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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, PA in the spring of 1998. Allan Arkush directed the miniseries.
Original Release
11/01/1998 on NBC
US Release
11/01/1998
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Charles Malik Whitfield | Otis Williams |
| D.B. Woodside | Melvin Franklin |
| Terron Brooks | Eddie Kendricks |
| Christian Payton | Paul Williams |
| Leon | David Ruffin |
| Alan Rosenberg | Shelly Berger |
| Tina Lifford | Haze |
| Jenifer Lewis | Mama Rose |
| Gina Ravera | Josephine |
| Obba Babatunde | Berry Gordy |
| # | Title | Air Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Episode #1.1 | Sunday, 01 November 1998 |
| 2 | Episode #1.2 | Monday, 02 November 1998 |
Directors
Writers
Cast
| Name | Character |
|---|
| Charles Malik Whitfield | Otis Williams |
| D.B. Woodside | Melvin Franklin |
| Terron Brooks | Eddie Kendricks |
| Christian Payton | Paul Williams |
| Leon | David Ruffin |
| Alan Rosenberg | Shelly Berger |
| Tina Lifford | Haze |
| Jenifer Lewis | Mama Rose |
| Gina Ravera | Josephine |
| Obba Babatunde | Berry Gordy |
| Erik Michael Tristan | Smokey Robinson |
| J. August Richards | Richard Street |
| Harold Surratt | Edgar |
| Charles Ley | Dennis Edwards |
| Vanessa Bell Calloway | Johnnie Mae Matthews |
| Mel Jackson | Norman Whitfield |
| Rhonda Ross Kendrick | Maxine |
| Vincent A. Ponder | James 'Pee-Wee' Crawford |
| Chaz Lamar Shepherd | Elbridge 'Al' Bryant / Al Bryant |
| Stevland Parks | Lamont, age 12 |
Producers
| Name | Role |
|---|
| Suzanne Coston | Executive Producer |
| David V. Picker | Executive Producer |
| Suzanne de Passe | Executive Producer |
| Deborah Edell Underwood | Producer |
| Shelly Berger | Producer |
| Helen Robin | Producer |
| Jay Benson | Producer |
| Otis Williams | Producer |
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1999 | Golden Globe | Best Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| 1999 | Emmy | Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries or a Made for Television Movie | Nominated |
| 1999 | Emmy | Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Won |
| 1999 | Emmy | Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Nominated |
| 1999 | Emmy | Outstanding Music Direction | Nominated |
| 1999 | Emmy | Outstanding Miniseries | Nominated |
| 1999 | Emmy | Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or a Movie | Nominated |
