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Season 1 – American Soul

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – American Soul Feb 2019 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
Tomatometer 4 Reviews 64% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
This scripted drama combines fictional and real-life characters and moments to tell the story of a young, ambitious and troubled entrepreneur who created "Soul Train," one of the most predominant television shows for African-American culture. Set in the early 1970s and filled with music, dance, fashion and glamour, the series reveals what it took to launch the first nationally-syndicated black music show and what happened when the music stopped. Through it all, 30-something Don Cornelius sacrifices all that he loves to follow his dream.

Critics Reviews

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Troy Patterson The New Yorker 02/05/2019
The true fascination of American Soul lies with the institution of the youth-oriented dance show, which is a fine mental space to inhabit-one of the healthier strains of nostalgia for bygone spots of pop community. Go to Full Review Robert Lloyd Los Angeles Times 02/05/2019
For now "American Soul" is not a "stone gas," but it's good to have until a better version arrives. Go to Full Review Ed Bark Uncle Barky 02/14/2019
B-
American Soul is a significant effort to get untracked and make a mark. Dramatizing how Soul Train came to be is a story well worth telling. And BET at long last has deemed itself the perfect place to do it. Go to Full Review Joel Keller Decider 02/06/2019
American Soul has its issues, but the '70s visuals and music are all fantastic, and Walls does a nice job of portraying Don Cornelius his way. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mr H 10/09/2024 A good life story absolutely overlooked by fictional nonsense. How you can mess up a life story when it's already been lived is beyond me. Stick to real events and maybe people will like what you do. Why people think it's OK to wipe history and make their own lies up about how someone lived their life is just plain wrong on every level. See more Demented N 11/01/2022 Episodes of souls train = fun funky party time. This on the other hand is less soullllllll train and more dark and gritty ! I personally would of made a show about how they tried to get the different acts on the show and how other turned them down! I'm just ot feeling it season 2 could be better but I didn't enjoy season 1 enough to continue. Little rich saves the show a tad as no mater what he is portrayed he is funny. See more 07/18/2020 Fabulous, the acting and music are a superb representation of that time period. See more 04/07/2019 Great actors, great musicians and a great story can not wait until season 2 See more Read all reviews
American Soul — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Sinqua Walls

Don Cornelius

Jason Dirden

Gerald Aims

Jelani Winston

Kendall Clarke

Iantha Richardson

Tessa Lorraine

Katlyn Nichol

Simone Clarke

Christopher Jefferson

Jeffrey "JT" Tucker

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Feb 5, 2019 Man Is First Destiny Don Cornelius risks everything to land an A-list performer in order to take "Soul Train" nationwide; while Tessa struggles to live up to Don's expectations, she discovers a new act that could be the next big thing. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 5, 2019 Continuous Revolution in Progress To save his Southern syndication, Don teams up with an unlikely partner; the Clarke family prepares for Joseph's homecoming from Vietnam; JT finds himself in a bad spot after running into an old friend. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 12, 2019 Lost and Found A visitor forces Don to re-evaluate his life and the Clarke family tries to pick up the pieces. Details Episode 4 Aired Feb 19, 2019 Just Us Don figures out a new creative way to score top talent for the show; Tessa goes to the extreme to get the dancers into shape only to end up hurting the show; JT's family is hanging by a thread. Details Episode 5 Aired Feb 26, 2019 Fault Lines Don has to save the show after a powerful earthquake almost brings the whole thing crashing down; Tessa has to make a choice between her career and the striking "Soul Train" dancers. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 5, 2019 What Are You Looking at? Don is forced into a complicated situation when Little Richard threatens not to perform on the show; the Clarke family clashes over their new house guest; Gerald fights for his life against his business rival gangster. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 12, 2019 Nothing to Fear Don celebrates the success of "Soul Train" in Chicago but discovers it may cost him more than he bargained for; the dancers have a run-in with racists. Details Episode 8 Aired Mar 19, 2019 Nothing Ventured... Nothing Gained When Dick Clark debuts a rival show, Don enlists the help of a renowned activist to take him down; JT makes a deal with the Crips in order to protect his family; Tessa auditions for a dance troupe and has a run-in with her past. Details Episode 9 Aired Mar 26, 2019 '68 B.C. In 1968, Don takes one step toward his dreams while dealing with his father's failing health; an estranged uncle with a dark agenda threatens the Clarkes' security; the Tuckers put the move to Oklahoma on hold so JT can pursue music. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 2, 2019 Proceed With Caution As Encore achieves its greatest success, opening for Ike and Tina Turner at Guys & Dolls, Simone, Kendall and JT must reconcile their own lives before committing to the group; Don secures a second season for "Soul Train." Details

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American Soul — Season 1

American Soul American Soul American Soul View more photos

Season Info

Executive Producer
Jesse Collins, Jonathan Prince, Devon Greggory, Tony Cornelius, Andy Horne
Network
BET
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Feb 5, 2019