On paper, ABC’s “Inside the Osmonds” sounds perfect for sweeps, one of four times a year when networks load up on event TV to help boost ratings for local affiliates setting future advertising rates.
Scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday on WLS-Ch. 7, it’s an insider peek at one of America’s most celebrated musical families, focusing primarily on the early success of the singing Osmond brothers, whose rise started in the early 1970s.
Lots of juicy potential, huh? The same behind-the-scenes scandals must have hit these guys as hit other singing-groups-turned-sweeps-fodder like the Temptations and the Beach Boys. Or not.
“Our story is a happy one, and I think that’s nice. So many of these end up dark and negative,” says co-executive producer James A. Osmond, better known as youngest singing sibling Jimmy Osmond.
“None of my brothers ever had any problems with drugs, I never had, and I don’t know how we escaped it because it was everywhere,” says Osmond, 37. “I think because we went through this [show business] roller coaster together, we were able to maintain it.”
Oh, well. Aside from a bankruptcy, some jealousies when Merrill Osmond had to hand over his lead singer mantle to Donny, and Donny feeling like a slub because he was made to be a dumbo on his and sister Marie’s hit ABC variety show, “Inside the Osmonds” doesn’t live up to the kind of titillating music-themed movies that have recently become a staple of sweeps.
But this one bad apple — on the scandal-free front, anyway — won’t spoil the whole bunch of movies, mini-series, specials and special episodes of series TV coming out during the February sweeps, which begins Thursday.
Among some of the other movies coming up this month:
– “These Old Broads” (Feb. 12, ABC) — Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley MacLaine, Debbie Reynolds and Joan Collins star in a comedy about a reunion of actresses from Hollywood’s golden age.
– “Jewel” (Wednesday, CBS, WBBM-Ch. 2 locally) — Farrah Fawcett plays the devoted mother of a child with Down syndrome.
– “The Princess and the Marine” (Feb. 18, NBC, WMAQ-Ch. 5 locally) — It’s based on the true story of a U.S. serviceman’s (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) affair with Bahraini royalty (Chicago’s Marisol Nichols).
– “Epicenter” (Feb. 20, UPN, WPWR-Ch. 50 locally) — A detective protects a mob informant from rogue cops during an earthquake in Los Angeles.
There are two mini-series set for the month: “Haven” (Feb. 11 and 14, CBS), the true story of a U.S. government official (Natasha Richardson) who helped almost 1,000 Jewish refugees find sanctuary in America in 1944; and “Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadow” (Feb. 25-26, ABC), Lorna Luft’s memoir of her mom the screen/music great, with Judy Davis as Garland.
February’s biggest event usually is the Grammy Awards, and this year’s 43rd annual bash is Feb. 21 on CBS. The big story — Eminem, who has trashed the awards in his raps, is up for several awards.
The WB (WGN-Ch. 9 locally) gets into special-event programming in a big way this month with “Teen People’s 20 Teens Who Will Change the World,” hosted by “The View’s” Lisa Ling (Feb. 9); and “Kiss the Bride: The Ultimate Valentine” (Feb. 12), a reality show from the makers of “Big Brother,” where three engaged couples compete for a huge wedding to be performed at the end of the broadcast.
Other specials include “InStyle: Celebrity Weddings” (Monday, NBC) which had to be re-edited at the last minute because Courtney Thorne-Smith had to go and petition for a divorce; and “Barbra Streisand — Timeless” (Feb. 14, Fox, WFLD-Ch. 32 locally) the singer’s last live performance, on New Year’s Eve 1999 in Las Vegas.
Fans of TV shows usually have reason to celebrate because series pump it up for sweeps. And there is no time wasted on Thursday.
A lot has been made of NBC “super-sizing” its “Friends” episodes this month, adding an extra 10 minutes to fight CBS’ “Survivor: The Australian Outback,” which settles into its regular time at 7 p.m.
UPN also isn’t letting “Survivor” take a bite out of “WWF Smackdown” at 7 p.m. Thursday, promising to put several championship belts on the line, including the WWF Championship (current champ Kurt Angle vs. The Rock).
Other special episodes:
– “Andromeda” star Kevin Sorbo lights Dharma’s (Jenna Elfman) fire as a college professor in a two-parter (Tuesday and Feb. 13, ABC).
– “Grosse Pointe” creator Darren Star calls in favors from his current and past shows to help his ailing series, with “Sex and the City’s” Kristin Davis and former “90210” star Jason Priestly set for appearances Sunday and Feb. 11, respectively. “Buffy’s” Sarah Michelle Gellar is on tap Feb. 16.
– ABC’s “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” tests music stars’ knowledge, with KISS’ Gene Simmons, Sisqo and the Backstreet Boys’ Nick Carter among those set to appear on Feb. 11 and Feb. 14.
– Fox’s “The X-Files” deals with the search for Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) starting Sunday. Mulder is supposed to reappear on Feb. 25 in a three-episode arc that introduces Annabeth Gish as an FBI agent with ties to John Doggett (Robert Patrick). If the series returns for a ninth season, Gish will become a regular.
And clues to the source of Scully’s (Gillian Anderson) pregnancy are revealed on Feb. 18.
