a stage. At the end of the song, they take a bow, with Otis saying in a voice-over "Temptations, forever." Afterwards The miniseries was a ratings success with 45 million viewers in total watching the two-part series; the first half alone averaged a 15 rating/23 share in Nielsen ratings. Arkush won a 1999 Emmy award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie. The miniseries has been subsequently rerun on the VH-1 cable television network and released to VHS and DVD. The VHS release notably omitted a few scenes which had previously aired on the television premiere. One such scene includes David Ruffin, clearly under the influence of drugs and his ego, becoming belligerent during a picnic celebration with the other members of the group. The removal of this scene is possibly due to the ensuing suit. Otis Williams' ex-wife Josephine Miles, Melvin Franklin's mother Rose Franklin, Johnnie Mae Matthews, and on David Ruffin's behalf, the Ruffin family, filed suit against Williams, Shelly Berger, David V. Picker, Motown, De Passe Entertainment, Hallmark Entertainment, and NBC for use of their likenesses in the film, defamation of character, and emotional distress because of the inaccurate depictions of events. They also alleged that the miniseries misportrayed them and/or their relatives and twisted facts. The judges ruled in favor of the defendants, and the ruling was upheld when the plaintiffs appealed in 2001. Otis Williams later claimed that while his book was the source material for the film, he did not have a great deal of control over how the material was presented. Cast Classic Five Members and relatives Charles Malik Whitfield as Otis Williams, founder and leader of Otis Williams & the Distants and later co-founder (with Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams, of The Primes) of the group that would become known as The Temptations. He conflicts with some of his group mates, particularly David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks, over group leadership and other internal issues. Otis Williams is the only original member of The Temptations who is still living, and still performs with the group. Tina Lifford as Hazel, Otis' mother. Harold Surratt as Edgar, Otis' stepfather. Gina Ravera as Josephine (née Rogers), Otis' wife during the 1960s and the mother of their son Lamont. Stevland Parks as Lamont, Otis and Josephine's son (portrayed at age 12) Chrystal Bates as Mrs. Rogers, Josephine's mother. D. B. Woodside as Melvin "Blue" Franklin,