Sad Tale Of Sweet Tunes

IN THE LONG HISTORY OF MOTOWN, The Temptations (an NBC mini-series, Nov. 1 and 2) is just one chapter. But what a telling one, layered with equal parts rhythm and blues. Their hits you know: ""My Girl,'' ""Ain't Too Proud to Beg,'' ""I'm Losing You,'' ""Cloud Nine.'' The story of this great R&B group's struggles with fame, money, drugs, booze and ego you may not have heard. But, like their music, it's hard to stop listening.

This two-part made-for-TV musical comes with solid credentials. In addition to former Motown president Suzanne de Passe, the producers include Otis Williams, the only surviving member of the original Temptations. The songs are all original recordings, and Smokey Robinson himself closes the show.

First the Elgins, then the Temps, these five kids from Detroit signed with Motown early but didn't hit hitsville until they found a new singer with a raspy, plaintive voice. David Ruffin (charismatically played by the actor Leon) was a tall, geeky-looking guy with powerful stage presence. He led the group to ""The Ed Sullivan Show'' before succumbing to more than a few temptations himself: cars, women, cocaine. They kicked him out. His threat, ""You ain't nuthin' without Ruffin!'' turned out not to be true. Others quit, were fired or died, but Williams (Charles Malik Whitfield) kept the name and some version of the group alive through the ""Ball of Confusion'' that their tortuous careers became. A sad story, but so damn danceable.

© 1998