After The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, this new series will be a first in more than three decades

The American channel CBS, to which we owe a whole host of legendary soap operas, such as The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful, is preparing to shake up the world of soaps (or “soap operas” for be precise).

In partnership with the NAACP, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, CBS announced a new soap opera, The Gates, which could become the first daytime soap with a majority black cast since 1989’s Generations.

As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the project will follow the lives of a wealthy black family living in a chic and secure housing development. The show will be written by Michele Val Jean, veteran screenwriter ofLove glory and beauty who has signed more than 2000 episodes of series during her career, in addition to being an Emmy winner. She will also serve as showrunner of the program.

A first in more than 3 decades

The last daytime soap opera to feature a predominantly black cast was the short-lived Generations from NBC, launched in 1989, which lasted only two years. This half-hour drama was groundbreaking in its genre, being the first soap to focus on an African-American family from its premise.

NBC

In 2015, Fox’s hit drama Empire also revolutionized the soap genre, but the series was broadcast in prime time and not during the day.

“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime dramas, with a fresh, new perspectivee,” said Sheila Ducksworth, named chair of the CBS/NAACP production initiative.

“This series will salute a traditionally underserved audience, with the potential to become a revolutionary moment for television. With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines and black culture at the forefront, The Gates will have impactful representation, one of the foundations of the company. I am thrilled to develop this project with CBS and P&G, two of the oldest and most passionate champions of daytime radio and television, and the NAACP, whose enduring commitment to Black voices and artists is both powerful and inspiring.”

Daytime soaps in disgrace?

Launching a new series is not trivial these days, the genre having somewhat fallen into disgrace. The last time a network launched a new soap opera was in 1999 (NBC’s Passions), while CBS’s last “new” soap opera was Love glory and beautywhich debuted in 1987.

In the United States, there are currently only three daytime soap operas on the air: The Young and the Restless, Love glory and beauty and Alliances & betrayals (General Hospital from its original title) – while Days of Our Lives is now broadcast on NBC’s streaming platform, Peacock.

In 2011, ABC made headlines by axing two of its long-running soap operas, The Force of Destiny (All My Children), broadcast since 1970, and You Only Live Once (One Life to Live), broadcast since 1968.

CBS, it continues its momentum. The channel has also recently renewed The Young and the Restlesswhich will celebrate its 51st birthday on March 26, for four more years, a series that you can find every day on TF1.