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How ‘Beyond the Gates’ Became a Reality, Aims for its Audience and Crafts the Stories

By Michael Fairman

Published

2 years ago

on

Photo: CBS

Today on Tuesday, February 25th, CBS’ new daytime drama, Beyond the Gates will broadcast its second episode. The historic series which features a predominantly Black cast and has multicultural mix of characters, is the creative brainchild of veteran soap opera writer, Michele Val Jean.

The talented Val Jean rose through the ranks having written for Generations, General Hospital, and The Bold and the Beautiful, and if you speak to many actors in the genre, Michele is one of their all-time favorite scribes.

Now with Beyond the Gates, Val Jean is not only the series creator, but its head writer, executive producer and showrunner. Michele spoke with Deadline just as the first new soap opera on network television in over 25 years was being launched. (pictured below are Val Jean, Karla Mosley, Tamara Tunie, Daphnee Duplaix, director Steven Williford and executive producer, Julie Hanan Carruthers)

Photo: CBS

Through an enduring relationship with CBS Studios/NAACP Venture President, Sheila Ducksworth, which spans over 20 years, the two women bonded over their love of soap operas. When Ducksworth came into her current position, the time was right to start to get the project off the ground.

At that point, Val Jean wrote the bible for the series, while still working on The Bold and the Beautiful writing team. She explained the key checkpoints needed for a successful soap opera and how she went about crafting the the wealthy Dupree family, the epicenter of the new series.

Photo: CBS

“I wanted the family to be messy, but really grounded in their love for each other,” shared Michele. “You need a wild child, somebody who’s unpredictable, a heroine, a wish fulfillment heroine where you look at her and go, ‘I want to be her because she has no filter.’ You have to have your stable character, you have to have your villains, you have to have your hot guys. And then I wanted it to be multi-generational. So it’s the matriarch and the patriarch, their two daughters, their families. You need a cop, you need a lawyer.”

Over the years, soap operas have been plagued with not being able to bring in the lapse viewers or younger generations to the shows. Val Jean said she wants her new soap to appeal to “Everybody.” As to how she plans or hopes to do that, Michele added, “I want everybody to see a little bit of themselves in there and find a reason to tune in and stay with us. One of our characters (Chelsea) is a social media influencer. She’s a reluctant model, but she’s got millions and millions of followers. We play with that whole social media thing. Hoping that’ll appeal to younger viewers. Drama is still drama. I mean, soaps are still about wish fulfillment and high drama and high stakes, bigger than life characters. So I don’t think that’s changed very much. It’s a formula that works.”

Putting together the writers room for Beyond the Gates was paramount for Michele. “I’ve corralled a whole team of Black writers. I’ve been writing soaps consistently for over 30 years, so I can’t think of another Black person who has done that, who can say that, explained Val Jean. There are 15 of us in the room. I have more (than other soaps). It’s wonderful. I have my co-head writer who’s Bob Guza, along with five breakdown writers, five script writers, a script editor, a writer’s assistant, and a continuity producer.”

Photo: CBS

As previously announced, Beyond the Gates writing team includes breakdown writers: Ron Carlivati (former head writer, OLTL, GH, DAYS), Sara A. Bibel (Y&R), Christopher Dunn (Santa Barbara, GH, Sunset Beach, GL, All My Children, DAYS, Y&R), Gregori J. Martin (The Bay), and Teresa Zimmerman (Y&R, B&B). Val Jean explained that she handpicked her writing team, “I’ve worked with or knew of all of them.”

Script writers include: Judy Tate (AW, ATWT, DAYS), Danielle Paige (GL, DAYS), Jazmen Darnell Brown (BMF, Ambitions, Saints and Sinners), Cheryl L. Davis (ATWT, DAYS), and Lynn Martin (The City, Port Charles, AW, ATWT, Y&R), plus Susan Dansby (ATWT, Port Charles, Y&R ) as the script editor, and Michael Montgomery (Y&R) as the continuity producer.

Photo: CBS

Beyond the Gates like any soap opera is churning out episodes in front of the camera and behind the scenes in the fast-paced world of the genre. Val Jean shared that the team is currently writing episode 118, adding, “We’re working maybe two months ahead of time.”

So, what are your thoughts on the construct, hopes, and how Michele and her team had the monumental task of getting a new soap opera off the ground, when many naysayers said it could never be done again? Comment below.

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I loved the premier. As on most shows there is a character whose acting style has to grow on me, but it’s a soap and she is soap over the top. At times this character seems like she’s acting instead of living in the show world. That may be the design, only time will tell. I am definitely going to stick around and find out.

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I wish it well. I already watch 3 soaps and can’t take on another.

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I love what I’m seeing so far on this show! The cast is diverse and characters very intriguing! I can’t wait for the next episodes! Most of all it’s very refreshing to see wealth on T.v in the black community!

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Beyond the Gates

53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Winners Walk (Photos)

Published

12 hours ago

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October 31, 2026

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Scott Clifton, Tamara Tunie, Roger Howarth

The 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards are in the record books, and after the winners names were announced many of your favorite soap stars took their new gold statuette and then posed for photos at the Winners Walk.

For the first time in her career, Tamara Tunie won a Daytime Emmy, and for her leading role as Anita Dupree Williams, the matriarch of the Dupree family on CBS’ Beyond the Gates.

Tunie became the second actress in history to win for the newest soap in the competition, after Ambyr Michelle won earlier in the evening and became the first performer in the series history to win gold. Michelle won in the Outstanding Emerging Talent category.

Frank Valentini

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

EMOTIONS RAN HIGH

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Daytime Drama Series went to The Bold and the Beautiful’s Scott Clifton, who won his fourth Emmy overall and second in Lead for his touching performances as Liam Spencer during Liam’s medical crisis storyline for an inoperable brain tumor, which turned out to be a ruse.

During his acceptance speech, Clifton shared, “This means so much to me, not the thing, the attaboy from my peers. I can think of few things that bring me more joy than that.”

Speaking on his fellow nominees which included the likes of Y&R’s Eric Braeden (Victor Newman)  and GH’s Steve Burton, (Jason Morgan) Clifton said, “I am in awe of all of you, and you’ve taught me so much. It was a really hard year, and you made me invincible. You are my existential oxygen tank. And I don’t know what I would do without you. I love you, and I am grateful to you.

DECADES BETWEEN

In the Outstanding Supporting Actor and Actress categories, two longtime names synonymous with daytime drama, Roger Howarth (Matt Clark, Y&R) and Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott, Y&R) won their second Emmys in their career. Roger 32 years after his last Emmy playing Todd Manning on One Life to Live in 1994, and Beth Maitland for winning 41 years after becoming Y&R’s first performer to win Emmy gold back in 1985.

General Hospital executive producer,  Frank Valentini and his producing team took home the gold for the sixth year in a row for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series for the ABC soap. He later shared a moment with Scott Clifton, who started his daytime career as Dillon Quartermaine on GH.

During the ceremonies, the iconic Genie Francis (Laura, General Hospital) was presented with the Daytime Emmy Lifetime Achievement Award by her husband actor and director, Jonathan Frakes. After Francis received the award she posed for some snaps for the photographers in attendance.

Take a look at the photos below:

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

Beyond the Gates‘ Ambyr Michelle with the well-deserved gold!

Beth Maitland

Photo: Hutchins Photo

Y&R’s Beth Maitland winning 41 years after her first Supporting Actress victory for the moral center of the Abbott family, Traci Abbott.

Genie Francis

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

Genie Francis proud of receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions and performances as Laura on GH.

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

Mandi Line, the costume designer for The Young and the Restless, took home the gold in the costume category.

Frank and Scott

Photo: HutchinsPhoto

General Hospital executive producer, Frank Valentini, sharing a backstage moment with former GH star and now four-time Daytime Emmy winner from The Bold and the Beautiful‘s Scott Clifton.

So, who were you thrilled to see win a Daytime Emmy from those who appeared in the Winners Walk after their big wins last night at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Let us know via the comment section below.

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Beyond the Gates

53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Winners: ‘General Hospital’ Takes Drama Series, Tamara Tunie and Scott Clifton Top Acting Honors

Published

1 day ago

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October 30, 2026

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The 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards have just concluded on Friday night, October 30, and it was ABC’s General Hospital who took home the top prize for Outstanding Drama Series for the sixth time in row. Executive Producer, Frank Valentini accepted the award on behalf of the show.

Beyond the Gates scored its first two acting honors in the young history of the show. Veteran actress, Tamara Tunie won her first ever Emmy for Lead Actress a Daytime Drama Series for her performances as Anita Dupree, while Ambyr Michelle took home the gold in the Emerging Talent category.

Scott Clifton won his fourth Daytime Emmy overall, and second Lead Actor Emmy for his heart-tugging performance as Liam Spencer, who believed he was battling an inoperable brain tumor, only for it to turn out to be medical ruse to bilk Liam’s father out of $1 million dollars.

Scott Clifton

Courtesy/NATASYouTube

DECADES BETWEEN BETH MAITLAND AND ROGER HOWARTH LAST EMMY WIN

In the Supporting Actor and Actress categories, Daytime Emmy history was made with Beth Maitland  (Traci Abbott, The Young and the Restless) winning her second Emmy 41 years since she won her first won, and Roger Howarth (Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless) following suit for the men with his coming 32 years after he won in 1994 for One Life to Live.

Roger Howarth

Courtesy/NATASYouTube

Jeff Kober picked up his second Daytime Emmy win for his role as Cyrus Renault on General Hospital in the Outstanding Guest Performer in a Daytime Drama Series category. He previously won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the role in 2022, following a nomination in the same category in 2021.

The Kelly Clarkson Show, meanwhile, won Outstanding Daytime Talk Series it its final year, while Sherri Shepherd won for Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host after finding out her talker had been canceled after four seasons.

Genie Francis

Photo: NATAS/YouTube

THINK OF LAURA

General Hospital star Genie Francis (Laura) received the Lifetime Achievement Award and shared from the stage, “I know 50 years sounds like an awfully long time, but it doesn’t feel like that to me,” she said. “As they say, if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.”

Overall, General Hospital, Beyond the Gates and The Kelly Clarkson Show received the most gold statuettes for the night with four wins apiece.

Here’s a look at the honor roll for tonight’s big winners below:

Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
General Hospital

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree, Beyond the Gates)

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
Scott Clifton (Liam Spencer, The Bold and the Beautiful

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
Roger Howarth (Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series
Ambyr Michelle (Eva Thomas, Beyond the Gates)

Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
General Hospital

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series
Jeff Kober (Cyrus Renault, General Hospital)

Outstanding Casting for a Daytime Program
General Hospital

Outstanding Directing in a Daytime Drama Series
Days of our Lives

Outstanding Talk Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show

Outstanding Talk Series Host
Sherri Shepherd, Sherri

Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates

Outstanding Costume Design/Styling for a Daytime Program
The Young and the Restless (Episode 13273)

Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates, The Kelly Clarkson Show

So, who were you happy to see win a Daytime Emmy on tonight’s 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Do you think the right show and actors took home the gold? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section. In case you missed it, you can watch the replay of tonight’s livestream of the Daytime Emmy ceremony below.

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Beyond the Gates

Who Should Win Outstanding Daytime Drama at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards? (Poll)

Published

2 days ago

on

October 30, 2026

By

Drama Series Daytime Emmys

Tonight at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, the top prize is Outstanding Daytime Drama Series. This year four soaps are in the running, will the best show take home the gold? Now it’s your turn to let us know your pick!

Going into the night’s festivities, The Young and the Restless leads all nominations this year with 18. Meanwhile, the upstart Beyond the Gates, in its first Daytime Emmy appearance in its history received a record 15 nominations for a first time entry into the Emmy competition.

Then, there is General Hospital who could win its sixth Daytime Emmy in a row for Outstanding Daytime Drama series and its 19th overall. Will they continue the streak?

Meanwhile, Days of our Lives looks to prove just because they are on Peacock and not on network television that they continue to be relevant, especially in a year where we learned Ryan Gosling and John Oliver where big fans of the show.

To watch the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards live, you can catch it on the NATAS/Emmy official You Tube channel here beginning at  8pm ET/5pm PT.

Now it’s your turn! Take the Michael Fairman TV poll below and then let us know in the comment section, which show you are rooting for tonight to take home the gold statuette?

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