What's the Real Reason Donny and Marie Retired from Their Residency?

What’s the real reason Donny & Marie quit their residency in Las Vegas. They seemed really popular, right up til the end.

You never know for sure what's going on with people, especially celebrities, but we’ve been unable to discover any on-the-quiet reason for the end of Donny & Marie, much as we miss that show. Eleven years on the Las Vegas Strip is a pretty extraordinary run, especially given the short duration of many of the newer Las Vegas residencies (Shania Twain, Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson).

In addition, Donny and Marie performed 1,170 shows at the Flamingo. That's a lot of nights onstage, pouring out their energies. It's certainly conceivable that they just got tired, especially given that Donny just turned 62 and Marie recently hit the big 6-0. That’s a time of life when people are inclined to start taking things a little more easily.

In the case of Marie, the end of Donny & Marie coincided with the beginning of a new sinecure on CBS’s "The Talk." Kaffee-klatsching with Sharon Osbourne has got to be an easier way of making a living than singing and dancing multiple times a week at the Flamingo.

For his part, Donny’s kicking back, curating playlists for the Christmas holidays, which he promulgates through his Web site (donny.com) and Facebook page.

While the Osmond siblings may have chosen not to renew their association with Caesars Entertainment, it does come at a time when Caesars is trimming payroll and overhead in anticipation of a takeover by Eldorado Resorts. However, a company that just announced it’s putting $24 million into upgrading Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City could certainly have afforded another year of Donny & Marie.

Former Las Vegas Review-Journal music critic Mike Weatherford is in agreement with our analysis. He writes, “ I know they renewed year to year instead of in three- or five-year stints, so guess they had to ponder it each year. There were injuries and Marie scored that daytime chat show, so maybe they felt the clock was running out.”

Their fans would gladly have seen the Osmonds go on forever, but the hourglass is a more fickle friend.

What’s the real reason Donny & Marie quit their residency in Las Vegas. They seemed really popular, right up til the end.

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Dave Feb-20-2020

They didn’t get along

Despite outward appearances to the contrary, Donny and Marie really didn’t get along. Done would say they hated / despised each other. That’s why they had one year extensions - each year they decided if they could put up with each other for another year. 

This year they finally decided that they couldn’t do it another year.

Dave Feb-20-2020

Oops

> Done would say

That should be SOME would say...

I hate autocorrect. 🤬

rokgpsman Feb-20-2020

Donny and Marie Show

Their show was very popular, especially with the over-40 female tourists that come to Vegas every week from all over the world. They are a couple of well-known celebrities that many ordinary people grew up with. After all the years of nightly shows I think they finally just wanted to end it and get back to their life. They are likely financially secure enough they don't need to keep earning big money, and fan adoration only goes so far to keep you performing after age 60. They each have family and other interests. I wasn't a big fan of them but I recognize many people loved them and their show, hope the Flamingo can get some other entertainment that does as well. They scored a home run when they signed Donny and Marie. Celine ended her residency this year too, she's got family and other interests that mean more to her now than performing. When a performer no longer needs a paycheck they become independent and can choose to do less and less performances. Wealth gives you more choices.

Richard Hobrock Feb-20-2020

QOD 22Nov 2019

The QOD compares Clark co(LV) and Washoe co, (Reno). The next to the last sentence states that gambling revenues  in 2018 was 8.26% for Clark co. and 6.21 for Washoe co. It then goes on to say RENO is the best bet for gambling. Am I missing something?

Derbycity123 Feb-20-2020

Richard it means

It is the hold percentage. That if you buyin for 100 bucks in Clark you will cash in 100 - 8.29 = 91.71 percernt. If you puy in for 100 bucks in Reno you will on average cash in for 93.79 percent. So you will lose less in Reno. Of course not everything is apples to apples. Do people on average pay longer in Vegas or bet higher.

rokgpsman Feb-20-2020

Donny and Marie

Oops- in my earlier comment I meant to say that Celine ended her show this past year too (2019, the same year that Donny and Marie ended theirs).

Question of the Day - 20 February 2020

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