Nick Cannon re-launching ‘Soul Train’ on NBC
theGRIO REPORT - In an exclusive interview with theGrio, 'America's Got Talent' host Nick Cannon revealed that he is re-launching the musical variety show 'Soul Train' on NBC...
At only 32 years old, actor, comedian and TV personality, Nick Cannon seems to be unstoppable.
The husband of pop diva Mariah Carey, currently hosts NBC’s America’s Got Talent, and next month will resurrect his successful improv series Wild ’n Out for MTV’s sister station MTV2.
Over the weekend, Cannon attended the 2013 American Black Film Festival in Miami, where he discussed his ongoing endeavor to be creative on and off-camera.
During an interview with theGrio, Cannon exclusively revealed that he recently struck a deal to bring the musical variety show Soul Train to NBC, via his production company NCredible Entertainment.
“One of the things I’m the most excited about, and we’re just now starting to talk about it is the re-launch of Soul Train and that coming back,” Cannon told theGrio’s Chris Witherspoon. “It means so much for our culture. It truly is something that to be able to bring through my deal at NBC Universal is that in itself is kind of taking it to the next level for where the brand began. I’m excited about that.”
When asked if Soul Train would air on NBC, Cannon responded “Yes, that’s the plan.”
Last year it was reported that Cannon inked a first-look production deal with NBC to develop scripted and unscripted programming for the network.
“Working closely with Paul Telegdy and the folks at NBC has been incredibly rewarding. I am thrilled to expand my role and contributions by creating original programming for the NBC Universal team,” Cannon said.
Cannon revealed last month in an interview with Zap2it that his first appearance on television was as a dancer on Soul Train.
“A lot of people don’t know it, but at the age of 15, I was a Soul Train dancer,” Cannon confessed. “That was the first time I was ever on national television.”
“There was even a time when Mr. Cornelius pulled me to the side and asked me to host a television show for him. I couldn’t do it at the time because I was contractually tied up in a bunch of other stuff; now, to be a producer as well as a host — in the same capacity he did it, as a great businessman with the brand — is what I plan to do.”
NCredible Entertainment was founded by Cannon in 2009 and has thus far produced MTV’s docuseries Son of a Gun, TeenNick’s Halo Awards, and MTV2’s upcoming reboot of Wild ’n Out.
The original Soul Train aired in syndication from 1971 to 2006. The show was created as the soul music alternative to American Bandstand. Soul Train featured some of the top acts in soul music including The Jackson 5, Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, James Brown and more.
Don Cornelius, the creator of Soul Train, died last year of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Follow Chris Witherspoon on Twitter for more Entertainment news at @WitherspoonC
