Chi janitor sues over 'PJs' character

Plaintiff insists skein based on his amateur docu

By SUSANNE AULT

Murphy

A Chicago janitor is suing Eddie Murphy and other producers tied to now-defunct series "The PJs," alleging they stole his likeness from an amateur video for a show character.

In a suit filed March 22 in U.S. District Court in Illinois, the plaintiff, Tally Collier, is seeking more than $75,000 in damages and more than $10 million in punitive damages from Murphy and other "PJs" producers, including Imagine Entertainment principals Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Tony Krantz.

Other defendants in the suit include Will Vinton Studios, which developed "The PJs' " animation format, and Fox, the first net to air the series.

Collier insists Murphy and others based the show on an amateur docu he starred in about life in Chicago's housing projects. He believes the defendants got wind of the film after it was submitted in early 1998 to "The Oprah Winfrey Show."

Apparently, the docu's creator, Daryl Murphy (no relation to Eddie) was hoping to turn his work into a future segment on the talker. While "Oprah" staff never contacted Murphy, Collier nevertheless claims he sees similarities between the video that Murphy made and what ultimately became "The PJs."

Running on Fox starting in January 1999, later jumping to the WB for the 2000-01 season, "The PJs" was a comic look at a family living in a housing project. Eddie Murphy was one of the exec producers as well as one of the voices for the skein.

In addition to Daryl Murphy's video taking place in the projects (of Chicago), the suit cites other similarities, including the allegation that "PJs" character Sanchez is a carbon copy of Collier. Both men use a electronic voice box to talk and a cane to get around. Collier also believes "PJs" characters Mrs. Avery, Mrs. Mambo Garcelle (Haiti Lady), Smokey and Juicy were likewise lifted from Daryl Murphy's video.

It's unclear from the suit exactly how the video moved from "Oprah" to Murphy, Howard or Grazer. None is directly tied to the talker. However, Collier claims Daryl Murphy requested that Winfrey pass the tape along for consideration to other high-profile showbizzers, including Howard, Spike Lee, Tom Hanks, Quincy Jones and Fred Williamson.

None of the listed defendants were commenting on the case late Tuesday.