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The Temptations (miniseries)
The Temptations is a four-hour television miniseries broadcast in two-hour halves on NBC, based upon the history of one of Motown's longest-lived acts, The Temptations. Executive produced by former Motown executive Suzanne de Passe, produced by Otis Williams and Temptations manager Shelley Berger, and based upon Williams’ Temptations autobiography, the miniseries was originally broadcast on November 1 and November 2, 1998. It was filmed on location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1998. Allan Arkush directed the miniseries.
The miniseries was based upon Otis Williams' book; as such, it came from his perspective: the focus of the story tended to be on Williams and Melvin Franklin, with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks seen as antagonists for much of the second half (although Kendricks was still given a more sympathetic portrayal than Ruffin). Dennis Edwards was not heavily focused upon, nor was much said of the problems he later had with Otis Williams. Nevertheless, the miniseries gave a general overview of both the history of the group and that of Motown, and, thanks to de Passe's connection, the film was able to use authentic props and locations.
A number of liberties were taken with factual events for dramatization purposes:
As a result, Otis Williams and the producers would be sued by several people portrayed in the film and their families, notably Melvin Franklin's mother and the children and estate of David Ruffin.
Although the movie is set mostly in Detroit and Los Angeles, the producers chose to shoot the film in Pittsburgh, presumably to take advantage of the many different architectural and geographical looks that Pittsburgh offers. de Passe Entertainment had, some six years earlier, shot The Jacksons: An American Dream in Pittsburgh as well.
In 1958, a teenage Otis Williams is running to meet his friend Elbridge "Al" Bryant at a musical performance by The Cadillacs. After the concert that inspired Otis to pursue a music career, Otis and Al go to a barber where they get the Tony Curtis and DA-style process. When Otis goes home for dinner, his stepfather is angry about the new hairstyle and pressures him to work at the assembly line instead of going into music, which Otis heatedly rejects. Six months later, Otis and Al along with two new band members sing on a street corner when they see another group of singers, the Voicemasters, across the street, and are impressed by one singer's bass voice. The next day after school, Otis chases the bass singer named Melvin Franklin before asking him to join his group, Otis Williams & the Siberians. Melvin agrees on the condition that his mother approves, which she later does with Otis' convincing.
The group is singing after school one day when they notice a group of girls watching them. Upon seeing this, the group follows them while singing "Earth Angel". The girls go their separate ways until one of them, Josephine, stays behind before Otis asks her out. The next Saturday, the group hears that they’re wanted at a radio station studio that’s revealed to be in the basement of a run-down apartment. Radio station owner Johnnie May Matthews declares herself their new manager and producer, and also changes their name to Otis Williams and the Distants. In April 1960, the group is waiting to perform at a party where they meet The Primes singers Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks, The Primettes (who later became The Supremes), The Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown Records founder and owner Berry Gordy. The Primes and Primettes perform and the Distants are impressed by their sound. After they perform, Otis and Melvin go to see Berry Gordy, who gives them a business card. Johnnie shows up with a new car she bought using the group’s money while showing them plenty of extra money. Awestruck, they ask about when they get paid, which angers Johnnie and she immediately fires them before driving away. Al and two other members promptly quit the group.
Shortly after, Melvin tells Otis that Eddie and Paul recently left their own group and are interested in joining them. Otis is reluctant, but ultimately accepts when Al rejoins the group. With this new line-up, they rename themselves the Elgins. Paul teaches them how to dance and becomes their unofficial choreographer, while Eddie becomes their falsetto singer. In March 1961, Otis goes to Motown Studios to meet Berry Gordy. Berry asks the group to come up with a better group name. After waiting outside the studio for hours coming up with a new name, a secretary named Martha Reeves finds them outside and calls them in to meet Berry. He asks them for their name, to which Otis replies "The Temptations".
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The Temptations (miniseries)
The Temptations is a four-hour television miniseries broadcast in two-hour halves on NBC, based upon the history of one of Motown's longest-lived acts, The Temptations. Executive produced by former Motown executive Suzanne de Passe, produced by Otis Williams and Temptations manager Shelley Berger, and based upon Williams’ Temptations autobiography, the miniseries was originally broadcast on November 1 and November 2, 1998. It was filmed on location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1998. Allan Arkush directed the miniseries.
The miniseries was based upon Otis Williams' book; as such, it came from his perspective: the focus of the story tended to be on Williams and Melvin Franklin, with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks seen as antagonists for much of the second half (although Kendricks was still given a more sympathetic portrayal than Ruffin). Dennis Edwards was not heavily focused upon, nor was much said of the problems he later had with Otis Williams. Nevertheless, the miniseries gave a general overview of both the history of the group and that of Motown, and, thanks to de Passe's connection, the film was able to use authentic props and locations.
A number of liberties were taken with factual events for dramatization purposes:
As a result, Otis Williams and the producers would be sued by several people portrayed in the film and their families, notably Melvin Franklin's mother and the children and estate of David Ruffin.
Although the movie is set mostly in Detroit and Los Angeles, the producers chose to shoot the film in Pittsburgh, presumably to take advantage of the many different architectural and geographical looks that Pittsburgh offers. de Passe Entertainment had, some six years earlier, shot The Jacksons: An American Dream in Pittsburgh as well.
In 1958, a teenage Otis Williams is running to meet his friend Elbridge "Al" Bryant at a musical performance by The Cadillacs. After the concert that inspired Otis to pursue a music career, Otis and Al go to a barber where they get the Tony Curtis and DA-style process. When Otis goes home for dinner, his stepfather is angry about the new hairstyle and pressures him to work at the assembly line instead of going into music, which Otis heatedly rejects. Six months later, Otis and Al along with two new band members sing on a street corner when they see another group of singers, the Voicemasters, across the street, and are impressed by one singer's bass voice. The next day after school, Otis chases the bass singer named Melvin Franklin before asking him to join his group, Otis Williams & the Siberians. Melvin agrees on the condition that his mother approves, which she later does with Otis' convincing.
The group is singing after school one day when they notice a group of girls watching them. Upon seeing this, the group follows them while singing "Earth Angel". The girls go their separate ways until one of them, Josephine, stays behind before Otis asks her out. The next Saturday, the group hears that they’re wanted at a radio station studio that’s revealed to be in the basement of a run-down apartment. Radio station owner Johnnie May Matthews declares herself their new manager and producer, and also changes their name to Otis Williams and the Distants. In April 1960, the group is waiting to perform at a party where they meet The Primes singers Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks, The Primettes (who later became The Supremes), The Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown Records founder and owner Berry Gordy. The Primes and Primettes perform and the Distants are impressed by their sound. After they perform, Otis and Melvin go to see Berry Gordy, who gives them a business card. Johnnie shows up with a new car she bought using the group’s money while showing them plenty of extra money. Awestruck, they ask about when they get paid, which angers Johnnie and she immediately fires them before driving away. Al and two other members promptly quit the group.
Shortly after, Melvin tells Otis that Eddie and Paul recently left their own group and are interested in joining them. Otis is reluctant, but ultimately accepts when Al rejoins the group. With this new line-up, they rename themselves the Elgins. Paul teaches them how to dance and becomes their unofficial choreographer, while Eddie becomes their falsetto singer. In March 1961, Otis goes to Motown Studios to meet Berry Gordy. Berry asks the group to come up with a better group name. After waiting outside the studio for hours coming up with a new name, a secretary named Martha Reeves finds them outside and calls them in to meet Berry. He asks them for their name, to which Otis replies "The Temptations".