"Ain't Nobody Comin' To See You, Otis" Saying (video, information, & transcript), Part I

published by Jeannia Powell, Oct. 8, 2014
-snip-
This video replaces one that is no longer available. The video's publisher isn't related to me (that I know of).

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a two part pancocojams post about the line "Ain't nobody come to hear you, Otis" from the 1998 The Temptations television mini-series. That mini-series is commonly referred to as "The Temptation movie".

Part I provides information about The Temptations and information about The 1998 The Temptation television mini-series. This post also showcases a YouTube video clip of a scene from that mini-series which includes the now iconic saying "Ain't Nobody Comin' To See You. Otis. A  transcription of that portion of that scene is also included in this post along with a  few comments from that embedded video's discussion thread.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/04/aint-nobody-comin-to-see-you-otis_7.html for Part II of this pancocojams series presents some examples of the quote "Ain't nobody come to hear you, Otis." that were used outside of that 1998 The Temptation television mini-series.

The content of this post is presented for cultural and entertainment purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to David Ruffin who ad libbed "Ain't nobody comin' to see you, Otis" for that scene in The 1998 Temptations television min-series. Thanks also to The Temptations for their musical legacy. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
"Ain't nobody comin' to see you, Otis" is an African American diss (insult) and a clapback. This saying was ad-libbed in 1998 by actor Leon while playing the role of David Ruffin in the 1998 American television mini-series The Temptations.

That saying appears to be known and used much more often by African Americans than by any other people.

Although I'm African Amerian, I confess that I never watched the 1998 television series "The Temptations" (even though it happened to be filmed in my adopted home town of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). And I only became familiar with the saying "Ain't nobody comin' to see you, Otisat saying as a result of reading it several times in tweets in a couple of trending accounts of the Easter Sunday 2021 Verzuz "battle" between The Isley Brothers and Earth Wind & Fire.  Those tweets were written in reference to African American celebrity game show and talk show host Steve Harvey because (in the opinion of those writing those tweets) he was talking too much about himself during that life streaming show and therefore taking time away from those groups singing their hit R&B/Funk songs.

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"Diss" is an African American Vernacular English word that means "an insult".

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Here's informarion about the meaning of the word "clapback":
From https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clap%20back
"US, informal

: a quick, sharp, and effective response to criticism

Not to be confused with a garden-variety diss, a clapback is deemed by most as a targeted, often viciously acute comeback intended to place someone in much-needed check.
— Aaron Edwards and Ira Madison III"

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE TEMPTATIONS
"The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine" in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul, and was significant in the evolution of R&B and soul music.[1] The band members are known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and dress style. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are among the most successful groups in popular music.[2][3][4]

Featuring five male vocalists and dancers (save for brief periods with fewer or more members), the group formed in 1960 in Detroit under the name the Elgins. The founding members came from two rival Detroit vocal groups: Otis Williams, Elbridge "Al" Bryant, and Melvin Franklin of Otis Williams & the Distants, and Eddie Kendricks and Paul Williams of the Primes. In 1964, Bryant was replaced by David Ruffin, who was the lead vocalist on a number of the group's biggest hits, including "My Girl" (1964), "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" (1966), and "I Wish It Would Rain" (1967).[5] Ruffin was replaced in 1968 by Dennis Edwards, with whom the group continued to record hit records such as "Cloud Nine" (1969) and "Ball of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)" (1970). The group's lineup has changed frequently since the departures of Kendricks and Paul Williams from the act in 1971.

[...]

The "Classic 5" lineup of the Temptations: David Ruffin (bottom left), Melvin Franklin (top left), Paul Williams (top right), Otis Williams (bottom right), and Eddie Kendricks (center) c. 1965.

[Photo description]

[...] 

Years active- 1960 to present"...

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INFOMATION ABOUT THE TEMPTATION MINI-SERIES
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Temptations_(miniseries)
"The Temptations is a four-hour television miniseries broadcast in two-hour halves on NBC, based upon the history of one of Motown's longest-lived acts, The Temptations. 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. It was filmed on location in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the spring of 1998. Allan Arkush directed the miniseries."...

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TRANSCRIPT OF THE SCENE FROM THAT TELEVISION MINI-SERIES THAT INCLUDES THIS SAYING
From https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0164292/characters/nm0502442 The Temptations (TV Mini-Series 1998) 
"David Ruffin : I'm the one sellin' the records. They're comin' to see me.

Otis Williams : They're comin' to see the Temptations.

David Ruffin : Ain't nobody comin' to see you, Otis! You wish you could work it the way I do, but you can't! Because there is only one David Ruffin. And without him, the Temps ain't nothin' but a group in SEARCH of a David Ruffin. Matter of fact, I been thinkin'. We should call the group David Ruffin And The Temptations. Yeah, that sound good to me. Y'all beggin' me not to leave you.

[sings]

David Ruffin : "And I refuse to let you go." Yeah, David Ruffin And The Temptations. Whatcha think?

Otis Williams : [stands up]  That ain't never gonna happen."
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This was a fictionalized scene that supposedly occurred during a rehearsal. David Ruffin was on drugs (crack) and the other members of the group were warning him that he would be fired if he didn't stop using drugs. In reality, David Ruffin was fired in 1968 because his drug use interferred with the Temptation's recording and tours. 

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COMMENTS ABOUT THE SAYING "AIN'T NOBODY COMIN' TO SEE YOU, OTIS"
(Numbers added for referencing purposes only.)

From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wNj3xSMEUM&ab_channel=ChristinaMarie

The Temptations (Ain't Nobody coming to see you Otis), published by Christina Marie on Feb.20, 2018 
1. BetterThanEmril, 2019 
"Thank you David Ruffin for giving me clapbacks to people that get on my damn nerves I say this a lot in real life situations 😂"
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Reply
1. tulipanegradesign, 2019
"Me too, lololol"

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Reply
3. Mattakusisgreatness, 2020
"For real"

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4. JoanRudith, 2019 
"My fear is that eventually Leon's entire career of playing every black man in music history throughout the 90s and 2000s, he will most be remembered for this one line!! lol But he WILL be remembered for generations to come regardless!

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Reply
5. Diggy22, 2019
"Funny thing is, that line was improvised 😂"

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Reply
6. Ava Symone, 2020
"And what's crazy is he improvised that line after they had specifically  asked him to please stop adliving and adding in his little improvised lines yet....it became the best scene in the movie and The one line he is most known for"

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Reply
7. Melissa Smith, 2019
"Damn that hurt... but it’s so funny cause it’s true

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8. shelita gaskins, 2019
"😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 I crack up every time I hear this line! 😂😂😂😂"

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Reply
9. Mr. E.O.M, 2019
"Kills me everyrtime.. 💀😂🤣"

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10. soulman2000
"Let’s be honest, ANYONE could’ve filled Otis’s spot in the group. Otis was never the powerhouse singer and showman Ruffin. He didn’t have the gruff and soul of Dennis. He didn’t have the charisma and  presence of Eddie. David, Eddie and Dennis definitely were irreplaceable. They were the voices. I find it hilarious that the members that start the group are usually the ones with the least talent and always the last livin members."

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11. Maddie61188, 2019
"This line is for dudes what "Bye Felicia" is for females lol"

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Reply
12. La Fleur de la Paix, 2019
"Iconic"

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13. mssmmns, 2020
"It's the truth, though. Hell , 60 years later and we still don't know how Otis sounds. But we know David, Eddie, Melvin, Dennis, and Ollie."

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14. Lakesha Fletcher, 2020
"Black people everywhere growing up watching this and repeating this line everytime someone got on our nerves 🗣️aint nobody coming to see you Otis! Period lmao"

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15. Jay Philly, 2019
"Ain't nobody coming to see you Fizzle Pop (Omarion's voice)."
-snip-
This commenter images what he thinks that the Hip Hop artist Omarion would say in response to Hip Hop artist Fizzle Pop's song that disses Omarion. More comments about the Fizzle Pop/Omarion diss and imagined clapback can be found Part II of this pancocojams series.

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From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ8BqQOeVes&ab_channel=BlackintheDayTV
The Temptations Movie - David Ruffin (1998), published by Black in the Day TV•Aug 2, 2020 [This video clip is embedded in this pancocojams post.]

1. A dot J dot, 2020
"Ain't nobody coming to see you Otis"

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Reply
2. Ayana Hale, 2021
"I say this randomly throughout the day without provocation."

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Reply
3. A dot J dot, 2021
" @Ayana Hale  😆😆😆😆"

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Reply
4. SUEDUCE, 2021
"That’s my part 😂😂😂"

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Reply
5. J Nichole, 2021
"My favorite line in the whole movie!"

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Reply
6. Adrianne King, 2021
"A Classic....lol...and then he said you  wish you could work it the way I do..(to Otis)🤣"

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7. Don Marco, 2021
"Leon said the actor who played Otis was actually offended when he said “Ain’t nobody come to see you Otis”, as you can tell by his face reaction"

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8. D Clark, 2021
""I'm the one selling the records. They comin to see ME!" Ouch lol. But he had a point, David had the main spotlight in the group."

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Reply
9. Mel Clark, 2021
"Exactly!!!  Some stuff is just the TRUTH!"

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10. Shamiirian Da Entertainment, 2020
"Classic Lines in black cinema"

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Reply
11. JJ Rome, 2021
"Facts!"

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From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6lsdVZEong&ab_channel=FOXSoul
"Ain't Nobody Coming to See You Otis' - The Mike & Donny Show" published by FoxSoul, May 5, 2020

Leon was one of the guest on this talk show.

Warning: Some profanity is used in this conversation. 

Comments:
1. Jessica Spears, 2020
"LMAOO the fact "aint nobody come to see you otis" was a freestyle makes me respect Leon as an actor SO much more"

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2. Derek Crichton, 2020
"And who doesn't love pullin out that line, "AIN'T NOBODY COMIN TO SEE YOU OTIS!!""

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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

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