OSMONDS, THE: AND AWAY THEY GO {SERIES PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The premiere of this animated series about the Osmonds and the adventures they have on their world tour.
The Osmonds, consisting of Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, and Donny, perform concerts across the United States, hampered by their little brother Jimmy, who keeps trying to appear onstage with them. They are accompanied by their dog Fuji, who acts as their helper and stagehand. After one concert, the Osmonds adopt disguises to sneak past a mob of Donny's admirers. Unbeknownst to them, a mysterious shadowy figure stalks the Osmonds. The next morning they hear about a music contest held by the United States Music Committee in Washington, DC. The winners will be selected to go on a tour around the world as part of a goodwill project. The Osmonds believe that they can easily win the contest, but try to dissuade Jimmy from tagging along, believing that his antics would be disruptive. Donny is particularly concerned that Jimmy might affect his chances to meet girls ("One Bad Apple").
While the other Osmonds are out rehearsing, Jimmy gets a call from the director of the Music Committee. He provides deceptive information to the director, planning on auditioning with Fuji before his brothers, hoping that this will convince them to take him along on the world tour. The groups trying out for the Committee gather in Washington, DC. Donny goes through his fan mail, finding the remnants of a pie sent to him by his "number one fan" Hortence Bird. He has grown weary of her constant attention. The Osmonds find that Jimmy has stowed away on their bus, and agree to keep him in Washington for one day before sending him home. Jimmy and Fuji audition for the Committee president Seymour Sycamore, who is moved by Jimmy's old-fashioned song choice. The other Osmonds are puzzled when they are told that they have already auditioned, but soon figure out Jimmy's deception. Now unable to win the contest, the Osmonds get depressed until Donny gives them a rousing speech about perseverance, using former United States presidents as examples. The Osmonds visit Sycamore, infiltrating his house by dressing up as Santa and sliding down the chimney. Sycamore nearly throws them out but is persuaded not to do so by his daughter Scarlett, who expresses her affection for Donny. She hopes that by convincing her father to give the Osmonds another chance, she can accompany Donny on the world tour, although Donny gently tries to dissuade her ("Go Away Little Girl"). With Scarlett's influence, the Osmonds win the contest and set off on their world tour on their private jet. The mysterious shadowy figure is revealed to be Hortence, proclaiming that she will follow Donny around the world, much to his displeasure. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 9, 1972 9:00 AM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:22:26
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:27151
- GENRE: Animation
- SUBJECT HEADING: Animation; Families
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1972-1974
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Mike Curb … Executive Producer
- Arthur Rankin Jr. … Producer, Director
- Jules Bass … Producer, Director
- Basil Cox … Associate Producer
- Tony Guy … Animation Director
- Earle Doud … Writer
- William J. Keenan … Writer
- Claire Merrill … Writer
- Romeo Muller … Writer
- Iris Rainer … Writer
- Maury Laws … Music by
- Donny Osmond … Voice, Himself
- Jimmy Osmond … Voice, Himself
- Alan Osmond … Voice, Himself
- Wayne Osmond … Voice, Himself
- Merrill Osmond … Voice, Himself
- Jay Osmond … Voice, Himself
- Paul Frees … Voice, Various
- Iris Rainer … Voice, Various