When Donny and Marie turn away from their trademark silhouette opening, and start wildly dancing in perfect synchronization to The Bee Gees' "Jive Talkin'," it's like someone slamming you in the chest with a cardiac needle, pumping equal parts confusion and vivid nostalgia directly into your flat-lining heart. After recovering from the initial, blinding shock at beholding their benevolent, sequined grandeur, you ask yourself, "My God, did we actually watch this? And then...it all comes flooding back to you, and you resoundingly answer, "Yes! Yes, I did - and I loved it!"

The Best of Donny & Marie: Volume 1 is an amazing, mind-bending trip down memory lane for all those young kids of the '70s who grew up secretly liking this show. I say secretly, because about three weeks after it premiered, no self-respecting kid admitted to watching it - even though we still did, religiously. There was something about Donny & Marie, something so wholesome (can you imagine that word being seriously used about any young star today?) about these Utah-born show business pros, that it instantly earned them the good-natured (and envious) scorn of others in the business, and the unilateral hatred of the jaded critics. Was it because Donny & Marie (and by extension the past success of The Osmond Brothers) represented to the critics and entertainment-makers what they perceived to be the polar opposite of the prevailing social order; i.e. polite, clean-cut youngsters who put Family and God first in everything they did? Was it because of the sometimes-saccharine nature of their act (Donny's single, Puppy Love is fairly icky)? Or was it because despite the critics' pompous derision (can you believe they actually mention God in their show -- how gauche!), they couldn't convince Middle America that these kids shouldn't be popular?

Kids are funny; they can like something on their own, quietly, but the minute they perceive that that particular record or book or TV show is somehow "uncool," usually because they heard it from the media, they clam up, and protest they don't watch it, or listen to it. Donny & Marie were the kind of kids our parents wanted as our friends; they were polite and well-spoken, and your parents wouldn't ever have worried about what you'd get up to with them. And usually, those kind of nerdy kids were the exact opposite of the punks you really wanted to hang out with. But you still respected those squares; their sincerity was obvious, even if they did seem hopelessly out of it. And that was Donny & Marie: two super-talented kids (she was only 16 when the show aired in 1976; Donny was just 18) who weren't putting on an act. They really were the characters they portrayed on the show (except, of course, that Donny was no dummy). And you gave them credit and respect for that. And maybe, because of their example, you wanted to be a little bit more like them.

The Osmond Brothers singing group, initially consisting of older brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill, and Jay, were a staple on the popular Andy Williams show. Their wholesome harmonizing, along with their real-life family camaraderie, really captured the imagination of still-innocent early 1960s TV. With the addition of youngster Donny, a natural born showman and future frontman of the group, the group really took off in popularity. By the very early 70s, The Osmond Brothers were a wildly successful and respected pop/rock singing group (no less than Lester Bangs in Rolling Stones gave his seal-of-approval to the group), while Donny was carving out a solo career with teenybopper classics like "Puppy Love" and "Go Away Little Girl." Younger sister Marie was no slouch, either; her country classic, "Paper Roses," charted at number one, making the 13-year-old the youngest singer ever to top the Country charts.

Silverman showed his brilliance by teaming up Donny & Marie with TV producers Sid and Marty Krofft. The Kroffts, producers of brilliant, bizarre kids programs like Pufnstuf, Lidsville and Sigmund and the Sea Monster, were brought in by Silverman to produce Donny & Marie not only because of their proven ability to connect with young audiences, but because of their past experience in big-scale musical variety shows. It proved to be an inspired combination. In that first half-season, The Donny & Marie Show finished 26th in the ratings for the entire year.

What the Kroffts did was to take Donny & Marie's natural chemistry, and apply it to the age-old comedy formula of the straight man and the dummy - with Donny as the dummy In their monologues and skits together, Marie was cast as the wise-cracking, slightly naughty, spunky, adorable sister who constantly bedeviled Donny, who was cast as the toothily-handsome, awkward klutz, who was always the butt of Marie's corny jokes. To the surprise of everyone in the industry, they were natural comedians. Donny was a total pro at taking a joke at his own expense, and Marie, despite her young age, was cute and funny, with an ever-so-slightly devilish quality that was attractive and endearing. Of course, all of this pretense went out the window when the pair sang, because in reality, both were seasoned pros (Donny in particular) who were extremely versatile, whether singing, dancing or playing various instruments.

And that's what the audiences tuned in for: their proven talent. Sure, they were a little goofy. Sure, they were corny. But they were truly talented, too, and you can't fake that - nor hide it, no matter how many sequins and feathers you pile on top. The Kroffts were responsible for the early look of the show, complete with a crazy ice rink stage, powder blue tuxedo jumpsuits for Donny (embroidered with matching peacock feathers), and the silly skits like "Captain Purple" that took advantage of the schlocky special effects that were the hallmark of previous Krofft spectaculars. In season two, the Kroffts upped the ante by having Marie go ultra-sophisticated, with legendary Carol Burnett costume designer Bob Mackie changing Marie from a cute ingenue into a lovely, sexy adult singer. Donny (to his consternation) stayed the same (with the exception of his hairstyle, which more and more resembled the "John Travolta look"). But it was Donny & Marie who connected directly and honestly with the mainstream audience out there in the Great Middle West; no amount of Hollywood gilt courtesy of the Kroffts could manufacture that kind of connection.

Unfortunately, the Osmonds decided in 1977 that they no longer needed Hollywood (a decision that was based on religious as well as artistic reasons). They took over production of the show, and moved all of their operations back to Utah, where they built a spectacular (and spectacularly expensive) state-of-the-art television production facility. The last two years of The Donny and Marie Show would be produced there, without the benefit of the Kroffts' involvement. The Osmonds changed the show's format, creating more of a stage concert look to the proceedings, while their guest star roster suffered, probably because of their distance from Hollywood. The ratings, which admittedly were on the way down after the first season, took a serious nose dive after season two, with the show getting the axe in 1979. This expensive move also proved the catalyst for the Osmond family eventually losing a large portion of their 80 million dollar recording empire

The Best of Donny & Marie: Volume 1 consists of four edited shows, one from each year it aired. While I approve of giving the buyer a sampling of episodes from each season, allowing one to see the progression of the show, I disliked the fact that the episodes were edited. What's missing from the shows? I don't know. Donny is credited as the discs' producer; he chose the episodes, and edited and remixed their soundtracks. Why he felt the need to edit the episodes, one can only guess. Perhaps music rights played a part in what could be released. If that's the case, at least explain it on the box. But if the decision was to give only the "best" moments of a particular show, while cutting out the dross, then that's unacceptable to the fans of Donny & Marie, as well as to TV fans who want a complete historical picture of a particular series. Lovers of vintage TV don't want less of it; they want more.

The first two episodes presented on the disc show the Kroffts' influence at full steam, particularly in the psychodelic production numbers, and the professional gloss that was a hallmark of the series. There's an assured drive to the proceedings that indicates the Kroffts had a steady hand on the show's direction. Donny & Marie clearly shine under this guidance, and it's easy to see why the audience loved them; they really are adorable. The last two episodes on the disc dramatically illustrate the wrong turn the series took by going back to Utah. The look of the shows is undernourished and slightly dark, with a hesitancy in Donny & Marie's delivery that may indicate the stress of the show's new direction. Their interactions together are strained, with Donny looking particularly uncomfortable in the final episode; he even comes across as slightly bullying towards Marie, while he sweats profusely under the lights (a small but significant detail that a professional Hollywood production would never have allowed). The quality of the guest stars also seems to be in jeopardy: a reliance on Ruth Buzzi's talents should have been a red flag to somebody in the production.

The DVD:

The Video:
Candy-colored production numbers, with psychodelic sequined bell bottoms, rhinestoned polyester pant suits and feathered hair, all pop out on brilliantly lighted sets in the digitally remastered The Best of Donny & Marie: Volume 1. Of course it's full screen, as all proper vintage TV should be.

The Audio:
Donny Osmond has remastered the audio tracks for The Best of Donny & Marie: Volume 1 in startling Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and DTS. Now, Donny & Marie singing "Nights on Broadway," You and Me Against the World," and of course, "A Little Bit Country/A Little Bit Rock n' Roll" sound like they're performing right in your own TV room.

The Extras:
Unfortunately, there's almost no extras. There's only a photo gallery, with musical accompaniment, on each disc, showing some behind-the-scenes shots of the shows you just watched. Also unfortunate: some of the photos show the parts they cut out of the original episodes, making the viewer wonder where they are.

Final Thoughts:
The Best of Donny & Marie: Volume 1 is more than just a vintage stroll down TV memory lane; it's a gestalt time-capsule that zaps you right back to the mid-to-late '70s and sums up an entire segment of your childhood. Donny & Marie are incomparably cute and energetic, while their musical talents are above reproach. The comedy is corny, but don't feel so superior; they knew it, too, and they're having just as much fun with it as you will. The only reason I'm not giving The Best of Donny & Marie: Volume 1 the highest rating I can -- the DVD Talk Collector Series rating -- is because the shows are edited down from their original hour length. Still, The Best of Donny & Marie: Volume 1 is well worth purchasing if you're a fan of the show, or if you just want to wallow in '70's nostalgia. Highly recommended. Just remember what Donny and Marie always told you: