On this day in 1971.....

[Rain Man]

Television's longest running syndicated show premiered:

SOOOOUUUUULLLLLL TRAIN!

Yes, the hippest trip in the country originally aired hosted by Don Cornelius and became a cult classic in the Black community.

Side note: Assuming that Soul Train can last one more season, it will officially beat American Bandstand as the longest running dance show in 2003. (AB aired on ABC 1957-87 and on USA from 1987-89).

We all know about ST's original theme song, TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia) performed by the Three Degrees, which was replaced with a more hip hop oriented theme song in 1994 when Cornelius retired as host. This retirement prompted a series of guest hosts, and currently Shemar Moore now takes the helm.

A lot of criticism about the show is that ST is now too predictable, and that a lot of the performing talent are first-timers ("Coming out with their first album, "I'm Broke As A Joke"....) .

Should ST be pulled into the station and retired to the roundhouse? Or does it have a little more steam left in the engine to make a few more trips?

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?