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.

The miniseries was based upon Otis Williams' book; as such, it came from his perspective: the focus of the story tended to be on Williams and Melvin Franklin, with David Ruffin and Eddie Kendricks seen as antagonists for much of the second half (although Kendricks was still given a more sympathetic portrayal than Ruffin).

Nevertheless, the miniseries gave a general overview of both the history of the group and that of Motown, and, thanks to de Passe's connection, the film was able to use authentic props and locations.

A number of liberties were taken with factual events for dramatization purposes: As a result, Otis Williams and the producers would be sued by several people portrayed in the film and their families, notably Melvin Franklin's mother and the children and estate of David Ruffin.

de Passe Entertainment had, some six years earlier, shot The Jacksons: An American Dream in Pittsburgh as well.

In 1958, a teenage Otis Williams is running to meet his friend Elbridge "Al" Bryant at a musical performance by The Cadillacs, where Otis and the lead singer lock eyes, which he credits as the moment he devoted his life to music.

Johnnie May Matthews, the owner of the pirate radio studio in the basement, declares herself their new manager and producer, and also changes their name to Otis Williams and the Distants.

Awestruck, they ask about when they get paid, which angers Johnnie and she immediately fires them, kicks them out of the car and drives away.

Shortly after, Melvin approaches Otis and tells him that Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams recently left their own group and are interested in joining them.

Otis arrives home to find out that Josephine is pregnant, and although he is shocked, he promises to take responsibility.

While making moderately successful records written largely by Berry, such as "Paradise" and "I Want a Love I Can See", and getting real choreography from Cholly Atkins, the group starts to become known as "The hitless Temptations" in their first three years under the Motown label.

In January 1964, the group heads to Hitsville to record a song written for them by Smokey Robinson, called "The Way You Do the Things You Do", which puts them on the map.

Shortly after the song hits the charts, the group goes on tour with various other Motown artists, such as the Vandellas, the Miracles, and Marvin Gaye.

While Josephine is waiting for Otis in front of Hitsville, she sees him with another woman, assumes that they are having an affair, and storms off.

By early 1966, however, David starts to develop an ego, thinking himself to be solely responsible for The Temptations' success.

This behavior starts to take a toll, and soon after recording "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", Otis and Melvin pay David a visit, staging an intervention.

The tour is successful and gets them to the Copacabana, although David's destructive behavior continues, and he declares his shady friend, Flynn, his new manager instead of Shelly.

David shows up anyway, albeit late, and performs "I'm Losing You" at the Copa, leaving in a separate limo.

By 1969, Paul develops a debilitating drinking problem, and Melvin is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in his legs and starts taking cortisone shots despite his doctor's advice, yet both continue performing.

In November 1970, Eddie visits David, who begins to turn him against Otis and Melvin while giving him his first shot of cocaine.

Shortly after, Paul becomes well enough to sing again, and The Temptations record a new song written by their producer Norman Whitfield called "Just My Imagination".

In June 1972, Norman writes another song called "Papa Was a Rolling Stone", which the group is initially against recording, but eventually go along with it.

After a week in the morgue, the body is finally identified as that of David Ruffin, dead of an apparent drug overdose.

Many people show up at the funeral, including Smokey Robinson, who sings his song "Really Gonna Miss You".

The film ends with the "classic five" Temptations (Otis, Melvin, Eddie, Paul, and David) in their youth, singing "My Girl" on a stage.

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.

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.