 
|
|||||||||
              
|
Give in to Temptations' music
Sunday, November 01, 1998 By Rob Owen, Post- Gazette TV Editor
It's tempting to forgive "The Temptations" miniseries its faults. After all, it has great music, strong performances and was filmed in Pittsburgh (rah-rah for the hometown and all that).
But NBC's four-hour chronicle of 40 years in the life of musical legends suffers from the same ailment as many films that try to cram a lot of story into a suitable-for-TV amount of time: It's impossible for the characters to have depth. And that's assuming you can figure out who's who.
Identifying individual Temptations is easier in tonight's first half, but in part two, when members of the group are coming and going, it's increasingly difficult to keep track of who's in and who's out. Haphazard introductions of new group members don't help.
But then the music starts and much is forgiven.
Performances of "My Girl," "Get Ready," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" and "Just My Imagination" make "The Temptations" an entertaining viewing experience. There's even a new song - and a cameo appearance - by Smokey Robinson, who wrote some of The Temptations' hits. Just don't expect a lot of drama in part one.
The miniseries begins with a line of narration likely to cause Pittsburghers to chuckle while Detroit viewers snarl.
"This is Detroit right around 1950," says Otis Williams (Charles Malik Whitfield), de facto leader of the group, whose autobiography is the basis for "The Temptations." He's also a co-producer.
Throughout the miniseries, Pittsburghers may recognize some of the area locations: Look, it's Heinz Hall! And Hitsville USA is on Shady Avenue! Although the locations may be Pittsburgh, the feeling isn't Pittsburgh or Detroit. It could be any city.
But this isn't the Motown story. And it's not the story of any group member, which excuses - to a degree - the lack of character development. It's all about the group, Otis says time and again. So it is with this miniseries.
However, the viewpoint is pure Otis, painting him as the leader who kept The Temptations together, while David Ruffin (Leon) became overly enamored of fame and Paul Williams (Christian Payton) suffered from alcoholism. Given that Otis is the only member of The Temptations to be with the group from the beginning to the present day, that may be a fair depiction.
Within The Temptations there were always cliques and loyalties. Otis paired up with Melvin Franklin, played by D.B. Woodside (last seen as a lawyer on the second season of "Murder One"). There's a warm scene in the beginning where Otis has to convince Franklin's mother (Jenifer Lewis) that her son should join his group.
Next to sign up are Eddie Kendricks (Terron Brooks) and Paul Williams (Christian Payton), who join after a stint in a band with members of what would become Diana Ross (Bianca Lawson) and the Supremes.
That scene is one of the nuggets in "The Temptations" - a hint at how connected Motown music was in its prime. Martha Reeves (N'Tasha A. Pierre) shows up as a Motown receptionist, obviously a job she held prior to her teaming with the Vandellas.
The Temptations weren't even known by that name until they got to Motown. Early on they went by the title Otis Williams and the Siberians and then Otis Williams and the Distants. Motown impresario Berry Gordy (Obba Babatunde) insisted they come up with something different.
By the end of tonight's telecast, Ruffin has joined The Temptations, they've hit it big with "The Way You Do the Things You Do," and Ruffin gets ousted from the group.
There's more drama tomorrow as a second Temptations group, led by Ruffin, takes shape. But there's little time devoted to this rival. Weren't there lawsuits? Did fans have a preference? "The Temptations" doesn't attempt to answer these questions.
Ruffin's family filed a ludicrous lawsuit to stop production of the miniseries and have the project moved to Detroit. The family was particularly concerned with how Ruffin's death would be portrayed. Perhaps as a concession to the family, Otis's voice-over after Ruffin's death is nebulous.
"We never found out if it was foul play or an overdose," Otis says. "All I know is, it was a tragic loss."
All the lead actors make an impression, especially Leon as the gangly Ruffin. Brooks is all smile as Kendricks, while Woodside plays Otis' best friend with the steady, quiet reserve such a part requires.
Perhaps if "The Temptations" had concentrated on just a portion of the group's history it would offer a more focused and layered, albeit less complete, story.
As it is, the film suffers from "and then this happened and then that happened and then this happened" syndrome. If you can't put up with that sort of droning history, read a book and just pay attention when the musical performances start.
|
||||||||
