Soul Train Moving on to the Next Stop: Cruises and Broadway

*After four decades of being the pop culture flagship of African American life, Soul Train is now on the brink of transformation.

Since the death of the program’s creator, Don Cornelius, the Soul Train board is left with big shoes to fill and a vision to manifest.

Soul Train Holdings LLC, the entity created by NBA legend and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson when he bought the “Soul Train” library and brand last year, has a lot of ideas. Among them are bringing a “Soul Train” variety show back to television, CEO Kenard Gibbs told The Associated Press.

“The brand itself, we believe, has far, far other entertainment-based tentacles we can stretch,” Gibbs said.

During a memorial for Cornelius in Los Angeles last week, Johnson assured Cornelius’ son Tony, “The brand that your father has created will last a lifetime.”

Black Entertainment Network LLC, BET, and Centric TV, a BET Network, also has rights to the Soul Train brand and name, and have revamped the Soul Train Awards, which have aired on BET Networks since 2009. The awards show has been the network’s second highest-rated special, said Paxton Baker, Centric executive vice president and general manager.

Baker said the show has held its own and plans are under way for a tribute to Cornelius for this year’s show, planned for broadcast Nov. 25, keeping its Sunday-after-Thanksgiving air date tradition, on BET and Centric.

“For our part, it was a great brand and made a lot of sense for us to go out and acquire the brand and put our stamp on it,” Baker said.

With its rich history, Soul Train can go anywhere, even Broadway or a cruise.

In fact, Gibbs said the first “Soul Train” cruise is set to sail in 2013.

Johnson assured not only the world, but also the Cornelius family that the legend’s legacy will live on forever through the Soul Train brand.

For the love of money...

Watch video: ‘The Tonight Show With Jay Leno’ with Magic Johnson On Soul Train

It’s no secret that Magic Johnson is one very successful businessman. He revealed to Jay Leno that he made $400k per year while playing basketball for the Lakers. After retiring Magic had stock in the Lakers, over 100 Starbucks stores, his own theater chain, several restaurants, and acquiring the Soul Train brand. Leno went on to ask Magic if he purchased the television brand in order to destroy old footage of him dancing on the show. Watch video: 'The Tonight...rtsnetwork

Just no. You can't revive Soul Train. That belongs to another space and time...

OMG, I hope it's as hilariously awful as his late-night talkshow and Howard Stern goofs on it every single morning!

Please don't tell me this is gonna be some ghetto ass mess.

smoothcriminal12 said:

Please don't tell me this is gonna be some ghetto ass mess.

Magic Johnson movie theater has to be the most ghettoest movie theater ever

mjscarousal said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Please don't tell me this is gonna be some ghetto ass mess.

Magic Johnson movie theater has to be the most ghettoest movie theater ever

Why?

[Edited 2/23/12 19:14pm]

As long as he's not the host, I'm cool.

I'd love if they brought back a Soul Train/ Apollo type show back to tv. Too many talented artists NEED the vehicle and exposure that this would bring. Magic don't let me down and PROPS to you for buying those rights. He can make a little dough from that investment

LittleBLUECorvette said:

As long as he's not the host, I'm cool.

With his mumbling ass.

Timmy84 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

As long as he's not the host, I'm cool.

With his mumbling ass.

you mmmm... mmm... alnmme.

smoothcriminal12 said:

mjscarousal said:

Magic Johnson movie theater has to be the most ghettoest movie theater ever

Why?

[Edited 2/23/12 19:14pm]

They sell fried chicken out that movie theater

I dont think I have to explain further

mjscarousal said:

smoothcriminal12 said:

Why?

[Edited 2/23/12 19:14pm]

They sell fried chicken out that movie theater

I dont think I have to explain further

Don't make me come fly out to wherever you live and take your ethnic card away from you. Ain't nothin' like some hot chicken; hell I've taken a pizza up in the theater.

TD3 said:

mjscarousal said:

They sell fried chicken out that movie theater

I dont think I have to explain further

Don't make me come fly out to wherever you live and take your ethnic card away from you. Ain't nothin' like some hot chicken; hell I've taken a pizza up in the theater.

Man if they had chicken in the theater, I definitely would eat some! I don't care if it's Magic's theater or what, I'm getting that shit.

Timmy84 said:

TD3 said:

Don't make me come fly out to wherever you live and take your ethnic card away from you. Ain't nothin' like some hot chicken; hell I've taken a pizza up in the theater.

Man if they had chicken in the theater, I definitely would eat some! I don't care if it's Magic's theater or what, I'm getting that shit.

I'd share my lil' bottle of Frank's with you. I don't part with my Frank's all to easily either. Hell, I'm like Patti, I have my bottle in my purse at all times.

TD3 said:

mjscarousal said:

They sell fried chicken out that movie theater

I dont think I have to explain further

Don't make me come fly out to wherever you live and take your ethnic card away from you. Ain't nothin' like some hot chicken; hell I've taken a pizza up in the theater.

You know I LOVES me some fried chicken but you know black folk some folk dont know how to act when their is some fried chicken around...

just saying...

TD3 said:

Timmy84 said:

Man if they had chicken in the theater, I definitely would eat some! I don't care if it's Magic's theater or what, I'm getting that shit.

I'd share my lil' bottle of Frank's with you. I don't part with my Frank's all to easily either. Hell, I'm like Patti, I have my bottle in my purse at all times.

I feel ya...

Timmy84 said:

LittleBLUECorvette said:

As long as he's not the host, I'm cool.

With his mumbling ass.

I can here is now.

Magic:

Wow, did you see these guys incredible dance moves, those were innncredible!!

Man, I could not have move like that back in my day, wow!!

[loud laugh] hahahahahaha...

Thanks for stopping by.

We wish you love, peace and Showtime!!

LittleBLUECorvette said:

Timmy84 said:

With his mumbling ass.

I can here is now.

Magic:

Wow, did you see these guys incredible dance moves, those were innncredible!!

Man, I could not have move like that back in my day, wow!!

[loud laugh] hahahahahaha...

Thanks for stopping by.

We wish you love, peace and Showtime!!

Exactly.

*looks around, hoping Ms Trina doesn't slap me too hard*

Ms Trina, what's Frank's?

mjscarousal said:

TD3 said:

Don't make me come fly out to wherever you live and take your ethnic card away from you. Ain't nothin' like some hot chicken; hell I've taken a pizza up in the theater.

You know I LOVES me some fried chicken but you know black folk some folk dont know how to act when their is some fried chicken around...

just saying...

Uh, you don't have to get personal. I, uh my people are tryin' to get better at that. For example I always have a napkin now when I eat my chicken and I've, stop throwing the bones up in the air so Rin Tin Tin can catch them. What more do you want?

TD3 said:

mjscarousal said:

You know I LOVES me some fried chicken but you know black folk some folk dont know how to act when their is some fried chicken around...

just saying...

Uh, you don't have to get personal. I, uh my people are tryin' to get better at that. For example I always have a napkin now when I eat my chicken and I've, stop throwing the bones up in the air so Rin Tin Tin can catch them. What more do you want?

TD3 said:

mjscarousal said:

You know I LOVES me some fried chicken but you know black folk some folk dont know how to act when their is some fried chicken around...

just saying...

Uh, you don't have to get personal. I, uh my people are tryin' to get better at that. For example I always have a napkin now when I eat my chicken and I've, stop throwing the bones up in the air so Rin Tin Tin can catch them. What more do you want?

What more do I want?

Please stop bringing all the loud baby daddy drama, ghetto ass ring tone going off in the threater, starting fights , saling bootlegs and merchandise in the theater, telling what is going to happen next during the movie behinds at home... I just want to see my movie quietly and leave out in one piece

The power fried chicken have on my people

Thats some powerful stuff

scriptgirl said:

*looks around, hoping Ms Trina doesn't slap me too hard*

Ms Trina, what's Frank's?

This is Frank's. Frank's on some chicken,

I'll see you this summer and I'm seriously considering taking you ETHNIC card away from you. What is happening to our children. bring me home to Jesus!

Thank you, Ms Trina!

mjscarousal said:

TD3 said:

Uh, you don't have to get personal. I, uh my people are tryin' to get better at that. For example I always have a napkin now when I eat my chicken and I've, stop throwing the bones up in the air so Rin Tin Tin can catch them. What more do you want?

What more do I want?

Please stop bringing all the loud baby daddy drama, ghetto ass ring tone going off in the threater, starting fights , saling bootlegs and merchandise in the theater, telling what is going to happen next during the movie behinds at home... I just want to see my movie quietly and leave out in one piece

The power fried chicken have on my people

Thats some powerful stuff

Chicken ain't that addictive to do that shit. That's folks' own negligence. C'mon now. Why would anyone get violent over chicken? It ain't like a Jordan shoe and even then that's ridiculous anyway lol

mjscarousal said:

TD3 said:

Uh, you don't have to get personal. I, uh my people are tryin' to get better at that. For example I always have a napkin now when I eat my chicken and I've, stop throwing the bones up in the air so Rin Tin Tin can catch them. What more do you want?

What more do I want?

Please stop bringing all the loud baby daddy drama, ghetto ass ring tone going off in the threater, starting fights , saling bootlegs and merchandise in the theater, telling what is going to happen next during the movie behinds at home... I just want to see my movie quietly and leave out in one piece

The power fried chicken have on my people

Thats some powerful stuff

I don't have anythang to do with the baby mamma drama. I could've had a baby daddy but the shotgun convinced my husband, he should marry me. Sellin' bootleg, semi- authentic merchandise is a main stay of the economic well being of our community, you thought you've seen some drama. I'd rather have the brothers push up on me some shit I can buy rather than pushin' a weapon through my ribs. Besides, that's how I save on Father's/Mother's, Birthday's, and Christmas gifts.

As far as the cell phone ring tone, I've tired to start a national support group, S .T. Y. M. - "Stop Trackin' Yo' Man.

Hold up... talkin' out during a film is a cultural tradition, you are just gonna have to live with it. As I tell the white folks when they go to the show and we all up in there. Either take your ass to the frist showing or deal. Besides those folks have saved many a movie theatres workers life. I can't tell how many times my people crackin' saved a dumbass, dull, no plot line movie.

I love them for it.