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Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever is an award-winning 1983 television special, produced by Suzanne de Passe for Motown Records, to commemorate Motown's 25th year. The program was taped before a live studio audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983, and broadcast on NBC on May 16. Among its highlights were Michael Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean", Smokey Robinson's long-awaited reunion with The Miracles, a Temptations / Four Tops "battle of the bands", Marvin Gaye's inspired speech about black music history and his memorable performance of "What's Going On", a Jackson 5 reunion, and an abbreviated reunion of Diana Ross & the Supremes, who performed their final #1 hit, "Someday We'll Be Together" from 1969. The show was co-written by de Passe with Ruth Adkins Robinson who would go on to write shows with de Passe for the next 25 years, including the follow-up label tributes—through "Motown 40," Buz Kohan was the head writer.
Original Release
05/16/1983
US Release
05/16/1983
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Adam Ant | Self |
| Nick Ashford | Self |
| Florence Ballard | Self (Supremes member) |
| Renaldo Benson | Self |
| Cindy Birdsong | Self (Supremes member) / Self |
| Dick Clark | Self |
| Bunny DeBarge | Self |
| El DeBarge | Self |
| James DeBarge | Self |
| Mark DeBarge | Self |
Directors
Writers
Suzanne de Passe, Buz Kohan, Ruth Adkins Robinson
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Adam Ant | Self |
| Nick Ashford | Self |
| Florence Ballard | Self (Supremes member) |
| Renaldo Benson | Self |
| Cindy Birdsong | Self (Supremes member) / Self |
| Dick Clark | Self |
| Bunny DeBarge | Self |
| El DeBarge | Self |
| James DeBarge | Self |
| Mark DeBarge | Self |
| Randy DeBarge | Self |
| Abdul 'Duke' Fakir | Self |
| José Feliciano | Self |
| Melvin Franklin | Self (Temptations member) / Self |
| Marvin Gaye | Self |
| Berry Gordy | Self |
| Howard Hesseman | Johnny Caravella (Doctor Johnny Fever) |
| Jackie Jackson | Self |
| Jermaine Jackson | Self |
| Marlon Jackson | Self |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Suzanne de Passe | Executive Producer |
| Simone Sheffield | Executive Producer |
| Don Mischer | Producer |
| Suzanne Coston | Producer |
| Buz Kohan | Producer |
Editors
Trailers
Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever (Trailer 1)
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Achievement in Choreography | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Art Direction for a Variety or Music Program | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Directing in a Variety or Music Program | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Lighting Direction (Electronic) for a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Technical Direction and Electronic Camerawork for a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program | Won |
| 1983 | Emmy | Outstanding Video Tape Editing for a Limited Series or a Special | Nominated |
