Faster than you can say Paso Doble, Marie Osmond has moved from ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” to QVC.
Did you see it?
Last night QVC unveiled Osmond’s new limited collection “Dancing with the Stars” dolls. The 12-inch porcelain dolls are dressed in the same costumes the 48-year-old singer wore on the show. Osmond is hawking the Boogie Woogie doll dressed in the same WWII-era military-inspired costume she wore when she dedicated her “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” jive to her parents. Then, there’s the Paso Doble doll decked out in the Spanish senorita outfit Osmond wore. The Samba doll is modeling the short ruffled turquoise number she wore during the routine that was followed by the THUD heard around the world. The mother of eight is also selling the (controversial) season finale Freestyle doll, which is wearing the frilly pink babydoll number that raised more than a few eyebrows.
And lest you question whether Osmond’s unbelievable fan base carried over from the hit ABC dance show consider this: According to QVC, the first two dolls in the collection—the samba doll (a.k.a. the fainting doll) and the fox trot doll—sold out in eight minutes during an earlier auction.
Call me a cynic, but I’ve got my theories on Marie’s run on “Dancing.” There is no doubt that she grew as a dancer. And there is no denying she gave some unforgettable performances, but let’s face it she was no Sabrina Bryan. However, I get the feeling that she grasped that fact by week one and instead of letting it get her down she wisely parlayed her moves into a golden opportunity—–allow fans to bring a replica of her home just in time for the holidays.
So, she didn’t go home with the disco ball trophy; instead she’s shining on QVC making millions (each doll retails for about $90 on a 10-week experience that she probably didn’t think would amount to more than a few blisters. And she’s got another venue to promote her special edition holiday CD, Marie Osmond’s Magic of Christmas, which was (ever so conveniently) also for purchase on the cable show last night.
What do you make of Marie’s latest venture? Is it shameless self-promotion or a brilliant business move?