Robert Townsend is one of the few that never sold out, and was about quality more than quantity. He also doesn't age.

Duck and JT together again reunited.

Robert and Leon you are handsome and gifted men. We love and appreciate all the work you have done. Thankyou!!

Robert, PLEASE consider doing a movie about Teddy Pendergrass, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Jakie Wilson life. These men were pioneers and I know you can help bring their stories back to life. ❤

i love Robert Townsend is so sweet and nice, Leon is much sweeter than i thought, love you talented brothers please keep up the excellent work.

I actually just finished watching the five heartbeats movie. Classic film never get tired of watching it! All the actors were great! My two favorite parts were when elanor slapped Big Red at Jimmy's funeral + Eddie and Baby Doll singing in church at the end!!! I love that movie!!!

She is right Leon was so good in that move he was David ruffin

Only 1 minute in and I can tell Shaila has done her homework and that this is going to be a great interview. Other hosts should take note.

Meteor Man is a classic!! Robert Townsend is one of the best at writing, producing and acting.. Salute 💯

Damn great interview. Wonderful brothers in Robert Townsend and Leon aka “There Is Only One David Ruffin...”

This is a great interview. I'm glad the interviewer let them express their answers so we can hear and understand their responses.

Let’s not forget Little Richard, Leon was Little Richard and Robert directed the movie

These brothers still look like 30 years ago.

I watched The Five Heartbeats with my daughter and we have loved it ever since, 20 plus years ago.

they look so good

This interview was outstanding. I never get tired of listening to the making of one of my favorite movies. The Five Heartbeats had the full package. The cast and soundtrack of listening to the Delphonics, Dells and the young lady was outstanding. Robert Townsend created a masterpiece that I will treasure for a lifetime. ❤

I always thought that Robert Thompson never received the recognition he deserved, I’m glad to see that he’s finally starting to receive his flowers

I am such a fan !

One of the most amazing movies and amazing sound tracks

Wow. I love these men but the interviewer was so warm,, authentic and prepared.

The 'Five Heartbeats', and 'The Temptations'. Gosh! Two of my, top 4 movies. Malcolm X, and Patton. Are the other, two. Seen them all, about 50 times.

Robert Townsend! Enough said 💯💯 Thank You Sir

Love Five Heartbeats.30 years later Black don't crack.

Nah. No nobody could be David but David. But Leon's portrayal of Ruffin was extraordinary. Especially when he was singing *_Shout._* I mean he looked just like David. Now that was a wow moment in the picture! I'm glad they picked him to portray Ruffin. Because my biggest pet peeve about biographical movies is when the performers look nothing like the person that they are playing. I just can't help myself. It bothers me. I remember seeing Denzel Washington play high school principal George McKenna. Now Denzel Washington is my favorite actor. And if anyone's seen pictures of George McKenna he's a very light-skinned black man with straight hair. And all I could say while I was watching it was "but... Denzel doesn't look like him." Yeah I know. It's a story that needed to be told needed to be told. So I get that. Also when Robert Townsend was speaking about Temptations member Paul Williams singing For Once in My Life, I remember seeing that show when I was in Jr. High. The next day all anybody could talk about was Paul's performance. It was like "man he sung the mess out of that song." Or "he sung that song hard!" It was the talk of the entire school. I think Christian Payton's portrayal of Paul singing a bit of For Once... at the piano when he was a little Juiced in The Temptations movie was a very close rendition emotional wise on the way Paul sang it. Leon portraying David Ruffin and Little Richard. Jamie Foxx playing Ray Charles. Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison. J-Lo as Selena. Cynthia Gibb as Karen Carpenter and Kurt Russell portrayal of Elvis, which to me is still the definitive Elvis portrayal. These actors were spot-on to me. Some were a bit shorter or taller but I can live with that. I can definitely see Leon playing Sly Stone. He has the look. He said that it probably will make David Ruffin look like a choir boy. Yeah he's about right. I remember in the early seventies there were reports about how Sly being either late for concerts or he was nowhere to be found. It seemed to happen over and over again. Check out Christian Payton as Paul Williams and Paul's original performance of For Once in My Life here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/a6p-ZqmDurawmGQ.html

I watch this every time it airs. Love it.

Shaila Scott/WBLS Very Good Interview Love It Fam...Shoot It Would Be Awesome If Robert Could Do A Biopic On Our Group And After 32 Years Of R&B Music, There's Gotta Be A Story About That And The Five Heartbeats Documentary Is Really Good...One Love Fam...

This movie was awesome. Meteor Man was awesome. Upset me they raved about Black Panther being the first. I've recommended and have said this for years..I and the world needs more Robert Townsend movies. - Toronto, Canada.

Love you Leon!! ❤ So talented, you own every role you play 💯 and so Handsome ❤ too!! 💋🥰♥️

Shout out to WVON & Herb Kent (RIP) in Chicago! Thanks Robert, you and I are contemporaries I grew up listening to that station too.

How can Leon look like he`s 35 years old ? Robert looks good for his age too.

LOVE!!!!!!

Both men still look great. I love them both. I just finished watching friends and lovers and I'm on a leon high.

Fun & informative interview! It’s always great when the host is genuinely interested & knows their stuff.

A classic Movie!!! There are plenty of scenes in that movie that make me cry to this down.

Please do a play! Just seen the Tempations on broadway this summer and it was incredible! And I said.. when is the five heart beats gonna do Broadway

Robert Is actually a genius man he has a lot of underestimated projects his movie “Meteor Man” is one I love to this day even without massive budgeting he pulled off some good work

Just watch it yesterday 20/20❤️❤️❤️❤️

Leon u played David so good

✊🏿 brothers

Leon & Robert Townsend 💙 ❤ ♥ 👌 Handsome's awwwwww

Awesome interview with legends‼️🖤

I love them! That song though...some people run at the first sight of stormy weather....

Great talent!

Love both of these guys!!

Great interview!

Look at Duck & JT/DavidRuffin😀😀😀

Both dont aged

Love Robert Townsend 💜💜💜 Outstanding Director !!!!!!!!! & Leon An Outstanding Actor....!!!!!!!!!! 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

When I was a kid I fell in love with Leon from the Madonna just like a prayer video. Been in love ever since. I love you Leon I dated guys that resembled you. Still waiting for that call.

I KNOW THIS MOVIE WORD FOR WORD.

Great interview Questions!!!

❤ "Dedication" true. ❤ "Love" 👍👍

As a native Peorian, I too want Mr. Townsend to direct, produce and write a Richard Pryor biopic. I have a feeling he'd do it the right way.

The Teddy Pendergrass story.

Don’t ever disrespect the real David Ruffin like that that man despite his problems was one of a kind

My favorite part of the 5 heartbeats was when Eddie was discussing to Flex how Flex trying to riff like Eddie. U trying to riff like me? Eddie I love his voice. I feel like going home!!

Awesome they are great

Leon is the man Yasssssss Yasssssss

Love meteor man wish it had sequel

BLACK DONT CRACK , LOVE THEM ♥

Thanks

Can't nobody sing like Eddie Kane Jr., I still got the PIPES.

Come on Robert Sly Stone with Leon!

You great too in my vision the( greatest!) So look again you the greatest and I hope you know. Thank you God for this young.

Would love to see Curtis Mayfield.

Yes! Broadway love 5 hearbeats

What was Cynthia Bailey’s role in the five heartbeats ?

How about doing a Jimi Hendrix story

I’ve seen the documentary and they didn’t make one mention of the soundtrack. I wonder what kind of headache that was amongst the headaches of making the actual film.

Hi edagdwg thanks for sharing this story of what happens when you hear love these man that love to act very much respected real man no matter what. People say about black men no other race can be like a real black man can real up lefting men Linda joy,❤️💯⚓❤️❤️❤️❤️⚓⚓⚓⚓ free

Meteor Man is so underrated

Leon, is like "Damn why dey bring up da Madonna video?" at 3:06 while he looks down...

In the movie Duck and Jt reminds me of me and my brother.

Is the documentary available?

IS THAT PLAY A THING YET?! OH MY GOD, PLEASE!

In my mind, Leon did not play the David Ruffin role. Michael Wright's character Eddie King Jr. was the David Ruffin who like David fell from grace.

Five heart attacks😂😀

This may sound weird but the female host kind of reminds me of NFL HOF *Chris Carter*.

Leon please consider playing the life of Sly from Sly and the Family Stone.. Hook that up with Robert Townsend 😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗😗

Leon (Duck) still look good😁

Watching 5 heartbeats when u little is alot different from watching it when u grown

Sam Cooke story! Donny Hathaway! Luthor!

I think Leon is the youngest looking 58yr old I’ve ever seen lol

HAPPY HALLOWEEN! In celebration of the spookiest day of the year, our new episode today is the extended Director's Cut of LORD OF THE STINGS! Enjoy! - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/idyRhNiSqMi5coE.html

Where can I watch the documentary

Bobby Womack, Richard Pryor, Sly Stone, and Paul Mooney, Eddie Murphy, - all intersect.

My son has Autism he loves watching Media Man

quincy jones tells a similar story of musics being dangled out the window come contract time. mafia stuff.

IM SMART I KNEW HE WAS FINNA SAY LOVE

Heikki Suosalo 2 years ago Hi! Just a few sentences from my interview with the members of the Dells in the late 1990s: Chuck Barksdale: "This was not supposed to be a story about the Dells from the beginning. This was supposed to be a story about a stand-up vocal group, black, that was gonna be a comedy. Robert Townsend, the director, was brought to our dressing room by a young lady by the name of Kitty Sears, because he wanted to come and ask us, if it would be okay for him to use "Stay In My Corner" and "Oh What A Nite" in this up-coming comedy. When he mentioned 'comedy', Marvin Junior chimed in and said 'hey, wait a minute, ain't nothing funny about being a black stand-up vocal group. It's a major struggle, and the struggle continues today.' Robert said 'well, tell me more', and asked 'wait a minute, are you guys on tour now?' We said 'yes, we're on tour for the next six weeks.' He said 'do you mind, if I travel around with you. I like what I'm hearing so far.'" He travelled with us for the next six weeks. He watched our comradery, he heard us argue, saw us work on stage, riding on a bus, have dinner together. He took that and literally changed the script." Marvin Junior: "That was 85 % our story. When it was in the theatres, it was not that successful, but then they put it on video and on television, then it became very popular. The company didn't know how to handle that. They were so busy with the black movies with the killing and drugs and the whole bit - and here came a movie about entertainers, and they didn't quite know how to handle that." Michael McGill: "Don't ever let any other group or anybody else tell you that the movie was about them. Robert Townsend travelled with the Dells. Marvin told Robert things, and he was taking it all in --- so the story came from the Dells. Couch T.

Checkout the Black Godfather Clarance Avant Story, Quincy Jones tells the story of Jackie Wilson getting hung off the balcony by the Mafia guys

R. Kelly could've played Bird

They gotta do a Versuz against Bird and Flash! Lol! #Jude2!

Leon has a wife and a daughter wow Leon is funny specially when he ain’t nobody coming to see you oits love that

I Did not know R Kelly auditioned for The Five HeartBeats... Aint no way I would have rejected that talent. Even if R Kelly worked behind the scenes....it wouldve been a deal made.

1 word L E O N

1 Word R o B e R T T

He's the king of comedy idk where he got king of rnb from

wuz the deal people making up Twitter accounts trying to impersonate the real people???

" How it FEELS to be ME!??