Beyond the Gates: Premiere Date, Time Slot Set by CBS

[vanguard]

Right! That has been what's been stated so far. It's taped in Atlanta and set in DC.

[Liberty City]

It has been described as existing in the Maryland / Washington, D.C. area.

[Chris B]

From a writing standpoint, everything we've heard seems like it's on the right track. I like the location, that politics are involved and the diversity of the characters. I still find it unbelievable a US soap is going to have so many Black characters lead a show. Not one of the existing ones treat their minority characters like anything more than supporting tokens. Not to mention that they plan on having gay characters. If the production model is modernized, that coupled with the stories could definitely bring in new eyeballs.

I wonder if at any point we're going to start to see the other soaps fight for the spotlight. We don't know the timeslot and for all we know they could move either of the Bell soaps to give it the best timeslot/lead in. When you watch Y&R and B&B, it's business as usual, if not worse this year. GH is a total disaster and has been in a ratings freefall for months. This could easily be the soap up against GH, but they aren't using their diverse characters and overall the show just isn't very good.

I'm surprised that at least at CBS they don't seem to be pushing their soaps to do better just so ratings are in a good spot when this launches. Neither show has even one stand out story to draw viewers in.

[Paul Raven]

Thanks for that. I obviously missed that the show was set in DC.

[vanguard]

I'll be honest though. They might as well had gone ahead and set it in Atlanta. Some of the character descriptions sound kind of Tyler Perry-ish. Like it's going to be somewhat melodramatic and over the top. One of these female characters is described as "not wrapped too tight". Who is she, the black Sheila Carter? I like it though.

Edited August 16, 2024 by vanguard

[Soapsuds]

Where are they going to put a third hour? @Errol

CBS This Morning expanding to a third hour in September

[cityfan01]

In Minneapolis, our local news airs for an hour after This Morning before The Price is Right. 

[Liberty City]

Same here; it's "local programming," so that will either change or [some] places won't receive the third hour.

[cityfan01]

That’s what I’m thinking and why they mention the online simulcast. It isn’t a nationwide broadcast. 

[vanguard]

I'm interested in Sam the successful plastic surgeon. His description is somewhat vague but he has an impeccable wife whom he cherishes. Stacy and whomever her husband is are no longer IN LOVE with each other, but they're still married. Marriage of convenience? Business arrangement? Open marriage? Swingers? Can't wait to find out. I wonder whose wife's pants Luis the dashing lothario is trying to get into?

[Jonathan]

I'm curious if these character names are final. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them change by the time the episodes are filmed.

[DeliaIrisFan]

The characters/dynamics all sound really interesting; and as has been said, much more befitting the 21st century than ≥ 99% of what other soaps have done in the entire 21st century to date.  I do wonder about a few things, though...

Is it unusual for new soaps to have so many young(er), frontburner couples already together when we meet them, at least since the dawn of the "supercouple" era?  Of course, every tentpole soap couple from Chris and Nancy Hughes up until Maeve and Johnny Ryan at least were already married with grown children, and it stands to reason that Betty and Patrick would be similarly established.  I'm just thinking about how various new soaps in the past few decades have introduced the couples whose romantic drama was actually meant to drive story.

Then again, maybe most if not all of the young(er) characters have yet to meet their actual long-term love interests?  It's hard to say for sure from the character descriptions.  For all I know, by next summer, Luis will have come out as bi, and both Elizabeth and one of the gay dads will be hitting the gym to take their minds off their crumbling marriages and spending more and more time with their trainer.  I don't know, I'm just speculating - I don't mean to second-guess MVJ, least of all before the show premieres.

I also hope the show is not written/filmed too far in advance: for a lot of reasons, including because of the timing of launching a show with this subject matter.  I have many hopes and fears IRL about the election that this isn't the place to go into, and I know which outcome I want to see as the backdrop for a new DC-based show with the characters as described.  I also just don't want the political aspect to be so superficial that we're supposed to be ignorant of what these characters' party affiliations are, the way other soaps have so often watered down stories in that vein.  Do we think there will at least be time to edit the first scripts with some references to semi-current events?

No comment on the BTS hires.

[dc11786]

@DeliaIrisFan It's interesting to consider the makeup of the central family in terms of marriage. The second generation is single with Sara and Joseph divorced and no partner mentioned for Jessica. While Joseph and Elizabeth are together, I'll be curious if they will stay together. 

There will probably be others in the 20/30 something group though I imagine we are approaching the cap when one considers that David, Daniel, and Cheryl may also be contract as well as Stacy's husband and Sam's wife. I'd be more concerned about Marcus / Daniel and Jillian / David if both couples didn't have career combos that will produce tension in their relationship.  

"Loving" started with over half their cast married and it was a recipe for disaster, but I don't think the dynamics were as rich as these are even working within the realm of the basic archetypes we've been provided. 

Something I noticed is there is no central business which will be refreshing. Though I do suspect there may be some sort of talent agency given the references to modelling and singing. The political/legal landscape seems to be the central focus and the hospital, which is very old school. 

[Liberty City]

As it's been reported, multiple times, filming will scheduled to begin November 4, 2024, which would put them [roughly] eight weeks tape-to-air for a January 2025 premiere, which is standard for CBS soaps.

[vanguard]

To me, the character descriptions is making this show sound kind of Tyler Perry-ish. Is that good, bad, or neutral?