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When Otis Met Melvin

posted 10 years ago by jefgg
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Otis Williams meeting Melvin Franklin was a historic moment. Otis heard and/or heard about Melvin's incredible bass vocals when they were both attending the same high school. So Otis starting asking around about Melvin. Melvin heard that a guy with a process hairstyle was asking about him and thought he was looking to fight. Melvin had heard that guys with that hairstyle were "hoodlums". I am fairly certain I read that in Mary Wilson's autobiography "Dreamgirl: My Life As a Supreme". I don't think that back story was communicated clearly in "The Temptations" miniseries.

Actress Jenifer Lewis looked beautiful as Melvin's mother, "Mama Rose" Franklin. I think referring to mature adult friends as Mama or Papa followed by their first name is popular in the American South. I like it. It sounds much warmer than Mr. or Mrs. and is still polite.

"The Temptations" miniseries was filmed in the spring of 1998. Jenifer Lewis was born January 25, 1957 so that made her 41 years old at the time. In real life she looked younger. I have no idea what the real Mama Rose looked like but she was very young when she gave birth to Melvin so in that respect it was good casting. I wonder how Lewis felt at that point in her career about playing a matronly role. It wasn't the first time she played a much older character. In 1993 she played Tina Turner’s mother in the biopic "What's Love Got to Do With It". She had originally auditioned to play Tina. Lewis is only one year older than Angela Bassett, who was cast in the lead role. Halle Berry, Robin Givens, Pam Grier, Vanessa L. Williams and Janet Jackson were some of the actresses considered. It was offered to Whitney Houston, who declined due to imminent maternity.

Melvin Franklin was born David Melvin English in Montgomery, Alabama in 1942. I think all of the original and/or classic lineup Temptations had Southern roots. As a teenager he decided to use his middle name with his stepfather's surname as his stage name. I don't think that was mentioned in "The Temptations" miniseries. I guess even a four hour miniseries doesn't have time for everything. I think it was about two hours and 56 minutes after commercials.

[–] queencity86 9 years ago

Jennifer Lewis also played Whitney Houston's mother and a grandmother to her son in "the preacher's wife"in 1996 when she was only 39 and Tupac's characters mother in "Poetic Justice" also playing a grandma role to his daughter and she was only 36. Idk why she's always played grandma roles at such a young age. Well she didn't play a grandmother in "The Temptations"just a mother, but yeah most of her characters are either grandmas and she's much younger than her role especially back in the 90's when she was only in her 30's and early 40's or very matronly roles. I know it's good money, but I would'nt be playing any grandma roles in my 30's or 40's or even early 50's.