Former “General Hospital” head writer Robert Guza, Jr. and former “All My Children” executive producer Julie Hanan Carruthers have signed on as executive producers of “The Gates,” reports Soap Hub.

Created by veteran soap writer Michele Val Jean (“The Bold and the Beautiful,” “General Hospital”), who will also serve as showrunner and executive producer, “The Gates,” daytime’s newest daily drama series, is set to premiere in January 2025 on CBS. It tells the story of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.

Additional executive producers for “The Gates” include Sheila Duckworth, Kimberly Doebereiner, Leon T. Russell and Derrick Johnson. Thus, the show is one of only two daytime dramas with more than one executive producer (“Days of our Lives” being the other) and the only daytime series with seven executive producers overall.

Bob Guza

In 2011, Guza left “General Hospital” as the show’s long-time head writer, a position he held alone or with a co-head writer over the span of 15 years. Guza was first named co-head writer in March 1996, working alongside Karen Harris before taking over sole head writing duties from December 1997 to December 2000, when he exited. He returned to the series in June 2002 to work alongside his Charles Pratt Jr. The two oversaw the show’s writing until March 2006, when Guza retained sole head writing duties again.

By February 2007, Guza’s real-life wife, the late Meg Bennett, would become his co-head writer, a position she held until October 2007. By then, Guza once again became the show’s sole head writer until January 2008, when his name disappeared from the credits due to the 2007 WGA writer’s strike. Guza would return to the position of sole head writer again in March 2008 following the strike’s conclusion, and he remained at the show until his name disappeared from the credits again in July 2011.

Julie Hanan Carruthers

As for Carruthers, she also began her daytime career working in numerous roles as a production assistant, associate director, editor and producer on NBC’s “Santa Barbara” from 1984-1990. By 1994, she would land at “General Hospital,” working as a producer, supervising producer and a senior supervising producer until she exited the soap in 2000 to become executive producer of “Port Charles.”

Following the cancellation of the half-hour soap in 2003, Carruthers was named executive producer of “All My Children.” She remained in her position until the show was canceled in 2011. The series concluded in September 2011. From 2015-2016, Carruthers worked as an executive producer at Mar Vista Entertainment, working on projects such as “Jessica Darlings It List.”

Since 2017, Carruthers has been a successful real estate agent working for Compass, a Los Angeles-based residential real estate firm.

In addition to Guza and Carruthers, Soap Hub also reported casting calls for characters set to appear in the series, among other newly revealed information about the series.

Note: The post REPORT: Bob Guza and Julie Carruthers Named Executive Producers of ‘The Gates’ appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website.

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While I would have wished for new names, I am [cautiously] welcoming back Bob Guza and Julie Hanan Farruthers back to the daytime fold. Now, I need to see Patrick Mulcahey named as one of the head writers, stat! Do we have word, as I cannot recall, if Michele Val Jean is also one of the head writers for this?

Still hoping for some new blood with fresh ideas in the writer’s room.

5 minutes ago, DramatistDreamer said:

Still hoping for some new blood with fresh ideas in the writer’s room.

So far only name is Val Jean, and the reported Emmy winner (unnamed). I'm okay with names as head writers, for right now, and then allow those hired in as script / breakdown writers to learn the ropes from Val Jean and those she brings in name-wise.

MULTIPLE Emmy winner, eh?  Well, then, I guess that takes Jamey Giddens out of the running for now, lol.

Well, that takes Guza out of the running for the mystery new writer at GH.

 

Or does it? Hmmm

7 hours ago, Liberty City said:

While I would have wished for new names, I am [cautiously] welcoming back Bob Guza and Julie Hanan Farruthers back to the daytime fold.

To be fair, exec producers need to be experienced enough to be able to run a daytime show, especially with knowing its limitations and control the budget. Like @DramatistDreamer I'm hoping for fresh faces in the writers room though.

13 hours ago, DramatistDreamer said:

Still hoping for some new blood with fresh ideas in the writer’s room.

Same. My fear is that this will feel dated since they seem to be hiring names from like 30 years ago. They have the experience for sure so it could go either way

She already announced a young writer of color on Twitter last night. I believe it's someone she worked with on Ambitions. I'm sure they'll have diversity in the Script Writers/Breakdown Writers.. It makes sense to put established people at the top.

Welcome to #TheGates @SincerelySkyy So happy to be working with you again

— Michele Val Jean (@MicheleValJean) August 1, 2024

Just from an outside view, I bet JHC is going to be running the day to day production, and I bet Guza is there as more of a creative director producer, almost like a showrunner.

I hope MVJ negotiated herself a production credit or at least a contract that gives her some autonomy and control. She has partners in Guza and JHC that she has worked with and has loyalty with, especially Guza. But by all accounts this is mostly her creation, and soaps suffer when the writers are not in control.

MVJ is crediting herself as the Creator, HW, and EP of the show. Guza will have an EP credit, but I do wonder if MVJ is leveraging him as more of a Co-HW. 

14 minutes ago, BetterForgotten said:

MVJ is crediting herself as the Creator, HW, and EP of the show. Guza will have an EP credit, but I do wonder if MVJ is leveraging him as more of a Co-HW. 

Excellent for MVJ! I am certain his EP role involves the writing more than day to day production. Even though I hope they fill the staff with more talent not from the last 30 years of soaps, I still understand the steady hands she is surrounding herself with. I know if I was Guza I would be thrilled to create, and mentor, and mange writers. But I would never want to sit in a network meeting again!

 Both MVJ and Mulcahey said he is quite adept at managing a team of writers and collaborative. Skills a new show would need.

Edited August 1, 20241 yr by titan1978

It's great the show is going to be in the capable hands of daytime vets and not newbies who may not understand the daytime grind. I do worry, however, that there may be too many "cooks in the kitchen". I just hope they have very defined roles and aren't stepping over each other.