CBS and the NAACP are developing a new daytime television series under their content partnership.
The series, currently titled “The Gates,” will air on the CBS Television Network with the CBS Studios NAACP production venture being produced in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble.
The official description for “The Gates” states that it “follows the lives of a wealthy black family in a luxurious, gated community.”
Michelle Valjean will serve as writer, showrunner and executive producer. Val Jean has been a writer for “The Bold and the Beautiful” since 2012 and has also written for shows like “General Hospital” and “Santa Barbara.”
Sheila Ducksworth will also executive produce alongside Leon Russell, Derek Johnson and Kimberly Dobriner.
“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, with a fresh, fresh perspective,” said Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP Project. “This series will revitalize traditionally underserved audiences, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment in broadcast television. With multi-dimensional characters, exciting storylines and Black culture front and center, 'The Gates' will have impactful representation, one of the main focuses of the project.” I am excited to develop this project with CBS and P&G, two of the longest-standing and most passionate champions of daytime television, and the NAACP, whose enduring commitment to Black voices and artists is powerful and inspiring. I would also like to thank George Cheeks of CBS, Derek Johnson of the NAACP, and Mark Pritchard of P&G for their personal engagement and support in taking our next step forward with The Gates.
Val Jean was represented by Gersh in the deal with CBS and the NAACP.
Very few new daytime soaps are being produced these days, with networks relying on long-running series like “The Young and the Restless,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “Days of Our Lives,” and “General Hospital.” . However, “Days of Our Lives” is now streaming on the NBCUniversal streaming service Peacock.
It's also worth highlighting Procter & Gamble's involvement in The Gates, as the company was one of the original backers of the TV series and has been heavily involved in the production for years.
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