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Beyond the Gates

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Stars Daphnee Duplaix and Keith D. Robinson Talk Hope for a Ted/Nicole Reconciliation, Trisha Mann-Grant and Jennifer Hudson

By Michael Fairman

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Photos: CBS

This week, two of the stars of Beyond the Gates, Daphnee Duplaix (Nicole) and Keith D. Robinson (Ted) talked about the state of the relationship of the soap opera’s Ted and Nicole Dupree Richardson, when after Ted got drunk and slept with none other than Dana/Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant), any chance of a reconciliation went south.

In addition, Robinson, just released the music video for his single Forever Bae which not only was featured on an episode of the CBS soap, but also features Daphnee Duplaix in the story of the video keeping it within the ups and down and struggles of Ted and Nicole.

During their livestream chat on the Michael Fairman Channel, Daphnee and Keith answered a myriad of questions including: Robinson being the first recast in the young series history, working with scene stealer Trisha Mann-Grant who has turned their on-screen worlds upside and down, plus their previous roles including Keith starring opposite Jennifer Hudson as her brother, C.C. White, in the movie adaptation of Dreamgirls (2006), and Daphne’s ‘dream true come true moment’ when she was part of the cast  One Life to Live as Rachel Gannon (2009-2010) and more. Here are some excerpts below.

Photo: CBS

Daphnee, what was your impression when you first met Keith and did you think he was the right pick for the role of Ted?

DAPHNEE: We had to do a chemistry test together. I did have to test with, I think it was about four great actors. Then, I was asked my opinion, you know, if I had 2 cents in it (who would I chose). And for me, Keith had stole the role. It wasn’t my (ultimate) decision, but they listened. In the story, we fell in love with Ted immediately just the way he loved his wife. and he also holds himself up in this very regal way, like king, stature. Keith definitely had both of those things when he came into the character, and he showed up like day one. His day one, he was thrown into the fire.

Keith, you came in at a pivotal point in the storyline; right after Leslie and Eva (Ambyr Michelle) revealed themselves at Ted and Nicole’s anniversary party and its fallout. Did you know the gravity of the scenes you would be stepping into when you debuted?

KEITH: Honestly, I wasn’t aware of the stakes. I just wanted to get through scene. I didn’t go beyond it, I was really focused having a great scene with my scene partner. So the stakes were not even in the equation. As I got further away from it, I realized now that the stakes were mighty high. But I’ve always approached it like that. I never looked down. I just look forward. So I just came in and just wanted to get through the scene without tripping.

Photo: CBS

What has it been like working opposite Trisha Mann-Grant?

KEITH: All the actors on the show are exceptional. I think Trish has such a toolbox, a treasure box. You never know what’s going to come out of her mouth, or how she’s gonna take the information, and spit it back out, deliver it. She’s a bit of a magician in that way. So, I mean, she’s talented. She’s the Jekyll. You don’t know what you’re gonna get, or how she’s gonna deliver it. You just kinda gotta be ready. She finds things on the page that you don’t really see until she says them.

Photo: JPI

Daphnee, you were the last actress to play Rachel Gannon on One Life to Live, the on-screen daughter of Emmy-winner, Hillary B. Smith (Nora Gannon Buchanan). What do you recall about your time in Llanview, and what it meant to you, personally?

DAPHNEE: I remember my first day. and I was an ABC girl. I grew up watching All My Children, One Life to Live and General Hospital. So, I’m literally sitting there staring at Victoria Lord, like she’s speaking to me, and I’m like, “This is not real right now! It’s Erika Slezak this is not real! This is not happening.” And then there was Robin Strasser (ex-Dorian), and Hillary B. Smith. I’m just like, ‘Oh, my God.’ I’ve literally been watching these people my entire life and now I get to work with them.

Photo: Paramount

Keith, tell what is was like to work with Jennifer Hudson and play her brother, in the 2006 film adaptation of Dreamgirls?

KEITH: It was awesome. She really was like my sister. She was new to the business and I was fairly new. I was about five or six years in, and we kind of took that experience on with each other. We were the ones that were kind of like, “It’s Beyonce, she’s coming down the hall. Is that Eddie Murphy?” We were kind of like in this amusement park, like we had won this walk on roll with these stars. That’s how it kind of felt in the beginning. So we kind of grew into our roles. To see where Jennifer went after that was amazing. I think we all got to go home and Jennifer was on the road promoting the movie and she got that hardware (The Oscar), which was well-deserved.

Photo: VeVo

The music video for “Forever” Bae features Daphnee, for obvious reasons, and you have said the song feels like it’s about the everlasting love of Ted and Nicole, even though dark times.

KEITH: There was no other person who could have done it and who I wanted to do it. It made perfect sense. The song is serendipitous because that’s my actual wedding song that I played at my wedding, but didn’t get a chance to play the whole song to my ex-wife named Nicole. So, I thought I would never play the record again. And then I pulled it out and it fit perfectly for this. So I was like, I have to have Daphnee star in my video. Thank you, Daphne. Thank you!

Photo: CBS

The million dollar question; is there any hope for a reconciliation for Ted and Nicole, any time soon, or are we looking years from now?

DAPHNEE: We are taping about four months in advance. I believe that there is hope. This is what I will say. I believe that there will be hope for some sort of reconciliation; when I have no idea. The world we live in, they literally could drag this out for five years, and then we’re back together for five years, and then we are broken up again for five years. That’s how this world works. I think it’s going to be a constant rollercoaster ride.

KEITH: That’s going to be a huge episode though, if we ever get the chance, if Ted and Nicole ever give in to one another, that’s going to be a cliffhanger!

Now below, check out our livestream chat with Daphnee and Keith which includes additional topics then covered up on the Michael Fairman Channel.

So, place your bets; do you see Ted and Nicole finding their way back together anytime soon? Could you see them married to other people, and then at some point, something happens that throws them into each others orbit, they can’t resist each other, they want to get back together, but now they are tangled up in other relationships? Thoughts? Let us know in the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

RATINGS: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Scores Third Most-Watched Week Since Its Premiere With ‘The Young and the Restless’ Crossover Event

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The tornado that ripped through Fairmont Crest and put the lives of the characters of Beyond the Gates and several from The Young and the Restless in jeopardy had viewers tuning-in for the week of June 8-12.

The highly-publicized crossover event kicked off on the Tuesday, June 9 episode of Beyond the Gates where six residents of Genoa City came to to visit the D.C./Maryland country club for a fundraiser for Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon), only no one expected a twister to tear into the proceedings, leading to several storylines intersecting as people were trapped with one another with Eva Thomas (Ambyr Michelle) being the most severely injured and now requiring a liver transplant to survive.

According to the ratings report from CBS and Nielsen ratings and as supplied to Variety, Beyond the Gates brought in on average 1.8 million viewers throughout the wee. That is up 11% from its season-to-date numbers and it makes the crossover/tornado episodes its third most-watched week for the soap since Beyond the Gates premiered back on February 24, 2025.

Photo: CBS

A GENOA CITY TOUCHDOWN

With the strength of the story, its special effects and bringing over cast of the top-rated, The Young and the Restless which included: Eric Braeden (Victor Newman), Michael Mealor (Kyle Abbott), Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott), Susan Walters (Diane Jenkins), Melissa Ordway (Abby Newman) and Bryton James (Devon Hamilton), the Thursday, June 11 episode was the week’s most-watched.

According to the numbers, the Wednesday June 10 episode brought in the most total viewers for the week with 1.87 million (up 17% week-to-week), followed closely by the Friday, June 12 episodes which had 1.84 million watching.

Photo: JPI

Over on The Young and the Restless, the week of June 8-12, also saw an increase based on the early return that week of Shemar Moore as Malcolm Winters wrapping up his leg of the story where viewers learned he had a son Holden Novak (Nathan Owens) with Stephanie Simmons (Vivica A. Fox), and survived his bone marrow transplant surgery thanks to Cane Ashby (Billy Flynn).

Y&R scored 3.11 million viewers for the week up 2% from its season average with the June 8 and June 9 episodes featuring Moore averaging 3.2 million viewers and up 9% year-over-year.

So, did you enjoy the tornado episodes of Beyond the Gates and seeing the residents of Genoa City crossover to Fairmont Crest? Share your thoughts via the comment section on the latest ratings for the two CBS daytime soaps.

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Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Karla Mosley Weighs-in on Dani Dupree’s Love Life Endgame: Are You Team Bill or Team Andre?

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Last week, viewers of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates watched as a tornado ripped through Fairmont Crest. In its wake, people were trapped with one another or seriously injured.

For Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley), she found herself stuck in an elevator with her ex-husband, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). And wouldn’t you know, one thing led to another, and the two gave into their unresolved feelings for one another and did the deed.

Meanwhile, Dani’s current husband, Andre Richardson (Sean Freeman) suffered a minor injury to his leg, and was worried sick in the ballroom because he had no idea where Dani was after the twister decimated the place. Eventually, Dani and Bill part ways go back to their families and act like nothing happened.

Photo: CBS

When Dani is reunited with Andre, he professes his love for her even more than ever. As for Bill’s current wife Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings), she could care less because she was making out with Kyle Abbott (Michael Mealor, Y&R) in a closet at the country club!

THE TORNADO MAY HAVE CHANGED DANI’S HEART

For months, Beyond the Gates viewers have found themselves torn; rooting for Dani and Bill to get over themselves and get back together, or rooting for Dani and Andre, because its clear he truly loves her, even though their marriage may not have started out as the greatest love affair of all time.

Karla Mosley opened up to PEOPLE on Dani’s romance plight and who the writers of the soap might ultimately pair her with, expressing “I cannot say. I honestly have no idea.”

As it seems now, this triangle of Andre/Dani/Bill is about to heat up even more following Dani’s elevator exploits. However, according to Mosley, the popularity of Dani and Andre came as surprise to the writers, which has led to the romantic drama. “The writers did not think Dani and Andre were gonna pop off the way that they did,” explained Karla. “Originally, they thought Bill and Dani would be back together by the end of season one. And then it was like, ‘wait, what is happening?’”

Photo: CBS

WRITERS ARE TAKING THE PULSE OF THE FANS

The decision to not have Dani and Bill reunite within season 1 or half-way though season 2, Mosley shares is a sign of the times: “The old soap trope is the torn woman who goes back to her man. But I think there are enough women now who are like, I want to see her win.”

In the end, Karla believes that in this case, fans speaking up, can also translate to the writers room and influence their potential decision of who should be the ultimate man for Dani. She tells Beyond the Gates viewers,  “Keep talking about it, y’all.”

Meanwhile, questions remain: Could Dani and Bill’s elevator sex find her pregnant with his child, which would make this whole situation more messy? Stay tuned.

Now, let us know, who do you want to see Dani ultimately with … Bill Hamilton or Andre Richardson? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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Beyond the Gates

Phillip Boyd Makes His Debut on ‘Beyond the Gates’ in Recurring Role of Dr. Miles Arnold

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A new face emerged on today’s episode of CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates when actor, Phillip Boyd made his debut in the recurring role of Dr. Miles Arnold.

In story, Dr Arnold is a doctor and surgeon and on the June 16 episode, Miles had to sadly deliver some disappointing new. Neither of Eva’s (Ambyr Michelle) parents, Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) or Leslie Thomas (Trisha Mann-Grant) is a donor match for the life-saving transplant surgery Eva desperately needs.

Eva, among others, was injured in the tornado that ripped through Fairmont Crest and its devastating aftermath. She sustained critical injuries during the storm and was trapped with her half-sister, Kat Richardson (Colby Nixon).

Courtesy/CBS

Phillip Boyd recently appeared on The McCord List, where he talked about his career between working in Los Angeles and Atlanta and said about his latest acting gig, “Dr, Miles Arnold works in the hospital. There’s something that happens, a natural disaster and a lot of the characters on the show are at this event and something tragic happens and they’re rushed to the hospital.”

The actor is also appearing in the final season of Tyler Perry’s Netflix series Beauty in Black where he shows up in 7 episodes. Boyd previously appeared in short term roles on General Hospital, The Young and the Restless and Days of Our Lives. In primetime, he also played the role of Mitch on 90210 and played Oscar in Tyler Perry’s The Haves and Have Nots for five-seasons.

So, so you think Beyond the Gates might make Phillip Boyd’s role bigger over time on the soap? Will Kat be the match that Eva needs? If not, who? Many people were ruled out on today’s episode. Drop you thoughts and picks for the donor via the comment section.

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