Whoever though the era of soap opera is behind us, just got a reality check from CBS! The mega network has just given its nod to an all new daily soap. Titled, The Gates, the sudser focuses on the life of a wealthy black family that resided in a plush gated community.
The Gates will hit the TV screens in January, 2025. The official greenlight to the project has been announced just a month after CBS first announced the project. The network is collaborating with NAACP to bring the sudser to the daytime audience.
While the official cast, airdate and timing is yet to be disclosed, we do know that Michele Val Jean is acting as showrunner. She has previously penned daytime giants like General Hospital, and, The Bold and The Beautiful. Meanwhile, Sheila Duckworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner, join her as Executive producers.
The Gates will be the first Black soap opera to come out in 35 years! For the unversed the last time it happened was way back in 1989 with NBC’s Generations. Interestingly, NBC moved it’s sole surviving sudser – Days of Our Lives to Peacock in 2022. Thus, leaving only three soap operas on tv – General Hospital on ABC, Y&R, and B&B on CBS.
Hence, one would say that bringing on a new soap opera when some existing ones are already struggling is a bold move. However, Duckworth had said back in March that The Gates will be everything we love about daytime, from a fresh perspective.
Furthermore. she added that it will have “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.”
Well, as longtime soap lovers we are thrilled by the prospect! What about you? Are you looking forward to it? Tell us in the comments. Meanwhile, stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for more updates on The Gates.
