- Beyond The Gates
- News
Charlie Mason
Monday, April 15th, 2024
Credit: Courtesy of CBS (2)
When CBS finally shut up The Talk, we hoped against hope that it meant that The Gates would take its place. And, though whether the new soap will actually fill the chatfest’s time slot remains to be seen, it has been ordered to series, the network announced on April 15. What’s more, CBS disclosed that the first daytime drama to hit the air since NBC’s Passions in 1999 — and the first Black-centric soap to come along since Generations in 1989! — would premiere in January 2025.
Related Story
Celebrating New Soap The Gates, Victoria Rowell Cheers, 'Change Is Possible!'
What’s It About?
Per the official logline for The Gates, the serial “follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.” Which sounds, at least on the surface, a bit like Tyler Perry’s primetime soap The Haves and the Have Nots if it just focused on the haves like vicious Veronica Harrington (pictured below).
Who’s Behind It?
The estimable Michele Val Jean, who has a trophy case full of Daytime Emmys for her writing on The Bold and the Beautiful and General Hospital, is The Gates’ headwriter and showrunner, and one of its executive producers with Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner. (That’s Val Jean at the top of this post in glasses, and Ducksworth, right below.) The show was developed from the joint venture between CBS Studios and the NAACP and will be produced by that partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble (aka the company that gave us, from left, Another World, As the World Turns and Guiding Light back in the day).
Who’s In It?
As yet, no casting has been announced. We were hoping that a certain Emmy winner might head up the cast. But another project may have gotten in the way of that dream coming true. (Read all about it here.) Check out the below photo gallery to review a Who’s Who of familiar faces we are dying to see pass through The Gates.
Most Popular
NCIS Heartbreak: Show Seemingly Confirms [Spoiler] Is Done For Good
Electra Shocks Ivy - and Ridge Calls In Justin Barber to Crush Carter's Coup
Sasha Finds Out If She's Pregnant — and Lulu Makes Her Way Home
Philip Makes a Stunning Announcement at Thanksgiving — and Justin Suggests a Familiar Fix When Dinner Burns
Advertisement
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
1/25
<p><em>Young & Restless</em> had the <em>All My Children</em> legends on the show at the same time — and wasted the opportunity to reunite the Emmy winners who played daytime’s first Black supercouple, Angie and Jesse. Somehow we doubt that <em>The Gates</em>’ showrunner Michele Val Jean would make the same mistake.</p>
Image: CBS/Getty Images
2/25
<p>With the beloved <em>Young & Restless</em> vet’s latest primetime series <em>S.W.A.T.</em> careening toward the finish line, Malcolm’s former portrayer will soon be a free agent again. Considering the way he’s remained grateful to daytime for kick-starting his career, he might actually be swayed to return to the genre for a project as important as <em>The Gates.</em></p>
Image: Courtesy of the Everett Collection
3/25
<p>She’s gone on to make blockbuster movies like <em>Independence Day</em>, <em>Kill Bill</em> and <em>Set It Off.</em> But Fox got her start in soaps (appearing on <em>Young & Restless</em>, <em>Days of Our Lives</em> and <em>Generations</em>). Joining <em>The Gates</em> would bring her enviable career full circle.</p>
Image: Universal/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
4/25
<p>Once Layla on <em>One Life to Live</em>, Sumpter went on to fuel the madness on OWN’s <em>The Haves and the Have Nots</em> as avaricious Candace. <em>The Gates</em> — heck, <em>any</em> show — would be lucky to get the bonafide powerhouse.</p>
Image: ABC
5/25
<p>With <em>Station 19</em> coming to an end, the heartthrob who plays “fire zaddy” Sullivan will be free to turn up the heat in a new role. Oh, and we just <em>happen</em> to know of one that will soon be casting…</p>
Image: OWN/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
6/25
<p>The Primetime Emmy winner made such an indelible impression as OWN soap <em>Greenleaf</em>’s matriarch, Lady Mae, that we can’t help but hope for a repeat performance on <em>The Gates.</em></p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
7/25
<p>We agreed with <em>General Hospital</em> regular Lynn Herring (Lucy) when she suggested that the show keep Hughes, who guested as attorney Elise Vance. <em>General Hospital</em> apparently disagreed. But that’s OK. <em>The Gates</em> could provide a much bigger showcase for the <em>American Housewife</em> alum.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
8/25
<p>The alum of <em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> and <em>How to Get Away With Murder</em> would be a “get” for any show. Trouble is, so many seem to want him that it might be impossible to recruit him for a full-time soap role.</p>
Image: CBS/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
9/25
<p>Formerly Livia on <em>All My Children</em>, this Tony winner would be brilliantly cast in a role that allowed her to show off her amazing vocals. Perhaps the main attraction at the nightclub frequented by the Richie Riches of <em>The Gates</em>?</p>
Image: Howard Wise/JPI
10/25
<p>As much as we love having the <em>Young & Restless</em> vet back as Mamie, we’d prefer that she do something other than blather on about corporate structures. Save her from nonstop talk about Chancellor-Winters, won’t you, <em>The Gates</em>?</p>
Image: Starz! Movie Channel/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
11/25
<p>Every soap needs a card-carrying hunk, and we’ve got one right here for <em>The Gates</em>: the muscle-bound heartthrob who brought to life passion’s plaything Benny on <em>The Haves and the Have Nots</em> for the entire duration of the OWN soap’s run.</p>
Image: Paramount/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
12/25
<p>If <em>The Gates</em> let in the <em>Glee</em> grad who played Mercedes, she could not only do what she does best — steal scenes without even trying — she could potentially belt out the theme song.</p>
Image: ABC
13/25
<p>The end of <em>Station 19</em> could also be a new beginning for the MVP who plays Vic. If <em>The Gates</em> wants a heroine who has romantic-dramedy in her veins, Doss should rise to the top of its wish list.</p>
Image: JB Lacroix/WireImage/Getty Images
14/25
<p>After passing through <em>One Life to Live</em> and <em>As the World Turns</em>, Parros shed his nice-guy persona to play disaster magnet David on <em>The Haves and the Have Nots</em>. Something tells us he has even more tricks up his sleeve.</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
15/25
<p><em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> had on its hands a red-hot star in the making in the actress who played Julius’ illegitimate daughter, Sasha. Perhaps <em>The Gates</em> will do for her what her previous soap didn’t.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI (3)
16/25
<p>If the<em> Young & Restless</em> Emmy winner wants to do more than just pop in occasionally as Amanda, she could resurrect Hilary — not literally, just in a way — as <em>The Gates</em>’ resident vixen.</p>
Image: John Paschal/JPI
17/25
<p>Much more than just <em>All My Children</em>‘s Noah, the Shakespearean-trained actor possesses the charisma and gravitas to create for <em>The Gates</em> a villain who is smooth, sexy and infuriating in equal measure.</p>
Image: Netflix/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
18/25
<p>No matter how crazy <em>The Haves and the Have Nots</em> got — and it got <em>damn</em> crazy! — this MVP kept the drama grounded in reality as down-to-earth Hanna. She’d be an asset to any show but especially one like <em>The Gates</em> that hopes to wow from day one.</p>
Image: ABC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
19/25
<p>The <em>Grey’s Anatomy</em> vet made a lasting impression as embattled young doc Stephanie. In fact, so lasting was the impression that we hope The Gates will swing open for her, with or without a lab coat and a stethoscope.</p>
Image: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images
20/25
<p><em>Insecure</em>’s Nathan may not have gotten the girl when the HBO dramedy ended. But we have a feeling his portrayer would have better luck with a new character on <em>The Gates</em>. Look at that face — come on!</p>
Image: Sean Smith/JPI
21/25
<p><em>The Bold and the Beautiful</em> let this soap-hopper fade away as groundbreaking Maya. <em>The Gates</em> could right that wrong by returning her to the place that she belongs: the spotlight.</p>
Image: Michael Tullberg/Getty Images
22/25
<p>The <em>Young & Restless</em> vet, who has long been a vocal advocate for greater diversity and representation in daytime, is a casting no-brainer as an impulsive troublemaker who’d make Dru seem chill by comparison.</p>
Image: Michael Bezjian/WireImage/Getty Images
23/25
<p><em>General Hospital</em> had him. They had him! And they did diddly with him. If <em>The Gates</em> is smart — and we have a hunch that its powers that be are — it’ll snap up the charismatic leading man and take far better advantage of what he has to offer.</p>
Image: Paramount/Courtesy of the Everett Collection
24/25
<p>We know, we know — the odds of the <em>Empire</em> star ditching her flourishing movie career to headline a daytime soap are slim to none. But hey, we did say this was our dream casting for <em>The Gates</em>. And if we’re gonna dream, we’re gonna dream big!</p>
Image: NBC/Courtesy of the Everett Collection, Michael Kovac/Getty Images
25/25
