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!!!!!!!!!
Our friends from across the pond, BBC One’s EastEnders took home Best Soap honors at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards in London, England on Sunday, May 10.
Just last year, EastEnders celebrated 40 years on television and has seen a resurgence. In attendance were cast members: Michelle Collins, Jessie Wallace, Diane Parish, and Aaron Thiara, as well former executive producer Chris Clenshaw and his successor, current showrunner Ben Wadey.
EastEnders was nominated in the category along with their rivals, Casualty and Coronation Street. Accepting on stage was 20-year veteran of the series, Diane Parish, who paid tribute to all the hard working people in front of the camera and behind the scenes. “It’s not easy doing a soap, but we manage to make it work,” shared Parish.
Courtesy/BBCOne
A BIG RETURN AND MEDICAL CRISIS IN STORY AHEAD
Recently, it was confirmed that in honor of her two decades with the show, Parish’s character, Denise Fox, is set for a major storyline this year, when she is diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia, a blood cancer.
And there’s more! In the winner’s press room, Ben Wadey shared there is a major return in store teasing,“I would keep your eyes peeled in the next few weeks, there might be some surprises on the horizon.”
On the official EastEnders Instagram account it also shared, “EastEnders has gone and won the Soap award at the 2026 BAFTA Television Awards! 🎉🥳🍾🙌What a huge honour, we truly couldn’t be prouder. Thank you BAFTA the whole cast and crew will be holding this one high when it makes it way home to Walford.”
Photo: EastEnders
BAFTA TV AWARD HISTORY IS MADE
Adolescence, the Netflix drama that took home Emmys and Golden Globes stateside, made BAFTA TV history during the ceremony winning four awards for the first time ever. Stephen Graham finally took home the coveted Leading Actor category in what was his 8th attempt to win a BAFTA in the fields of both TV and motion pictures.
The series is Netflix’s second most-watched English-language show of all time, and won BAFTA’s for Limited Drama and Supporting Actor and Actress for Owen Cooper and Christine Tremarco.
For a complete list of all the winners, click here.
So, happy to hear EastEnders won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Soap? If you catch EastEnders, who do you think might be returning on the horizon as teased by the series current EP? Share your thoughts via the comment section below.
Breaking News
‘The Price is Right’ Contestant Wins Largest Prize in a Single Pricing Game in the 54-Year history of the Daytime Game Show on CBS
On the Friday, May 8 Mother’s Day episode of The Price is Right, a retired veteran won over $240,000 in cash and prizes making her takeaway the largest prize ever won in a single pricing game in the 54-year history of the daytime version of the CBS game show.
The contestant, “Vanesa from Virginia” bested the previous record of $210,000 in a single pricing game of Cliffhangers set over a decade ago in 2016. The moment occurred when Vanesa played “The Lion’s Share,” the new high,” the new high-stakes branded game that debuted this season through a partnership with BetMGM.
In the game, contestants have to guess the prices of grocery items to earn up to five balls. Each ball is then dropped into a wind tunnel, revealing a hidden prize amount. After each reveal, contestants face a tense decision to walk away with their current winnings or risk it all to continue.
Photo: CBS
Vanesa went for the gusto! She didn’t hesitate and pushed forward through every round, ultimately revealing the prizes for all five balls, winning $227,500 in cash and a luxury trip for two to Morocco valued at $12,650. Those impressive winning amounted to $240,150 as her daughter cheered her on from the audience.
According to BetMGM and TPIR producers, Fremantle, “The Lion’s Share” is the first custom-branded game in the show’s history, and the first new pricing game on the show since 2021. BetMGM and Fremantle sealed a multi-year deal last year that lends The Price is Right and Family Feud intellectual property (IP) rights for slots, table games and non-traditional casino games.
The Price is Right is broadcast weekdays on CBS and streams on Paramount+* (11:00 AM-12:00 PM, ET/10:00-11:00 AM, PT). John Quinn is the executive producer. Drew Carey is the host.
So, what do you think of Vanesa from Virginia’s huge win on The Price is Right? Do you watch the show weekdays? Let us know via the comment section. But first, watch how it all happens below!
Breaking News
DAYS Lauren Koslow Temporarily Fills-In for Jess Walton as ‘The Young and the Restless’ Jill Abbott
In a ironic twist, Lauren Koslow, who currently plays Kate Roberts on Days of Our Lives is returning to The Young and the Restless to play Jill Abbott while temporarily filling in for Jess Walton. Koslow will appear for five episodes beginning on Thursday, June 25.
Koslow first appeared on The Young and the Restless back in 1984 in what was her first soap opera role when she was cast as Lindsey Wells. Now, she returns decades later subbing for Walton, who due to a scheduling conflict, was was unable to travel to Los Angeles when the storyline called for Jill. The Emmy-winning Walton has played the Jill since 1987 and went on recurring status with the show in 2012. Jess also left Los Angeles to reside in Oregon in 2011.
Making this all the richer was the original Jill played by Brenda Dickson, often shared scenes with Koslow’s Y&R character. Lauren played Lindsey Wells until 1986, before moving over to The Bold and the Beautiful as Margo Lynley. Koslow was B&B’s Margo from 1987–1992, and again in 2002. Then, in 1996, she was cast on Days of Our Lives as Kate Roberts, replacing Deborah Adair, and she has been in Salem ever since. But there’s still another another twist to this casting history. Y&R viewers recall Deborah Adair also played Jill, after Brenda Dickson left in 1980, and following a brief stint by Bond Gideon, before heading to DAYS to originate the role of Kate.
Photo: CBS
THE DAYS AND Y&R CONNECTION
As soap fans know, Days of Our Lives and The Young and the Restless are both part of Sony. Y&R is produced by Bell Dramatic Serial Company in association with Sony Pictures Television, while DAYS is owned by Corday Productions and distributed by Sony.
So, having Koslow visit The Young and the Restless to fill in for Jess Walton has nothing to do with her continued role of Kate on DAYS. In fact, a rep for the show shared that her upcoming appearance on Y&R, “does not affect her status with the show in any way.” Recently, Stacy Haiduk reprised her role of Patty Williams on Y&R, even though she is still being seen as Kristen DiMera on DAYS.
In a joint statement offered up to TV Insider, executive producer, Sally McDonald and head writer, Josh Griffith expressed, “We’re extremely grateful to Lauren Koslow for returning to her Y&R roots and temporarily stepping into the role of Jill. We want to extend our sincere thanks to Ken Corday (executive producer) and Noel Maxam (co-executive producer) at Days of Our Lives and Peacock. Their support embodies the collaborative spirit of the daytime television community.”
McDonald and Griffith clarified that Jess Walton is forever their Jill and shared, “Jess Walton is an enduring cornerstone of Y&R. We look forward to welcoming her back to Genoa City as her schedule permits and celebrating her extraordinary 40th anniversary as the iconic Jill Abbott.”
So, what do you think of Days of Our Lives Lauren Koslow stepping in for Jess Walton as Jill Abbott? Excited to see what she does in the role while filling in for the Jess? Weigh-in via the comment section below.
‘EastEnders’ Wins Best Soap at the 2026 BAFTA TV Awards
‘General Hospital’s’ Asher Antonyzyn Teases When Danny Finds Out Rocco Shot Cullum and Jason Took the Blame, Relationship Status with Charlotte
WWE Backlash: Top 5 Takeaways
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Remy Lurks to Avoid Electra; Will Ridge Unseat Steffy for Brooke as Co-CEO?
GH’s Dominic Zamprogna On How Dante Plans to Deal with Lulu and Rocco’s Cover-Up After Learning His Son Shot Cullum
‘General Hospital’s’ Giovanni Mazza Performs Aladdin’s ‘A Whole New World’ Ahead of Monday’s Crossover with Michael James Scott
GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan is Rocked at News of Delilah; Is Baby Phoebe His Child?
‘General Hospital’s’ Chris McKenna On Jack’s Reaction to Carly Cheating On Him with Valentin: ‘Heartbreak and Absolute Rage and Humiliation’
Y&R’s Joshua Morrow Delivers the ‘Power Performance of the Week’: His Co-Stars Couldn’t Agree More (Exclusive)
‘General Hospital’s’ Alum Haley Pullos Stars in Lifetime’s ‘The Dating App Nightmare’
‘General Hospital’s’ Asher Antonyzyn Teases When Danny Finds Out Rocco Shot Cullum and Jason Took the Blame, Relationship Status with Charlotte
WWE Backlash: Top 5 Takeaways
THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL Preview: Remy Lurks to Avoid Electra; Will Ridge Unseat Steffy for Brooke as Co-CEO?
BEYOND THE GATES Throws it Back to the 70s and ‘Foxy Brown’ with Andre and Dani Fantasy
DAYS OF OUR LIVES Preview: Lexie Emerges and Shocks Abe as the DiMera Family Gathers for The Reading of Stefano’s Will
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