On 9/6/2025 at 11:04 PM, Paul Raven said:

No Ted, Bill, Martin, Smitty etc

Those tight, bicep-strangling polos on Mike Manning leave little to the imagination, so they may as well go that step further with Smitty. It’s not like he’s shy. 

We’ve seen Doug shirtless in bed with Vanessa (quite impressive, I might add—love me some Jason Graham) as well as Tomás’s tattooed torso when he finally hooked up with Kat. 
 

 

 

 

 

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Many of us thought Keith D. Robinson replaced Maurice Johnson because he (Keith) wasn't available when taping first began. We figured Johnson knew from the jump that he'd be replaced.

This article sets that theory to rest, because Robinson says "I think they called me Thursday. I screen-tested with Daphnee on Friday, and then on Monday I was on the mark saying the line...." Something clearly happened for Gates to make this lightning-quick recast. 

I'm happy with Robinson in the role, but it's crazy that Johnson was replaced when there are so many other actors who are bad, bad, bad.

https://parade.com/tv/beyond-the-gates-keith-d-robinson-reveals-how-fast-his-casting-happened

MVJ also indicated it was an 'actor issue' and was very short when being questioned about it in Deadline(?) a few months ago. I do wonder WTF happened.

As mentioned upthread, the reference in the Parade article is at 14:23 of this video
 

Edited September 15Sep 15 by janea4old

2 minutes ago, Vee said:

MVJ also indicated it was an 'actor issue' and was very short when being questioned about it in Deadline(?) a few months ago. I do wonder WTF happened.

Hey Vee,

I have been discussing this show mostly with people who have never watched a daytime soap before (ooh boy, do they have thoughts on the quality of this show!) and they used to refer to Maurice's version of the character as "Temu Ted"🤭 so they consider Robinson's interpretation of the character as a definite upgrade.

7 minutes ago, Vee said:

MVJ also indicated it was an 'actor issue' and was very short when being questioned about it in Deadline(?) a few months ago. I do wonder WTF happened.

https://deadline.com/2025/07/beyond-the-gates-creator-michele-val-jean-interview-1236472528/

VAL JEAN: I think it’s good to have a social media presence, and I always have, but it’s challenging in my new role as a creator and head writer. It’s tempting to respond to criticism. But I really have to stop myself, especially if somebody’s being loud and wrong. It’s really hard to say no, but I think I’m getting better at it. I try to go on when I think there’s something that I need to say.

DEADLINE: Like, for example, when you made the change with the Ted Richardson character?

VAL JEAN: I did not respond to any of it because it’s a personal matter to the show and to the actor, and it’s really not my place to comment on it, so I just didn’t say anything. People were very upset, but what can I say? What can you say? Sometimes changes get made.

My guess - it's an HR issue and they can't talk about it.  Maybe he made someone uncomfortable or did something that was against the rules. That's all I can think of that would make sense at this point.

50 minutes ago, alwaysAMC said:

My guess - it's an HR issue and they can't talk about it.  Maybe he made someone uncomfortable or did something that was against the rules. That's all I can think of that would make sense at this point.

But then again Daphnee said in one of those YT interview that she met Maurice at an event a few days into the recasting, she approached him and gave him the chance to address the recast but he avoided the subject... Had it been an HR issue she would've known and she would've avoided him. I dunno.

52 minutes ago, alwaysAMC said:

My guess - it's an HR issue and they can't talk about it.  Maybe he made someone uncomfortable or did something that was against the rules. That's all I can think of that would make sense at this point.

That's my thinking too. 

I never believed the idea that they were waiting for the current actor. Never. Judging by how Maurice was acting on social media...  there was something way different going on. It felt like there was some real issue there and bitterness that was coming through in actions. Wasn't he even sending fans a petition to keep him on the show or something like this?

1 hour ago, DramatistDreamer said:

they used to refer to Maurice's version of the character as "Temu Ted"🤭 so they consider Robinson's interpretation of the character as a definite upgrade.

I don't, but I do think MJ was wooden in places. Robinson's Ted is just kind of sad and pathetic to me. I keep calling him Kermit. My Kirk Van Houten references re: him and Doug are also real.

I have plenty of things I think the show badly need to work on as I've outlined, but it's also garnered a real, new audience and loyalty which is half the battle and frankly impressive and both a bit unsurprising to me, given how Black audiences have always been there for a genre which hasn't been there for them.

Edited September 14Sep 14 by Vee

17 minutes ago, Aback said:

Had it been an HR issue she would've known and she would've avoided him. I dunno.

Not necessarily the case if not every actor was involved.