Variety reports that Osmond will host a new version of the classic game show "Name That Tune," which debuted in the fifties with revised editions in the seventies and eighties. CBS and Planet Grande Prods. are mounting the new edition, which will feature elements of both game and variety shows.
In addition to the song-guessing portion of the show where contestants try to name song titles with as few notes as possible, the new "Name That Tune" will also feature live performances from famous artists. A bonus round where the winning contestant must name 15 songs in 60 seconds will be worth $1 million.
Producers hope the new "Tune" will appeal to many generations of viewers and will incorporate songs from various eras. It is likely teams of two will feature people from different age groups: fathers and sons, mothers and daughters. Osmond, who was also the host of the revised version of "Pyramid," told the industry paper, "[This format] increases the variety of music we can do. We can go from Sinatra to hip-hop to everything in-between."
The "Name That Tune" pilot will be filmed in December.
In addition to his pop success with the Osmond Family — including the hit TV series "The Donny & Marie Show" — Donny Osmond also starred in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. He was the singing voice of Captain Shang in Disney's "Mulan," and he also recently hosted the game show "Pyramid." He made his Broadway debut in 1982 in the ill-fated Little Johnny Jones.