Celebrity Justice
Pearl -- Oprah Treated Me Like Doody!

Barry Pearl -- that's Doody from "Grease" to you - says "Oprah's Big Give" is plenty generous ... except when it comes to paying up for movie clips they use on the show.

Here's how it works -- in order to use a clip from "Grease" on TV, it must be licensed first from Paramount and then a fee needs to be negotiated with each of the actors. Pearl says Harpo skipped that crucial part.

He says when he asked for a reasonable fee from O's production peeps for a clip that was on "Big Give," they scoffed -- and called his residuals "found money." Thing is, residuals are much more than "found money" for Barry -- it's his livelihood. So when he saw "Summer Nights" playing on a TV in John Travolta's episode of "Give" -- without his consent -- he asked O's company Harpo for $7,500 for himself and three other Greasers in the clip.

That's when Barry says things got, well, Ken-icky.

Harpo countered with $5K, and when he and his agent then countered again, Harpo low-balled him with a SAG-endorsed offer of just three times the weekly wage ... from 31 years ago, i.e, peanuts. They also told Barry to be happy with peanuts, because the cash was "found money." Not so giving!

Barry is suing mad -- and his lawyer is firing off a letter to Harpo as we speak.

Harpo Productions tells TMZ: "The clip in question was included on the "Big Give" series for less than five seconds. We have been involved in discussions with SAG, Paramount and Mr. Pearl's representative in good faith. We have made a settlement offer that is in accordance with SAG guidelines, with appropriate penalties, which should bring this matter to a swift and satisfactory resolution."

Tags: Grease, Oprah

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(Page 4 of 8) Previous 15 Comments | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

46. This doesn't surprise me in the least. I worked in a theatre when Oprah's show came through, and she expected us to give up our salary for the day since we got to see her show for free. We were city employees, and therefore this was not a legal option, so the theatre decided to pull inside ushers, meaning that no one would be there to watch for cameras. When she found this out, she recanted her decision. Rotten thing is, we were only making $7 an hour anyway. She was charging people $175 for tickets and she expected me to give up my $7 an hour because I got the "privilege" of seeing her tell all these poor women 'it's okay to be you.'

Posted at 5:11PM on Jul 16th 2008 by Nicole Opyr

47. Oprah needs to pay for what is NOT hers! Just because she FEELS it should be free, doesn't man these actors who did Grease 30 yrs ago should do her BIDDING for free! These people worked on this project and are entitled to the fees they ask. I sure don't work for free or I'd be a homeless bum! Don't you doubt for a second...Oprah DOES NOT give away anything free herself...she always gets corporations, sponsers and others to do that. She's one money hungry bitch! Would she ever work for free? I doubt it!
She's very cheap and selfish and needs to step up and play by the rules.

Posted at 5:21PM on Jul 16th 2008 by Fembot

48. Well I hope that 7500.00 lasts him a long time. Once they get done with him, we will never see him in another clip again. His 15 minutes of fame clock stopped ticking a long time ago. Oprah does not have time to be bothered with this petty type of stuff. She is a business woman, and a damned good one at that! Not one person here would turn down a ticket to her "My Favorite things" show. How dare people complain that they got a free car, but had to pay the taxes themselves. HELLOOO! So go to the dealership and buy your own car. Guess what, they're gonna charge you taxes. And try missing a car note. He should have taken the 5000.00 they offered and been happy. It was only a 5 second clip for crying out loud!

Posted at 5:23PM on Jul 16th 2008 by Raven

49. Sounds like Oprah ripping him off . No one is jealous of Oprah ,

she feels , she doesn't have rules. I wouldnt trust Oprah any

farther than I can throw.

Oprah isn't as nice as you all think she is . Close those doors

and the lady is wicked. OPRAH ISN'T GOD and she's not PERFECT.


I used to like Oprah , until I realize , how much she is full of herself .

Remember when she would give away prizes , she would make it sound

like she brought them when actually she didnt , SPONSORS paid for it ,

NOT OPRAH ... another example ....

When she with :"white women " she would acted high and mighty ,

but when she was with "black women " on her show , she would act

"Hey sista " . She treated everyone different and not the same .

She EXPECTS people to listen to her , acting she's right all the time

when actually she isn't . Oprah NEVER helped children or families

in USA / Chicago , only in other foreign countries , it starts at home ( usa ) .

I think you seen it or you must had blinder on . Again Oprah isn't all , that

she acts like she is . You keep your friends close , and your emenies closer .

I dont trust opah or believe everything she says .

OPRAH ......WHY AREN'T YOU MARRIED ??

GAIL KING ALWAYS WITH YOU ??? THAT TELLS US SOMETHING .

YOU CAN ADOPT "AMERICAN CHILDREN " OR ARE YOU SELFISH????

YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE A SHOW ON TV , WITH ADOPTIONS , UNLESS

YOU'RE DOING IT YOURSELF TOO . YOU'VE DISAPPOINTED EVERYONE.

Posted at 5:33PM on Jul 16th 2008 by OPRAH OWNS THIS MAN MONEY , SHE WILL CHEAT HIM AND ANYONE ELSE

50. hmmm... why was he home watching Oprah? because he’s an non-working used-to-be just WIATING for someone to show a clip of him so he can pounce on the residuals. $7,000?... really?

and it’s not Oprah, it’s her staff making the decisions. yeah, it’s chump change to that company — but dude, how long are you gonna ride that wave?!

Posted at 5:29PM on Jul 16th 2008 by ugh

51. Business is business he has to try to get as much as he can and she has to try to pay a little as she can that's the way we do things in this country.

Posted at 5:33PM on Jul 16th 2008 by ebates

52. STUPID PERSON: exactly.

youngblackbro: people are so busy whining and playing the race card that they end up segregating THEMSELVES! contribute, collaborate and for F’s sake stop saying things like “you sure was...”!! respect begets respect.

Posted at 5:39PM on Jul 16th 2008 by ugh

53. TMZ needs to do a poll re. who is cheaper? Star Jones for stiffing those fat women by not showing up for a speaking engagement she had agreed to or Oprah for stiffing this actor.

Posted at 5:43PM on Jul 16th 2008 by Off With Oprah

54. No decent, honest, talented celebrity should agree to appear on Oprah's show! Any of them in their right mind can see how despised this woman is and how her ratings are down. Why would they, especially after this, risk their reputation by associating with Oprah who is really no better than a common thief?

Posted at 5:48PM on Jul 16th 2008 by Off With Oprah

55. Hey Barry! If you are reading this, just want to say that my ex-fatherr-in-law, now deceased, thought that you were a great kid back in Lancaster. I won't post his full name here, but he drove a bread/pastries truck back in the day when you were young. IIRC, you called him "Uncle Merl" ... I believe that's what he said way back when. Good luck to you in winning this case.

Posted at 5:50PM on Jul 16th 2008 by maryis

56. She will have to pay up...Does anyone remember Brit getting sued for a piece of fabric used in one of her videos ??and it was only for seconds...

Posted at 5:54PM on Jul 16th 2008 by anonymous

57. Opy threated you like poopy, that Opy has nerve, sue opy and then sue her for your loss of time,,, tell her to have her new age god bail her out in prayer and be her advocate (lawyer) opy opy opy SHAME ON YOU!

Posted at 5:37PM on Jul 17th 2008 by Rose

58. I HAVE NEVER LIKED OPRAH, SHE IS FAKE, RACIST AGAINST WHITE PEOPLE, AND APPARENTLY SHE IS ALSO A FAT AND GREEDY SLOB!! GIVE THIS MAN HIS MONEY OPRAH, SINCE WHEN WERE HURTING FOR $7,500?? OH AND BY THE WAY BEFORE YOU GO PREACHING TO SOMEONE ELSE ON YOUR TALK SHOW ABOUT RESPECT OR FOLLOWING RULES, TRY DOING SO YOURSELF!! BY THE BEULAH, WHO IS PROBABLY A WELFARE KING OR QUEEN, IF SOMEONE OWED YOU THAT KIND OF MONEY WOULD HE JUST TURN THE OTHER WAY, I THINK NOT!!!

Posted at 8:35AM on Jul 17th 2008 by tired of worthless people

59. I am an African American woman who has never thought that Oprah Winfrey was anything but lucky. Having said that, I wonder how people can be so biased about this particular allegation. Your Bill O'Reilly, the racist radio guy that resembles a chicken, Hannity and Combs, Today Show, Evening News, are all filled with media types that are not truly representative of the United States of America, yet, I don't believe that she should be villified by an allegation. You know, "contempt prior to investigation" is not a good thing. Wait until all the evidence is presented then state a fact based opinion.
Oprah's ratings are down because the day of the "talk show" is over. Most of us would prefer to remain faceless and skulk behind the computer screen and spew our racist crap, although misspelled, and poorly written. over the internet. So, be sure Oprah's days are numbered. Not because she supports a man who is running for president. Good Day to you all.

Posted at 6:09PM on Jul 16th 2008 by orion53

60. Ok you retards here it is--Oprah probably does NOT negotiate or even know about these minor details. Thats what she has assistants, producers and a legal team for. You are calling her stingy but the woman gives away hundreds of thousands of dollars in free gifts to the women in her audience at least twice a year. It takes so little for you people to go on a verbal assault. Are we a happy people out there? Jeeeez A little optimism goes a long way.

Posted at 6:26PM on Jul 16th 2008 by Mikah4tmz

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