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 5 of 8) Previous 15 Comments | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | Most Recent | Next 15 Comments

61. Mikah4 I repeat. Oprah gets the things she gives away from the makers for free publicity. Nothing she gives away comes out of her pocket.

Posted at 6:44PM on Jul 16th 2008 by lily

62. Orpha pay da little man his money and stop being a cheap azz!

Posted at 6:51PM on Jul 16th 2008 by dappleganger

63.
To: Posted at 6:09PM on Jul 16th 2008 by orion53

It's always great to read an intelligent post, and I agree with you 100%. I remember Oprah from many years ago, when she and Richard Sher did a morning talk show in Baltimore, MD. Once, they had a psychic on the show who told Oprah that she was destined to become extremely successful and wealthy. It seems that the psychic was right about that! Poor Richard Sher was told that she didn't see the same destiny for him.

Posted at 7:16PM on Jul 16th 2008 by DIANE T in TX

64. I would LOVE to be paid even $5000 for 5 seconds of work that I did DECADES ago... Sounds to me like he needs to get over it and feel lucky he even gets something for nothing.

Posted at 7:31PM on Jul 16th 2008 by getserious

65. Star Jones...is that you?

Posted at 7:22PM on Jul 16th 2008 by whatado

66. Oprah doesn't handle this stuff. Do you really think Oprah is sitting in an office answering phone calls? She has "people". It's her "people" who handle those kinds of things. They're are running a television studio. It's a legitamate business. They can't just go cutting people checks for every little thing.

Posted at 7:56PM on Jul 16th 2008 by NJfuturehousewife

67. Oprah thinks she is God but what is disturbing is that so many other people do to.

Posted at 7:59PM on Jul 16th 2008 by morfin

68. FINALLY!!!

THE TRUTH ABOUT OPRAH COMES OUT!

SHE AIN'T NO GENEROUS SAVIOUR LIKE SHE PORTRAYS HERSELF TO BE, ALL THAT GIVING IS FOR THE RATINGS ONLY! PAY YOUR BILLS BITCH!

Posted at 8:02PM on Jul 16th 2008 by C-C-Kampy!

69. NOT HARPO!!!

CHEAPO!!!!!

Posted at 8:19PM on Jul 16th 2008 by whateveryousay

70. Oprah, you are FINALLY getting your JUST DESERTS! Everybody is not fooled by you! I am so glad that the public is finally seeing the HYPE and moving on to THINK FOR THEMSELVES! FINALLY!

Posted at 10:40AM on Jul 17th 2008 by Denize

71. I think Oprah should stand up and I dont care if it is $1 that guy shouldn't get a dam thing who cares that they should a quick clip, honestly people. You Go O I wish you the best of luck and I hope Barry get's nothing.

Posted at 8:32PM on Jul 16th 2008 by Corey from Boston

72. A person doesn't become and stay rich by accident.

Posted at 8:41PM on Jul 16th 2008 by Chuck Paugh

73. Oprah will settle this in a fashionable manner. It was just an over site, trust me she is not a stupid woman. And as much as she gives, I don't see this as being a major issue with her. It just the fact that Barry, an out dated actor from the past is ranting about the money, enough that he had to bring this to national attention. The situation does not diregard Oprah in any way. Sure people want to get paid for their work, I do. But, I would of tried to use the honey not vinegar, approach. Oprah will chew you up and spit you out. Watch out. You will spend your earnings trying to sue for it.
And to all ya'll Oprah haters, hate on. You got to give the girl her props, SHE"S BAD

Posted at 9:51PM on Jul 16th 2008 by Bea

74. As long as "O" pays what is SAG appropriate then it should be settled.

Posted at 9:20PM on Jul 16th 2008 by Moqqi

75. PAY UP you fat, self centered, self serving, self obsessed COW!!!

Posted at 10:32PM on Jul 16th 2008 by stel

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