Los Angeles, CA – CBS is making strides in diversifying daytime television with the development of a new soap opera project that could mark a significant shift in representation. The upcoming show, titled “The Gates,” aims to break barriers by featuring a predominantly Black cast, a rarity in the genre for decades.
“The Gates” will follow the lives of a wealthy Black family residing in an exclusive, gated community. With the backing of CBS Studios and a partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble, the show is set to be a groundbreaking addition to daytime programming. Emmy-winning writer Michele Val Jean, known for her work on “The Bold & The Beautiful,” has been tapped to write and serve as showrunner for the series, bringing her wealth of experience in daytime television to the project.
The last daytime soap opera with a Black family at its center was NBC’s “Generations,” which premiered in 1989. More recently, Fox’s primetime drama “Empire” garnered attention as a soap opera with a diverse cast. However, “The Gates” aims to offer a fresh perspective on the genre, celebrating Black culture and storytelling in a new and impactful way.
Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture, expressed her excitement for the project, emphasizing the importance of representation and diversity in television. With the decline of daytime soap operas in recent years due to changing viewing habits and competition from streaming services, the launch of “The Gates” signals a potential revival for the genre on broadcast television.
In an industry where new daytime soaps are a rarity, the development of “The Gates” stands out as a significant moment. With only a few surviving daytime dramas remaining on broadcast TV, the addition of a show like “The Gates” could mark a resurgence of interest in the genre. Ducksworth and Val Jean, along with their fellow executive producers, are poised to bring a fresh and inclusive perspective to daytime television with “The Gates.”