Name: TCB
Genre: Musical
Released: 1968-12-09
Duration: 1 h
Rating: 8.6
Cast: Diana Ross, Mary Wilson, Cindy Birdsong

I was heavily into Motown when this aired late in 1968. Both groups were waning somewhat in their popularity for different reasons - Supremes were struggling to find hits after Motown lost Holland-Dozier-Holland who had written all their major hits. The Temps had lost David Ruffin and he's a hard act to follow with his incredible unique vocals. This TV special was excellently timed and resurged both groups careers. Diana & The Supremes showed what a class act they really were - looking absolutely stunning and a sheer delight to watch on stage. The Temps proved that they could survive a major lead vocal change. Dennis Edwards had his work cut out for him to prove that he was capable of filling the void left by David Ruffin. History has shown that he did a fantastic job - along with the pairing of the Temps with Whitfield/Strong and becoming a funkier group. Both groups stuck to tried and tested hits in the TV special along with some great show tunes. They didn't try out any of their new material - Temps left out Cloud Nine - which was already a big hit, and Diana/Supes didn't perform Love Child - which was also out. Probably both songs were considered too controversial for an NBC show at that time. They were trying hard not to alienate a generation with hard hitting lyrics about social issues. This TV special still stands up today as a testament to how good Motown was at making world-class superstars. If you like either of these groups, sit back and enjoy!!

The musical genre features stories that combine music, singing, dancing, acting, and often spoken dialogue to tell a story or convey a narrative. Musicals incorporate various elements of drama, music, and choreography to create a cohesive theatrical experience that engages audiences on multiple levels.

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