Breaking News
New Daytime Drama ‘The Gates’ in Development For CBS; Michele Val Jean to Serve as EP, Writer & Showrunner
In what would be an unbelievable boost to the soap opera genre, CBS Studios and the NAACP, in partnership with P&G Studios, are coming together to produce a brand new daytime drama that would air on CBS.
The new soap in development is entitled The Gates, and it will center around a wealthy black family who reside in an upscale gated community. A very well-known name to daytime fans, Emmy award-winning writer, Michele Val Jean, will serve as the series writer and showrunner and one of the series EP’s. Val Jean is best known for her work as a writer for The Bold and the Beautiful, General Hospital plus Generations and Santa Barbara.
Other executive producers of the soap would be NAACP Venture president, Sheila Ducksworth, plus Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereine.

Photo: JPI
Ducksworth (pictured below) president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture, shared in a statement, “The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective. This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television. With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines and Black culture front and center, The Gates will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture.”
“I’m excited to develop this project with CBS and P&G, two of the longest and most passionate champions of broadcast and daytime television, and the NAACP, whose enduring commitment to Black voices and artists is both powerful and inspiring,” added Ducksworth. “I also want to thank CBS’ George Cheeks, NAACP’s Derrick Johnson and P&G’s Marc Pritchard for their personal involvement and support to take our next step forward with The Gates”

Photo: NAACP
The Gates would mark the first new soap opera in the CBS Daytime line-up since 1987 when The Bold and the Beautiful premiered. The new soap would join B&B and The Young and the Restless for an impressive block of programming for soap fans.
On the new series in development, it’s noted: “CBS Studios’ production venture and development deal with the NAACP was established to help elevate a diverse range of voices as well as increase the visibility of Black artists on broadcast and streaming platforms in an ever-evolving media landscape.”
So, what do you think of ‘The Gates’ becoming a new CBS Daytime drama series in what would be the first new network soap opera since the defunct-‘Passions’ 25 years ago? Comment below.
That’s terrific news, does this mean The Bold and The Beautiful will be cancelled? It only got picked up until 2025. Or The Talk could be cancelled or let’s make a deal. I prefer they cancel Let’s make a deal. The show is terrible. I love The Talk they promote the soaps with there actors.
The bold and the beautiful isn’t going anywhere, it’s the #1 serial in the world….the new show would be on after B&B and move the Talk to 3pm….
I think it is wonderful that CBS is investing in a daytime program that is a soap.
Let’s hope ABC follows their lead and brings back some form of AMC & OLTL or some sort of blend of both shows as one.
Not gonna happen. Disney is in crisis and losing billions. Theyre considering selling ABC even. Also GH’s ratings are not as good as YR and BB. GH has barely over 2 million total viewers and their youth demographic is even worse.
Let’s not forget GENERATIONS was the first daytime soap with a black family at its core 35 years ago. It was an excellent show that didn’t have time to catch on and I believe Bal Jean was a part of that writing team. I hope the timing is right now and THE GATES will be a great success.
Wow. I would NEVER have thought we’d see another new soap–ever.
I will give it a try,* if it comes to fruition, definitely. I would be very interested to see what MVJ can do.
*Caveat: unless P&G Studios turns out to be Procter & Gamble; I want nothing to do with anything soap-related from them, ever again. All they do is break soap fans’ hearts.
Not interested; won’t be watching.
Respected… but how about at least a “hip hip hooray” for daytime ?
I’m not “hip, hip, hooraying” for a soap geared toward a black audience. First we had many black characters come aboard General Hospital (for example) to the exclusion of most other “diversity.” We STILL don’t have one Jewish character on GH, but are expanding on the black characters. And now a black soap? The catering to this one segment of the population in all things media is unbalanced. So it’s a no for me for many reasons, whether you or anyone else agree or understand from my point of view. When Michael wrote a post on FB that a new daytime soap was in the works my interest was piqued and I was excited to hear the details so I clicked the link here. And then I read them…
Wow….just….wow.
This isn’t the first all black soap. Generations back in the 80s made history.
Generations was a flop lol. We dont need a “black” soap opera. Are nation has been divided enough along ethnic lines because of all the lies the media has propagated over the last 5 or so years.
Criminals have been enshrined as martyrs simply because they were killed by police in most cases because they were committing crimes. Now the average black youth thinks we’re back living under Jim Crow! Thats ridiculous. And Im a black man who was born in 1964. My parents marched with MLK. My father nearly suffered the same fate as Emmet Teal. But today is a different day. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO BE A BLACK PERSON IN THE USA. THERE IS NO SYSTEMIC RACISM. EVERYONE AS LEGAL EQUALITY TODAY. Is racism gone completely? Of course not but today THE ONLY PERSON HOLDING ANYONE BACK FROM SUCCESS IS THEMSELVES! The left has lied to black folk and taken advantage of us far too long! Now we’re segregating our own selves. Its pathetic.
Don’t make it sound like it’s an us vs them situation. Your issue with a lack of a Jewish character on GH is similar to my distaste of B&B for lack of an LGBT character. That doesn’t mean I believe that spot is being taken by a black character.
All that matters is it good tv? Empire was successful because it was good soap for the first years. Yes, it had a predominant black cast but attracted viewers of all backgrounds.
I’m a red Devil and I thought Empire was a great show… well, at least until it all fell apart after the Jussie Smollett fiasco.
Satan, I would say your name before I would ever have “that” name in my mouth. It should only be spoken in terms of who has set many things back in time, sadly.
If you’d like, please read my replies to others on this thread and it will explain why I feel the way I feel. I agree about Empire; loved it. Any show can be great regardless of the ethnicity of the actors; that’s not my point.
Bye Rebecca. I hope The Gates starts a daytime resurgence and has unparalleled success just to piss you off.
It won’t piss me off any more than the vile antisemitism that emanates from the black community on a daily basis, from Farrakhan to Kanye, to the sports players to BHI to the anti-Israel crap and the racist narrative many black people have created about Israel. So, yeah, don’t count me as someone who cheers every time a black story or character or show or host or blah, blah, blah, happens. I’m way too plugged in to the hate spewed at my people for me to join the kiss-up crowd.
Rebecca, I would love to see Jewish representation. It’s needed. It’s necessary. I support it 1000% but I’m not going to shit on other communities in the the process. Your comments about outliers within the Black community are broad stroked. I’m Black and I find Kanye’s comments reprehensible but your comments are also insulting.
Have you watched “Transparent”?
It has pretty much all bases covered, and stars Judith Light in the unforgettable role as the ex-wife and mother.
Hi Brian; no I haven’t watched it.
Contrary to your statements CBS is not catering to any particular ethnic group. They are producing content for a demographic that actually watches their shows in large numbers and buys their advertising products. Its about the money!! Your argument is not with the African American community which demographically never abandoned the daytime soap community and played such a major role in keeping the daytime soap genre alive. Your complaints should be addressed to the existing soap community executives and producers whose movers and shakers are certainly not African American. Again, they are not embracing diversity due to wokeness. They are doing it because they want to make money!!!
I fully understand your frustration. It’s the same frustration that many people of color and the LBGT community felt for being sidelined on screen when we made up huge majorities of the audience. Our stories were never told and we were confined to being the loyal sidekicks. I can’t begin to tell you how many times we were told by industry soap journalists that our very presence offended middle America and grandma didn’t want to see us. Think about routinely reading that for decades. We are are now seeing a daytime community that looks more like America and the audience that watches it. More seats are at the table. So keep agitating for more Jewish representation on soaps and it will happen. Not because they are catering to a particular group because it deserves to happen. The pie really is big enough for all.
Unfortunately that’s not true for the Jewish population. My bet is once they start writing Jewish characters, they’ll be for Jewish POC. The “white” Jewish person has been stereotyped forever. On GH? Who was Jewish? “Bernie” the accountant. Hayden’s father, a non-character who was on for five minutes in a jail scene. What was he in for? A Ponzi scheme ala Bernie Madoff.
People think because there are Jewish writers and actors that Jews are “represented.” We’re not. And when we are? We get Bradley Cooper with a prosthetic nose (not sure why; as good-looking as he is his own nose would’ve done the trick, lol), Helen Mirren played Golda Meir, some woman whose name I can’t remember playing Carol King, and English actor Cillian Murphy (Peaky Blinders; great show) as Oppenheimer.
On GH? We had Matt Cohen play a priest, Sean Kanan play AJ, Stuart Damon play Alan Quartermaine, Tamara Braun play Carly, Rena Sofer play Lois, Amanda Setton play Brook Lynn, etc etc. All Jewish actors and yet the show can’t create ONE Jewish character let alone a Jewish family. And so people out in some area who never even met a Jewish person still have the Bernie stereotype or the hook-nosed caricature that circulates. Instead of representing Jewish people with attractive Jewish characters like they do with other minorities, they don’t. They seem to go out of their way not to. GH has been on sixty years; they’ve had Jake the doctor ((who was good-looking) and Bernie. That’s it. In sixty years and in this age of diversity. It’s an obvious omission. Glaring. And in the last few years? They didn’t just introduce black characters; they built up a family, they keep adding to the family, they have TJ with Molly and Trina with Spencer. We now have Latina representation with Blaze and her mom and Asian representation with Mrs. Wu, gay and lesbian…but no Jewish characters.
Now add to my resentment the very real antisemitism from the black community; it’s real and much of it is vile. And when I’ve mentioned that there are no Jewish characters, some black viewers have had a nasty reply; they’ve laughed and/or said “you’re white.” You’re represented. Really? If it was as easy as that there’d d be no Jew hate, no Hiter, no no Nazis, no Farrakkhan, Kanye, BHI. No hook-nosed caricatures and conspiracy theories specifically about “Jews.”
To watch one remake after another with black characters of classic shows, more black characters developed for soaps, while MY people are being thrown hate not just by white supremacists but by many in the black community and those who were part of BLM, to watch one black character and story line keep popping up on GH while I see that there’s STILL not one Jewish character…yes, I feel resentment. A lot.
And so no, I won’t be tuning into this new soap. If relations were better between the black community and the Jewish community, if they were standing with the Jewish community and Israel instead of spewing utter hate, I’d be happy to tune in. But just like any other human being, we react to how we’re treated and regarded. And it hasn’t been pretty.
So it’s not about the “pie being big enough.” It’s about the writers, producers, etc, not wanting Jewish characters on the show even as they diversify. It’s been brought to their attention; they ignore it.
With that said, thank you for your polite reply.
Hatikva is all I will say.
Says a lot.
I’ll take Karen’s for $2000.
This is great news never thought we’d see a new soap
CBS soaps have never aired down here in Hell, so I doubt we will see this one either. But all the same, it has to be a “net positive” sign that a soap is actually going on the air, as opposed to the trend of the last 2 decades, with the networks picking them off one by one.
I agree with you. It is a positive sign to see CBS on board with any soaps. I will dive the first week a try. So if you wish to watch it–get thee behind me, Satin.
So much for the genre being close to death.
P&G getting back in the daytime drama business after cutting the cords with ATWT & GL. That’s shocking.
Still be determined- will this be 30 or 60 minutes? Does it replace The Talk or Let’s Make A Deal? Or, is CBS taking time back from the affiliates?
As for casting – the first call must made to Debbi Morgan.
So P&G Studios really is Procter & Gamble. I so hoped it would turn out not to be.
Wonder what changed? P&G spent 15 years or so trying to get itself out of daytime; now they want back in, after all the damage they did? Hmmmm.
Proctor & Gamble had an “image problem” for a while, because some FundaMENTAList religious nuts started a rumor that the entire corporation was on MY payroll!
Entirely untrue of course. What would the Devil want with a soap company??
But it seems like they expanded their corporate portfolio into other areas (like Gillette razors) and seemingly got out of the TV business. But just like CBS, they apparently changed their mind about soaps as a “dead” genre.
Oh I hope Victoria Rowell gets cast in “The Gates.” Used to love her in Y&R as Drucilla Winters.
I don’t like it already! Not my thing . And if they cancel the Bold and the Beautiful I’ll be very disappointed! Bold and the beautiful is my favorite soap opera!
It was stated that the two Bell family soaps would not be cancelled for the new show. If they are smart at CBS then it would follow B&B. THE TALK could follow at 2:30 or 3. In NY the Judge Judy reruns may stop, for the East Coast. I wish that AS THE WORLD TURNS had not been axed, a part of daytime history since April 5, 1956. THE TALK then DR. PHIL could have followed. But instead poor writing killed Turns in its last two years. So legal issues sent newer Judge Judy shows & Dr. PHIL into limbo & here we are with tentative plans for a new serial, which is an expensive risk for CBS. But there is a slot for it. However the soap genre is dying & we need a new shot of adrenaline or it will vanish. So BEST OF. LUCK. to its success !!
No, no! I wish the soap genre never dies. I’d be lost without my soaps. As would thousands of soap fans, I’m sure.
I only just started watching B&B about 2/3 months ago, and now I am hooked.
B&B is the most popular soap in the world. It is distributed around Europe and brings in much more money that YR. It aint going anywhere lol. It will probably outlast YR.
I’m looking forward to this new soap. I love all the daytime soaps. But at the same time it saddens me because I’d entered a competition where you send a pitch for a TV show, and mine would have made a great daytime soap, but I didn’t win. Of course everyone thinks their stories are the best. But if I had money I would produce it myself. I guess it’s who you know in this business. (My motto: If you don’t succeed once, try try try again.)
I wish it well, but I can’t take on a fourth soap.
That’s OK. I appreciate you replying. I wish you all the best with “The Gates.” Looking forward to watching it.
My only wish is that they take Devon off Y&R and put him on the GATES! He is a scene crusher, ruined Abby and is nothing like Neil Winters. Y&R would be better off without him and that Mamie lady!
I agree about “that Mamie lady.” But I like Devon.
Hope it replaces The Talk, which is unwatchable — shouldn’t have ever replace As the World Turns.
Will it be an hour show?
It will be refreshing to see this come to daytime. Thank you
How can I become a actress on this program?
Ok for a new daytime soap but NEVER at the expense of B&B. The Talk needs to go away with its 1.6M viewers. The new soap can follow B&B, but will not take me away from GH. GH is the best soap for now.
Yeasssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!
Breaking News
Soap Alums Remembered During In Memoriam Segment at 78th Emmy Awards; Patrick Muldoon Omitted

During last night’s 78th annual Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, as it does every year, the television academy paid tribute to those in the industry that they’ve lost over the last year; since the previous Emmys held each year in September.
Starting with an emotional tribute to the late Catherine O’Hara by three of her co-stars, Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy and Dan Levy and Home Alone’s Macaulay Culkin, the segment then dovetailed into Noah Kahan performing “Bridge over Troubled Water” as the faces and the names of those being remembered were shown on the screen.
Daytime soap alums, who either stayed in the genre for the majority of their career, or went on to primetime success as well, were honored including: Anthony Geary (Luke, GH), Hayden Panettiere (Sarah, OLTL, Lizzie, GL, Juliette, Nashville), James Van Der Beek, (Dawson, Dawson’s Creek, and Stephen, ATWT), Gil Gerard (Alan, The Doctors), June Lockhart (Mariah, GH), Patricia Crowley (Mary, Port Charles and GH), Randolph Mantooth (Clay/Alex, Loving and The City, and Richard, GH) and Jon Cypher (Alex, ATWT and Arthur, Santa Barbara).

Photo: TVAcademy
THOSE HONORED AND THOSE WHO WERE NOT
However, in a glaring omission, the producers of the In Memoriam failed to include Days of our Lives beloved star, Patrick Muldoon who played the OG Austin Reed and also Richard Hart on Melrose Place. Muldoon passed away in April of this year at 57.
After Kahan concluded his performance, a special tribute to Rob Reiner began with Jamie Lee Curtis taking to the stage to share some warm words about her late friend.
In a ironic and sad twist, Curtis shared ,“Last week, Robbie won an Emmy for guest actor in a comedy series for his beautiful work on The Bear, and he now holds the record of 48 years for the longest gap between acting Emmys, which was previously held by his father Carl Reiner, at 37 years.”
Reiner, who along with his wife, Michele Reiner were killed by their son, Nick Reiner, is currently awaiting a decision if he will stand trial. Prosecutors on Tuesday, shared they will not seek the death penalty if he is convicted at trial, but instead life in prison. Curtis said of Rob, “He was generous and kind and funny as hell, and a friend to all. We all miss Rob and Michele and all those we lost this year.” The Emmys then faded to black and went to commercial break.
So, were you happy to see those who you know from their work in soap operas included in the 2026 In Memoriam tribute at the Primetime Emmys? Share your thoughts in the comment section. But first, in case you missed it, you can watch it below.
Breaking News
‘Guiding Light’ and ATWT Alum Tom Pelphrey Wins Supporting Actor in Drama Series Emmy For ‘Task’

Tom Pelphrey, one of the greatest actors of our time, who got his first big break on the soaps, can now add a primetime Emmy to his two Daytime Emmys after receiving the Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series tonight for his memorable role as Robbie Prendergrast in HBO’s Task.
Taking to the stage for his acceptance, Pelphrey delivered one of the more impassioned and touching moments at the 78th annual Primetime Emmys airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
Pelphrey shared, “I thank God for my life and my sobriety. I thank my family and my friends for all your love and support all these years, from Emmys to black box theaters and everything in between.” He added special thanks to his Task co-star and Emmy nominee, Mark Ruffalo, sharing, “Thank you for this incredible role and this opportunity and your friendship. I’m so proud to be your friend.”

Photo: NBC/TVAcademy
TOM PELPHREY GIVES BEAUTIFUL SHOUT OUT TO KALEY CUOCO
In conclusion, Tom gave a shout to his fiancée, Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco, when he expressed, “And to my favorite actor in this room, my love, my best friend, my partner, the very pregnant Kaley — I love you more than anything, and our family is the crown jewel of my life.”
Cuoco is the mother to their first child together named Matilda, and she is pregnant with their second child. Tom also gave shout oust to his children, the one they have, and the one on the way. “Matilda, daddy loves you. Baby girl, daddy loves you. Thank you. God bless,” an emotional Pelphrey said.
The now Emmy-winning actor beat out a stellar field for the gold statuette that included: Three men from the cast of The Pitt: Patrick Ball, Shawn Hatosy and Gerran Howell, The Morning Show’s Billy Crudup, Slow Horses’ Jack Lowden and Pluribus actor Carlos-Manuel Vesga.

Photo: JPI
TWO-TIME DAYTIME EMMY WINNER FROM GUIDING LIGHT
Pelphrey had previously been nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2022 for his guest star role as Ben Davis in the hit series Ozark. On the soaps, Tom won two Daytime Emmys for his role as Jonathan Randall on Guiding Light in the Younger Actor in a Daytime Drama Series in 2006 and 2008 and was nominated a total of four times.
For six years, Pelphrey played the son of Reva Shayne (Kim Zimmer) from 2003-2009, before later joining the cast of As the World Turns in the role of Mick Cain from 2009-2010. From there, it’s been all primetime television, stage and films for Pelphrey.
So, were you happy to see Tom Pelphrey winning an Emmy for his role in Task? What did you think of his acceptance speech? Do you think he was one of the best actors to ever get their start on soaps? Let us know via the comment section.
Breaking News
Dolly Parton Remembered: Y&R Alum Alyvia Alyn Lind Shares Heartfelt Tribute to the Legendary Singer and Songwriter

The world is in mourning on Tuesday, August 25 with the news of the passing of iconic and beloved country western singer/songwriter/actress Dolly Parton. The 11-time Grammy winner crafted and performed memorable hits such as “Jolene,” “I Will Always Love You,” 9 to 5″, and “Here You Come Again, ” to name but a few.
Parton died in Nashville today. She was 80-years-old. Not only was Dolly an iconic name in the world of music, she was also an actor, producer, playwright, theme park founder (Dollywood), and a noted philanthropist.
One of the people lucky enough to know and experience the life of Dolly through a different lens was Alyvia Alyn Lind, the one time Faith Newman of The Young and the Restless. Lind played the role of Nick (Joshua Morrow) and Sharon’s (Sharon Case) daughter on and off from 2011-2021.

Photo: HallmarkChannel
ALVIA ALYN LIND PLAYED A YOUNG DOLLY
However, it was Lind, who portrayed a young Dolly in the television movie adaption of Parton’s song and book “A Coat of Many Colors” in 2015, and its sequel in 2016 Dolly Parton’s Christmas of Many Colors: Circle of Love.
Parton and Lind shared a close bond following the project, famously performing a touching, emotional duet of Parton’s song “Angel Hill” together on Hallmark’s Home & Family.
Taking to her Instagram just a short time ago, Alyvia paid tribute to the one and only Parton, expressing, “I am truly at a loss for words. There are some people who come into your life and leave a mark that can never be erased. Dolly was one of those people. will forever be grateful that I had the privilege of knowing her, learning from her, and carrying a piece of her with me through such an important and formative part of my childhood. Getting to play Dolly changed my life, but getting to know her changed my heart. Memories, lessons, laughter, and a light that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”
Alyvia added, “The world will never be the same without her, but that light will live on in all of us who were lucky enough to experience it. Thank you for believing in me, for teaching me, for letting me be a small part of your story, and for being such a meaningful part of mine. Rest peacefully, Dolly. You will be missed more than words can ever say. Thank you for everything. ❤️
FAMILY ANNOUNCES THE DEATH OF DOLLY PARTON
Parton also starred alongside Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman in the smash 1980 film 9 to 5, and later roles in films including: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Rhinestone, Steel Magnolias, Straight Talk, and Joyful Noise.
Parton’s death was announced via her official Instagram post by her nephew, Bryan Seaver on behalf of the Parton family. He shared the news in a video statement. You can see that below.
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