Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ EP’s Preview What Viewers Will Experience with the Landmark Daytime Drama
Beyond the Gates is set to premiere on February 24th on CBS (2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT), making it the first new soap opera launched on network television since Passions in 1999.
The soap will speak to a “different side of the Black experience,” as expressed by two of the series, executive producers, Michele Val Jean and Sheila Ducksworth, in their first joint interview.
Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, series creator, Michele Val Jean noted, “We wanted to have a show on the air that spoke to a different side of the Black experience Not the downtrodden, not the ghettoized. We wanted to show rich, Black people doing messy things.”

Photo: CBS
The series is set in a rich gated community of Maryland and centers around the main Black family, known as the Duprees. Ducksworth shared, “In these Maryland suburbs, there were some of the most affluent African American counties in all of America. So looking at that and the wealth of everything at Howard University, I felt that this was an area that was ripe for the picking. You get the upstairs, the downstairs of it all. It’s true to life.”
Val Jean spoke of her experience as a staff writer for Beyond the Gates’ predecessor, Generations, which ran from March of 1989 to January of 1991 on NBC. “We were the little soap that couldn’t, really, because we were opposite the last half hour of (The) Young and the Restless. Generations was very much ahead of its time. When it got canceled, to me personally, it felt like a death because I was so happy there.”

Photo: CBS
Now decades later, Michele shared that her new show will feature, “secrets and lies and betrayals and love and friendship.” Ducksworth expressed that Beyond the Gates will feature a, “really complex web of people and places and things that all intersect in a way that you would never believe. It’s incredibly unpredictable and really fresh and new.”
Val Jean teased, “This is a different kind of world. The characters are different from anything that I’ve seen in daytime. That’s what I’m excited about. We’re presenting something that hasn’t been done before.”
The fact that the series even got the green light was an amazing accomplishment in itself, given that no one ever thought with only three daytime dramas left on network television and only one on streaming, someone would take a chance on what has been perceived as a dying genre.
Ducksworth noted that getting greenlit was ‘revolutionary,” adding, “Nobody is making soaps anymore. The courage and belief that there could be something new that hasn’t been done in over a quarter of a century, it feels great that the people behind us recognized the need and wanted to make this happen.”
So, after checking out the thoughts of the premise of ‘Beyond the Gates’ from two of its EP’s, Michele Val Jean and Sheila Ducksworth, are you more excited than ever for February to come and to usher in a new soap to our daytime family? Comment below.
Hopefully this will be far more than what’s described, because casting people of color as rich characters doesn’t account for innovation. It’s not like there never have been any on TV. Primarily, this is an opportunity to be bolder and more relatable in storytelling. That may mean integrating characters of lesser means. But it’s a missed opportunity if we’re just getting more baby switches, back from the dead plots and psycho villains. Cue the rebuttals of “that’s what soaps are for.” According to whose rules?
100% agree. It really sounds more of the same.
I couldn’t have said it better but with veterans from the industry i doubt it will change
The show hasn’t even aired yet and people are already clutching their pearls.
They are Black Americans not people of color. The latter includes all people of color. And why isn’t it innovation? GH has a whole black family that they don’t even write for.
This is landmark! Daytime is a vital genre, its programs much more desired the repetitive talk, recycled news, badly behaved courtroom denizen, and reality reruns. Why wouldn’t any entity not get behind something new and fresh?!? I am so hopeful!
Why is it “landmark?”
My excitement for Beyond the Gates is hitting an all-time high point, and hearing both Sheila Ducksworth & Michele Val Jean speak about it in their interview with Entertainment Weekly is getting me beyond pumped!!! This is what we’ve been asked for in American daytime, and I just know we’re about to be given something special!
While I would rather Guiding Light be revived, I’m hoping for nothing but success for this show! Could soaps be alive and well. Here’s hoping!
This quote, “We wanted to have a show on the air that spoke to a different side of the Black experience Not the downtrodden, not the ghettoized. We wanted to show rich, Black people doing messy things.”
Correct me if I’m mistaken but when has any character on daytime soaps been characterized as “downtrodden and ghettoized?” On GH alone we have Portia co-head of GH, Jordan the ex-head of police now working with the mayor, Trina the intelligent, art aficionado, Felix the nurse, Epiphany head nurse, Curtis, detective and now CEO of Aurora, Stella the social worker, TJ the doctor, Isaiah Gannoln the doctor, back-in-the-day Edward Quartermaine’s son the lawyer, etc, etc. And on most shows today black people are always presented as wealthy and professional. Sorry excuse for a black soap with that rationale…
I don’t think they meant in concerns to daytime; I think they meant in general to how the GP see’s things. What’s sorry is “people” (and I purposefully use quotes) trying to tear down something before it even debuts, and a lot of it comes down to the ethnicity of cast, etc.
Please; black people are portrayed as extremely successful on GH as I mapped out. And the showrunners were referring to the soap genre. And even if they weren’t? We can all name a LOT of shows or films where black people are portrayed as successful or moreso than other races. Stop living in the past. This emphasis on race, which this show seems to be all about, annoys me. I’m sorry if that doesn’t sit well with you. I’ve given my reasons many times on different threads, and you can’t grasp it because it’s not your experience. If you want to jump up and down and roar with delight because a soap is about black people; have at it. I’ll still wait for ONE Jewish character to find their way to any of the remaining soaps; and one that’s not Sonny’s Jewish stereotypical, accountant, “Bernie.”
I’ve given my reasons many times on different threads, and you can’t grasp it because it’s not your experience.
No offense, but who said it wasn’t my experience? I’ve never once, on this site, disclosed my race. A generalization, such as this, is highly dangerous. I am not living “in the past” as many do on this site and in general, re: soap operas.
Note to you: when referring to one’s race, the first letter should be capitalized, ie: White, Black, etc.
Says who?
Names of racial and ethnic groups are treated as proper nouns, which means they are capitalized (e.g., African American, Asian American, Black, European American, First Nations, Hispanic, Native American, Latin, White). You learn that in school, Bill, when learning about nouns, etc.
Bye Racist.
Love it! Can’t even express an opinion about a black soap without being called a racist. Rhank you fir not disappointing. Lemme guess. Are you one of those people who jump to defend against perceived racism but tell Jews what antisemitism is or isn’t?
“This emphasis on race, which this show seems to be all about, annoys me.”
This comment is what makes you a racist. Do you get annoyed about other soaps that place emphasis on white characters? Rhetorical question.
Glad someone called them out on it!
And I’d repeat my feeling and it’s STILL not racist! The premise of the show, however, could be considered racist! To top it off, I’m kinda sick of hearing complaints that there aren’t enough black characters on GH, or each time a black character has a story where he or she loses the guy, or is in jail, or is framed, it’s because the character is black. When Esme set up Trina the accusation was because she’s black. Sean was in jail it’s about race. It’s like viewers never watched similar story lines happen to white characters for decades.
And as I’ve said before, diversity on soaps shouldn’t be just about adding black characters. GH, for example, has one trans, three gay characters, one Asian. No Jewish characters or characters of any other background or faith. So this emphasis on JUST the black race as far as inclusion goes, annoys me. That doesn’t make me racist. That makes me angry and resentful. I had one black viewer jacka-s tell me here that “Jews need to wait their turn.” I didn’t see you or anyone else telling him that comment was out of line. But suspicion of “racism?” That gets many of you clutching your figurative pearls
If there were zero gay characters, zero black characters, zero Latino characters, and the show kept adding more and more Jewish characters, I just bet all of you from the black, gay, Asian, and every other community that’s not represented would be jumping for joy, right? And then if a Jewish organization said we’re going to have an all Jewish soap, I bet you all would be be exclaiming your excitement and your “can’t wait to watching it feelings,” right?
Get outta here. The one-way street when it comes to diversity has been stacked for years now. And when one of the explanations of a primarily black soap is to show “non ghettoized, non downtrodden” black people, when black people are never portrayed that way on soaps, is a ridiculous statement.
I’m going to wager–though I have no inside knowledge of this–that the reluctance to feature identifiably Jewish characters on soaps comes from the same fear (or whatever it is) that’s driving the reluctance to identify the religious identity of most characters with any specificity. I think we’re led to believe, in a vague way, that most of the characters are Christian, but “Christian” covers a lot of territory, and being a Baptist isn’t the same as being a Catholic, or a Lutheran, or an Episcopalian, etc. And we rarely see any of them practicing their religion; we may see them in church at a wedding or a funeral, but their religion doesn’t play a significant role in their lives day to day. It’s always been that way, at least as long as I can remember (and I’ve been watching since the mid-70s), and the only reason I can think of would be fear of offending someone, though I don’t see why that would necessarily happen.
The only real exceptions I can think of were both ABC soaps. Ryan’s Hope’s core family was identifiably Catholic, and there was at least one identifiably Jewish character along the way, Dave Greenberg (there may have been others), though he didn’t last very long. One Life to Live’s Vega family was identifiably Catholic, and Nora Buchanan (nee Hanen) (and her sister, who appeared for short while) was Jewish, though as I recall that was largely ignored after her first few years on the show. Andrew appeared (to me at least) to be an Episcopal priest (and Viki an Episcopalian), though I don’t recall this ever being stated. (I might have missed it.)
But the rest of the soaps have largely stayed away from the whole subject, other than in a generic way. Harding Lemay even talks in his book about his time on Another World about specifically being directed to change Iris’s biological mother’s faith from Jewish to nonspecific to avoid possibly offending people.
None of that’s an excuse, by any means: I think a soap that had an identifiably Jewish family, for example, would provide a nice contrast and give the writers a different perspective from which to approach some of the standard soap storylines. TPTB are just too risk-averse to try it, or they have been so far, anyway, which strikes me as ridiculous in the twenty-first century. Or how about exploring atheism or agnosticism, especially with a growing number of young people rejecting traditional religion and churches facing a struggle to stay open in some cases because of the membership decline? The possibilities are there, and heaven knows we need some fresh storyline possibilities from somewhere, but I just don’t see it happening.
Hi Michael (not Fairman) Notice, though, the comment by “Dennis” below mine who has stated that “black people” built America.” I’m not sure if he’s the same poster that I had an altercation with on another thread but he told me that black people were American and Jews weren’t (shows the utter ignorance) and that Jews “had to wait their turn” to be on soaps. And THAT is what I’m also talking about. Between that and the antisemitism in the black community, I’m not jumping on and down for The Gates, nor do I jump up and down with every new black character GH adds. There’s a catering to one minority above all others. And if you’re not in a minority, especially one who many in the black community spew hate for, you wouldn’t be able to understand that.
Thank you though, for your polite and respectful reply.
Jewish isn’t a race. Black ppl built America before you or other minorities even arrived here. Please stop the racist nonsense.
General Hospital is not the barometer to which everything is measured. She is describing her vision for a new series, not a counterpart to General Hospital.
They were interviewed regarding the soap’s entry into the daytime soap genre.
In their first joint interview. Michele Val Jean noted, “We wanted to have a show on the air that spoke to a different side of the Black experience. Not the downtrodden, not the ghettoized. We wanted to show rich, black people doing messy things.”
Any black character I’ve seen on soaps is successful; not downtrodden or ghettoized.” But if we want to look at prime time? Who was the lead (the lawyer, the professor )and who were a few of her law students on How To Get Away With Murder? Who was the very successful, very sought after lead character in Scandal? Successful main cast in Black-ish? Queen Sugar? Queen Charlotte? Who’s the Queen in Bridgerton? The hero in Lupin? So many shows with black characters and/or black families in prime time, as well as films, that have successful, and/or powerful, black, characters. That’s not to say they shouldn’t create this soap. If it’s written well, no doubt it’ll be successful.
YES! I am so ready for “Beyond the Gates”
I just saw a commercial for this show (hurray!) last night while watching a nighttime show on CBS.
I have to say: the publicity so far is pretty concerning. The commercial basically looked like “Hey look: Black people behaving in over-the-top fashion instead of White people!”, and the interview presented here kind of leaves the same impression: “Black characters with money doing basically the same things White ones have been doing!”
I feel certain, given the involvement of Michele Val Jean and other people I respect, that this isn’t doing the show justice, it’s just the PR angle that’s being chosen. I sure hope so, anyway. There has to be more to BTG than what we’re being told/shown. And I don’t think it’s exactly clutching pearls to be concerned, given what’s happened to soaps over the last 30 years or so; the last four left are pretty poor, in my opinion (with occasional moments that still remind me why soaps once were great, and of course still any number of actors who knock my socks off), so I don’t think it’s out of line to wonder if executive meddling is going to wreck this one too, particularly given the number of cooks in the kitchen already (how many executive producers does it have, again?).
I will grant, absolutely, that having powerful, affluent Black characters in the majority, driving a soap, rather than being add-ons or periphery to White characters, will be an important point of departure; I only hope enough people will actually tune in to make the show viable and keep it around for a while. I trust that MVJ and the rest of the team, if given the chance, will give us a rich canvas with meaty stories and memorable characters–but you’d never know it based on the publicity I’ve seen so far.
They had me the moment they cast Tamara Tunie (OK, they had me the moment they said, “New soap, first one in 25 years” and “Michele Val Jean is the creator,” but having TT back on my soap screen sealed the deal); I’m still looking forward to it. But I’ll admit I’m concerned.
Beyond the Gates
BEYOND THE GATES Preview: Hayley and Ashley Spell ‘Double Trouble’

Next week on all-new episodes of the soap that has everyone talking, CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates, Hayley (Marquita Goings) and Heather (Ashley Jones) are thrown into each other’s orbit, especially when conniving Heather seems to hatch a plan.
In the video teaser for what goes down in the DMV October 12-16, while at Uptown, Heather seems to order a drink for her new friend, who turns out to be Hayley. Suspicious, Hayley says to Heather, “How do you know my name?” But anybody with a bone to pick with Heather’s brother Joey (Jon Lindstrom) can be of use to her! Has Hayley met her match?
Meanwhile, Heather is seeing purring over Carlton (Robert Christopher Riley) and using a letter opener to open his shirt!
Then, after Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) took matters into his own hands last week and rescued the kidnapped Hayley, he believes he struck a deal with her to keep her mouth shut about the secret of Martin’s (Brandon Claybon) past and what happened in the racist attack that the Dupree family, Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett) and Joey have tried to contain for the last few years. However, now Vernon calls Joey about a problem and Joey guesses the problem’s name is Hayley Lawson!
At Garland Memorial Hospital, Ashley (Jen Jacob) congratulates Shanice (Ernestine Johnson) on her engagement to Ted (Keith D. Robinson). However, Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix) happens upon the scene and has a very different reaction to the news. In addition, Kat (Colby Nixon) gets pretty snotty with Eva (Ambyr Michelle)!
Now below, check out the official Beyond the Gates spoilers for the week.
Monday, October 12
Nicole comes clean to Dani. Vernon and Anita defend their family. Naomi and Smitty prepare for the worst. Bill revels in victory, but Hayley takes another jab. Izaiah extends an invite to Elon, while Jacob wants new Impaler intel
Tuesday, October 13
Martin waits for big news, while Smitty waits in shame. Nicole does an about face with Ted. Naomi shuts Jacob down. Samantha challenges Tyrell. Ashley steps in when Shanice is overwhelmed. Carlton’s dalliance with Heather takes a sharp turn.
Wednesday, October 14
Vernon’s on high alert while Bill’s left out of the loop. Dani puts her foot down with Chelsea. Nicole tries to steady Samantha amidst slander. Naomi feels the heat when Jacob comes under fire.
Thursday, October 15
Anita and Nicole fight for optimism. Martin’s declaration gets derailed. Bill wants more from Dani and finds common ground with Ted. Naomi has a plan for proof. Joey’s admission shocks Vanessa. Hayley meets her match.
Friday, October 16
Andre loses his cool in front of Dani. Naomi takes Bill by surprise. Leslie hears some hard news. Eva snaps and Kat claps back. Hayley attempts to make good with Randy. Heather moves in on Joey.
Check out the action in and around Fairmont Crest next week on Beyond the Gates below.
Now let us know, are you enjoying the deliciously wicked personalities of Hayley and Heather? What do you hope happens next? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Fall Preview: Michele Val Jean Reveals Twists and Turns in Fairmont Crest, Teases New Faces

Beyond the Gates continues to be the buzzy and noteworthy soap opera as it heads deeper into the fall. With 15 Daytime Emmy nominations (a record for a first-time nominated show), the action on-screen has been just as exciting as of late.
Now, series creator, head writer, and executive producer, Michele Van Jean teases what viewers of the CBS soap opera can look forward to in the months ahead and into 2027 with TV Insider. Val Jean clarified that the show is already written into April of next year with new faces joining the cast down the line.
Michele shared, “As we go down the journey with The Articulettes, that path is going to lead back to (their manager) Dante Green. So, we’re going to be seeing him eventually. It’s not imminent because we write really far in advance, but you’ll be meeting Dante Green. And then we have a female robbery/homicide cop that’s going to come onto the canvas eventually.”
DANGEROUS, DUPLICITOUS AND DEADLY
While that’s a bit down the line, here’s a few tidbits for a few of the core characters happening soon; starting with the matriarch and the patriarch of the Dupree family, Anita (Tamara Tunie) and Vernon (Clifton Davis). ”
“They’re going to steer their family and community through some troubling times,” explains Michele. Adding, “Anita will get to make exciting moves in her music career as we started to see with The Articulettes, but she’s going to meet with some unexpected obstacles along the way that will test how much she really wants this. Vernon will not be afraid to take serious measures to protect his family and bring down anyone who threatens them.”
Speaking of “serious measures to bring down anyone who threatens the Dupree family,” let’s find out what’s in the future for Hayley Lawson (Marquita Goings): “This fall, she will be brilliant, beautiful, and cold as ever. She’s definitely not done scheming, and she’s not done with Bill, I’ll tell you that,” assets Val Jean. “She’s good at making bad situations work in her best interest, and we’ll get to see her do plenty of it.”

Photo: CBS
HOW TO SURVIVE A MARRIAGE
As for Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) and Andre Richardson’s (Sean Freeman) marriage, trouble ahead! Michele explains “She’s (Dani) going to find her marriage and herself in danger and be forced to make some severe decisions. And Andre’s secrets will catch up to him in the worst way possible as Heather closes in to make good on her threats.”
Meanwhile, Dani’s sister Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix) makes inroads with her relationship with Dr. Kial Rollins (Greg Vaughan). However, Val Jean warns by year’s end,”Her (Nicole) world will flip completely upside down in a way no one sees coming, including her.”
Finally, the warring brother sister duo of Joey (Jon Lindstrom) and Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones) will get even more intense and fraught. According to Michele, “Joey will wrestle with the reality that his sister is not who she used to be. And as Heather sinks her teeth further into the community, she’ll go to new despicable lengths for chaos and control, but she may not get the last laugh. You’ll have to watch it.”
So, what are you looking forward to the most this fall on Beyond the Gates? What is your favorite storyline right now? When the soap opera casts the character of Dante Green down the line, and a new female cop, who do you think would be a great fit for the roles? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
BEYOND THE GATES Preview: Who’s Trying to Silence Hayley?

This week on all-new episodes of Beyond the Gates, Banneker U. homecoming continues on Monday, October 5, when Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) shocks the Duprees and Richardson families, while Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett), Vernon (Clifton Davis), Elon (Malachi Malik) and Joey (Jon Lindstrom) scramble knowing Hayley (Marquita Goings) is in possession of audio recordings that would reveal their involvement in a dark secret.
That secret is a few years back when Martin (Brandon Claybon) killed a racist attacker while severely beating another man named Kenneth, in what followed followed was a subsequent murder orchestrated by Bill and Joey that was covered up as a “robbery gone wrong!”
Now, in the latest video teaser for the action in and around Fairmont Crest from October 5-9 (see below), Hayley becomes the target as many people want to silence her or gain access to the recordings she has. It was those recording, which Hayley used to blackmail her husband, Bill, in order to stay out of jail for trying to kill him! Oh, what a tangled web we weave.

Photo: CBS
Meanwhile, Bill and Dani’s (Karla Mosley) shared history continues to draw them closer together, while Kat (Colby Nixon) seems to be enjoying her time with Izaiah (Lami), after Eva (Ambyr Michelle) decided not to come to the Banneker homecoming gathering. Will Kat and Izaiah become even closer? Stay tuned.
Now below, check out the official Beyond the Gates spoilers for the action in and around Fairmont Crest this week.
Monday, October 5
Anita hears disturbing news from Vernon. Dani gets the cold shoulder. Bill won’t give up without a fight. Nicole offers Deanna a reality check while Vanessa dodges some big questions. Martin & Smitty enjoy a full house. Jacob & Naomi align their priorities. Tyrell drops a major bombshell on his family.
Tuesday, October 6
Anita and Dani’s update blindsides Nicole. Vernon puts Bill on notice. Hayley scores a big win… at a big cost. Leslie defends her actions. Jacob confronts Izaiah. Kat’s bold words leave Eva shaken. Chelsea issues an important warning.
Wednesday, October 7
Vernon comes to the rescue. Dani presses Bill while Andre troubles Ted. Hayley’s caught totally off guard. Eva faces the future while Izaiah’s distracted. Leslie’s devoted to drama. Marcel and Joey practice persuasion.
Thursday, October 8
Andre dredges up Dani’s past. Anita finds comfort in music while Nicole is candid with Vanessa. Ted and Ashley are in cahoots. Leslie gets Hayley scrambling and Randy is fed up. Noah gives Deanna a different perspective.
Friday, October 9
Vernon shares the ugly truth with Anita. Nicole makes good on a promise. Naomi doesn’t back down. Madison leans on Chelsea after risking it all. Smitty draws a hard line with Martin. Vanessa and Joey hear Heather out. Ted’s trip with Shanice proves unforgettable.
Check out the video preview for this week’s episodes of Beyond the Gates below.
Then let us know, who do you think might be chloroforming Hayley? Will she get away with her blackmail, and be able to out maneuver everyone to continue to have a ‘get out of jail free’ card? What do you think Tyrell has to say during Banneker homecoming that will come as a surprise? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section.
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