Morning Edition:
Don Cornelius, the creator of Soul Train, was found dead in his California home yesterday. He was 75 years old. Los Angeles Coroner Assistant Chief Ed Winter told PEOPLE magazine that Cornelius died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. He was officially pronounced dead yesterday at 4:56 a.m. According to TMZ, Cornelius had gone through an ugly divorce in 2009 and was said to be suffering from “significant health issues” the last few years. Cornelius started Soul Train back in 1969 with $400 of his own money, pitching it as an African-American version of Dick Clark’s American Bandstand. By 2005, the show was syndicated to 105 cities and was said to have reached an estimated 85 percent of African American households. The show ended in 2006, when Chicago’s Tribune Company shut down its TV distribution.
Former Home Improvement star Taran Noah Smith, who played Tim Allen’s youngest son Mark, was arrested yesterday morning for DUI and drug possession. The 27-year-old was arrested shortly past 1 a.m. after police flagged his car and found a stash of drugs. He is currently being held on a $10,000 bail, with his court date set for March 1.
Evening Edition:
Kevin Bacon has landed the lead role in a new drama pilot for FOX, created by Vampire Diaries executive producer Kevin Williamson. Bacon is set to play a retired FBI profiler in the show, which centers on a deranged serial killer who creates his own cult of murderers through technology. But, if FOX were to order the drama to an entire series, Bacon is reportedly only committed to 15 episodes a season as opposed to the broadcast’s standard 22. This is Bacon’s first TV gig in years, previously having cameos on Will & Grace and Bored to Death.
Academy Award nominee Barbara Hershey has signed on to guest star on ABC’s hit Once Upon a Time. She will play Cora, the mother of the Evil Queen later this season. Hershey also has the option of having a short arc in Season 2 if and when ABC renews the show this spring. Hershey was nominated for an Oscar back in 1996 for her supporting role in The Portrait of a Lady. More recently, she appeared in Black Swan where she played Natalie Portman’s mother.
