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Post by Weak4Weeks on Dec 17, 2005 15:44:34 GMT -5
Two Lawsuits Are Filed Against `Temptations' Television Miniseries
JET April 15, 1999
Two lawsuits have been filed against the popular TV miniseries The Temptations-one by the mother of the late Temptations singer Melvin Franklin, and the other by a former manager of the singing group.
Rose Franklin, mother of Temptations member, Melvin Franklin, has filed a lawsuit alleging the recent TV miniseries did not have her permission to use "her name, image and likeness."
The suit was filed in Wayne County Circuit Court in Michigan against original Temptations member Otis Williams and Suzanne de Passe of de Passe Entertainment, producers of The Temptations miniseries.
Also named in the suit are Shelly Berger, the Temptations' longtime manager, NBC-TV, Characters Unlimited, Inc., David Picker and Hallmark Entertainment.
In the suit, Mrs. Franklin alleges unauthorized usage of her name, image and likeness and for falsely portraying her son's death in a wheelchair at her home.
Mrs. Franklin is seeking to stop Williams and de Passe Entertainment from showing any reruns of the movie and to stop the sale of videotapes of the top-rated miniseries.
In a separate lawsuit, Johnnie Mae Matthews, the woman who managed the careers of the Temptations before they became Motown stars, alleges she was falsely portrayed in the miniseries without her consent.
Her lawsuit claims that she was falsely featured as a shyster and a slick manager who took money from the Temptations.
Matthews also alleges that the producers did not get consent to use "her name, image and likeness" and they are therefore "legally required to pay" her.
Williams, de Passe Entertainment, NBC and the other entities named in Franklin's suit are also named in Matthews' suit.
Shelley Berger said of the lawsuits: "We are proud of the show and we don't think we maligned anyone, especially Mrs. Franklin. We love Mama Rose."
Berger added, "It saddens me just a bit because the show was so well received and so successful. I'm just speaking from my heart. But now it is in the hands of the attorneys."
COPYRIGHT 1999 Johnson Publishing Co.
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group
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Post by smooth on Dec 18, 2005 15:46:10 GMT -5
I think they showed Melvin at the house in his wheelchair because it made the movie more interesting. Sometimes you have to change what happened a little to add more emotion.
Showing him going into the kitchen and not coming back really hit home. That was something that people weren't expecting. If he died in his sleep like I heard, then that's not as interesting from a movie perspective as him going into the kitchen and not coming back. It's sadder. I know it's not a word, but I know you'll understand where I'm coming from. It was the perfect word to use, even if it's not a word.
Those people who are filing those suits need to chill out, SUzanne De Passe and Shelly Berger, and Otis Williams meant no harm, they were just telling and showing the world one of the greatest stories ever in the music business, if not thee greatest.
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Post by misstara on Dec 18, 2005 20:32:37 GMT -5
I agree with that smooth. The only thing *I* had a problem with was, and I quote, "Only Williams was compensated for the mini-series"....Yea it was his story but directly impacted many. So I feel that some compensation should have went/go to the estate's of the family members, and to the ex -temptations that were mentioned.
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Post by smooth on Dec 18, 2005 21:31:43 GMT -5
Yeah, you're right, other people should be compensated as well.
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Post by TheTallOne on Dec 19, 2005 11:58:55 GMT -5
I agree with Smooth. Hollywood always has a way of changing the ending in order to draw a broader appeal or envoke more emotion.
Seeing Melvin protrayed as going into the kitchen and never returning leaves the viewer to fill in the rest of the story. The same thing with David being protrayed as being dumped un-ceremoniously in front of the hospital. The same as hearing Eddie's name mentioed in the sequence, "What got Eddie?", then you hear the sad reply, "lung cancer". And he is then remembered as well as the rest of the departed Tempts as being such "sweet boys".
Is it 100% factual? No. But it makes for good ratings as far as the executives are concerned.
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Post by Weak4Weeks on Dec 20, 2005 1:44:11 GMT -5
Well don't shoot at me but....I dont think the others should have been compensated if they didn't want anything to do with the movie. I dont know if they were asked for contributions, or even did any asking, but O wrote the book, and the producers purchased the rights to make a movie about the book that HE wrote. If it went the other way, I'd STILL feel the same way..
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Post by TheTallOne on Dec 20, 2005 19:22:54 GMT -5
Well don't shoot at me but....I dont think the others should have been compensated if they didn't want anything to do with the movie. I dont know if they were asked for contributions, or even did any asking, but O wrote the book, and the producers purchased the rights to make a movie about the book that HE wrote. If it went the other way, I'd STILL feel the same way.. Weaky, I have to agree with you. ;D |
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Post by misstara on Dec 20, 2005 19:34:36 GMT -5
Well don't shoot at me but....I dont think the others should have been compensated if they didn't want anything to do with the movie. I dont know if they were asked for contributions, or even did any asking, but O wrote the book, and the producers purchased the rights to make a movie about the book that HE wrote. If it went the other way, I'd STILL feel the same way.. By the time it came out the entire C5 with the exception of himself, were dead! The other few, Damon, Glenn, and Louis, I think, didn't know about any compensation. I have no idea about that part. The only thing I know, is that they were told that it was coming out, and that's it. Here is a special one for you-  Weaky! |
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Post by daddio on Dec 20, 2005 19:36:36 GMT -5
Well don't shoot at me but....I dont think the others should have been compensated if they didn't want anything to do with the movie. I dont know if they were asked for contributions, or even did any asking, but O wrote the book, and the producers purchased the rights to make a movie about the book that HE wrote. If it went the other way, I'd STILL feel the same way.. on moral grounds I agree but legally not!!! This is one of those situations wher the law does not coincide with morals. |
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Post by Weak4Weeks on Dec 20, 2005 21:57:26 GMT -5
Well don't shoot at me but....I dont think the others should have been compensated if they didn't want anything to do with the movie. I dont know if they were asked for contributions, or even did any asking, but O wrote the book, and the producers purchased the rights to make a movie about the book that HE wrote. If it went the other way, I'd STILL feel the same way.. on moral grounds I agree but legally not!!! This is one of those situations wher the law does not coincide with morals. Would you mind expanding on that? I am not quite sure I am understanding you. Welcome, by the way! |
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Post by soulfulchild on Jan 12, 2006 13:17:37 GMT -5
I definitely agree smooth. If the miniseries had scenes that displayed the tempts dying in a way that was so close to their actual death, it would not have had the emotional impact it does when you see it today. These people do need to chill about this. But of course when you do something this great, as display the life and success of the greatest male singing group, there are always going to be some attacks by someone. These people need to chill out and let these boys rest in peace. I agree with that smooth. The only thing *I* had a problem with was, and I quote, "Only Williams was compensated for the mini-series"....Yea it was his story but directly impacted many. So I feel that some compensation should have went/go to the estate's of the family members, and to the ex -temptations that were mentioned. |
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Post by temptsfan1 on Jan 15, 2018 14:35:37 GMT -5
What I don't understand Is why Josephine Otis's ex wife wanted to file a suit she was portrade perfectly decent And not in a negative way.
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Post by classyone22 on Mar 13, 2020 14:07:14 GMT -5
The tempts have alwys been a fav of mine but the movie was the telling of Otis's truth and not all the members agreed with it. Those members who has passed on, what are their truths, did any family member get compensated for the movie besides O? Shelly Berger wasn't all he was shown in the movie. Why didn't you ever see O lead? The voices that set the grp on fire was Eddie K, David, Paul, Ollie, Richard, Dennis including Melvin with that awesome bass of his. Each lead brought a new dynamic quality to the grp and lastly I cn't leave out Ron T. When Damon was leading, his voice was so close to Eddie's you felt it was Eddie on lead. You hear a lot of gossip on whose who but not everyone had the chance to say their piece. The movie was not truthful. Melvin died in the hospital, not at his mother's house. Richard Street was on the sideline behind the curtain singing his butt off, many folk heard a 5th voice but could not see who was singing. Check it out. These folks have gone thru hell and fans would like to know some real truths.
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