing rock music selections.
Answer: False
Explanation: The 'A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock 'N Roll' segment was characterized by Marie singing country music songs and Donny performing rock music songs, reversing the assertion in the question.
Episodes of 'Donny & Marie' concluded with a musical finale and a distinct signature closing song.
Answer: True
Explanation: Each episode of 'Donny & Marie' typically concluded with a musical finale, often accompanied by a cascade of balloons, followed by the duo performing their signature closing song.
Paul Lynde and Ruth Buzzi were main cast members who appeared in every episode.
Answer: False
Explanation: Paul Lynde and Ruth Buzzi were semi-regular cast members on 'Donny & Marie', but they did not appear in every episode.
Miss America 1978, Susan Perkins, made a guest appearance on the show.
Answer: True
Explanation: Susan Perkins, who was crowned Miss America in 1978, appeared as a guest on 'Donny & Marie' during its fourth season.
Which of the following elements was NOT a typical component within the structural framework of a 'Donny & Marie' episode?
Answer: A segment featuring guest musicians.
Explanation: While episodes featured ice skating introductions, comedy skits, and musical performances by the hosts, dedicated segments featuring guest musicians were not a typical structural element of the 'Donny & Marie' show.
The recurring segment 'A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock 'N Roll' was characterized by:
Answer: Marie singing country songs and Donny singing rock songs.
Explanation: The 'A Little Bit Country, A Little Bit Rock 'N Roll' segment was structured such that Marie performed country music selections, while Donny performed rock music selections, showcasing their distinct genre affinities.
What was the signature closing song performed by Donny and Marie at the conclusion of each episode?
Answer: May Tomorrow Be a Perfect Day
Explanation: The program consistently concluded with Donny and Marie performing their signature closing song, 'May Tomorrow Be a Perfect Day', written by Alan Osmond.
What unique type of segment did 'Donny & Marie' occasionally feature, adapting famous works?
Answer: 15-minute musical adaptations of famous feature films.
Explanation: The show occasionally incorporated approximately 15-minute musical adaptations of well-known feature films, such as 'Star Wars' and 'The Wizard of Oz'.
What was the approximate running time for a typical episode of 'Donny & Marie'?
Answer: 45-49 minutes
Explanation: Episodes of the 'Donny & Marie' variety show typically had a running time ranging between 45 and 49 minutes.
Donny Osmond's initial widespread recognition originated from his solo career achievements on the country music charts.
Answer: False
Explanation: Donny Osmond's primary source of pre-show fame was his involvement as a vocalist with his brothers in the musical ensemble, The Osmonds, rather than a solo country music career.
Marie Osmond achieved her first number one hit on the Billboard country music charts with the song 'Paper Roses' in 1973.
Answer: True
Explanation: Marie Osmond's single 'Paper Roses' reached the number one position on the Billboard country music charts in 1973, marking a significant early career achievement.
Donny Osmond's marriage to Debbie Glenn contributed to a decline in the show's popularity among its core audience.
Answer: True
Explanation: The revelation of Donny Osmond's relationship and subsequent marriage to Debbie Glenn reportedly led to a decrease in viewership among his primary young female fan base, impacting the show's popularity.
The Osmond family's popularity in the music industry increased due to the significant focus placed on their television ventures.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Osmond family members themselves experienced a decline in their music industry popularity around the same time, partially attributing this to the substantial focus on their television endeavors.
Donny and Marie Osmond starred in the film 'Goin' Coconuts' after declining roles in the musical 'Grease'.
Answer: True
Explanation: Donny and Marie Osmond opted to star in the film 'Goin' Coconuts' subsequent to declining offers for roles in the prominent musical film 'Grease'.
The film 'Goin' Coconuts', starring Donny and Marie, achieved considerable commercial success at the box office.
Answer: False
Explanation: The film 'Goin' Coconuts', which featured Donny and Marie Osmond, was ultimately unsuccessful commercially and performed poorly at the box office.
Marie Osmond starred in a solo variety series on NBC during the 1980-1981 television season.
Answer: True
Explanation: During the 1980-1981 television season, Marie Osmond headlined her own solo variety series on NBC, titled 'Marie'.
Who were the principal stars of the 'Donny & Marie' variety show, and what were their prior claims to fame?
Answer: Brother and sister Donny and Marie Osmond
Explanation: The principal stars were the sibling musical duo Donny and Marie Osmond. Prior to the show's inception, Donny Osmond had achieved significant popularity as a member of the musical group The Osmonds. Marie Osmond had garnered recognition as one of the youngest artists to secure a number one position on the Billboard country music charts with her 1973 single, 'Paper Roses'.
What prior accomplishment established Donny Osmond's fame before hosting the variety show?
Answer: Being a member of the music group The Osmonds.
Explanation: Donny Osmond's initial widespread recognition stemmed from his role as a vocalist within the popular musical ensemble, The Osmonds.
Which song earned Marie Osmond recognition as one of the youngest singers with a No. 1 country hit?
Answer: Paper Roses
Explanation: Marie Osmond achieved significant recognition with her 1973 hit single 'Paper Roses,' which became one of the youngest artists' songs to reach the number one position on the Billboard country music charts.
What major film did Donny and Marie Osmond decline roles in?
Answer: Grease
Explanation: Donny and Marie Osmond were offered roles in the highly successful musical film 'Grease' but ultimately declined to participate.
Instead of 'Grease', Donny and Marie starred in which film, which ultimately failed commercially?
Answer: Goin' Coconuts
Explanation: Following their decision not to appear in 'Grease', Donny and Marie Osmond starred in the film 'Goin' Coconuts', which proved to be a commercial failure.
What was the name of Marie Osmond's solo variety series that aired on NBC during the 1980-1981 television season?
Answer: Marie
Explanation: Marie Osmond starred in her own solo variety series on NBC during the 1980-1981 television season, titled 'Marie'.
In the United Kingdom, the show was broadcast on BBC2 under the title 'Donny & Marie'.
Answer: False
Explanation: In the United Kingdom, the program was broadcast on BBC1, primarily on Sunday afternoons, and was consistently identified as 'The Osmonds', not 'Donny & Marie'.
The final season of 'Donny & Marie' shifted its musical focus towards disco-influenced performances and de-emphasized earlier signature segments.
Answer: True
Explanation: In its final season, the program incorporated more concert-style disco numbers and reduced the prominence of earlier segments, reflecting evolving musical trends.
The show was retitled 'The Osmond Family Hour' midway through its final season.
Answer: False
Explanation: Midway through its final season, the program was retitled 'The Osmond Family Show', not 'The Osmond Family Hour', and its broadcast schedule was also adjusted.
The variety show genre was experiencing a surge in popularity during the late 1970s.
Answer: False
Explanation: The late 1970s marked a period of decline for the variety show genre; the success of 'Donny & Marie' was somewhat anomalous within this broader trend.
The show was initially videotaped at the Osmond Studios in Orem, Utah.
Answer: False
Explanation: Initially, 'Donny & Marie' was videotaped in Los Angeles at KTLA Studios. Production later relocated to the Osmond Studios in Orem, Utah, in November 1977.
After gaining creative control, the Osmonds relocated production of 'Donny & Marie' to Utah in November 1977.
Answer: True
Explanation: Following a dispute where the Osmond family secured creative control, production of 'Donny & Marie' was moved to their own facilities, Osmond Studios in Orem, Utah, commencing in November 1977.
How was 'Donny & Marie' presented to audiences in the United Kingdom?
Answer: As 'The Osmonds' on BBC1.
Explanation: In the United Kingdom, the program was broadcast on BBC1 and was consistently billed as 'The Osmonds'.
What change in musical style characterized the final season of 'Donny & Marie'?
Answer: A focus on concert-style disco numbers.
Explanation: The final season of 'Donny & Marie' saw a shift towards incorporating more concert-style disco numbers, moving away from some of the show's earlier signature segments.
How did the overall trend of variety shows in the late 1970s compare to the success of 'Donny & Marie'?
Answer: The genre was declining, making 'Donny & Marie' an unusual success.
Explanation: The late 1970s witnessed a general decline in the popularity of variety shows; the sustained success of 'Donny & Marie' stood as a notable exception within this broader industry trend.
Who were the original creators credited with developing the 'Donny & Marie' television show?
Answer: Sid and Marty Krofft
Explanation: The 'Donny & Marie' television show was originally created by the production duo Sid and Marty Krofft, in collaboration with Osmond Productions.
Where was 'Donny & Marie' initially videotaped before production relocated to Utah?
Answer: Los Angeles at KTLA Studios
Explanation: The initial videotaping sessions for 'Donny & Marie' took place in Los Angeles at KTLA Studios.
Donny & Marie dolls were released in August 1977, accompanied by a play set.
Answer: True
Explanation: In August 1977, a line of Donny & Marie dolls was introduced to the market, which included an accompanying TV Studio play set.
The Donny & Marie wireless toy microphone transmitted sound to television sets.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Donny & Marie wireless toy microphone was designed to transmit sound to AM radio frequencies, not directly to television sets.
Tiger Beat magazine published a dedicated publication focused on Donny & Marie during the series run.
Answer: True
Explanation: During the television series' broadcast, Tiger Beat magazine produced a special publication centered on Donny & Marie, with support from the Osmond family.
What technical detail is mentioned regarding the Donny & Marie wireless toy microphone released in 1977?
Answer: It transmitted sound to AM radio frequencies.
Explanation: The wireless toy microphone modeled after the Shure SM61 microphones used on the show was designed to transmit sound to AM radio frequencies.
In the video game 'Fallout: New Vegas', under what condition can characters named Donnie and Marie be found?
Answer: If the player selects the 'Wild Wasteland' trait.
Explanation: Within the video game 'Fallout: New Vegas', the 'Wild Wasteland' trait enables the appearance of two dogs belonging to a character named Motor-Runner, who are subsequently named Donnie and Marie.
Donny and Marie reunited for a talk show in 1998 that achieved a run of five seasons.
Answer: False
Explanation: Donny and Marie did reunite for a talk show in 1998, but it ran for two seasons, not five.
Donny and Marie have recently performed live in a long-term residency at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Donny and Marie have had recent live performance engagements, their long-term residency was at the Flamingo Las Vegas, not the MGM Grand.
In what year did Donny and Marie reunite to host another television program, and what was its format?
Answer: 1998, a talk show
Explanation: Donny and Marie reunited in 1998 to co-host a television talk show, which ran for two seasons.
Where have Donny and Marie continued to perform live in recent years, holding a long-term residency?
Answer: Flamingo Las Vegas
Explanation: Donny and Marie have maintained a presence in live performance, most notably holding a long-term residency at the Flamingo Las Vegas.