ARTICLE: ‘Beyond the Gates’ Formally Announces Writing Team, ‘Robert Guza Jr. Named Co-Head Writer Alongside Creator Michele Val Jean

[Errol]

Following up on this week’s announcement that “Beyond the Gates” will premiere Monday, February 24, 2025 on CBS, the network is formally announcing the show’s writing team.

Robert Guza, Jr., who had previously been named an executive producer alongside creator, head writer, executive producer and showrunner Michele Val Jean, will also be part of the show’s writers’ room as co-head writer. In addition to serving as head writer at “General Hospital,” Guza is also best known for his writing work on “Santa Barbara” (writer), “Sunset Beach” (co-creator; co-head writer) and “Loving” (co-head writer). In primetime, his writing credits include “Melrose Place,” “Models Inc.” and “General Hospital: Night.” He was a story consultant for “Port Charles,” the first spinoff series for “General Hospital” early in the show’s run.

Susan Dansby, who most recently served as a writer at “The Young and the Restless” working in various writing capacities, including story consultant, is joining “Beyond the Gates” as the show’s script editor. Dansby’s previous daytime work includes associate head writer at “As The World Turns,” and directing at both “General Hospital” and spin-off series “Port Charles.” She had also served as a consulting producer for “Ambitions” and as an associate producer at “General Hospital.”

Michael Montgomery will serve as the show’s continuity producer, having previously served as a script and story coordinator, breakdown writer and scriptwriter at “The Young and the Restless.”Judy Tate (“Another World,” “As The World Turns”), Danielle Paige (“Days of our Lives,” “Guiding Light”), Jazmen Darnell Brown (“Ambitions,” “Saints and Sinners”), Cheryl L. Davis (“As The World Turns,” “Days of our Lives”) and Lynn Martin (“The City,” “The Young and the Restless”) have been hired as the show’s scriptwriters while the breakdown writers include Ron Carlivati (“One Life to Live,” “Days of our Lives”), Sara A. Bibel (“The Young and the Restless”), Christopher Dunn (“Santa Barbara,” “All My Children”), Gregori J. Martin (“The Bay”) and Teresa Zimmerman (“The Young and the Restless,” “The Bold and the Beautiful”).

The new daytime drama series from the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture will air weekdays at 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. PT on the CBS Television Network and will be available to stream Live and On Demand on Paramount+*.

Production on “Beyond the Gates” formally began on Wednesday, October 30 with the cast, crew and producers gathering at the show’s new Atlanta, Georgia-based studio for a ribbon cutting ceremony ahead of the first cast table read. Commemorating the start of season one, the cast also came together and contributed signed scripts and letters to their future selves that would be placed inside a time capsule and encased on the series stages for future retrieval. Physical production for the series began on Friday, November 1.

“Beyond the Gates” stars Tamara Tunie, Clifton Davis, Daphnee Duplaix, Karla Mosley, Alex Alegria, Lauren Buglioli, Brandon Claybon, Timon Kyle Durrett, Sean Freeman, Ben Gavin, Marquita Goings, Jibre Hordges, Jen Jacob, Maurice Johnson, Trisha Mann-Grant, Mike Manning, RhonniRose Mantilla, Ambyr Michelle, Colby Muhammad and Arielle Prepetit.

Set in a leafy Maryland suburb just outside of Washington D.C., and in one the most affluent African American counties in the United States, “Beyond The Gates” is where viewers will find a posh gated community filled with winding tree-lined streets and luxurious mansions that the wealthy call home. At the center of it all are the Duprees, a powerful and prestigious multi-generational family who are the very definition of Black royalty. 

Behind these pristine walls and lush, manicured gardens are juicy secrets and scandals waiting to be uncovered, while those living outside these gates are watching ever closely. For every person who has “made it,” there are always those who have not. Follow the characters as they live, love, work, and play, all while trying to navigate life… some more gracefully than others.

Developed and produced by the CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, led by Sheila Ducksworth, in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble, “Beyond the Gates” marks the first-ever one-hour Black daytime soap opera and the first daytime drama series to premiere since “Passions” in 1999.

In addition to Michele Val Jean and Robert Guza Jr., Julie Carruthers (“All My Children,” “Port Charles”), Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson, Kimberly Doebereiner and Anna Saalfeld as executive producers, along with Ducksworth.

*Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers will have access to stream Live via the live feed of their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as On Demand. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not have the option to stream Live but will have access to On Demand the day after the series airs.

Note: The post ‘Beyond the Gates’ Formally Announces Writing Team, ‘Robert Guza Jr. Named Co-Head Writer Alongside Creator Michele Val Jean appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website.

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[Liberty City]

Honestly, overall, this writing team is solid. Real solid. Michele Val Jean is classic & Robert Guza Jnr, despite all of his faults, will bring some real excitement to Sweeps period, and they both worked together on General Hospital, so that's a promising sign. Susan Dansby is finally getting her due as script editor⏤which means bullshit won't be making it onscreen. And I'm happy they have a continuity producer. I don't believe any other soap has one of those, especially the one with a "historian" as head writer.

The two names I don't like seeing are Sara A. Bibel & the "writer," both of whom I'm at least in comfort knowing are breakdown writers, only. Their roles will be tight and restricted, thankfully. But, I love seeing an all-Black writing team of script writers, which will provide a very unique POV to American daytime viewers. Let's go!!! Bring it the frick on!!!!!!!

[Taoboi]

I like that as well. Say what you will...and we have...but Guza can write good sweeps events.

 

I would like to think soaps used to have continuity workers, but wasn't that discontinued?

[Contessa Donatella]

So, THE TALK's last day is 12-20. An article I read speculated the time in between then & BTG beginning might have holiday programming, maybe even a new limited series. 

I know I will personally be anxiously waiting for this new soap!! Can't wait.

[Maxim]

Same! And it's the countdown to my 30th birthday too! LOL.

[Contessa Donatella]

I'm Feb 8th but I celebrate all month long. We can have BTG virtual parties. I think I'll come as Jasmine Thomason, a family friend of the Duprees.

[Maxim]

I'll come as Modesta Josefina - the ex-hooker from Another World. 

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 And I think BTG parties is not a "can do it"... but a MUST-do-it. The first new soap opera in 25 years - we should celebrate like there's no tomorrow. Ha! - so many people through the years were saying that it will never happen. It ain't over till the fat lady sings. Nothing is impossible... and BTG is proof of that. A new era for soap operas is beginning and I'm going to be talking about this to my grandchildren one day.

[titan1978]

I absolutely love the news about their scripting team. We might finally see a soap airing now that has an identity instead of generic soap which is what we mostly get as far as the scripts go on the others.

Ron should not HW again. I have no issue with him as a breakdown writer. I cannot imagine him and Guza gelling but time will tell.

And as far as Guza goes- if we get 1996-1998 Guza, it’s going to be fine. He still had some fun, there was intrigue, romance, depth, real emotional drama and taking chances. What I do not want to see is unrelenting darkness and misogyny playing out every day for years. Hopeful this team gets the need for balance overall.

[Contessa Donatella]

You are right about the uniqueness. I never thought a day like this would come again. 

One thing, Modesta, that hooker part of your life, that was secret. To most people you were a cop, plain & simple.

[Losing interest]

The writing has gotten VERY weak!!!!!

Example: The new Ted (weak Ted) makes the statement about his daughter Kat, "Maybe she will convince my wife".  Anyone else would have said, "I hope that she will convince her mother".  The closest relationship is mother to daughter, not her dad's wife.