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Like Anne Sward on ATWT playing mother to actors who were only 5-8 years younger than her. Looking at those old clips and hearing Scott Bryce and Ellen Dolan calling her "Mama" just was a hard sell.

It is a soap opera after all so the actor's age don't always necessary matchup with what reality might suggest for the type of character they are playing. I think it's far less stark than some of the casting that used to have actors playing parenting to actors who were as little as a year younger to them.

The grandchildren are adopted.

It just became acceptable in the past decade for Black writers to create anything other than comedy. Pathetic is a strong word but it is reflective of the structure of every industry that has the unwritten that Black people need to do twice or triple the work to see success. Then again Michele Val Jean is getting a chance most soap writers never get so she really is reaping the rewards of her hard work.

That is not going to happen. Those crazy bitches would get CBS sued into the poor house with all the libel suits they'd. I cannot believe that some of you all have this show off the air before it has started. If anything it will be more successful because this is what a lot of people. Black drama exploded during the idiot's first term and post.

This is the first new soap opera in 25 years and we will not let the devil ruin it.

There are too many people who cannot vote for a woman as President and that is what the problem is full stop. The economy is going to be a mess in four years and it will be squarely on the shoulders of those who supported this idiot. Right now the best thing we can do is self-care and taking care of each other as best we can. 2017‐2021 was such on drain on my spirit and I cannot do that again. Unplugging and regrouping slowly how to go because we do have work to do but it has to be done with calmness and mindfulness of our mental states.

With Clifton Davis being cast my hope for the future is that Anna Maria Horsford is cast as Vernon's ex or a fellow Senator who likes him and goes around pushing Anita's buttons.

I understand how international distribution works and most shows don't get an international release right away. Regardless I still don't understand what makes a show with a mostly Black cast not marketable overseas.

Of course the "concern" about race had to eventually come up. International viewership is not strictly European because the Caribbean and certain parts of Africa are part of that market as well. A majority Black cast won't hamstring the show for Europe. But international viewership is something that will only be an option if the show is a real success and success will be contingent on the American audience.

Unknowns being cast keeps the budget lean and also allows for the show to build a following that isn't tied to star power.

Politics is no longer an off-limits topic because more and more people have been forced ro be political. It can be touched upon without being heavy handed within the fictional universe.

Would have to agree that CBS knows what it is doing. They would not greenlight a new daytime soap and then not promote and debut it properly.

It's secondary to everything else, but I hope there is a good theme song and well designed opening sequence.

Santa Barbara came on when soaps were at their peak in daytime and primetime, but ended when that era ended. Plus less people being home during the day hampered soaps eventually. Beyond The Gates is the first soap to start during the time that streaming is possible and more people are working from home too. If the producers focus on those possible advantages then great success is possible.

It would be surprising in Michele Val Jean wasn't looking very closely at the failures made by canceled soaps and working to avoid them. She is getting a chance that most soap writers don't so she's going to get this right. The characters seem well developed and that is a good sign.

Very sad news. Out of respect for Drake I hope that the shows let's John die off and doesn't pull any silly stunts to keep the character alive.

DC/MD/VA definitely has historical value and was one of the first areas to have a high concentration of successful Black people. There are so many different places that you can be generic but still have a distinct geographic location that is well known.

Beyond the Gates is more expansive in the fact that not every character will be in the gated community. Some will be trying to move in through scheming and there might be a working class segment who works behind the gates but doesn't live there. Class difference is a classic soap go to.

CBS and BET have simulcasted the Image Awards so considering that connection I'm wondering if the debut episode will be shown on BET in primetime after it airs on CBS Daytime in order to create more interest. With CBS and BET under the same parent company there is room for cross promotion.

It will be exciting to see what these three actresses bring to the screen with these characters. The producers definitely are on the right track with casting and the rest of the cast should be on point. I have a feeling that Tunie and Mosley are really going to light up the screen together.

This description really stood out. Possible DL character that could cause problems for the gay married couple?

It's giving B&B vibes in that the profession of the main characters and/or family is a backdrop for the personal relationships and drama. These characters seem too rounded out for this to be just a political soap. What is impressive about this is that it appears to go back to traditional soap operas where the characters were actually developed from the first episode.

It's not so much the political leanings that are a story but the machinations. The big drama in politics is usually within the ranks of the same party anyway.

Politics is a driving force these days and almost everyone has been forced to pay attention to it so that was probably an easy inspiration. On the other hand politics is extremely soapy with all the backstabbing, conniving and ambition. Plus behind the scenes there is a lot more sex and adultery than you'd ever imagine (I've been behind the scenes in local politics for awhile and received some subtle overtures from a very conservative married man).