A New Soap Opera Looks to Rekindle the Past While Breaking New Ground
As a student at Yale, Sheila Ducksworth often rushed home to indulge in two favorite guilty pleasures. She'd stop for dessert at Durfee's Sweet Shoppe before catching up on her soap operas with a friend.
She had grown up watching her stories. 'Generations,' the NBC soap opera that debuted in 1989 and the first to highlight a Black family from its inception, became must-watch television while she was in college. She saw herself in the characters, and she yearned for the 30-minute show, ultimately short-lived, to be stretched into a daily hour like most other soaps.
Ducksworth started a career in television production with the idea of one day producing a soap opera even as they began to disappear from the airwaves. In 2020, with her treasured daytime serials still front of mind, she agreed to lead a new partnership between CBS and the N.A.A.C.P., and immediately set out to resuscitate the faltering genre.
That doggedness will result in something that has not occurred this century: a daytime soap debuting on a major television network. 'Beyond the Gates,' premiering on Feb. 24, will be the first since NBC introduced 'Passions' in 1999. And it will be the first ever that's completely centered on a Black family.
'This is really almost a 30-year passion, the point of getting this made,' Ducksworth said from Assembly Atlanta, the studio complex where the show is filmed, as cast and crew careened from scene to scene filming the story that centers on the Dupree family in suburban Maryland.
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2 hours ago
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Beyond The Gates Recap: Dani Gives Nicole a Crash Course in Break The China Therapy
Beyond The Gates Recap: Dani Gives Nicole a Crash Course in Break The China Therapy originally appeared on Daytime Confidential. On today's Beyond The Gates recap: Garland Memorial Hospital: Bill brags to Hayley about his progress but she thinks he still needs PT. Just then, Shanice enters all ready to go. Hayley and Shanice give him the business before Shanice wants to start with his arms. She tells him to crumple paper into a ball. He successfully completes the task with his left hand but is unable to do so with his right. Just then, Dr Montgomery arrives to check in. Hayley explains Bill is a charmer at home 99% of the time but that other 1% he can be an ass. She and Shanice giggle (I like seeing Hayley have someone with whom she gets along) while Bill grouses. Dr Montgomery tells Bill the only way he's getting out of the hospital is by proving himself in PT. Anita and Vernon's Mansion: Vernon gets a call from Anita about her trip to Chicago. She talks about how meeting the other women helped her get out of the projects. He thinks it was inevitable just like the two of them. Vernon promises to keep the home fires burning. Nicole and Ted's Home: Nicole asks Laura how she's settling in. Laura is frustrated but Nicole tells her to be patient and says how proud she is of her for recovering so quickly. Laura asks if it would be ok if she asks Eva to come over and walk her through her new system. Nicole agrees as long as Eva is willing. Nicole admits to missing a version of Eva and even thought she was telling the truth the day before. That being said, she can't forget all that Eva did to blow up her family. Laura tries to be supportive, but Nicole goes on to note how Ted also lied to her and is even more responsible for blowing up their lives. She apologizes to Laura for dumping on her, but she is happy things are getting back to normal. Eva arrives and learns from Laura that Nicole signed off on her visit. Laura compliments Eva's work system but needs some help. Eva realizes Laura doesn't really need help and she admits she thinks Nicole really misses her. Eva thinks Laura is appeasing her, but she says it's how she feels. Eva says she doesn't deserve a relationship with Nicole, but Laura thinks that should be her decision to make. Eva can't imagine how they would move past the hurt and embarrassment. Laura can't know how things will shake out, but she wants Eva to be prepared either way. Leslie's Apartment: Leslie is excitedly watching her story when Jacob arrives with yet another search warrant. She asks what Kat had to do with the new search. Jacob tells her to send questions to her lawyer. She gets snarky in an attempt to distract Jacob and talks about her story, 'Before Always.' She says she is enjoying Millie who used to be the villain but is now the heroine. Leslie wishes real life could work that way (such good writing). Suddenly, Jacob finds the motorcycle helmet and gloves that Kat planted. Leslie thinks it's awfully convenient he found nothing the first time and now found evidence in the open in her living room. She suggests the evidence has been tampered with before Jacob and his partner exit. As they walk away, Leslie says, 'spoiler alert: In the end, I win.' Orphey Gene's: Kat is ribbing Chelsea about her live stream with Dr Montgomery. Chelsea is reluctant to discuss which makes Kat wonder why she's being so coy. They chat a bit about her not having told Bill she's into women, but Chelsea says now is not the time. Chelsea says they need a bigger work and living space and suggests they use Dani's guesthouse. Kat reminds her that she is volunteering to live mere feet away from her mother. Just then, Jacob arrives to speak with Kat and Chelsea makes her exit. Jacob tells Kat about the search warrant and how he found the helmet and gloves. Kat is thrilled but Jacob thinks it's very strange the evidence suddenly appeared. He thinks Kat had a hand in planting the evidence just in time for his search. Kat denies any wrongdoing and Jacob says he moved forward with analyzing the evidence. He thinks they could soon have enough to demand a DNA sample. Just then, Jacob gets a call and learns they have visual confirmation of a match with the video. Kat notes they are another step closer to putting that bitch away. Just then, Jacob gets a call with what is clearly not great news. Anita and Vernon's Mansion: Nicole and Dani arrive, and their father tells them about The Articulettes' reunion. Vernon says they are in Chicago, and their mother will be home in a few weeks. Dani is excited but Nicole looks distraught. She breaks down saying she needs her mother right now. Nicole apologizes for her outburst and Vernon realizes she came over to seek her mother's counsel. He notes how much Anita needs this time to reunite with her old bandmates and she's just a call away. Dani thinks it's great her mother is getting to scratch her FOMO itch. Also, in a pinch, Nicole has her. She knows what it's like to be betrayed by the man she loves. Nicole hates they are in the same club, but Dani wants to teach her the secret handshake. With that, Dani ushers her sister out. Garland Memorial Hospital – Bill's Room: Dr Madison asks about Bill's daughters and notes the influencer and the lawyer's different life paths. Bill realizes Dr Montgomery is asking her questions to test his cognitive abilities. She doesn't disagree but also likes to get to know her patients. She goes on and asks what it's like to have a daughter with over a million followers which reminds Hayley the good doctor was on young Chelsea's feed the day before. Nicole and Ted's Home: Laura thanks Eva for helping her learn the new system. 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Yahoo
3 hours ago
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'So Cringe': JD Vance's Theater Joke Falls 'Incredibly' Flat On Social Media
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5 hours ago
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Celebrating Black Music Month: Kansas City's music history
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — June is Black Music Month throughout the nation, which gives us a chance to highlight some of the Black musical greats right here in Kansas City. Bob Dylan, Carole King, Keith Richards and more celebs react to the death of Brian Wilson Kansas City is hailed as one of the top cities with deep roots connected to Jazz and Blues music with a rich history dating back to the early 1920s. The early emergence of Kansas City Blues and Jazz took place inside local dance halls, cabarets and speakeasies throughout the city. Some of these dance halls and clubs gave a platform to local greats such as saxophonist Charlie Parker and Bennie Moten's Orchestra. LEGOLAND, SEA LIFE to offer free admission to dads on Father's Day Today, jazz and the blues live on throughout Kansas City inside of clubs such as The Blue Room, and inside of historical time capsules such as the . Beyond Jazz and Blues, Kansas City is also home to a number of Black musicians, including some of the following: Janelle Monáe – Singer, Songwriter, Actress Tech N9ne – Hip-Hop Artist Fat Tone – Hip-Hop Artist Bloodstone – Soul & Funk Group Justus West – Guitarist, Producer Titus Johnson – Musician, Songwriter, Producer Blair Bryant – Bassist There are many Black musicians who have called the Kansas City Metro home over the years, and many more new emerging artists to add to the history books. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
