1980 TV Guide ad for first "Osmond Family Christmas Special" on NBC
The Osmond Family Christmas Special is a succession of annual Christmas specials starring the Osmonds, Their first three Christmas specials were part of the Donny & Marie variety TV series that aired on ABC from 1976 to 1979. These specials aired through Christmas 1981.
1976[]
The special starred the entire Osmond family, including the older non-performing siblings Virl and Tom, and their respective spouses and children, as well as parents George and Olive. The show also featured regular guest Paul Lynde and special guest star Andy Williams, who had his own variety show (1962-71) on which the Osmond brothers were frequent guests, and whom at the time was again hosting his own variety show which ultimately ran only one season in syndication.
This special, as well as in the two years that followed, adhered mostly to the format of the normal series, including Donny and Marie's regular I'm A Little Bit Country, I'm A Little Bit Rock & Roll segment. Many of the songs performed in the special were included in the Osmond Christmas Album which was released that same year.
Musical performances included, but were not limited to:
- It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas/Pine Cones and Holly Berries (The Osmond brothers/Marie & Jimmy and the Osmonds' wives)
- Winter Wonderland (Donny & Marie)
- Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (Osmond Brothers with Andy Williams)
- I Wonder When He Comes Again (Jimmy)
- The Christmas Song (all the Osmonds)
1977[]
As in the previous year, this special featured the entire Osmond family with Paul Lynde as special guest star, and also featured the Mormon Tabernacle Choir performing The Christmas Song.
1978[]
The 1978 special again featured the entire Osmond family but had no guest stars.
1979[]
This was the first Osmond special following the cancellation of Donny & Marie in May of that year. This special featured several guest stars including Cindy Williams, Erik Estrada, Olympic gold medalist Dorothy Hamill and Adam Rich (from Eight is Enough). This special featured more prominently the children of the Osmonds who were already well on their way to growing up.
1980[]
This was the first Osmond Christmas special to air on NBC, Guest stars included Greg Evigan (B.J. and the Bear), Olympic skater Peggy Fleming, and magician Doug Henning.
1981[]
This special aired Thanksgiving night 1981, and again featured the entire Osmond family, only this time the special focused on each of the Osmonds' favorite holidays, including the Fourth of July, St. Patrick's Day and Valentine's Day, finishing off with a large Christmas production number. Anthony Geary (General Hospital) and Lorna Patterson (the TV version of Private Benjamin) guest starred.