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Erik Kabik/Retna / www.erikkabikphoto.com
Donny Osmond: Gotta dance.
Published Wednesday, Nov. 25, 2009 | 7:05 p.m.
Updated Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 | 1:14 p.m.
Related files
Donny, with his trophy, before Marie beat him in Wednesday night's onstage dance-off.
Donny Osmond, and his new trophy, meet the crowd at Flamingo Las Vegas.
Donny Osmond, at his welcome-back/victory party at the Flamingo Showroom.
George Wallace and Donny Osmond do some posing.
He unfolded from the black limo at the Flamingo porte-cochere, and the crowd shrieked.
He lifted the mirrored trophy high above his head, and the crowd shrieked some more.
It was sort of a disco inferno, and for a time the star seemed more Tony Manero than Donny Osmond. Whichever, today he’s the most celebrated song-and-dance man in Vegas since, oh, maybe Sammy Davis Jr. (Feel free to debate that one.)
And all for a victory in a televised dance contest. Donny Osmond is champion of “Dancing With the Stars.” He turns 52 on Dec. 9, so he’s the show’s oldest champ, too. Amazing, but hey, it’s deserved. The Flamingo headliner is sore all over but still seems to move with his customarily comfortable gait, the type of show-must-go-on resiliency that separates him from, say, politicians from Texas.
Having been flown across the country and back in less than 24 hours, Osmond seemed almost magically refreshed as he was welcomed by probably a hundred or so employees of Flamingo and other nearby Harrah’s properties, along with comic George Wallace, afternoon comic magician Nathan Burton and the shapely inhabitants of “X Burlesque.” Chip Lightman, a man who has seen it all in 2009, was there for a hug, as was Harrah’s exec Thomas Jenkin. Osmond seemed to hug anyone who happened up, actually, even journalists (though not this one) and the odd camera-wielding fan. His sister, Marie, was not on hand for the welcome party -- allowing Donny his moment -- but the two will be performing together tonight at the Flamingo Showroom in Donny’s triumphant first show as “DWTS” champ.
Osmond says he’s still in shock from the whirlwind victory, and this is a man not readily shock-able who has been internationally famous almost since he was in Pampers. The show took a physical toll, certainly -- every contestant bemoans the wear-and-tear the body suffers during the “DWTS” competition. “You name it, it hurts,” he said.
Having been hustled through the bowels of the Flamingo to the showroom stage, Osmond was greeted by cast members and the production crew of his stage show. There, Osmond repeated that he was thrilled to win the contest for partner Kym Johnson, who had not yet won the disco hardware, and said he’d worked harder for this achievement than anything he’d accomplished in his long, legendary entertainment career. Then he was spun away to share cupcakes and more hugs, and to recite more quoted matter for an “Entertainment Tonight” video crew (tentatively, Donny is to appear on the show Thanksgiving evening).
It was a decidedly uplifting, Osmond-esque celebration (he energetically chomped at a cupcake now that he doesn’t need to train for the show). But the night was missing something -- Big D! Don Marrandino, the former Flamingo president who brought Donny & Marie to Vegas and who relocated a couple of months ago to run Harrah’s East Coast operations. But what the heck, I shot him a text and asked if he had any words for his good buddy Donny.
“One of my favorite people of all time,” he responded.
Yep, Donny Osmond is certainly the man of the hour tonight, especially on the Strip. It almost makes you want to fire up the old jukebox and dance the night away …
Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at twitter.com/JohnnyKats.
Kats on the Kase as always. Is Andre Agassi watching - he should be our next hometown DWT winner. Was John O'Hurley really younger?
LVMaddy, John O'Hurley turned 55 last month, so he is older than Donny Osmond. But he did not win the "DWTS" championship. He and Charlotte Jorgensen lost in the finals to Kelly Monaco and Alec Mazo. O'Hurley and Jorgensen did win the special rematch competition, but the first season title remained with Monaco/Mazo.
oh my, GOD! Who cares about Donny Osmond? Come on. Really now. Who gives a rats a**? You? Get a life, sissy Mary!
This is rubbish. And they wonder why newspapers are going under.
Oh what a rotten and snotty comment, Carroll. Both Donny AND Marie do have a life, and life is quite great for them right now, thank you. The rest of us enjoyed the competition, the artistry, and the general bonhomie exhibited by all the contestants, but by none more than Donny. His star is high in the sky right now. So is Marie's. How about that proverbial look in the mirror for YOU, Carroll? What made you so envious and bitter about others' success and harmless good fun?
Hey Caroll: How old are you' like 18
Sissy Mary? Wha-a?
I like Donny Osmond. His sister Maria is HOT,HOT,HOT.
And you really believe this win has something to do with talent?.........get real. His win is like all the other reality shows....FAN BASED nothing more. Actually....that award should have gone to me...but then how would I...you don't know me. Then in January 2010....we start all over again...GOOD GRIEF!!!!
Donny had it all to win that cheesy trophy but if he didn't have the fan base he did - Kelly Osbourne would have walked with it. SHE was the one that epitomized what DWTS was all about. Mya was technically good, but boring as hell. No personality and no connection with her partner or the audience. The tree in my yard had more personality and with a few nudges - danced just as well!!
Babyboomer: We all know it is more of a personality contest than BALLROOM dancing ability, but it sure as hell is an entertaining show. I hope they get better "Stars" in January. First guess: LaToya Jackson. And second guess: that annoying Kathy Griffin.
Caroll,
It appears you care about Donny. You took the time to read the article and comment on it.
I am betting you are also one that complains about a certain T.V. show rather then changing the channel.
Seems you are the one that needs a life if all you have to do is complain about something "you don't care about".