Conversation so far:
When did the donny and marie show start?
The Donny & Marie Show which was a hit on ABC from 1976-1979.
was it popular?
was a hit on ABC from 1976-1979.
But the success came at a cost.
what was the cost?
As a result, the Osmonds as a performing band became a lower priority to Donny and Marie.
What was the show about?
The family built and operated at great expense a first-class television studio in Orem, Utah.
Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?
When the show was cancelled in 1979, the Osmonds were taken by surprise.
why was it cancelled?
found themselves in debt and without a clear direction.
What were some of its challenges?
The group left Polydor and attempted another album for Mercury Records, Steppin' Out, which was a major failure.

Question: why was it a failure?
Self-contained rewrite: why was the album steppin' out a failure?