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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91.
It's always disappointing to me when people talk as though money is a good indicator of success.

Money does not buy either happiness or success.

What a sad state of affairs we are living in here in the U.S.

Posted at 1:52AM on Jul 17th 2008 by mili

92. Before I comment on this fiasco of Oprah's I have to tell everyone this if they don't know this by now - When Oprah did that show where she gave away "15 Free Cars" what no one knew was that they weren't completely free - each of those 15 people had to pay $5000 in taxes. Not only that, Oprah wasn't the one to "give away" those cars, Chevrolet were the ones to give them , Oprah was only the "Host" of this give... speaking of "give" segway into my next part of this - her little show "The Big Give" think about this everyone, Oprah isn't giving squat - it's the SPONSERS of this show that are GIVING not Oprah!

Okay now my thoughts on this, after losing total respect for Oprah the second I heard about this "new beginning" garbage, now reading that Miss Oprah can't even "GIVE" what is owed to John Travolta and his colleagues she is such a hypocrite and so RICH she can afford to give what they ask for. Oprah is totally outrageous, and I will never be a fan of hers ever again, all respect is gone to her.

Posted at 5:16AM on Jul 17th 2008 by MLJ

93. It doesn't matter where Barry is now, the movie is iconic and they SHOULD be getting the monies from it to this day. If they play it, even for 5 seconds - it's still relevant and payment should be made period.

If someone showed a 5 second clip of Oprah you know she would demand the money up front.

Posted at 10:00AM on Jul 17th 2008 by chirality

94. I am a SAG (screen actors guild) member and Oprah is an actor in SAG also so she knows the rules. If someone used her image and voice in a show or other she would want money also. SAG is good at times but they sometimes look the other way as we are in new contract talks with producers and we want to get great payment terms and deals for all actors and background actors. PAY UP TO ALL WHO USE ACTORS (SAG actors get paid from showing on tv, computer news, magazines, films, etc just like other business people. It is just a job :)

Posted at 12:07PM on Jul 17th 2008 by SAG member

95. Good grief! Oprah has so much money that she could wallpaper my house with 100 bills and not even scratch the surface of her fortune. Stop being such a tight@ss, O, and pay the man!

Posted at 12:17PM on Jul 17th 2008 by Superchick

96. Oprah and her company are a-holes. The man, who obviously is not rolling in dough needs his money. To Oprah and her company $7500 should be a drop in the bucket. Everthing Oprah does has something behind it. Which can open up other discussions. Like with all her money why does she "adopt" dogs. What about kids!!! She could adopt or could have adopted babies and give them a nice home and have heirs. Most see Oprah as a role model, I see her as Selfish. And to the haters of this..I AM BLACK and I DON'T SUPPORT OPRAH. Oprah should look at TYRA and be a shame. Before America's Top Model, Tyra has/had a camp for girls that helped with self esteem and loving who you are no matter what you look like. And guess what..IT IS/WAS HERE IN THE UNITED STATES not Africa and there have never been any claims of ABUSE.

Posted at 12:52PM on Jul 17th 2008 by nita

97. 45. 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?

He does anything but sit at home and watch Oprah! He is a HARD- working actor! Live theater and TV is where he spends his days and nights!
Why should he be treated any different than anyone else in this industry. He has grown up acting since he was a child and this is how he earns his living! If he is owed the money, give it to him and all of you that have time to leave your rude comments at this site must be Hard working as well...RIGHT?!

Posted at 2:57PM on Jul 17th 2008 by Fed Up with Ignorant People

98. If the guy was her precious Tommy Cruise the greedy Queen Gutter Rat would pay up in a heartbeat.

Posted at 1:37PM on Jul 17th 2008 by Doprah

99. all of you that have time to leave your rude comments at this site must be Hard working as well...RIGHT?!

Posted at 1:05PM on Jul 17th 2008 by Fed Up with Ignorant People

Just like you, DUH!

Posted at 1:40PM on Jul 17th 2008 by Doprah

100. all of you that have time to leave your rude comments at this site must be Hard working as well...RIGHT?!

Posted at 1:05PM on Jul 17th 2008 by Fed Up with Ignorant People

Just like you, DUH!

Posted at 1:40PM on Jul 17th 2008 by Doprah

As a matter of fact I am a Hard Working Stay at Home Mom! Just happened to get an email from a friend to check this message board out. I am also a friend of "Doody" and Know that he is anything but a lazy , non-working, well fair collecting guy! www.BarryPearl.com~ visit his website to see how active he is in the acting world.

Now I am done with leaving comments. It really doesn't involve anyone other than Harpo, SAG and Barry Pearl. What anyone else thinks is irrelevant. This article is not meant to Slam Oprah as an individual but her company Harpo and how her company is running business.

Posted at 3:06PM on Jul 17th 2008 by Fed Up with Ignorant People

101. $68 summed it up quite nicely. Concise, accurate and to the point. Now go devour another Hometown buffet, you cow.

Posted at 3:30PM on Jul 17th 2008 by Lana Caine

102. Hate oprah
she is a pompous fake.

Posted at 4:25PM on Jul 17th 2008 by rachel

103. If anyonel used an unauthorized clip, or even a photo, of Oprah - FOR ANYTHING - a squadron of legal bombers would doubtless decend on that person like avenging angels. A large part of Oprah's success has been built on the good graces of celebrities. Now is not the time to stab them in the back, and by stabbing Mr. Pearl, that's exactly what she does. Rules is rules, honey. It's time to pay the piper.

Posted at 7:06PM on Jul 17th 2008 by Bartley B

104. I bet this isn't the first time she's pulled this on someone! Anyone out there who thinks Oprah has cheated them out of what is rightfully due them had best speak up now as public opinion will be on your side and not hers now that we see her for just what she is not!

Posted at 2:22AM on Jul 18th 2008 by Sapphire

105. THAT'S SO SAD WHEN SOMEONE WHO HAS SO MUCH MONEY AND WANT SHELL OUT THAT SMALL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO PEOPLE WHO COULD REALLY NEED IT. I ALWAYS THOUGHT YOU OF ALL PEOPLE WOULD NEVER DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS. OPRAH, SHAME ON YOU AND YOUR COMPANY. I HAVE LOST ALL RESPECT FOR YOU.

Posted at 10:46AM on Jul 18th 2008 by YVONNE

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