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EXCLUSIVE: Tamara Tunie Chats on ‘Beyond the Gates’ Anita Dupree, The Reunion Concert, and The Slap Heard Around Fairmont Crest

By Michael Fairman

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Photo: CBS

Beyond the Gates matriarch Anita Dupree is played by veteran film and television actress, Tamara Tunie. Since premiering on the new CBS daytime drama, Tunie, who’s last soap role was that of Jessica Griffin on As the World Turns, has certainly had her moments to shine.

Michael Fairman TV caught up with Tamara at the recent CBS Atlanta Fest event which featured several of the stars from the CBS daytime line-up of soaps including: The Bold and the Beautiful and The Young and the Restless as well as Tunie’s Beyond the Gates co-stars.

Recently, Tunie’s Anita delivered the bitch-slap heard around Fairmont Crest, when she hauled off and slapped Leslie Thomas in a showdown of all showdowns. Tamara shared what it was like to play the scene opposite Trisha Mann-Grant after Leslie throws her new found wealth in Anita’s face.

Courtesy/CBS

“Oh, it’s so much fun. I love slapping the (blank) out of Leslie,” joked Tunie. “It’s really great. I mean, it’s challenging because she plays this evil woman, you know what I mean? She’s always stirring up trouble. Anita has to kind of tolerate it, but she finally was able to let her have it, and it was pleasurable.”

Prior to the slap, Anita, the former lead singer of the R&B girl group, The Articulettes, reunited with two of the original members, Sharon and Tracy, for a one-night only concert. Leading up to the big event it was fraught with drama. Tunie recalled, “The reunion concert and leading up to it was all very challenging, very emotional, and the backstory, which finally came to light was very emotional.”

“Just preparing for the concert, I drilled my sisters every single day for that choreography and those vocals,” shared Tunie. “We have a great music team: Ashley Neumeister and Chance Parker, who’s here in Atlanta, and a choreographer. We really wanted to give an authentic performance. I was so pleased that we were actually able to go out of the studio into an auditorium and really make it look like a real performance in a real concert. It was a long, hard day, but it was worth it.”

Photo: CBS

Before the concert, Anita’s long-held secret came to light. The original ‘Articulette,’ Barbara Mitchell was kicked out of the group and blamed Anita, and she eventually ended her own life. Tamara explained, “That backstory: when the Articulettes were younger and we were able to step into a more professional world, we had a manager who felt that one particular ‘Articulette’ couldn’t cut it. So we said “okay, and kept it moving.” Barbara ultimately took her own life from depression, and she wrote Anita a letter saying, ‘You know, you were my sister and you did this to me, and now I’m stepping off because of what you did to me.’ So Anita was carrying that guilt and that burden with her for decades. And so to finally have it come out into the light, and for her sisters to come, and they’d find forgiveness with each other, it was fantastic.”

Photo: CBS

As it turns out, Barbara had a daughter, none other than Anita’s nemesis, the aforementioned Leslie Thomas, who wound up getting the money from the trust fund, Anita had set up.

Playing the matriarch on the first Black-led one-hour network daytime drama series, is not something Tunie takes lightly or working with her Dupree family co-stars! “Thank God, it worked out for Clifton to play Vernon (Dupree) and working with Karla Mosley (Dani) and Daphnee (Nicole), it’s fantastic. I mean, from the moment we met, we were like family. The chemistry is right there, and we love each other. So, it’s very easy to feel. I remember one scene with Dani, and Anita was talking to her and I patted Karla’s butt, like my mother pats my butt, you know?  I was like, “Now I know we’re really a mother and daughter.”

Photo: CBS

Watch Tamara chat about the life and times of Anita Dupree and Beyond the Gates below, and make sure to subscribe to the Michael Fairman Channel for more CBS Atlanta Fest interviews.

So, did you enjoy Anita slapping Leslie? The story of the Articulettes? Tamara playing the Anita impersonator in Vegas? Let us know your favorite moments featuring Tamara Tunie since ‘Beyond the Gates’ premiered via the comment section.

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Tamara Tunie was made to play Anita. I love that she returned to American daytime and is giving true family Matriarch.

Beyond the Gates

Tabitha Brown and Kandi Burruss Guest Star on ‘Beyond the Gates’ for Dani’s ‘Welcome to Your Life’ TV Special; What Could Go Wrong?

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Kandi Burress, Tabitha Brown, Karla Mosley

As previously announced, Beyond the Gates is bringing chef, author and actress Tabitha Brown and Grammy Award-winning songwriter, singer and actress Kandi Burruss to Fairmont Crest in a special episode of the CBS daytime drama airing Thursday, October 22.

In the episode, Dani’s (Karla Mosley) best friend Pamela Curtis (Cady McClain), arranges a “Welcome to Your Life” television special for her. As it turns out, Brown will play the show’s host, Tia Allen, while Burruss takes on the role of Dani’s first modeling agent, Kalista Kilroy, who turns the celebration of her life into a bad trip down memory lane.

Dani’s parents Anita and Vernon (Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis), sister Nicole (Daphnee Duplaix), and daughters Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla) and Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) all join the show to celebrate and support her but also witness how things so south. Also appearing in the episode are Molly Figueroa as Tatum Stewart and fan-favorite Anita Williams (Tunie) impersonator Jackie Tyree!

Beyond the Gates

PhotoL JPI

THE 411 ON TIA AND KALISTA

Speaking with TV Insider, about their soapy experience in Fairmont Crest, Tabitha Brown previewed about her host with the most, “Tia is very professional, but she’s a girl’s girl. She is a protector of women and wants to tell their stories in a beautiful way, but she also wants to make sure they’re seen in a very good light.”

However, Burruss previews that Kalista arrives with a score to settle. “She’s spicy,” shared the recording artist. “I always love playing somebody that has come to start trouble. It’s always fun to play a villain of sorts, but Kalista feels like she’s been done wrong and she’s hurt by what she feels has been done to her. So Kalista is stirring up trouble, but she feels justified putting Dani on blast. Kalista is ready for some payback.”

Beyond the Gates is produced by CBS Studios, as part of the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. Created by head writer Michele Val Jean, executive producers include Val Jean, Sheila Ducksworth, Julie Carruthers, Tracey Thomson, Leon W. Russell, Derrick Johnson, Anna Saalfeld and Lela Coffey.

Beyond the Gates is broadcast weekdays on CBS (2:00-3:00 PM, ET/1:00-2:00 PM, PT) and is available to stream on Paramount+**.

So, looking forward to this special episode of Beyond the Gates when Dani is put on a blast during a blast from her past and Welcome to Your Life TV special? Share your thoughts via the comment section.

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Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ and Daytime Emmy Nominee Mike Manning to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

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While Bradley “Smitty: Smith finds himself currently in a whole heap of trouble on Beyond the Gates, his portrayer Mike Manning is getting set for the upcoming 53rd Daytime Emmy Awards where he finds himself nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series category.

A previous two-time Daytime Emmy winner, Manning will visit You Tube’s Michael Fairman Channel for a livestream chat on Wednesday, October 21 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.

This year, Beyond the Gates broke records becoming a 15-time Daytime Emmy nominated seres, a first in Daytime Emmy history for a new show entering the competition for the first time. Manning will discuss being part of the groundbreaking soap.

Smitty

Photo: CBS

MIKE MANNING’S UPCOMING PROJECTS

While Manning has his series regular role on Beyond the Gates he is also involved in a myriad of other projects including: his role opposite Nicolas Cage in the film, Madden and the upcoming Anthony Hopkins starring motion picture, Eyes in the Tree, which Manning is featured and also produced.

LGBTQ+ ADVOCACY

Mike first gained nation attention back on MTV’s The Real World D.C., now almost 17 years ago, when he came out on the reality series, which served as an example of early LGBTQ+ representation, leading to thousands of letters from viewers who felt connected to, or felt represented by his journey. Through his advocacy, Manning has served as a youth ambassador for Boo2Bullying and advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, anti-bullying, and environmental protection.

Daytime fans first met Manning as uber-bad guy Charlie Dale on Days of our Lives (2020-2o22) and later for his Emmy-winning role as Caleb McKinnon on The Bay.

This week on all-new episodes of Beyond the Gates, viewers will see the pick-up after Smitty has been framed for the murder of Dr. Lia Whitmore, after being in possession of incriminating pills linked to her death, that were seemingly planted at his home. 

If you have a question for Mike, but cannot be with us in the live chat, drop it in the comment section below and we just might ask it on the broadcast.

So, how do you think Smitty will get out of the charges against him? Rooting for Mike at the Daytime Emmys? Share your thoughts and theories via the comment section below.

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Beyond the Gates

‘Beyond the Gates’ Star Marquita Goings to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel

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Marquita Goings

After her star turn in recent episodes of Beyond the Gates, soap opera’s latest vixen Hayley Lawson Hamilton played by Marquita Goings has grabbed viewers attention just waiting to see what stunt she’ll pull next!

Now, Marquita Goings will visit the Michael Fairman Channel for a livestream chat on Thursday, October 22 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT and you can join us with your questions!

Previously in story, Hayley has racked up some pretty despicable acts and crimes thus far which have included, trying to poison and kill Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) for his life insurance in order to cash in and hightail it out of Fairmont Crest with the moolah.

Photo: CBS

Then, let’s not forget using the recordings she obtained to blackmail everyone with the the secret that Vernon Dupree (Clifton Davis) and Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) have been trying to keep under wraps about the hate crime years ago, which saw Martin kill one man, while another later died, in an effort to save his grandfather.

NEXT WEEK ON BEYOND THE GATES

Now, the week of October 19-23 previews that it appears that Hayley may be pregnant (take a look at the video preview below) with Bill’s child when she gets a little queasy, after she went to see her partner in crime, Randy (Maurice P. Kerry) to get a fresh ID to skip out of town and away from the DMV.

In fact, on the Tuesday, October 20 episode, official BTG spoilers indicate, Vernon assures Dani (Karla Mosley) that he’s got things handled, while Hayley’s ready for her next act, while on the Friday, October 23 episode, Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant) has devastating words for Hayley and Bill’s got another thing coming.

If you have a question for Marquita but cannot join us for the live broadcast, drop it in the comment section and we just might ask it during the chat.

Now let us know, do you think Hayley will be pregnant? How will she continue to evade any prison time? What has been your favorite scene of Marquita Goings on Beyond the Gates thus far? Comment below.

 

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