*Tony Cornelius, who worked alongside his father Don Cornelius on “Soul Train” and other shows, said his father placed a call to him on the day he died, reports CBS News.

Tony did not elaborate on the conversation, but said, “It was a call of urgency, and I came to his home immediately.”

Cornelius said his father was a private person and was “unhappy about some things” in his life. His father’s health, also, he said, was failing.

“My father was extremely private and unfortunately, when you’re a private person, you keep things inside,” Cornelius told Gayle King on “CBS This Morning.” “You know, it’s hard to imagine that you would — how you feel. You have to be in a person’s shoes really to understand. Obviously, me being extremely close to him, I could tell that he was uncomfortable. But our family could never know that he would — how uncomfortable he really was.”

Cornelius said his father would want to be remembered as someone who worked hard at being a professional.

“He taught me everything I know about TV production and he just really wanted to serve,” he said. “(My father) wanted to make a statement. I think he really worked extremely hard to make sure that he presented a project that people could really enjoy. … I think his legacy would be that he really worked on the fine points. I mean, he’s always taught me about it’s the fine points that count and he wanted to achieve quality. He wanted to expose the masses to a new way of looking at black-oriented television. And he just worked really hard to make that happen.”

“The Help” has been served eight Image Award nominations.

The adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s best-selling novel about black maids speaking out about their white employers during the civil-rights movement led the 43rd annual NAACP Image Awards nominations Thursday with eight nods in film categories, including outstanding motion picture against “Jumping the Broom,” “Pariah,” “The First Grader” and “Tower Heist.”

The football sitcom “The Game” and medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” ruled the TV categories with six nominations each.

Beyonce and Jill Scott both received four nominations in the music categories. They’ll both vie against Jennifer Hudson, Ledisi and Mary J. Blige for the outstanding female artist trophy.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s Image Awards honor diversity in the arts and will be presented Feb. 17 on NBC.

Simon Cowell predicted “The X Factor” would be a TV hit and eclipse his ex-employer, “American Idol.” He was wrong, and now his show has been gutted of three of its five stars, including Paula Abdul, putting its future in question.

Where does Fox’s “X Factor” go from here in trying to replace them and compete in a crowded field of singing contests when it returns this year for season two?

Money is an issue: Aside from its talent contracts, the show’s first season was expensively promoted and lavishly produced. Whether Cowell, others producers and the network will open sufficiently deep pockets when they go in search of stars to replace Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger is an open question.

Fox’s favorite son, “American Idol,” reportedly wooed Jennifer Lopez with $10 million for her first season on the show and kept her with a second-season deal worth up to $20 million — proof of Fox’s continued confidence in the show, even as it ages, to earn substantial ratings and advertising dollars. Can a rookie that stumbled out of the gate expect the same?

A new host also must be hired to replace Steve Jones, who tweeted Tuesday that his departure was “a shame” but didn’t give a reason for the change.

Neither did Cowell, who in a statement Wednesday saluted Abdul on her departure and gave a “massive thank you” to her, Scherzinger of Pussycat Dolls fame and Jones for their work. Fox reality chief Mike Darnell also avoided discussing reasons for the shakeup in a “We love Paula” shout out.

But Abdul cut closer to the issue.

“I’ve learned through my longevity in this industry that business decisions often times override personal considerations,” she said in a statement, adding that she and Cowell remained friends and she was grateful for the “X Factor” opportunity.

The show had reunited Cowell and Abdul, former “American Idol” teammates. Abdul had quit “Idol” following a contract dispute and Cowell left to try to re-create the magic of “X Factor,” a hit in Britain and elsewhere, in the U.S. market.

His bravado in promising a top-rated show that would eclipse “American Idol,” which awkwardly also airs on Fox, proved overblown. Although “X Factor” gave Fox a stronger presence on Thursday, a lucrative night for advertising, it failed to match the No. 1 status of “Idol” and often lingered near the bottom of Nielsen Co.’s 20 top-rated shows — good, not great.

(Even “Idol” seems to be suffering from singing-contest overload this season, with its ratings down by double-digit percentages. New competitors who may be diluting the genre’s appeal include “The Voice,” with Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine among its heavyweight pop star judges. )

While Abdul and Scherzinger apparently failed to live up to Cowell’s standards, kicking off both the show’s female stars seems less than gallant. Another woman, British pop star Cheryl Cole, lost her place at the judging table in a dispute with Cowell before the show aired and was replaced by Scherzinger.

That adds to the challenge of finding replacements: Who wants to come aboard and risk taking the fall if “X Factor” doesn’t improve next season?

For now, judge Antonio “L.A.” Reid appears secure. And so does Cowell — until season two airs and Fox takes a hard look at whether his TV baby is growing into the blockbuster that Cowell promised.

Grammy award-winning singer John Legend surprised a high school choir Tuesday at the Kennedy Center to help start a program encouraging young artists to confront social issues with their art, in honor of the late Marvin Gaye.

The project, “What’s Going On … Now,” echoes Gaye’s lyrics and asks young people to express how things have changed in the four decades since Gaye’s hit album, “What’s Going On.”

Students can upload videos, photos, poems, music or any recordings of creative expression to the project’s website to answer that question.

Gaye’s groundbreaking 1971 Motown album tackled difficult social issues such as war, drug addiction and poverty, and asked audiences to reflect on the times. His 1972 performance at the Kennedy Center in his hometown was a historic comeback for Gaye — his first live performance in two years since the death of his singing partner and friend Tammi Terrell. It’s also believed to be the only time Gaye sang his entire “What’s Going On” album in concert.

Legend, 33, will recreate Gaye’s performance in two concerts in May with the National Symphony Orchestra and other performers. They will also incorporate recordings submitted by students. The Kennedy Center will feature user-generated content on the project’s website, and two young participants will win a free trip to Washington for the concert.

Legend surprised a show choir Tuesday from Washington’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts while they were rehearsing for a performance of “What’s Going On” at the Kennedy Center. Many of the students’ jaws dropped as Legend sat down at the piano to sing with them.

Legend said Gaye’s tunes were part of his childhood because his parents were big fans. But that memorable album almost never happened. Motown founder Berry Gordy initially was against it but got on board when it started to sell.

It takes “a bit of boldness” for artists to take on social issues and political issues like Gaye did, Legend said.

“Music right now … especially in hip-hop, no one really wants to talk about poverty,” he told The Associated Press. “And if people did make (such music), would the audience respond in a way that would encourage more people to make it?”

More often hip-hop is about celebrating black wealth and success, he said, because people want music to be an escape, to be inspired.

Legend’s recent album “Wake Up” with The Roots was more gritty and political and was successful in its own way, he said, but not like an album of love songs.

As Legend sang with the students, India Reynolds, 17, a member of the choir, said they all sang backgrounds a little softer to hear his voice.

“If ‘What’s Going On’ came out yesterday, it still would have been a hit,” she said. “He wrote that album so that people would listen.”

Many of the same issues Gaye wrote about still linger today, such as war, violence and unemployment, she said.

“Using my craft to help people notice them is an honor,” Reynolds said.

The Kennedy Center has partners in seven cities for the project, including Cleveland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Santa Fe, N.M., and the Chicago-based Digital Youth Network. The center created curriculum for teachers to bring the program into their classrooms, or students can join on their own.

Darrell Ayers, the center’s vice president for education, said engaging students with digital media integrates literacy and artistic literacy with lessons about history and issues of the day.

It’s also a way for young people “to realize the impact the arts can have, not just to make you feel good but to make people think about things.”

A judge in Georgia is garnishing his earnings he can repay a six-figure debt to his jeweler.

According to court papers obtained by TMZ, Iverson was sued in 2010 for allegedly not paying a $375,000 bill to Aydin & Company Jewelers.

The records show Iverson never responded to the lawsuit so a default judgement was issued in favor of the jewelry store, allowing A&C to collect $859,896.46 for the jewelery, court costs, interest and attorneys fees.

But Iverson still didn’t pay. As a result, earlier this month the judge signed off on an order which allows the store to recoup their loss directly from Iverson’s Wells Fargo bank account.

Calls to Iverson’s rep have not been returned.

Last night on TV One’s “Unsung,” fans of hip hop/R&B group Full Force learned that Paul Anthony George is battling lymphoma.  Paul is the most herculean member of the buffed band of brothers and cousins who recorded hits like “Alice Be My Girl,” “Please Stay” and “Let’s Dance Against The World.”  They also had memorable roles in the movies House Party, House 2 and Krush Groove, among others.

Paul Anthony explains how he found out:

“I was in the gym training and my training partner saw a small lump. He said, you need to go and get that checked out.  I didn’t feel nothing, but with that type you don’t feel anything.   I went and had a FNA (a fine needle aspiration) where they inject and pull the fluid out, and the diagnosis was that it seemed to be consistent with mantle cell lymphoma.”

The biopsy was conclusive and to date the disease is incurable.

Out of this experience has grown a family quest for the right plan of attack, which included canvassing cancer treatment centers and interviewing world renowned physicians. Making the right choice for Paul Anthony came easy, because it all boiled down to a name. Somewhere out there was a Dr. Paul Anthony Hamlin and when the two Paul Anthony’s met, the irony served as a confirmation. Full Force’s Paul Anthony comments on the coincidence:

“He said, I’ve never met another Paul Anthony and the doctor said, neither have I.  So I said, ‘All my life, I’ve bet on Paul Anthony, so I’m going to bet on Paul Anthony.’”

Six months of intense chemotherapy followed for an undaunted Paul, who maintained his fitness regimen despite the treatments. Anthony stresses that most diseases are individual, therefore implementing healthy lifestyle choices, mental focus and spirituality are what is most important in combating illness and maintaining health. Paul Anthony is currently in remission although, his brother Bow Legged Lou is a direct match for him should there be a need for a blood donor. The success rate for such an operation is now 98-99%.

True to the Full Force persona that we know, Paul Anthony is living life and not missing a beat.  He also never paused to wonder why this diagnosis has come upon him.

“I never asked myself ‘why me’?  I was too preoccupied with ‘let’s dance, let’s do this’. The only thought is let me take care of this, let me dance with this, let me get control of this because I’ve got things to do!”

Paul Anthony decided to go public with his fight so that it might encourage others, especially those who are entertainers, to be vocal about their predicament in the hope that they can help and inspire others. Be on the lookout for concerts, fundraisers and various events as part of the Paul Anthony Foundation and its mission to find a cure for lymphoma and other diseases.

Tonights featured artist in the 4 Play for Love is the incomparable Full Force! Check out the songs we featured on-air below.

Did we miss any of your favorites? Leave a comment below and let us know!

A rumor that Sanaa Lathan was involved with Kobe Bryant while he and Vanessa were married prompted the “Disappearing Acts” actress to respond to the media. She tweeted a short but direct message to her followers on Twitter.

Actor Taye Diggs, who is considered a chocolate sex symbol by many female fans, revealed that he was not always comfortable with his dark skin.

Diggs told My Brown Baby.com that from the age of 5, he was made fun of by white kids.

“They just knew, ‘Ok, his skin is brown, my skin is white, let’s make fun of him.’ I obviously didn’t take it well,” Diggs recalls.

The actor said that in high school he dealt with colorism where some school mates believed that light skinned students were considered more attractive.

“And then funnily enough, it was when dark skinned men, and this is just from my perspective, there seemed to be a shift where all of a sudden we saw Denzel Washingnton, Wesley Snipes, and Tyson Beckford.

“For me, when I saw Tyson Beckford hailed as this beautiful man by all people, that caused a shift in my being. And I remember literally waking up and walking the streets feeling a little bit more proud.

“And then after the movie ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back,’ when I had my own personal moments of weakness, I just had to remind myself of all the people that really enjoyed that movie and just kind of lean on that.”

Diggs recently wrote a children’s book called “Chocolate Me!” where he chronicles his personal struggles with skin color and affirms the beauty of dark chocolate skin. Diggs, who has a two-year-old biracial son with Caucasian actress/singer Adina Mendel, urges kids to be happy with the way God made them—no matter what skin color they are.

The Flynn & Son Funeral Home in Fords, N.J., said it was informed of Hegyes’ death Thursday by the actor’s family.

A spokesman at JFK Medical Center in Edison, N.J., told the Star-Ledger newspaper that Hegyes, of Metuchen, arrived at the hospital Thursday morning in full cardiac arrest and died.

Hegyes was appearing on Broadway in 1975 when he auditioned for “Kotter,” a TV series about a teacher who returns to the inner-city New York school of his youth to teach a group of irreverent remedial students nicknamed the “Sweathogs.” They included the character Vinnie Barbarino, played by John Travolta.

The show’s theme song, performed by John Sebastian, became a pop hit.

Hegyes also appeared on many other TV series, including “Cagney & Lacey.”

He was born in Perth Amboy and grew up in Metuchen, the eldest child of a Hungarian father and Italian mother.

He attended Rowan University, formerly Glassboro State College, in southern New Jersey, before heading to New York City after graduation. He returned to Rowan on several occasions to teach master classes in acting, a university spokesman said Thursday.

“He was a good friend to the university,” spokesman Joe Cardona said.

Hegyes continued to act after “Kotter” and was a regular on “Cagney & Lacey.” He also guest-starred in shows including “Diagnosis Murder” and “The Drew Carey Show.”

On his website, Hegyes wrote that he was inspired by Chico Marx, whom he had played in a touring production of a show about the Marx Bros. He also recalled how his mother encouraged him to get involved in theater as a teen.

In what promises to be another rating-topping addition to the VH1 lineup, Eddie Murphy‘s ex-wife, Nicole, and Will Smith‘s ex-wife, Sheree, are reportedly going to co-star in a reality show called “Ex-List.” Wendy Williams shared the news on the January 26th episode of her syndicated daytime talk show.

Go to The Urban Daily to read more.

Tonight’s featured artist in the 4 Play for Love is the incomparable O’Jays! Check out the songs we featured on-air below.

Did we miss any of your favorites? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Tonights featured artist in the 4 Play for Love is the incomparable Anita Baker! Check out the songs we featured on-air below.

Did we miss any of your favorites? Leave a comment below and let us know!

Tonight’s 4 Play For Love features the incomparable Prince aka “His Royal Badness”. Check out videos of tonights songs that were played on-air.

Prince, we salute you brotha!!!

Apparently enough water has flowed under the bridge for Barbara Walters and Star Jones to reunite for a day.

“The View” announced on Wednesday that Jones will appear on the daytime talk show on Feb. 22 to promote an awareness campaign about heart disease among women.

Walters and Jones had a falling out in 2006 when Jones, one of the five original co-hosts of the daytime chat show, exited “The View.” ABC decided not to renew her contract and Jones took Walters by surprise by announcing on June 27 that she would be leaving the show.

That exit came more quickly than expected. Walters wouldn’t allow her back the next day.

Walters later said that Jones had compelled her co-hosts to lie for her by not revealing that Jones had undergone gastric bypass surgery while on “The View.” Jones took her own shots, criticizing Walters for writing an autobiography that revealed details of an affair.

The women later had something serious in common. Both underwent open heart surgery to repair faulty heart valves within two months of each other in 2010.

Jones is coming back to the show to discuss her involvement in the American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” public information campaign. Women are asked to wear red on Feb. 3 to support heart patients.