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.

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.

The next Saturday, the group hears that they’re wanted at a radio station studio that’s revealed to be in the basement of a run-down apartment.

Radio station owner Johnnie May Matthews declares herself their new manager and producer, and also changes their name to Otis Williams and the Distants.

In April 1960, the group is waiting to perform at a party where they meet The Primes singers Paul Williams and Eddie Kendricks, The Primettes (who later became The Supremes), The Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown Records founder and owner Berry Gordy.

Shortly after, Melvin tells Otis that Eddie and Paul 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 the group made moderately successful records such as "Paradise" and "I Want a Love I Can See" as well as getting real choreography from Cholly Atkins, they were known as "The hitless Temptations" during their first three years at Motown.

After performing at a New Year's Eve party, Al is immediately fired from the group for assaulting Paul.

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

This behavior starts to take a toll, and soon after recording "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", Otis and Melvin pay David a visit, warning him to clean up his act or else be fired.

By 1969, Paul develops a debilitating drinking problem and Melvin is diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in his legs, 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.

In a montage set to the song, Paul is seen struggling with his addiction while fighting with his wife before he drives around town to commit suicide in a parking lot.

After everyone leaves the club, Eddie and David share a drink at the bar and agree to start their own faction of The Temptations with Dennis Edwards, who was fired from the original group in 1978.

After Lamont's funeral, Otis' grief gets the better of him and David's drug addiction starts to trigger his destructive nature.

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.