ARTICLE: ‘The Gates’ Showrunner and Executive Producer Michele Val Jean Speaks Out

[Errol]

On Wednesday, CBS Studios and NAACP Venture announced “The Gates,” an all-new daytime drama series currently being developed for CBS that follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. Veteran soap scribe Michele Val Jean (“The Bold and the Beautiful,” “General Hospital”) will be spearheading the potential series where she is set up as writer, showrunner and executive producer alongside executive producers Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.

In her first official statement since the news was announced, Val Jean took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, “I’m so profoundly touched by the overwhelmingly positive response to #TheGates. What made this announcement especially poignant was it happened on @JackieZeman ‘s birthday. She would have loved this. #angelspirit.” 

Jacklyn Zeman (“General Hospital”)
XJJohnson/JPI Studios

Val Jean’s post referenced the late Jacklyn Zeman, who played Barbara Jean “Bobbie” Spencer on General Hospital for more than 45 years before she sadly passed away after a short battle with cancer last May. The two worked together during Val Jean’s time as a writer on the ABC daytime drama series, which netted her four Daytime Emmy Awards when the show took home the Emmy for Outstanding Writing Team for a Drama Series in 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2009. 

In a follow-up statement on X (formerly Twitter), Val Jean noted, “To everyone who reached out about #TheGates  know that I appreciate you and I’ll get around to liking:responding to your comments so you know I see you But it’s gonna take a minute so be patient. In the meantime know I’m humbled and grateful for your support. Wow. Let’s do this.”

Of course, with “The Gates” becoming the first daytime drama series in development in nearly 25 years, Val Jean was undoubtedly inundated with text messages, DMs, and phone calls congratulating her for not only her continued success but also for becoming the first Black person and first Black woman in the history of television to oversee a daytime soap opera as showrunner/executive producer. In fact, Val Jean remains the only Black person and Black woman to have ever held the position of head writer or co-head writer of a daily serial since the medium (including the radio era) was first introduced nearly 100 years ago! 

Note: Sheila Ducksworth, president of CBS/NAACP Production Venture, is also an executive producer for “The Gates” and is a Black woman.

“General Hospital”
Courtesy of ABC

In late 2000, Val Jean and Elizabeth Korte were named co-head writers of “General Hospital” before an executive producer change at the ABC soap resulted in their tenure lasting just four months (January 2001 to April 2001).

Nearly 20 years after she joined the writing team at “General Hospital,” Val Jean made the jump to “The Bold and the Beautiful” in 2012 as a scriptwriter, winning three additional Daytime Emmy Awards for her work (2015, 2016 and 2020). She remained with the show until last month when it was announced she would be exiting the series.

“The Bold and the Beautiful”
Courtesy of Bell-Phillip Television Productions

In a post on Facebook, Val Jean said at the time of her exit, “I left Bold & Beautiful a couple of weeks ago. It was an amazing run and I loved being there, but it was time for a change. I’m forever grateful to Brad Bell [head writer/executive producer] for giving me a soft place to land when I needed one and to have been part of that writing team full of tremendous people. You guys are always in my heart.”

Overall, Val Jean has received 17 Daytime Emmy Award nominations since she began her daytime career in 1989 as a writer for “Generations,” the first daytime drama series to feature a predominantly Black cast, and the series many have already compared “The Gates.”

Just over 24 hours after the news first came out about “The Gates,” Val Jean took to X (formerly Twitter), to follow up on her previous statement, saying, “You know what? I lied. Way too many comments/likes to reply to individually. I thank you for every single one and now I have to get to work! #TheGates.”

“The Gates”

Among the many firsts for “The Gates,” despite the show only being in the development stage right now, include:

• First daytime soap opera with a Black person/Black woman as showrunner/executive producer.
• First daytime soap opera in development since the launch of “Passions” in 1999.
• First daytime soap opera in development to feature a predominantly Black cast since the launch of “Generations” in 1989.
• First daytime soap opera in development at CBS since the launch of “The Bold and the Beautiful” in 1987.
• First daytime soap opera in development to be produced by or in partnership with P&G Studios (Proctor & Gamble) since the launch of “Texas” in 1980.
• If picked up to series, “The Gates” would become the 15th daytime soap opera produced by or in partnership with P&G Studios (Proctor & Gamble).

In addition to writing for “General Hospital,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Santa Barbara,” and “Generations,” Val Jean wrote for “Port Charles,” the short-lived spinoff of “General Hospital.” She also served as a consulting producer on the short-lived OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) primetime soap “Ambitions,” created by Jamey Giddens (writer, “Days of our Lives”).

“I could not be more proud and excited for my brilliant friend @MicheleValJean who may have also just saved the future of daytime dramas,” said Jon Lindstrom (Kevin Collins, “General Hospital”) on X (formerly Twitter) in response to the news of “The Gates” at CBS.

Other daytime veterans sending congratulations include Eileen Davidson, Ian Buchanan, Nancy Lee Grahn and Ted King, among others.

Sheila Ducksworth
Courtesy/CBS/NAACP

In announcing “The Gates,” fellow executive producer Sheila Ducksworth said in a statement, “‘The Gates’ will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective.” She added, “This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television. With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines and Black culture front and center, ‘The Gates’ will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture.”

Speaking more on CBS/NAACP Venture and P&G’s involvement, Ducksworth shared, “I’m excited to develop this project with CBS and P&G, two of the longest and most passionate champions of broadcast and daytime television, and the NAACP, whose enduring commitment to Black voices and artists is both powerful and inspiring. I also want to thank CBS’ George Cheeks, NAACP’s Derrick Johnson and P&G’s Marc Pritchard for their personal involvement and support to take our next step forward with ‘The Gates.’”

On X (formerly Twitter), Ducksworth shared news about the project, saying in a tweet, “Big Things Coming!!!” On the platform, “The Gates” (#TheGates) trended for much of Wednesday, peeking at no. 11 in the United States. The potential show also trended in multiple categories, including Movies & TV and Soap Operas.

At press time, several questions remain unanswered, including whether it will be a half-hour or one-hour series, where the show will be taped, when it will premiere (i.e. this fall, next season or 2025-2026 season), who will star in the series, who else will be part of the writing team, and much more. Considering the show was just announced as being in development, this is no surprise.

To reiterate Ducksworth and Val Jean’s comments, “Big Things Coming!” and “Let’s Do This!”

Are you ready for “The Gates” to open? Stay tuned to Soap Opera Network for all the latest news and updates!

Note: The post ‘The Gates’ Showrunner and Executive Producer Michele Val Jean Speaks Out appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website.

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[Jeff]

A new soap, this is still so amazing!  And MVJ is a gem!