Let’s cut the pleasantries: CBS is finally taking a chance on something genuinely new in the daytime landscape with Beyond The Gates, a one-hour soap opera focused on a wealthy Black family and their community. Debuting Monday, February 24, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT, this marks the first new daytime drama in over two decades and, significantly, the first one-hour Black daytime soap opera ever. Is it a risky gamble? Sure. But is it a gamble worth taking? Absolutely. Daytime has been stagnating for far too long, recycling the same tired tropes and rarely reflecting the actual diversity of its viewership.
Beyond The Gates centers on the Duprees, a family living in the affluent Maryland suburb, Fairmont Crest. Think Desperate Housewives meets Dynasty, but with a fresh perspective and, one hopes, a willingness to tackle contemporary issues with some nuance. The cast, featuring a mix of established talent like Tamara Tunie and Clifton Davis alongside rising stars like Daphnee Duplaix and Karla Mosley, certainly suggests a commitment to strong performances.
This isn’t just about representation for representation’s sake; it’s about telling compelling stories that resonate with a broader audience. And let’s be clear, the soap opera format, with its emphasis on family drama and interpersonal conflict, is ripe for exploration through a different cultural lens. The collaboration between CBS Studios/NAACP Venture and P&G Studios signals a potential shift in how networks approach daytime programming. After years of reality TV reruns and game shows dominating the afternoon hours, Beyond The Gates might just be the shot in the arm daytime needs.
While the specifics of the storylines are still under wraps, the setting of Fairmont Crest, a country club community brimming with wealthy residents, provides ample opportunity for exploring themes of class, ambition, and, of course, the secrets that simmer beneath the surface of seemingly perfect lives. With a large ensemble cast that also includes Alex Alegria, Lauren Buglioli, Brandon Claybon, Timon Kyle Durrett, Sean Freeman, Ben Gavin, Marquita Goings, Jibre Hordges, Jen Jacob, Maurice Johnson, Trisha Mann-Grant, Mike Manning, RhonniRose Mantilla, Ambyr Michelle, Colby Muhammad, and Arielle Prepetit, there’s no shortage of potential for tangled relationships and dramatic confrontations.
Beyond the Gates premieres Monday, February 24, 2025, and will air weekdays at 2:00 PM ET/1:00 PM PT on CBS, also streaming live for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers and on-demand next day for Paramount+ Essential subscribers.
Beyond The Gates is a CBS Studios/NAACP Venture and P&G Studios production for CBS. Michele Val Jean serves as creator, executive producer, and showrunner. Additional executive producers include Frank Valentini and Jeff Kober.
