Soul Train Awards return after hiatus

Soul Train Awards return after hiatus

ATLANTA — The Soul Train Awards plan to return to the air after a two-year hiatus to recognize those who helped shape R&B music.

Record executive Antonio “L.A.” Reid, singers Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Chaka Khan and Charlie Wilson will be honored on the two-hour music special to be taped in Atlanta.

The awards are scheduled to air Nov. 29 on Centric — a new channel jointly operated by the BET and MTV Networks divisions of Viacom.

Actors Taraji P. Henson and Terrence Howard will co-host the awards first started by Don Cornelius, the creator of the syndicated music show “Soul Train.”

The last awards show took place in 2007 in California.

Fine Living will become the Cooking Channel

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Scripps Networks Interactive Inc. is turning Fine Living into the Cooking Channel and moving the cable network from the hills of Tennessee to New York City’s food-oriented Chelsea Market.

Scripps spokeswoman Cindy McConkey says Fine Living employees were told Thursday. The revamped channel will launch in third quarter of 2010.

About 20 jobs will be lost at Scripps’ 1,000-employee headquarters in Knoxville, though Scripps hopes to find other positions for those workers locally.

Scripps Networks created Fine Living in 2002. The channel reaches 55 million households but hasn’t grown as fast as its Knoxville-based sister networks HGTV and DIY Network, both geared to all things about homes.

In New York, the rebranded Cooking Channel will be paired with Scripps’ successful acquisition, The Food Network, in studios the company already owns there.

Today’s birthdays

Actor Ron Leibman is 72. Country singer Gene Watson is 66. Country singer Paulette Carlson is 58. Actor David Morse (“St. Elsewhere”) is 56. Actor Stephen Spinella (“24”) is 53. Actress Joan Cusak is 47. Guitarist Scott Johnson of Gin Blossoms is 47. Actor-writer Michael J. Nelson (“Mystery Science Theater 3000”) is 45. Actor Sean Patrick Flanery is 44. Actor Luke Perry is 43. Actor Artie Lange (“MADtv”) is 42. Actor Jane Krakowski (“30 Rock,” “Ally McBeal”) is 41. Rapper U-God of Wu-Tang Clan is 39. Rapper MC Lyte is 38. Singer NeeNa Lee is 34. Actress Emily Deschanel (“Bones”) is 33. Actress Michelle Trachtenberg (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Inspector Gadget”) is 24.