Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever

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Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever
Newspaper ad for the airing of the special on Los Angeles NBC O&O KNBC
Written by	Buz Kohan Ruth Robinson Suzanne de Passe
Directed by	Don Mischer
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producer	Suzanne de Passe
Producers	Don Mischer Buz Kohan Suzanne Coston
Production locations	Pasadena Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, California, USA
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	130 minutes
Production company	Motown Pictures
Original release
Network	NBC
Release	May 16, 1983 (1983-05-16)
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever is a 1983 television special, produced by Suzanne de Passe for Motown (founded in January 1959), to commemorate its 25th anniversary. The program was taped before a live audience at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California on March 25, 1983,^[1] and broadcast on NBC on May 16. Among its highlights were Michael Jackson's performance of "Billie Jean" (which popularized the moonwalk), Smokey Robinson's reunion with the Miracles, a Temptations / Four Tops "battle of the bands", Marvin Gaye's inspired speech about black music history and his memorable performance of "What's Going On", a Jackson 5 reunion, and an abbreviated reunion of Diana Ross & the Supremes, who performed their final #1 hit, "Someday We'll Be Together" from 1969. The show was written by Buz Kohan, Ruth Robinson, and de Passe. The broadcast was watched by over 47 million viewers.^[2]