2 minutes ago, Vee said:

I'm just not looking forward to the right wing media ecosystem turning its eye to it, because you know they will.

Exactly why I said the above. Regardless of one's politics, some extremists will see the summary of the show with the phrase "Black soap" in it and believe that the show isn't for them and that it is a DEI project, this can be said whether one is politically left or politically right, hence what I said about media and politicians.

I want BTG to be a huge success for CBS, not just because they are highlighting an underrepresented demographic, but because it is a new soap opera in an era where soaps are "dying." I don't want B&B, GH, or Y&R added Black characters just because it's the "in" thing. I want them to add them and UTILIZE them because they have great characters with great storylines. The cynic in me is prepared for ABC/Hulu (and Peacock) seeing how BTG performs and thinking they must have a "Black soap" on their lineup/platform, too. Unfortunately, they will think it's just about the race bait and not the characters themselves, and ultimately ruin it with their potentially less-than-quality product.

13 minutes ago, Errol said:

Not to taint the thread, but I am seriously getting annoyed with the phrase "Black soap." Therefore, I'm personally not going to refer to the show as such.

Does the show have a predominantly Black cast? Yes, but it is not a "Black soap." There shouldn't be such a thing, IMO. Just like there isn't a "White soap."

For me, the phrase is a huge turn off for general audiences and I hope it doesn't deter people from tuning in, thinking the show can't be consumed by them simply because they aren't "Black." This can be said of White, Latino, Asian, or any other ethnic background.

I've been thinking about this for a while, not just in terms of Beyond the Gates, but in general. Media and politicians like to place things into categories but only do so to fit certain key narratives, and I'm tired of it.

For me, Beyond the Gates is just a daytime soap opera with a predominantly Black cast. Its storylines aren't going to be any different than the ones featured on other shows, with rare exceptions, and it shouldn't be put into a bubble where the world thinks it's just a soap catering to a specific demographic (an underrepresented one, yes), whereas the other soaps are geared towards everyone else.

One of the things that has always bothered me about "Black" being used to refer to race when talking about shows or movies, is that the term "black comedy" doesn't refer to race at all.

Dictionary definition:

Although the same definition doesn't apply to "Black drama," I'm sticking to my stance on the matter overall.

Ted Talk over.

But it is a black soap that's what others say on here. You can only post the black characters pics and such.

2 minutes ago, Soapsuds said:

But it is a black soap that's what others say on here. You can only post the black characters pics and such.

Ignore them. Until we get to the February Discussion thread in 2025, this is the default thread for the show. With the full contract cast fleshed out, all characters/cast members can be discussed, have pictures shown, retweets, Instagrams, etc. Beyond the Gates is for all viewers,. not just one demographic. If it were, it'll fail.

11 minutes ago, Taoboi said:

Amen.

 

When I think about it in my head or talk about it to other I just think new soap. 

Exactly this.

Until writing the ratings post I did earlier, I didn't think of anything else, but the more I see that phrase in PRs, the more it annoys me.

 

 

 

 

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IMO, it being the first new soap since before Y2K (I feel like I keep coming back to that) should take precedence over it being a “black soap,” but I think for history’s sake, it’s notable for having a predominantly black cast. Yet, it’s not even the first soap to do that.

Another point not being made enough is that, when it premieres, it’ll be the first new CBS soap in nearly 38 years. Everyone knows that the Eye’s daytime audience is notoriously loyal and that in the south, watching “the stories” means watching CBS soaps and nothing else. It’ll be interesting to see how a new soap, regardless of its casts’ ethnicity, fits into that. It’ll be on by default in many a doctor’s waiting area, student union, and retail break room. It’s basically coming in with a built-in audience that will not change the channel after B&B goes off.

Given the political climate, I imagine that CBS will downplay the "historic first" nature of BTG in its promotional materials, similar to the strategy of the Harris campaign.

44 minutes ago, All My Shadows said:

Another point not being made enough is that, when it premieres, it’ll be the first new CBS soap in nearly 38 years. Everyone knows that the Eye’s daytime audience is notoriously loyal and that in the south, watching “the stories” means watching CBS soaps and nothing else. It’ll be interesting to see how a new soap, regardless of its casts’ ethnicity, fits into that. It’ll be on by default in many a doctor’s waiting area, student union, and retail break room. It’s basically coming in with a built-in audience that will not change the channel after B&B goes off.

And as someone raised in the South...I can concur, and it really has not changed at all even though I've been out here on the West Coast for a good portion of my adult life. My classmates always get tickled online whenever I posted about soaps post-HS. And we all remember the Clarence Update on Y&R.  

1 hour ago, All My Shadows said:

Everyone knows that the Eye’s daytime audience is notoriously loyal and that in the south, watching “the stories” means watching CBS soaps and nothing else.

I did not know that. I'm not disputing it, it's just interesting.

Edited November 19, 20241 yr by Vee

Facts.

 

 

I'm so tired of hearing about the right-wing noise machine and at this point they can go straight to hell. You have decades of soaps that have been nearly all White with a few Black characters who gained supporting status, but where generally used as the best friend to the White leads. It's not even about having a Black soap opera, but a soap opera where Black actors can have a chance to do what their White counterparts do.

5 minutes ago, ReddFoxx said:

It's not even about having a Black soap opera, but a soap opera where Black actors can have a chance to do what their White counterparts do.

Oh, no.  I got enough of Black women lying about the identity of their babies' fathers on "Maury."  I don't want to see them do it on BTG, too.

2 hours ago, Alan said:

Given the political climate, I imagine that CBS will downplay the "historic first" nature of BTG in its promotional materials, similar to the strategy of the Harris campaign.

Sadly, we learned how much of a different that makes to a racist public.

Did Generations or more recently the Tyler Perry shows raise many eyebrows in the right wing media? As racist as they can be I doubt they’d care about a soap opera…

4 hours ago, Alan said:

Given the political climate, I imagine that CBS will downplay the "historic first" nature of BTG in its promotional materials, similar to the strategy of the Harris campaign.

But is it really an historic first when Generations already did it 35 years ago? (Not saying Beyond The Gates doesn't deserve recognition for trying again AT ALL. Just saying, it was not the first, strictly speaking.)

3 hours ago, Aback said:

Did Generations or more recently the Tyler Perry shows raise many eyebrows in the right wing media? As racist as they can be I doubt they’d care about a soap opera…

The Tyler Perry and 50 Cent shows aren't on a major network like CBS. But, I think what will help this show is that they already have a big Black following. CBS has shows in primetime with Black leads as well. I'm sure they'll find the right balance when promoting the show.