Black Daytime Soap Opera ‘The Gates’ Coming To CBS

Deadline first mentioned the news that CBS has ordered a new soap opera called The Gates.  According to a news release, the new series will premiere in January 2025 on CBS. The specific time period, launch date and other series details will be announced at a later date.

The series will follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a "posh, gated community." Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmy and WGA Awards for her work on THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL and General Hospital, will serve as writer and showrunner. Val Jean will also be an executive producer alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson, and Kimberly Doebereiner.

The Gates was developed from the joint venture between CBS Studios and the NAACP. The series will be produced by the CBS Studios/NAACP venture in partnership with P&G Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble.

"The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective," said Ducksworth as reported by Deadline. "This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television. With multi-dimensional characters, juicy storylines, and Black culture front and center, The Gates will have impactful representation, one of the key touchstones of the venture."

Deadline also pointed out that it's been years since one of the broadcast networks launched a new daytime soap opera. "There are only three still existence between CBS and ABC — B&B and The Young and the Restless on CBS, and General Hospital on ABC," they said. They mentioned that CBS continues to rank No. 1 in daytime with its dramas but all three of the soaps are down in the key demos versus last year. Days of Our Lives is now streaming on Peacock. Since having moved from NBC to the platform in 2022.

You may be wondering if this is the first of its kind. But some people took to Reddit to share their excitement and reminisce about Black soaps they used to enjoy. "I haven't watched the stories in a long time. The only Black centered soap I can remember was Generations. I never got into it and it didn’t last long," someone shared. Generations premiered in 1989 on NBC and reportedly was the first soap opera that featured people of color as the main characters. Another person mentioned how you could find Black soaps on free networks like Pluto TV. They could be referring to the show Saints & Sinners that aired from 2016 to 2023.

The Gates will premiere on CBS in January 2025.

The 1990s had a plethora of sitcoms that celebrated the Black experience and launched several actors' careers. A common theme that runs throughout all of the shows selected is family. Additionally, many of these series show the importance of a chosen family.

Shows like Living Single featured main characters living within the same building or across the street from one another. They created a community in which they take care of each other. While the main character's family makes appearances on the show, their role is mostly used for context on the character's development.

In a workplace sitcom like The Jamie Foxx Show, it is very relatable to everyday life. Let's face it: We see our coworkers more than we see our families. The show can easily connect with that fact
but also how coworkers can be a lending ear to life's problems as well as fostering a familial relationship.

A coming-of-age sitcom like Moesha shows how childhood and high school years play a pivotal role in our development of relationships inside and outside of the home. Specifically, in Moesha, the show explores how the loss of her mother affected her ability to accept her father's new wife and ultimately changed the family dynamic she once had. Through her personal issues within herself, she is still managing how to navigate school, friendships, and romantic relationships.

Sibling relationships were also a common premise in the '90s with shows like Sister, Sister and The Wayans Bros. While real-life siblings were used in the shows, their stark differences in character show that your closest confidant could be the person you share a parent with.

Now, with streaming available, you don't have to wait for your favorite show to be played on late-night television. You can use your favorite app to relive all of your favorite moments from these hit shows.

Take a look at 10 Black 90s sitcoms you can stream now:

Living Single aired from 1993-1998. It featured six friends living in a Brooklyn brownstone as they navigated the trials and tribulations that life handed them. The show starred Queen Latifah, Kim Coles, John Henton, Erika Alexander, Kim Fields, and Terrence C. Carson. The show can be streamed on Hulu.

Martin aired from 1992-1997. Martin (Martin Lawrence) plays an over the top radio talk show host while his girlfriend Gina (Tisha Campbell), friends Tommy (Thomas Mikal Ford), Cole Carl (Anthony Payne II) and even his playful "arch nemesis" Pam (Tichina Arnold) help him get out of some sticky situations. You can stream Martin on Max (formerly HBO Max).

Will (Will Smith) got himself into some trouble in West Philadelphia so his mother requested that he move in with his Aunt Viv -- played by Janet Hubert in seasons 1-3 and later played Daphne Maxwell Reid in the remainder seasons -- and her husband Uncle Phil (James Avery) and their three children Hilary (Karyn Parsons), Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) and Ashley (Tatyana Ali) in Bel-Air. The show's premise is how Will can adjust to living in prestigious Bel-Air but also the relationship he fosters with his extended family. You can stream The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on Paramount Plus and Max (formerly HBO Max).

Moesha aired from 1996-2001. Moesha, played by Brandy Norwood, is navigating her life as a teenager with the adjustment of her father's new wife, along with friendship and relationship issues. The show additionally stars Marcus T. Paulk, William Allen Young, Shar Jackson, Countess Vaughn, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Lamont Bentley. You can stream Moesha on Netflix.

The Parkers aired from 1999-2004. It stars Nikki Parker (Mo'Nique) attending the same junior college as her daughter Kim (Countess Vaughn). The show additionally stars Yvette Wilson, Dorien Wilson, Jenna von Oÿ and Ken Lawson. The Parkers is a spin-off of Moesha. You can stream The Parkers on Netflix.

The Wayans Bros. aired from 1995-1999. The show stars real-life brothers Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans in their quest to be successful but have completely different personalities. Marlon is more laidback and carefree and Shawn is the responsible one. It additionally stars Anna Maria Horsford and the late John Witherspoon. The Wayans Bros. is available to stream on Max (formerly HBO Max).

Kenan & Kel aired from 1996-200. It starred Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson, who were cast members of sketch comedy All That on Nickelodeon who later got their own spin-off. Kenan & Kel is about high school best friends who always find themselves in some sort of trouble while having completely opposite goals. Kenan wants to get rich, while Kel constantly finds a way to backfire on Kenan's plan with his love of orange soda. The show is available to stream on Netflix.

Sister, Sister aired from 1994-1999 and stars real-life twins Tia Mowry and Tamera Mowry. In the show, the sisters have been separated at birth, and once they find each other, they convince their adopted parents to move in together so they can spend more time with one another. The show stars Jackée Harry, Tim Reid, and Marques Houston. You can stream Sister, Sister on Netflix.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115221/

The Jamie Foxx Show aired from 1996-2001. Jamie King (Jamie Foxx) is an aspiring actor who heads to Hollywood in order to chase his dreams. In order to make a living before he gets his big break, King gets employed at his uncle's hotel, King Towers. The show also stars Christopher B. Duncan, Ellia English, Garcelle Beauvais, and Garrett Morris. You can stream The Jamie Foxx Show on Max (formerly HBO Max).

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115372/

The Steve Harvey Show aired from 1996-2002. Steve Hightower (Steve Harvey) finds himself as a high school music teacher after years of touring with the biggest names in the industry. The show stars Merlin Santana, Cedric the Entertainer, William Lee Scott, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Lori Beth Denberg, Tracy Vilar, and Terri J. Vaughn. The show is available for streaming on Tubi and Pluto TV.