Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Stars Trisha Mann-Grant and Ambyr Michelle Deliver the ‘Power Performances of the Week’
There was so much soapy goodness on the Friday, May 2nd episode of Beyond the Gates, and with it came the crescendo of the first leg of the storyline which saw Leslie (Trisha Mann-Grant) finally have her day in court as her plan unraveled itself when she announced at Ted (Maurice Johnson) and Nicole’s (Daphne Duplaix) anniversary party that she was Ted’s piece on the side years ago, and they share a daughter together … Nicole’s assistant, Eva (Ambyr Michelle)!
Of course, that is just the tip of the iceberg, as throughout the episode and throughout the week, Trisha Mann-Grant’s Leslie staked her claim as daytime’s newest deeply disturbed psychopath, although as played by Mann-Grant, you can definitely understand where all her emotional pain is coming from. Then, there is Ambyr Michelle, who knocked every scene in which she was in out of the park, bouncing between playing the inner conflict of believing all of her mother’s stories (some of which she now knows are lies), being pulled between the love of her father Ted who she recently met, and her mother’s plot to bring him down and hurt his wife, Nicole in the process and much more.
At the party, with Leslie making a scene, and Nicole crying, Leslie refers to Ted as “lover.” Leslie goes in for the kill and asks Martin (Brandon Claybon) if he remembers a waitress who always gave him brownies. That’s because Ted would meet Leslie at a specific coffee shop. Then, she turns towards Nicole and tells the story of her affair with Ted.
Courtesy/CBS
According to Leslie, Ted told her he would leave Nicole for her until she got pregnant at the same time as Nicole. Ted told her to leave town and to get an abortion. Leslie spouted she was crushed … but doesn’t roll over for anyone! Leslie continues to drop bombshells and reveals that Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett) offered her money to leave town and threatened her with bodily harm if she didn’t go through with the abortion. Bill said he would sell her baby on the black market. Having no choice, Leslie says she gave in. She took his money, but moved to Chicago and had her baby.
In a stunning moment, Ted is then formally introduced to his daughter, Eva – the same young woman who has previously ingratiated herself in his life. However, Eva is in for a rude awakening, when she realizes her father never knew she was alive as tears stream down her face. We also learn from Martin that Ted began the affair with Leslie after Nicole was recovering from several miscarriages.
Courtesy/CBS
Later, in the Fairmont Crest country club foyer, Eva walks up to Ted and tells him she never knew the truth. She thought he knew she was alive and wanted nothing to do with her. Leslie walks up and wants an apology for the stunt Eva tried to pull by trying to stop her from spilling the beans. Leslie tells her daughter she made the wrong choice as Ted runs off to find his wife, Nicole.
Now all alone, Andre (Sean Freeman) sits with an emotional Eva, who admits Ted told him the truth about the affair with Leslie. Inside the main room of the country club, Leslie pours herself some champagne and takes a seat. Just then, “Nicole” arrives (in what seems to be conjured up in Leslie’s imagination?) and tells Leslie she isn’t fighting for Ted’s affections, but he was more adventurous and carefree after Leslie was with him.
Courtesy/CBS
Leslie snarks she taught Ted a thing or two in the bedroom! Eventually, “Nicole” tells Leslie she is the woman Ted needs in his life. As Leslie sips champagne in triumph, “Nicole” is no where to be found. As cliffhanger Friday came to its conclusion, Leslie has arrived as the Duprees, and Eva shows up at Andre’s. We fade to black.
There is no question that this week belonged to Trisha Mann-Grant and Ambyr Michelle who played the build and the fallout of the betrayed mistress and child to the hilt. We can’t wait to see more scenes where these two chew the scenery and we mean that in the most flattering of ways. That is why Michael Fairman TV names Trisha and Ambyr’s work the Power Performances of the Week. You can check out some of the big moments from Friday’s episode below in this clip from Beyond the Gates.
Now, let us know, do you agree with our picks of Trisha Mann-Grant and Ambyr Michelle as this week’s Power Performances of the Week? What did you think of the episode as well? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Completely agree with the choice of power players. They are captivating to watch. I could watch Leslie’s monologues every day. The way she says certain words like “Ted-dy”! I plan to rewatch the episode.
Everything about BTG works: writing, acting, sets, wardrobe, editing, music, and especially the casting and direction.
Leslie, Eva, Smitty, and Nicole are my favorite characters after 2 1/2 months.
This show and this cast are truly proving themselves. I wasn’t sure if Leslie’s/Dana’s reveal would actually happen and it totally exceeded anything I imagined. Hats off to Michele Valjean and crew for a excellent episode! What comes next is anyone’s guess!
Brava! Trisha Mann-Grant and Ambyr Michelle rocked it. The sweet taste of revenge was palpable and the layers of reveals and their impact, especially on “Eva,” were handled with finesse. This reveal was very satisfying to viewers and reminded me why I like soaps. BTG has some powerhouse talent both in front and behind the cameras (thank you writers and director).
Horrible acting on this show. I don’t know what some of you see in it.
Hey, everyone is entitled to their opinion. But, what you don’t see, we do.
The latest ratings are out for the week of October 26-30, 2026 and the big takeaways include: that CBS daytime’s Beyond the Gates was separated by only 23,000 viewers behind third place (of the soaps) General Hospital! For the last several weeks, Beyond the Gates has been closing the gap on this year’s winner for Outstanding Daytime Drama Series, and continuing to best GH in the key demos.
According to the latest Nielsen ratings breakdown from Soap Opera Network, the final week of October brought Beyond the Gates 1.790 million on average tuning-in and the show set a season high in total viewers. Meanwhile, General Hospital hit a new season low! The long-running ABC soap had 1.813 million for the week, and once again the series did not go over the 2 million mark.
Meanwhile, in the key Women 18-49 demo, Beyond the Gates was firmly ahead of GH with a rating share of 0.21, while General Hospital had 0.17 rating share.Then, in the key Women 25-54 demo, Beyond the Gates was once again ahead of the ABC soap with a ratings share for that demo at 0.30 while GH came in with 0.26.
Photo: CBS
MORE BY THE NUMBERS
In addition and comparatively, Beyond the Gates +22,000 viewers week-to-week, and had the largest gains in viewership year-to-year in daytime TV with +267,000 from this in 2025.. However, General Hospital seems to be going in reverse. The show was down -56,000 viewers week-over-week and down -22,000 year-over-year .
BEYOND THE GATES
Let’s take a look at some of the storylines that had people tuning-in to Beyond the Gates during the ratings week:
Hayley (Marquita Goings) attempted a massive shocker regarding her pregnancy and tried to use it to extract money from Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett). Although, Bill saw right through her game, he demanded a paternity test, and made it clear he has no intention of raising the child—planning instead to pay her off to take the baby and leave. Meanwhile, Hayley confided her plan to her cousin Randy (Maurice P. Kerry).
Jacob Hawthorne (Jibre Hordges) and Naomi Hamilton (Arielle Prepetit) clashed over Jacob’s ongoing investigation into The Impaler, causing significant strain in their marriage. At the same time, Smitty (Mike Manning) considered taking matters into his own hands—including potentially heading to Mexico for evidence—while Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) worried about what comes next.
Photo: ABC
GENERAL HOSPITAL
Over at General Hospital for the ratings period, the story served up included:
Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) teamed up to investigate what really happened to Jack Brennan (Chris McKenna). Later, Danny (Asher Antonyzyn) leads them to Jack’s dead body.
Jude (Wil Traval) dropped a bombshell claim to Alexis (Nancy Lee Grahn); that he is Phoebe’s father, while Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) and Chase (Josh Swickard) signed their divorce papers.
Then, Danny caught Rocco (Finn Carr) and Scout (Kayden Brenna Tokarski) sharing a kiss, plus the shocking return of Heather Webber (Alley Mills) capped the week.
Now the questions become; without having much promotional synergy in the ABC day-part to draw more eyeballs it is not helping but hurting General Hospital. It seems Beyond the Gates is also a benefactor of a one-two-three punch of CBS soaps (Y&R, B&B and BTG) and promotion.
However, that still doesn’t take away the fact that Beyond the Gates is close to besting GH in all ratings category as they go head-to-head in some markets across the country.
So, are you excited to see Beyond the Gates climb in the ratings? Are you concerned for General Hospital? Do you think they can stave off Beyond the Gates in total viewers or will the upstart soap overtake them in the next ratings report? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Beyond the Gates
‘Beyond the Gates’ Daytime Emmy Winners Ambyr Michelle and Tamara Tunie to Chat Live on the Michael Fairman Channel
Just over a week ago, Beyond the Gates stars Ambyr Michelle and Tamara Tunie broke ground becoming the first performers in the history of daytime’s newest soap opera to win Daytime Emmys!
Michelle became the first, when she took home gold statuette earlier in the ceremonies in the Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series category. Later, Tunie joined her when she took home the Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama Series, the first Emmy of her veteran career.
Now, both actresses visit the Michael Fairman Channel live for two separate chats! Ambyr Michelle will be with us on Wednesday, November 11 beginning at 6pm ET/3pm PT, while Tamara Tunie follows the next day on Thursday, November 12 beginning at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
Photo: CBS
Find out what happened on their Emmy night both behind the scenes and in front of the camera, and in the celebration afterwards, plus what’s next for Eva and Anita in story on the CBS soap opera.
AMBYR TOOK A ‘SEAT AT THE TABLE’
Daytime Emmy viewers will recall Ambyr’s heartfelt Emmy acceptance speech, when she shared, “I don’t just see an award. I see every audition, every rejection, every moment I questioned my artistry. And to Eva Thomas, thank you, girl. Playing your pain made me process my own.“
She ended her speech with, “To my beautiful Black women and girls, take up space, be undeniable, create your tables, and fill those seats. When the tables are full, and those seats are full, make the table even bigger. So that the women coming up behind you never have to ask permission to belong.“
Photo: CBS
TAMARA HONORED THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE HER AND HER MOM
Tamara Tunie received a standing ovation when her name was called after her win in an enduring career. Tunie began by sharing, “My heart is so full right now. This is the best welcome back to daytime ever, There is a host of Black actresses who paved the way for me, and I feel them as I stand here tonight, beginning with the legendary Cicely Tyson, the first Black woman to appear on a daytime television show, The Guiding Light.”
Tunie went on to thank her co-stars and everyone at Beyond the Gates and soap opera fans, plus getting to share the screen with the legendary Clifton Davis as Anita’s husband, Vernon Dupree. However, it was Tunie’s mother, who at 92, was with her on Emmy night that she thanked the most.
“There is one person who has been on this journey with me every single step of the way, who has traveled across states, countries and oceans to support my dream,” she expressed. “I would not be who I am as an actor or a woman without her love, support, encouragement and mere presence, She has been my example, my role model and my inspiration. I accept this honor on behalf of my mother … who, at 92 years young, crossed the country yet again to see me take this goal tonight. I love you, mommy!”
HOW YOU CAN JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Make sure to join us in the live chat with your questions for Ambyr and Tamara in what is sure to be emotional conversations.
If you cannot be with us live, but have a question you would like posed to either actress, make sure to drop in the comment section below and we just might pose it during the live broadcasts.
So, were you happy to see Ambyr and Tamara win Emmy gold? What are your hopes for Eva and Anita as the holiday season approaches and with 2027 just around the corner? Let us know in the comment section.
Next week on the Friday, November 13 episode of Beyond the Gates, Yvette Nicole Brown and her real life husband Anthony Davis guest star. In story, Brown takes on the role of Temeka the cousin to Shanice (Ernestine Johnson Morrison).
When Temeka comes to Fairmont Crest she will be accompanied by her husband, Tony, played by real-life hubby Anthony Davis. The castings come as the soap opera continues to expand the family of Shanice. Previously, we met her brothers, Cedric and Lamont.
As Shanice gets ready to head down the aisle with Dr. Ted Richardson (Keith D. Robinson) will the presence of Shanice’s family members actually deter the nuptials from ever taking place?
Photo: CBS
This now makes the third daytime drama appearance by Yvette Nicole Brown. She first popped up on The Young and the Restless in 2016 and 2017 as reporter Lois Thompson.
Then in 2023, she played a nurse on General Hospital when she appeared in the March 29, 2023 episode honoring her real-life friend, Sonya Eddy who past away in real-life in December of 2022, The soap honored her in death when her character, Epiphany died.
Photo: ABC
Brown and Eddy first met in 2003 while testing for an ABC pilot titled “The Four Divas” alongside Octavia Spencer and Carla Renata and became very close friends up until Eddy’s passing.
It was actually Brown’s character, who came forth to Elizabeth Webber (Rebecca Herbst) and shared that Epiphany died saving her life which gave some sort of solace to Elizabeth; knowing Epiphany died doing what she loved, helping people.
As for Anthony Davis, not only is he an actor, but a writer and minister known for TV and film roles including: He Wasn’t Man Enough (2025), The Family Business: New Orleans, and The Upshaws.
Brown is also recognized from her roles on: Community, The Odd Couple, The Mayor, That ’70s Show, The Office, Boston Legal, Chuck, Mom, Big Shot to name but a few.
So, looking forward to see Yvette Nicole Brown and her real-life husband, Anthony Davis on Beyond the Gates? Happy to see more family members from Shanice’s life showing up at Fairmont Crest? Do you remember the heart-tugging episode where everyone learned Epiphany had died on General Hospital and Yvette Nicole Brown’s part in the story? Let us know via the comment section.
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