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’s Poisonous Plot Goes Awry; Heather’s Obsession with Andre Reaches New Heights
This week on all-new episodes of Beyond the Gates, a poison sandwich gets in the wrong hands, Heather’s (Ashley Jones) plot to seduce Andre (Sean Freeman) goes to a whole other level, and Anita (Tamara Tunie) reaches out to her nemesis, Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant), but why?
In the video preview for the CBS soap opera, first, the vision of Doug (Jason Graham) encourages Deanna (Angela Fairley) as Noah Rollins (Nick Hagelin) walks in on the scene where it appears she is talking to herself! How will Deanna explain what or who she is chatting with?
Meanwhile, Grayson (Jordi Vilasuso) is worried for his safety and that of Jacob’s (Jibre Hordges) admitting that the Impaler may be trying to tie up any loose ends, and he could be next on their hit list! Elsewhere, Leslie is stunned when Anita Dupree makes a call to her about her late mother Barbara. We also know ‘Articulettes’ Sharon (Bonita Brisker) and Tracy (Maria Howell) are back this week. What could be going down?
Courtesy/CBS
Then, Dani (Karla Mosley) receives a note from her husband Andre that says he’ll be back home soon. However, in her hotel room, Heather cuts her own hand and then reaches out to Andre for a secret meeting, where he asks when he shows up, “What happened to your hand?” Then, we see Andre reminding Heather that he’s a married man, but at the same time, he doesn’t think he would ever stop caring for her.
Finally, Hayley (Marquita Goings) puts poison in a sandwich she prepared for Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett). However, Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) somehow takes a bite of the sandwich instead. Later, Bill lays the smackdown on Hayley telling her to, “Stop it right now,” and that she’s, “insulting his intelligence.” How will this fight end? Stay tuned.
Now below, take a look at the official Beyond the Gates spoilers for the week of August 31-September 4.
Monday, August 31
Bill puts Hayley to the test. Dani updates Nicole. Ted doles out some unconventional advice to Andre. Grayson seeks Jacob’s help. Elon gives Joey the third degree. Heather makes a bold move.
Tuesday, September 1
Dani hears a heartfelt confession. Nicole counsels her daughter. Hayley’s brought to tears. Chelsea and Kat can’t seem to escape scandal. Carlton has stunning news for Andre. Izaiah surprises Eva. Naomi bites off more than she can chew.
Wednesday, September 2
Vernon supports Anita as she faces the music. Leslie gets an intriguing proposition. Smitty’s suspicions spiral. Joey comforts Vanessa. Deanna is haunted by grief. One couple finally finds time for romance.
Thursday, September 3
Bill has an unwelcome visitor. Smitty needs Nicole’s expertise. Joey’s pestered by his past decisions. Heather connects with June. Ted does damage control. Ashley leans on Naomi. Elon and Jacob clash.
Friday, September 4
Dani’s distracted from her “Seoul-mate” while Andre unpacks paranoia. Bill stuns Hayley. Heather has a heated stand-off. Vanessa and Deanna discover something from before Doug’s death. Randy attempts to execute Joey’s orders. Chelsea falls out of fashion. Ted shares a twisted toast.
Now below, check out the video teaser for the action this week in and around Fairmont Crest.
Then weigh-in: Do you think this is the end of the line for Hayley and Bill? Will Bill realize Hayley is poisoning him and now his daughter, too? If Heather is willing to cut herself with a knife to nab Andre, what else is she capable of doing? Have you been invested in these current storylines on Beyond the Gates, or not so much? Let us know via the comment section.
While Smitty tries to hold the fort down in his marriage to congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) and their two teenaged children, Samantha (Najah Jackson) and Tyrell (Jaden Lucas Miller) on Beyond the Gates, Emmy-winner Mike Manning has also landed another feature film role.
According to Deadline, Manning has joined the cast of Deify with 6 other new cast members for the indie psychological horror film starring Neal McDonough and Skeet Ulrich, which was previously announced last week.
Joining Manning as the latest cast addition are: Dennis Haysbert, Ashley Greene, Casey Harnett, Kirk Avecdo, Anji White, anf Nicholas Chimera who’s directing the pic also has a part in the film.
WHAT’S THE STORY OF DEIFY?
Taking to his Instagram with the news of his casting, Manning shared, “A movie about a cult? What could possibly go wrong? Come for the enlightenment. Stay because they won’t let you leave. DEIFY is coming…”
The movie is currently shooting in Chicago and in story, “a cult leader is put on trial after causing his devoted followers to be burned alive. The film is inspired in part by events surrounding the 1993 Waco, Texas, standoff between members of the Branch Davidians church and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, one of the largest civilian firefights ever recorded on American soil.”
MIKE MANNING IS A DAYTIME EMMY NOMINEE
In addition, the multi-talented Manning is a producer on the feature. Previously, Mike was nominated last month in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the upcoming 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards. He previously won an Emmy for his role on The Bay and for being a producer on the digital drama.
Mike’s previous credits include the role of Charlie Dale on Days of Our Lives and the Manny on This Is Us, plus various primetime and screen credits.
So intrigued to find what role Mike will play in the upcoming horror/cult film, Deify? Enjoying him as Smitty on Beyond the Gates? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Beyond the Gates
BEYOND THE GATES Preview: Andre’s Blast From The Past Is Set To Turn His Life Upside Down
On Beyond the Gates, Andre Richardson’s (Sean Freeman) “happily” married life to Dani Dupree (Karla Mosley) is about to be tested like never before on upcoming episodes of the CBS soap opera the week of August 17-21.
After the shocking reveal on the Friday, August 14 cliffhanger, viewers learned that the person who was sending Andre ominous text messages is none other than The Impaler herself, Heather Armstrong (Ashley Jones). Clearly from the latest promo for the action at the Bowman hotel and in and around Fairmont Crest (see below), Andre knows Heather quite well, as she makes moves on him.
While all this is going down, Dani tries to diffuse the Dupree family for thinking there is anything going on between her and her ex-husband, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Dani’s behavior over Bill being in the hospital has been of someone who is still deeply in love with the guy (specially because of her very public outbursts) and as viewers know, she recently had sex with her ex in the elevator at the country club during a tornado!
Courtesy/CBS
HEATHER ARMSTRONG IS ON THE HUNT FOR ANDRE
Poor Andre has no idea about the elevator liaison, and recently visited Bill in his hospital room to tell him to stay away from his wife, when and if he gets out of his hospital bed! But now, the tables may be turned, if Heather gets her claws into Andre.
Take a look at the official Beyond the Gates spoilers for this week below.
Monday, August 17
Andre is pulled down by his past. Tensions mount between Tomas and Naomi. Chelsea and Kat pair fashion with controversy. Vernon confronts Bill about his intentions with Dani.
Tuesday, August 18
Bill flirts with disaster. Hayley and Ashley clash. Eva’s words instigate Leslie. Carlton gives Ted a major update while Nicole does the same with Vanessa. Shanice fields an unanticipated request. Smitty disappoints Martin.
Wednesday, August 19
Nicole’s plan saves the night for Noah. Dani and Andre color outside the lines. Jacob enlists Grayson and Ashley to surprise Naomi. Vernon’s plans for Anita get interrupted.
Thursday, August 20
Leslie’s forced to reckon with her past in order to move on with her future. Bill and Ted bond over their shared history. An unexpected reaction causes Nicole to self-examine in front of Kial. Eva and Izaiah divulge some hard truths with each other.
Friday, August 21
Chelsea is haunted by unresolved trauma while her father reaches his breaking point. Dani locks horns with Hayley. Randy tails Heather. Madison gets conflicting information from two adversaries. Andre issues a threat.
Now below, check out the CBS promo for all-new episodes of Beyond the Gates.
Then let us know, do you think Andre knows just how dangerous Heather is … or he has no idea? Will Heather blackmail him into sex, or will he go willingly? Is the end of Andre and Dani for good, or will he continue to be the upstanding guy in their relationship, even though he knows in his heart that he cannot compete with the pull of Dani towards Bill? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.
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