What Ever Happened to...Don Cornelius?

If Don Cornelius had stuck to “Love, Peace, and Soul,” he wouldn’t be in the mess he’s in now. Last Wednesday, the 72-year-old creator of Soul Train copped a no contest plea in Los Angeles Superior Court to a misdemeanor spousal battery charge. You’ll recall that he was arrested in October following a dispute with his estranged wife, Victoria. According to EURweb, his plea deal led to the dismissal of four other misdemeanor charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness from making a police report.

In addition to being sentenced to three years probation, Cornelius will also have to pay over a thousand dollars in fines, complete 300 hours of community service, and attend a domestic violence treatment program for a year. He wasn’t present for the hearing.

The Chrihanna Chronicles: Will There be a Book?

Here's one for the books -- literally. Chris Brown and Rihanna are planning to co-author a book about abuse and go on a talk-show tour in an attempt to salvage his career. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the title of their literary effort will be Project Mea Culpa.

A source was quoted as saying, "The only way Chris can possibly reverse things is to come clean and help raise awareness about abusive relationships. Obviously this is a public relations campaign, but it only will work if there's genuine healing, contrition and a path to preventing future problems."

Let's hope there really is some healing -- for both of them.

In other Chrihanna Chronicles news, E! Online reports that Rihanna filed a criminal protective order in Los Angeles Superior Court that will allow her to tape any future phone conversations she has with Chris. In fact, the paperwork that was put in on Thursday covers any communication made over the next three years, lasting until March 5th, 2012.

Brown, who has been charged with felony assault and making criminal threats, is due back in court on Monday, April 6th.