Revival of Black-Led Daytime Drama CBS has announced the debut of ‘The Gates’, a new soap opera centering around a wealthy Black family, marking the first such endeavor since the groundbreaking ‘Generations’. Scheduled for January 2025, this show represents a significant milestone as it revisits and redefines the genre’s approach to diverse storytelling in an upscale setting. Distinguished Creatives Behind the New Series Michele Val Jean, celebrated for her extensive work on ‘The Bold & the Beautiful’ and ‘General Hospital’, steps in as showrunner. Alongside Sheila Ducksworth, this pair represents a formidable force, poised to draw from their rich industry
The post CBS Launches First Black-Led Daytime Soap Opera in 35 Years first appeared on TVovermind.
The post CBS Launches First Black-Led Daytime Soap Opera in 35 Years first appeared on TVovermind.
- 4/19/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
Revival of Black-Led Daytime Drama CBS has announced the debut of ‘The Gates’, a new soap opera centering around a wealthy Black family, marking the first such endeavor since the groundbreaking ‘Generations’. Scheduled for January 2025, this show represents a significant milestone as it revisits and redefines the genre’s approach to diverse storytelling in an upscale setting. Distinguished Creatives Behind the New Series Michele Val Jean, celebrated for her extensive work on ‘The Bold & the Beautiful’ and ‘General Hospital’, steps in as showrunner. Alongside Sheila Ducksworth, this pair represents a formidable force, poised to draw from their rich industry
The post CBS Launches First Black-Led Daytime Soap Opera in 35 Years first appeared on TVovermind.
The post CBS Launches First Black-Led Daytime Soap Opera in 35 Years first appeared on TVovermind.
- 4/19/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
It’s official – The Gates is coming to CBS!
The network’s first Black soap opera in 35 years has been ordered to series, and is set to debut in January 2025.
News of the new series was first revealed at the beginning of march, as a joint venture between CBS Studios and the NAACP.
Keep reading to find out more…
The Gates will follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.
Additional details, the specific time period and the exact launch date will be announced at a later date.
Michele Val Jean, who has won multiple Daytime Emmys and written over 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas, will serve as writer and showrunner on the upcoming new series.
She will also executive produce alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
After news that the show was in development, there was a report that suggested the...
The network’s first Black soap opera in 35 years has been ordered to series, and is set to debut in January 2025.
News of the new series was first revealed at the beginning of march, as a joint venture between CBS Studios and the NAACP.
Keep reading to find out more…
The Gates will follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.
Additional details, the specific time period and the exact launch date will be announced at a later date.
Michele Val Jean, who has won multiple Daytime Emmys and written over 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas, will serve as writer and showrunner on the upcoming new series.
She will also executive produce alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
After news that the show was in development, there was a report that suggested the...
- 4/18/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
After a 15 years absence in the genre, P&g Studios will produce The Gates, a 2025 daytime drama about a wealthy Black family which is being developed by a partnership between CBS and the NAACP.
P&g is headquartered in Cincinnati, Oh and has a long history when it comes to daytime soaps. They exited the genre in 2010 when CBS cancelled As the World Turns. In 2009, CBS also cancelled Guiding Light which aired for 72 years on radio and television.
The Gates will have a predominately African American cast
The Gates will depict the lives of a wealthy black family in a luxurious gated community, Michele Val Jean will serve as writer and showrunner.
Val Jean has written over 2,000 episodes of daytime drama and has won multiple daytime Emmys and WGA Awards for her work on such shows as The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital. Val Jean will also serve as...
P&g is headquartered in Cincinnati, Oh and has a long history when it comes to daytime soaps. They exited the genre in 2010 when CBS cancelled As the World Turns. In 2009, CBS also cancelled Guiding Light which aired for 72 years on radio and television.
The Gates will have a predominately African American cast
The Gates will depict the lives of a wealthy black family in a luxurious gated community, Michele Val Jean will serve as writer and showrunner.
Val Jean has written over 2,000 episodes of daytime drama and has won multiple daytime Emmys and WGA Awards for her work on such shows as The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital. Val Jean will also serve as...
- 4/17/2024
- by Matt Crider
- Celebrating The Soaps
Soap fans will soon have another show to watch starting this January. CBS has ordered The Gates to series and will premiere in January of 2025.
It was just a few days ago that the network revealed that it renewed The Talk for an abbreviated 15th season that will serve as its last.
The Talk will last air in December of this year. White it’s not been officially given a time slot, but it’s likely that Gates will take over the talk shows time slot.
The Gates – The Gates will be featuring all-new characters and stories!
The Gates will depict the lives of a wealthy black family in a luxurious gated community, Michele Val Jean will serve as writer and showrunner.
Val Jean has written over 2,000 episodes of daytime drama and has won multiple daytime Emmys and WGA Awards for her work on such shows as The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital.
It was just a few days ago that the network revealed that it renewed The Talk for an abbreviated 15th season that will serve as its last.
The Talk will last air in December of this year. White it’s not been officially given a time slot, but it’s likely that Gates will take over the talk shows time slot.
The Gates – The Gates will be featuring all-new characters and stories!
The Gates will depict the lives of a wealthy black family in a luxurious gated community, Michele Val Jean will serve as writer and showrunner.
Val Jean has written over 2,000 episodes of daytime drama and has won multiple daytime Emmys and WGA Awards for her work on such shows as The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital.
- 4/15/2024
- by Matt Crider
- Celebrating The Soaps
The flood gates are open! CBS has green-lit an all-new soap opera titled The Gates, which will be the first all-new soap opera in 25 years. The series’ development was previously reported in March. The Gates follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. It will premiere in January 2025, CBS announced on Monday, April 15. At the helm of the series is 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 and the Beautiful and General Hospital. Val Jean will serve as writer, showrunner, and executive producer. She executive produces alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson, and Kimberly Doebereiner. The Gates was first developed as a joint venture between CBS Studios and the NAACP. Both parties will produce the series, with P&g Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble.
- 4/15/2024
- TV Insider
CBS has ordered the daytime soap opera “The Gates” to series, Variety has learned.
The series was first reported to be in development in March. It was developed under CBS Studios’ content partnership with the NAACP. The official description of the series states, “‘The Gates’ follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.”
Michele Val Jean 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.” She has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime television to date. Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner will executive produce. The CBS Studios/NAACP venture will produce in partnership with P&g Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble.
The show is slated to debut in January 2025, though an exact date and timeslot will...
The series was first reported to be in development in March. It was developed under CBS Studios’ content partnership with the NAACP. The official description of the series states, “‘The Gates’ follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.”
Michele Val Jean 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.” She has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime television to date. Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner will executive produce. The CBS Studios/NAACP venture will produce in partnership with P&g Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble.
The show is slated to debut in January 2025, though an exact date and timeslot will...
- 4/15/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
CBS is opening The Gates.
The Paramount Global-backed broadcast network has handed out a formal series order to The Gates, the first Black daytime soap opera in 35 years.
The network on Monday announced that the series following the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community, will debut in January 2025. The specific time period, launch date and other details will be revealed later.
The official series pickup comes a month after CBS announced it was teaming with the NAACP to develop The Gates with the news marking a show of confidence in the script from. Michele Val Jean, who previously penned more than 2,000 episodes of The Bold & the Beautiful and General Hospital, will serve as showrunner and exec produces alongside Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama,...
The Paramount Global-backed broadcast network has handed out a formal series order to The Gates, the first Black daytime soap opera in 35 years.
The network on Monday announced that the series following the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community, will debut in January 2025. The specific time period, launch date and other details will be revealed later.
The official series pickup comes a month after CBS announced it was teaming with the NAACP to develop The Gates with the news marking a show of confidence in the script from. Michele Val Jean, who previously penned more than 2,000 episodes of The Bold & the Beautiful and General Hospital, will serve as showrunner and exec produces alongside Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama,...
- 4/15/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Just a few days after revealing how The Talk will wrap its 15-season run this December, CBS announced today that it has ordered the new daytime drama The Gates to series and will premiere the soap in January 2025.
The specific time period and launch date will be announced at a later date, but it seems certain the drama will take over The Talk‘s timeslot.
The Gates follows 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...
The specific time period and launch date will be announced at a later date, but it seems certain the drama will take over The Talk‘s timeslot.
The Gates follows 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...
- 4/15/2024
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Soaps fans will have even more tasty drama to sink their teeth into: CBS has officially ordered a brand-new daytime series titled The Gates, which is set to premiere January 2025.
The Gates will follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. Michele Val Jean (The Bold and the Beautiful, General Hospital, Santa Barbara) will serve as writer and showrunner. She will executive-produce alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
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The Gates will follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. Michele Val Jean (The Bold and the Beautiful, General Hospital, Santa Barbara) will serve as writer and showrunner. She will executive-produce alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
More from TVLineThe NCIS-Verse's 1,000th Episode: How Many Easter Eggs Did You Find?Tracker Casts Manifest's Melissa Roxburgh as Colter's Sister Dory -...
- 4/15/2024
- by Nick Caruso
- TVLine.com
It’s the end of the road for The Talk; as news broke today, the show has been canceled.
However, The Talk won’t end immediately as it was renewed for a shortened and final Season 15.
“It goes without saying that hosting and producing a year-round talk show is no easy task, and we express our sincere gratitude to our amazing hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood, our executive producer/showrunner Rob Crabbe and the hardworking producing team and crew,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios prexy David Stapf said in a joint statement.
They also acknowledged all the accomplishments of The Talk as well as what it brought to the network.
“Throughout the years, it has been a key program on CBS’ top rated daytime line-up as it brought timely, important and entertaining topics and discussions into living rooms around the globe,...
However, The Talk won’t end immediately as it was renewed for a shortened and final Season 15.
“It goes without saying that hosting and producing a year-round talk show is no easy task, and we express our sincere gratitude to our amazing hosts Akbar Gbajabiamila, Amanda Kloots, Natalie Morales, Jerry O’Connell and Sheryl Underwood, our executive producer/showrunner Rob Crabbe and the hardworking producing team and crew,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach and CBS Studios prexy David Stapf said in a joint statement.
They also acknowledged all the accomplishments of The Talk as well as what it brought to the network.
“Throughout the years, it has been a key program on CBS’ top rated daytime line-up as it brought timely, important and entertaining topics and discussions into living rooms around the globe,...
- 4/12/2024
- by Rachelle Lewis
- Monsters and Critics
With the news that CBS is currently in “accelerated development” on a new daytime soap opera geared towards the African American audience, daytime soap icon Victoria Rowell, who portrayed Drucilla Barber Winters on “The Young and the Restless” off and on from 1990-2007, is happy to see change happening both on-screen and behind the scenes when it comes to the future of daytime dramas.
In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, Rowell said, “Change is Possible! Believe it!” while linking to a news story on “The Gates,” a new soap being spearheaded by the first and only Black woman ever to hold the position of head writer/co-head writer of a daytime drama series, Michele Val Jean, and follows a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.
If picked up to series, “The Gates” would become the first new CBS daytime soap opera since 1987 and the...
In a message posted on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, Rowell said, “Change is Possible! Believe it!” while linking to a news story on “The Gates,” a new soap being spearheaded by the first and only Black woman ever to hold the position of head writer/co-head writer of a daytime drama series, Michele Val Jean, and follows a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.
If picked up to series, “The Gates” would become the first new CBS daytime soap opera since 1987 and the...
- 3/17/2024
- by Errol Lewis
- Soap Opera Network
More than a week since CBS shocked the entertainment industry with news that it is currently developing the first daytime drama series since the launch of “Passions” nearly 25 years ago, and the network’s first new soap opera since the launch of “The Bold and the Beautiful” in 1987, George Cheeks, president and CEO of CBS and chief content officer for news and sports at Paramount+, recently revealed how “The Gates” came to be and gave some insight on whether the show will be a 30-minute show or one-hour.
In a far-reaching interview with Vulture, Cheeks revealed that “The Gates” is real and that the show is being developed following conversations with Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS/NAACP Production Venture, which was established in 2020 to develop content for the CBS Television Network, as well as the ability to sell programming to third-party platforms across the media landscape with an emphasis...
In a far-reaching interview with Vulture, Cheeks revealed that “The Gates” is real and that the show is being developed following conversations with Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS/NAACP Production Venture, which was established in 2020 to develop content for the CBS Television Network, as well as the ability to sell programming to third-party platforms across the media landscape with an emphasis...
- 3/15/2024
- by Errol Lewis
- Soap Opera Network
CBS is in the works on a brand new soap opera series with a Black family as the focus.
The Gates was recently announced as a new series in development and now a CBS exec is spilling exciting details surrounding the show.
CBS CEO and president George Cheeks told Vulture that the new series is “super real” and not just an idea.
Keep reading to find out more…
“To give you a little bit of the backstory, when we hired Sheila Ducksworth to run the NAACP venture, she and I had multiple meetings talking about what different genres she was going to lean into, and we talked a lot about daytime,” Cheeks said. “One of the things that the data made very clear to both of us is that daytime soap operas over index with Black women, and yet when you look at soap operas, it’s usually sort of...
The Gates was recently announced as a new series in development and now a CBS exec is spilling exciting details surrounding the show.
CBS CEO and president George Cheeks told Vulture that the new series is “super real” and not just an idea.
Keep reading to find out more…
“To give you a little bit of the backstory, when we hired Sheila Ducksworth to run the NAACP venture, she and I had multiple meetings talking about what different genres she was going to lean into, and we talked a lot about daytime,” Cheeks said. “One of the things that the data made very clear to both of us is that daytime soap operas over index with Black women, and yet when you look at soap operas, it’s usually sort of...
- 3/15/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
CBS announced some promising news for the future of daytime dramas last week when it revealed plans to develop a new sudser that would follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.
Dubbed The Gates, the serial is from Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmys for her work on The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital. She will serve as writer and showrunner and will also executive producer alongside CBS Studios NAACP Venture President Sheila Ducksworth, along with Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
What CBS didn’t say, however, is how long each episode of the soap would be — though it’s looking to be an hour a day — and where (or when) it would go on the schedule should it earn a series pickup. Dropping The Young and the Restless is...
Dubbed The Gates, the serial is from Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmys for her work on The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital. She will serve as writer and showrunner and will also executive producer alongside CBS Studios NAACP Venture President Sheila Ducksworth, along with Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
What CBS didn’t say, however, is how long each episode of the soap would be — though it’s looking to be an hour a day — and where (or when) it would go on the schedule should it earn a series pickup. Dropping The Young and the Restless is...
- 3/14/2024
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
On Wednesday, CBS Studios and NAACP Venture announced “The Gates,” an all-new daytime drama series currently being developed for CBS that follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. Veteran soap scribe Michele Val Jean will be spearheading the potential series where she is set up as writer, showrunner and executive producer alongside executive producers Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
In her first official statement since the news was announced, Val Jean took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, “I’m so profoundly touched by the overwhelmingly positive response to #TheGates. What made this announcement especially poignant was it happened on @JackieZeman ‘s birthday. She would have loved this. #angelspirit.”
Jacklyn Zeman (“General Hospital”)
XJJohnson/Jpi Studios
Val Jean’s post referenced the late Jacklyn Zeman, who played Barbara Jean “Bobbie” Spencer on General Hospital for more than 45 years before she...
In her first official statement since the news was announced, Val Jean took to X (formerly Twitter) and said, “I’m so profoundly touched by the overwhelmingly positive response to #TheGates. What made this announcement especially poignant was it happened on @JackieZeman ‘s birthday. She would have loved this. #angelspirit.”
Jacklyn Zeman (“General Hospital”)
XJJohnson/Jpi Studios
Val Jean’s post referenced the late Jacklyn Zeman, who played Barbara Jean “Bobbie” Spencer on General Hospital for more than 45 years before she...
- 3/8/2024
- by Errol Lewis
- Soap Opera Network
Daytime TV may be getting its first new soap opera in decades. CBS is partnering with the NAACP to develop an all-new daytime soap that centers a wealthy Black family. The potential soap will be called The Gates. The Gates will follow a wealthy Black family living in a posh, gated community, per Variety. If ordered, the series will air on CBS as a partnership between CBS Studios NAACP production and P&g Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. Soap veteran Michele Val Jean, who has worked on hit series such as General Hospital, The Bold and the Beautiful, and Santa Barbara, will serve as writer, showrunner, and executive producer. Val Jean was a writer on the first soap opera focusing on Black families, Generations. The soap aired from 1989 to 1991 on NBC. Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson, and Kimberly Doebereiner will also serve as executive producers. CBS hasn’t...
- 3/6/2024
- TV Insider
CBS is developing a new soap opera!
The series, called The Gates, will focus on a wealthy Black family living in a gated community, and could become the first daytime TV drama with a predominately Black cast in decades, via THR.
Keep reading to find out more…
The Gates will be written by Emmy-winning daytime veteran Michele Val Jean, known for work on The Bold & The Beautiful, who will also serve as showrunner. She has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime TV.
The last Black daytime soap was NBC’s short-lived Generations, which launched in 1989. Fox’s 2015 hit drama Empire was considered by some as a soap opera, but it aired in primetime.
“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” said Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture in a series.
“This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved,...
The series, called The Gates, will focus on a wealthy Black family living in a gated community, and could become the first daytime TV drama with a predominately Black cast in decades, via THR.
Keep reading to find out more…
The Gates will be written by Emmy-winning daytime veteran Michele Val Jean, known for work on The Bold & The Beautiful, who will also serve as showrunner. She has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime TV.
The last Black daytime soap was NBC’s short-lived Generations, which launched in 1989. Fox’s 2015 hit drama Empire was considered by some as a soap opera, but it aired in primetime.
“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” said Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture in a series.
“This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Just Jared
- Just Jared
If daytime soap operas are a dying art form, no one told CBS.
The network behind The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful announced Wednesday that it is partnering with the NAACP to develop a new daytime drama about a wealthy Black family living in a posh, gated community.
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Titled The Gates, the potential series will be shepherded by veteran soap scribe Michele Val Jean,...
The network behind The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful announced Wednesday that it is partnering with the NAACP to develop a new daytime drama about a wealthy Black family living in a posh, gated community.
More from TVLineYoung Sheldon Spinoff Centered on Georgie and Mandy Officially Ordered at CBSTracker Renewed for Season 2 at Cbscsi: Vegas' Matt Lauria Weighs In on Josh's New Situation, What's Ahead With Allie and Serena
Titled The Gates, the potential series will be shepherded by veteran soap scribe Michele Val Jean,...
- 3/6/2024
- by Michael Ausiello
- TVLine.com
CBS is developing a soap opera about a wealthy family that could become the first daytime TV drama with a predominately Black cast in decades.
The project is titled The Gates, and it follows the lives of a wealthy Black family living in a posh, gated community.
The show will be produced by a CBS Studios/NAACP production venture in partnership with P&g Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. The Gates will be written by Emmy-winning daytime veteran Michele Val Jean (The Bold & the Beautiful), who will also serve as showrunner. Val Jean has also written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime TV.
The last Black daytime soap was NBC’s short-lived Generations, which launched in 1989 as a half-hour drama and was reportedly the first U.S. soap to center around a Black family from its inception. Also, Fox’s 2015 hit drama Empire was regarded by some as a soap opera,...
The project is titled The Gates, and it follows the lives of a wealthy Black family living in a posh, gated community.
The show will be produced by a CBS Studios/NAACP production venture in partnership with P&g Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. The Gates will be written by Emmy-winning daytime veteran Michele Val Jean (The Bold & the Beautiful), who will also serve as showrunner. Val Jean has also written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime TV.
The last Black daytime soap was NBC’s short-lived Generations, which launched in 1989 as a half-hour drama and was reportedly the first U.S. soap to center around a Black family from its inception. Also, Fox’s 2015 hit drama Empire was regarded by some as a soap opera,...
- 3/6/2024
- by James Hibberd
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For the first time since at least 1999, a brand new daytime soap opera is closer to making its way to broadcast television. CBS Studios and NAACP Venture announced today they are developing a new daytime drama series for the CBS Television Network titled “The Gates,” with veteran writer Michele Val Jean set as writer and showrunner.
Val Jean, who exited “The Bold and the Beautiful” last month as a scriptwriter after writing more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and winning multiple Daytime Emmy and WGA Awards, will also serve as an executive producer for “The Gates” alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
The potential series will follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. It will be produced by the CBS Studios/NAACP production venture in partnership with P&g Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. P&g, in particular, might...
Val Jean, who exited “The Bold and the Beautiful” last month as a scriptwriter after writing more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and winning multiple Daytime Emmy and WGA Awards, will also serve as an executive producer for “The Gates” alongside Sheila Ducksworth, Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
The potential series will follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community. It will be produced by the CBS Studios/NAACP production venture in partnership with P&g Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble. P&g, in particular, might...
- 3/6/2024
- by Errol Lewis
- Soap Opera Network
CBS and the NAACP are developing a new daytime soap opera under their content partnership.
The series, currently titled “The Gates,” would air on the CBS Television Network with the CBS Studios NAACP production venture producing in partnership with P&g Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble.
The official description of “The Gates” states that it “follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.”
Michele Val Jean 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 along with Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner
“’The Gates’ will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” said Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture. “This series will salute...
The series, currently titled “The Gates,” would air on the CBS Television Network with the CBS Studios NAACP production venture producing in partnership with P&g Studios, a division of Procter & Gamble.
The official description of “The Gates” states that it “follows the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.”
Michele Val Jean 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 along with Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner
“’The Gates’ will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” said Sheila Ducksworth, president of the CBS Studios NAACP venture. “This series will salute...
- 3/6/2024
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
In a move that could bode well for the future of daytime dramas, CBS Studios and the NAACP, in partnership with P&g Studios, is developing a new sudser for CBS that would follow the lives of a wealthy Black family in a posh, gated community.
Dubbed The Gates, the new daytime drama is from Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmys for her work on The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital. She will serve as writer and showrunner and will also executive producer alongside CBS Studios NAACP Venture President Sheila Ducksworth, along with Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” said Ducksworth. “This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television.
Dubbed The Gates, the new daytime drama is from Michele Val Jean, who has written more than 2,000 episodes of daytime dramas and won multiple Daytime Emmys for her work on The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital. She will serve as writer and showrunner and will also executive producer alongside CBS Studios NAACP Venture President Sheila Ducksworth, along with Leon Russell, Derrick Johnson and Kimberly Doebereiner.
“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” said Ducksworth. “This series will salute an audience that has been traditionally underserved, with the potential to be a groundbreaking moment for broadcast television.
- 3/6/2024
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Chandus Jackson has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the Writers Program fellowship from CBS Studios/NAACP Production Venture and The Black List.
As part of the fellowship, Jackson will receive a WGA script deal from the CBS/NAACP Production Venture to develop a new pilot script for the Sheila Ducksworth-led partnership.
“This is an amazing opportunity as a writer to tell stories that speak to the Black experience,” said Jackson. “And I am excited to work with Sheila and her team at the CBS/NAACP Production Venture, who are committed to acquiring, developing, and producing inclusive programming.”
A former Army officer-turned-writer, Jackson was recently staffed on season 6 of the CBS series Bull for showrunners Kathryn Price and Nichole Millard. He is an alumnus from the inaugural class of the Universal Writers Program.
“Partnering with The Black List has been wonderful,” said Ducksworth, president of the CBS/NAACP Production Venture.
As part of the fellowship, Jackson will receive a WGA script deal from the CBS/NAACP Production Venture to develop a new pilot script for the Sheila Ducksworth-led partnership.
“This is an amazing opportunity as a writer to tell stories that speak to the Black experience,” said Jackson. “And I am excited to work with Sheila and her team at the CBS/NAACP Production Venture, who are committed to acquiring, developing, and producing inclusive programming.”
A former Army officer-turned-writer, Jackson was recently staffed on season 6 of the CBS series Bull for showrunners Kathryn Price and Nichole Millard. He is an alumnus from the inaugural class of the Universal Writers Program.
“Partnering with The Black List has been wonderful,” said Ducksworth, president of the CBS/NAACP Production Venture.
- 2/23/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
CBS has ordered pilots for a reboot of “Matlock” starring Kathy Bates and a spinoff of “The Good Wife” starring Carrie Preston, Variety has learned.
The new version of “Matlock” hails from Jennie Snyder Urman, who will write and executive produce the pilot under her Sutton Street Productions banner. Bates will executive produce in addition to starring. Joanna Klein of Sutton Street will also executive produce along with Eric Christian Olsen and John Will. Sutton Street is currently under an overall deal at CBS Studios, which will produce the pilot.
The official logline for the show states, “After achieving success in her younger years, the brilliant septuagenarian Madeline Matlock (Bates) rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within. Based on the classic television series of the same name.”
The original “Matlock” aired...
The new version of “Matlock” hails from Jennie Snyder Urman, who will write and executive produce the pilot under her Sutton Street Productions banner. Bates will executive produce in addition to starring. Joanna Klein of Sutton Street will also executive produce along with Eric Christian Olsen and John Will. Sutton Street is currently under an overall deal at CBS Studios, which will produce the pilot.
The official logline for the show states, “After achieving success in her younger years, the brilliant septuagenarian Madeline Matlock (Bates) rejoins the work force at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within. Based on the classic television series of the same name.”
The original “Matlock” aired...
- 2/1/2023
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
CBS is adding two famed attorneys to its roster.
Matlock, one of television’s most iconic crime dramas, is getting a new life at CBS. The Paramount Global-backed broadcast network has handed out a pilot order for a new take on the former defense attorney formerly played by Andy Griffith. Kathy Bates will take on the role of Madeline Matlock.
Additionally, The Good Wife/The Good Fight creators Robert and Michelle King are returning to CBS with the third series in the franchise, Elsbeth, with star Carrie Preston set to reprise her role in the drama that has also received a pilot order at the broadcast network. These are the first two drama pilot orders for CBS and are being eyed for the 2023-24 broadcast season.
Additionally, CBS is looking toward the 2024-25 broadcast season with dramas The Pact (which stems from its overall deal with the NAACP) and Sherlock Holmes entry Watson.
Matlock, one of television’s most iconic crime dramas, is getting a new life at CBS. The Paramount Global-backed broadcast network has handed out a pilot order for a new take on the former defense attorney formerly played by Andy Griffith. Kathy Bates will take on the role of Madeline Matlock.
Additionally, The Good Wife/The Good Fight creators Robert and Michelle King are returning to CBS with the third series in the franchise, Elsbeth, with star Carrie Preston set to reprise her role in the drama that has also received a pilot order at the broadcast network. These are the first two drama pilot orders for CBS and are being eyed for the 2023-24 broadcast season.
Additionally, CBS is looking toward the 2024-25 broadcast season with dramas The Pact (which stems from its overall deal with the NAACP) and Sherlock Holmes entry Watson.
- 2/1/2023
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The decline in broadcast pilots continues. CBS has ordered its fewest drama pilots ever in a pilot season: two. Also part of a trend, both are based on IP from established auspices and big-name talent already attached — Robert and Michelle King’s Elsbeth starring Carrie Preston, a police procedural spinoff of the Kings’ The Good Wife/Good Fight universe, and Matlock, a gender-swap reboot of the classic legal drama starring Kathy Bates, from Jennie Snyder Urman and Eric Christian Olsen.
Along with the two pilot orders for the 2023-24 season, CBS also ordered writers rooms for two medical drama projects — The Pact, from writer Marcus Dalzine and the NAACP/CBS Studios production venture; and Watson, from Craig Sweeny and Kapital — which are being put on track for potential straight-to-series orders targeting the following 2024-2025 season.
Put in development by the previous CBS regime of Kelly Kahl and Thom Sherman, the...
Along with the two pilot orders for the 2023-24 season, CBS also ordered writers rooms for two medical drama projects — The Pact, from writer Marcus Dalzine and the NAACP/CBS Studios production venture; and Watson, from Craig Sweeny and Kapital — which are being put on track for potential straight-to-series orders targeting the following 2024-2025 season.
Put in development by the previous CBS regime of Kelly Kahl and Thom Sherman, the...
- 2/1/2023
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: UTA has signed writer and producer Aaron Carew for representation.
Carew is a co-executive producer on the CW’s Walker. He’s writing two drama series for CBS from CBS Studios – the legal drama Carver Law, which he is producing alongside Martin Lawrence and Sheila Duckworth; and Guard, a series about the Los Angeles National Guard that he is producing with Franklin Entertainment’s DeVon Franklin.
Carew also co-created and is executive producing a series titled Va for A&e, which is being executive produced by Bradley Cooper and Alyssa Milano. Co-created with Marcie Ulin and Meredith Lavender, the series is part medical drama and part war story that delves into the challenges veterans face after returning home from combat. The story is told through the eyes of the doctors and the patients at an underfunded Va Hospital in San Diego.
Previously, Carew was nominated for a Writer’s...
Carew is a co-executive producer on the CW’s Walker. He’s writing two drama series for CBS from CBS Studios – the legal drama Carver Law, which he is producing alongside Martin Lawrence and Sheila Duckworth; and Guard, a series about the Los Angeles National Guard that he is producing with Franklin Entertainment’s DeVon Franklin.
Carew also co-created and is executive producing a series titled Va for A&e, which is being executive produced by Bradley Cooper and Alyssa Milano. Co-created with Marcie Ulin and Meredith Lavender, the series is part medical drama and part war story that delves into the challenges veterans face after returning home from combat. The story is told through the eyes of the doctors and the patients at an underfunded Va Hospital in San Diego.
Previously, Carew was nominated for a Writer’s...
- 12/14/2022
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: The NAACP production venture with CBS Studios has set up two more drama projects at CBS in its second broadcast development cycle, For Justice, from writers Sallie Patrick and Garen Thomas, which is based on the life of former NYPD Detective Katrina Brownlee; and The Pact, from writer Marcus Dalzine. They join Carver Law, from writer Aaron Carew and executive producer Martin Lawrence, which also was recently sold to CBS for development. The trio of projects span the three classic network drama genres, a cop (For Justice), medical (The Pact) and legal (Carver Law) show.
The venture’s President, Sheila Ducksworth, executive produces all projects alongside NAACP’s Leon Russell and Derrick Johnson. CBS Studios is the studio.
In For Justice aka Untitled Katrina Brownlee, written and executive produced by Patrick and Thomas and produced by Brownlee, after overcoming a painful past, a tenacious, freethinking NYC homicide detective repurposes...
The venture’s President, Sheila Ducksworth, executive produces all projects alongside NAACP’s Leon Russell and Derrick Johnson. CBS Studios is the studio.
In For Justice aka Untitled Katrina Brownlee, written and executive produced by Patrick and Thomas and produced by Brownlee, after overcoming a painful past, a tenacious, freethinking NYC homicide detective repurposes...
- 12/8/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: CBS is developing a pair of drama series from Aaron Carew, a writer and co-exec producer of The CW’s Walker.
Carew is working on Carver Law, a legal drama, and Guard, about the LA National Guard, for the network. Both series come from CBS Studios and Carew is writing and exec producing both.
Carver Law follows a charismatic bachelor and his judicious legal savant twin sister clash as they take on celebrity clients and high-profile social injustices across Los Angeles through their family’s historic, black-owned law firm.
Martin Lawrence is an exec producer alongside Rae Proctor, Stacy Lyles and Rob Lawrence as well as Derrick Johnson, CEO of the NAACP, which has a production partnership with the studio, Sheila Ducksworth and Leon Russell.
Guard follows a squad of citizen-soldiers for the LA National Guard takes on heart-pounding crises beyond the scope of standard first responders or law enforcement.
Carew is working on Carver Law, a legal drama, and Guard, about the LA National Guard, for the network. Both series come from CBS Studios and Carew is writing and exec producing both.
Carver Law follows a charismatic bachelor and his judicious legal savant twin sister clash as they take on celebrity clients and high-profile social injustices across Los Angeles through their family’s historic, black-owned law firm.
Martin Lawrence is an exec producer alongside Rae Proctor, Stacy Lyles and Rob Lawrence as well as Derrick Johnson, CEO of the NAACP, which has a production partnership with the studio, Sheila Ducksworth and Leon Russell.
Guard follows a squad of citizen-soldiers for the LA National Guard takes on heart-pounding crises beyond the scope of standard first responders or law enforcement.
- 11/3/2022
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
Click here to read the full article.
The Black List is teaming with the NAACP and CBS Studios’ production venture for a new initiative aimed at supporting TV scriptwriters telling authentic stories about the Black experience.
Announced Tuesday, the partnership will see The Black List assist CBS Studios/NAACP Production Venture in identifying a shortlist of writers, after which one WGA-minimum script deal will be extended to a writer identified by the initiative.
The program launches on Aug. 16 and runs through Nov. 16, and will consider writers with feature films, pilots, plays or theatrical musicals hosted on the Black List website at no additional charge. Those who don’t currently have a script hosted on the site are encouraged to host their script on the site for at least a week before the deadline to guarantee eligibility.
“The NAACP’s response to the release of Birth of a Nation remains a...
The Black List is teaming with the NAACP and CBS Studios’ production venture for a new initiative aimed at supporting TV scriptwriters telling authentic stories about the Black experience.
Announced Tuesday, the partnership will see The Black List assist CBS Studios/NAACP Production Venture in identifying a shortlist of writers, after which one WGA-minimum script deal will be extended to a writer identified by the initiative.
The program launches on Aug. 16 and runs through Nov. 16, and will consider writers with feature films, pilots, plays or theatrical musicals hosted on the Black List website at no additional charge. Those who don’t currently have a script hosted on the site are encouraged to host their script on the site for at least a week before the deadline to guarantee eligibility.
“The NAACP’s response to the release of Birth of a Nation remains a...
- 8/16/2022
- by Abbey White
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Black List will assist CBS Studios/NAACP in identifying a shortlist of talented writers who exemplify authentic storytelling of Black narratives through a submission period on blcklst.com that begins August 16 and is open until Nov. 16.
Interested writers with feature films, pilots, plays or theatrical musicals hosted on the Black List website can opt into consideration for this opportunity at no additional charge. Writers who do not currently have a script hosted on blcklst.com are encouraged to sign up and host their script for at least a week before the deadline to guarantee eligibility for this opportunity. They may also opt in to consideration for any of The Black List’s dozen other writer opportunities at no additional charge.
The Black List will then use all available data related to script submissions to determine a shortlist to be shared with CBS Studios/NAACP. Shortlisted writers may be asked to provide additional materials,...
Interested writers with feature films, pilots, plays or theatrical musicals hosted on the Black List website can opt into consideration for this opportunity at no additional charge. Writers who do not currently have a script hosted on blcklst.com are encouraged to sign up and host their script for at least a week before the deadline to guarantee eligibility for this opportunity. They may also opt in to consideration for any of The Black List’s dozen other writer opportunities at no additional charge.
The Black List will then use all available data related to script submissions to determine a shortlist to be shared with CBS Studios/NAACP. Shortlisted writers may be asked to provide additional materials,...
- 8/16/2022
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
The NAACP’s year-old production venture with CBS Studios has born its first fruit in the form of five sold projects — including a series adaptation of Soapdish, with Whoopi Goldberg set to reprise her role from the 1991 feature comedy.
“The current political and societal landscape demand that we expand the voices, contexts, and visibility of artists producing content around the African American experience,” NAACP president Derrick Johnson said in a statement. “The projects stemming from the NAACP partnership with CBS Studios (led by Sheila Ducksworth) will continue to push the boundaries on the variety of stories available to audiences.”
More...
“The current political and societal landscape demand that we expand the voices, contexts, and visibility of artists producing content around the African American experience,” NAACP president Derrick Johnson said in a statement. “The projects stemming from the NAACP partnership with CBS Studios (led by Sheila Ducksworth) will continue to push the boundaries on the variety of stories available to audiences.”
More...
- 1/10/2022
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
A year after NAACP’s production partnership with CBS Studios formally launched with the hire of Sheila Ducksworth as President, the venture has sold its first projects. The five shows — spanning platforms (broadcast and streaming) and genres, include a reboot of cult 1991 movie Soapdish for Paramount+, with original co-star Whoopi Goldberg reprising her role and Jane the Virgin creator Jennie Snyder Urman co-writing the dramedy adaptation.
Goldberg is one of three top comedians attached to star in NAACP-cbs Studios projects, with D.L. Hughley and Earthquake set to headline autobiographical comedy series in the works at Fox and CBS, respectively.
Real people and events are the inspiration behind two dramatic projects, a limited series at Apple TV+ with Kapital Entertainment, which tells the story of the courageous Little Rock 9 Black students who helped end school segregation in the South, and drama Construction at Paramount+, inspired by...
Goldberg is one of three top comedians attached to star in NAACP-cbs Studios projects, with D.L. Hughley and Earthquake set to headline autobiographical comedy series in the works at Fox and CBS, respectively.
Real people and events are the inspiration behind two dramatic projects, a limited series at Apple TV+ with Kapital Entertainment, which tells the story of the courageous Little Rock 9 Black students who helped end school segregation in the South, and drama Construction at Paramount+, inspired by...
- 1/10/2022
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Dl Hughley is developing a sitcom at Fox that is based on his life, Variety has learned.
Hughley will star in the untitled multi-cam comedy in addition to serving as executive producer, writer, and co-creator. Owen Smith is the other co-creator as well as writer and executive producer. Fox has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached.
In the show, unfiltered, unapologetic, and opinionated radio host Dl Hughley is free at work but under siege at home as he navigates life as a husband and father to an LGBTQ+ daughter, a son on the autism spectrum whose white girlfriend lives with them, and another daughter who can’t leave his credit card alone.
Along with Hughley and Smith, Michael Rotenberg and Dave Becky of 3 Arts will also executive produce, as will Sheila Ducksworth, the president of the NAACP/CBS Studios joint partnership. The NAACP and CBS Studios...
Hughley will star in the untitled multi-cam comedy in addition to serving as executive producer, writer, and co-creator. Owen Smith is the other co-creator as well as writer and executive producer. Fox has given the project a script commitment with a penalty attached.
In the show, unfiltered, unapologetic, and opinionated radio host Dl Hughley is free at work but under siege at home as he navigates life as a husband and father to an LGBTQ+ daughter, a son on the autism spectrum whose white girlfriend lives with them, and another daughter who can’t leave his credit card alone.
Along with Hughley and Smith, Michael Rotenberg and Dave Becky of 3 Arts will also executive produce, as will Sheila Ducksworth, the president of the NAACP/CBS Studios joint partnership. The NAACP and CBS Studios...
- 1/10/2022
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Carolyn Newman has lined up her next act.
Newman has been tapped to serve as head of scripted television and production at Will Packer Media. Newman will be charged with developing and producing the production company’s TV projects and working closely with creators, writers and producers. She reports to Alix Baudin, president of Will Packer Media.
Newman arrives at Will Packer Media two months after being let go at Netflix amid the streamer’s executive restructuring. She replaces Sheila Ducksworth in the role at the company. Ducksworth departed in October for a job overseeing the NAACP’s production deal with CBS ...
Newman has been tapped to serve as head of scripted television and production at Will Packer Media. Newman will be charged with developing and producing the production company’s TV projects and working closely with creators, writers and producers. She reports to Alix Baudin, president of Will Packer Media.
Newman arrives at Will Packer Media two months after being let go at Netflix amid the streamer’s executive restructuring. She replaces Sheila Ducksworth in the role at the company. Ducksworth departed in October for a job overseeing the NAACP’s production deal with CBS ...
- 12/16/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Carolyn Newman has lined up her next act.
Newman has been tapped to serve as head of scripted television and production at Will Packer Media. Newman will be charged with developing and producing the production company’s TV projects and working closely with creators, writers and producers. She reports to Alix Baudin, president of Will Packer Media.
Newman arrives at Will Packer Media two months after being let go at Netflix amid the streamer’s executive restructuring. She replaces Sheila Ducksworth in the role at the company. Ducksworth departed in October for a job overseeing the NAACP’s production deal with CBS ...
Newman has been tapped to serve as head of scripted television and production at Will Packer Media. Newman will be charged with developing and producing the production company’s TV projects and working closely with creators, writers and producers. She reports to Alix Baudin, president of Will Packer Media.
Newman arrives at Will Packer Media two months after being let go at Netflix amid the streamer’s executive restructuring. She replaces Sheila Ducksworth in the role at the company. Ducksworth departed in October for a job overseeing the NAACP’s production deal with CBS ...
- 12/16/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
The NBC comedy pilot based on the Kevin Hart film “Night School” is not moving forward at NBC, Variety has learned exclusively.
The half-hour multi-cam had originally gotten a pilot order in January, but the pandemic shutdown virtually all pilot production in March. The broadcast network then announced in June that it would resume production on most of its pilots later in the year, with “Night School” being the first pilot to resume production once it restarted.
Like the film, “Night School” follows a a unique mix of adults at a night school Ged prep class who unexpectedly bond over their shared experience and find themselves helping each other both inside and outside of the classroom. It starred Shanola Hampton in the role played by Tiffany Haddish in the film, with Josh Segarra playing the role played by Hart. The cast also included Ian Gomez, James Earl, Joe Massingill, and Collette Wolfe.
The half-hour multi-cam had originally gotten a pilot order in January, but the pandemic shutdown virtually all pilot production in March. The broadcast network then announced in June that it would resume production on most of its pilots later in the year, with “Night School” being the first pilot to resume production once it restarted.
Like the film, “Night School” follows a a unique mix of adults at a night school Ged prep class who unexpectedly bond over their shared experience and find themselves helping each other both inside and outside of the classroom. It starred Shanola Hampton in the role played by Tiffany Haddish in the film, with Josh Segarra playing the role played by Hart. The cast also included Ian Gomez, James Earl, Joe Massingill, and Collette Wolfe.
- 12/11/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
Trailblazer. Shock jock. Media mogul. Icon. Those descriptions of syndicated talk veteran Wendy Williams flash across the screen in the first trailer for Lifetime’s Wendy Williams: The Movie.
Yes, the “Queen of Gossip” is getting the biopic treatment, and she played the footage on her talk show Thursday. Check it out below.
“Wendy Williams is not going anywhere,” Ciera Payton (The Oval) as Williams says from behind a radio mic at the outset. “I’m gonna come in like a hurricane.”
And storm in she does in Wendy Williams: The Movie, which chronicles the highs and lows she has has experienced throughout the years — from her scrappy upstart days in urban radio to the success of her own daytime talker.
“You’re the star,” we hear her ex-husband Kevin Hunter (Morocco Omari) say.
Williams herself is among the executive producers, meaning this is an “authorized biopic” — and it’s...
Yes, the “Queen of Gossip” is getting the biopic treatment, and she played the footage on her talk show Thursday. Check it out below.
“Wendy Williams is not going anywhere,” Ciera Payton (The Oval) as Williams says from behind a radio mic at the outset. “I’m gonna come in like a hurricane.”
And storm in she does in Wendy Williams: The Movie, which chronicles the highs and lows she has has experienced throughout the years — from her scrappy upstart days in urban radio to the success of her own daytime talker.
“You’re the star,” we hear her ex-husband Kevin Hunter (Morocco Omari) say.
Williams herself is among the executive producers, meaning this is an “authorized biopic” — and it’s...
- 12/4/2020
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
Lifetime released the trailer for its upcoming Wendy Williams biopic on Thursday, revealing star Ciera Payton as she re-creates some of the landmark moments from the iconic daytime talk show host’s career, including her interview with Whitney Houston to fainting on live TV in a Statue of Liberty costume.
Executive produced by Williams herself, “Wendy Williams: The Movie” charts the host’s “scrappy upstart days in urban radio” to her current status has host of her own syndicated talk show. “Despite all the naysayers and obstacles Wendy encountered throughout her life, her strength and determination have allowed her to thrive,” the description reads.
The trailer also ventures off-the-air to explore Williams’ battle with addiction and her troubled marriage with ex-husband Kevin Hunter.
The film is set to premiere on Saturday, Jan. 30 following a two-hour documentary delving into Williams’ life and career. Watch the trailer, along with an interview with director Darren Grant,...
Executive produced by Williams herself, “Wendy Williams: The Movie” charts the host’s “scrappy upstart days in urban radio” to her current status has host of her own syndicated talk show. “Despite all the naysayers and obstacles Wendy encountered throughout her life, her strength and determination have allowed her to thrive,” the description reads.
The trailer also ventures off-the-air to explore Williams’ battle with addiction and her troubled marriage with ex-husband Kevin Hunter.
The film is set to premiere on Saturday, Jan. 30 following a two-hour documentary delving into Williams’ life and career. Watch the trailer, along with an interview with director Darren Grant,...
- 12/4/2020
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
CBS said Monday that, going forward, all of its unscripted series will have at least 50% of its casts made up of those who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (Bipoc). This will begin with the 2021-22 TV season.
CBS will also allocate at least a quarter of its annual unscripted development budget to projects created or co-created by Bipoc producers, also starting in the 2021-2022 season.
“The reality TV genre is an area that’s especially underrepresented, and needs to be more inclusive across development, casting, production and all phases of storytelling,” George Cheeks, CBS Entertainment’s president and CEO, said. “As we strive to improve all of these creative aspects, the commitments announced today are important first steps in sourcing new voices to create content and further expanding the diversity in our unscripted programming, as well as on our Network.”
The announcements come as CBS’ reality series, most notably “Survivor,...
CBS will also allocate at least a quarter of its annual unscripted development budget to projects created or co-created by Bipoc producers, also starting in the 2021-2022 season.
“The reality TV genre is an area that’s especially underrepresented, and needs to be more inclusive across development, casting, production and all phases of storytelling,” George Cheeks, CBS Entertainment’s president and CEO, said. “As we strive to improve all of these creative aspects, the commitments announced today are important first steps in sourcing new voices to create content and further expanding the diversity in our unscripted programming, as well as on our Network.”
The announcements come as CBS’ reality series, most notably “Survivor,...
- 11/9/2020
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
Will Packer Media’s Sheila Ducksworth will lead the recently launched CBS/NAACP production partnership, a venture aimed at elevating a diverse range of voices as well as increasing the visibility of Black artists. In her role as president of the venture, Ducksworth will supervise development and production of scripted, unscripted and documentary content for linear television networks and streaming platforms. She will assume her new role on November 9.
“Sheila is an extraordinary creative executive with an incredible eye for great content,” said George Cheeks, President and CEO of the CBS Entertainment Group. “We are excited to draw upon her leadership and experience to establish a production venture that is committed to telling compelling, inclusive stories, while expanding the range of creative voices that bring these stories to the screen.”
Ducksworth most recently served as head of scripted television and production for Will Packer Media. During her tenure, Ducksworth oversaw...
“Sheila is an extraordinary creative executive with an incredible eye for great content,” said George Cheeks, President and CEO of the CBS Entertainment Group. “We are excited to draw upon her leadership and experience to establish a production venture that is committed to telling compelling, inclusive stories, while expanding the range of creative voices that bring these stories to the screen.”
Ducksworth most recently served as head of scripted television and production for Will Packer Media. During her tenure, Ducksworth oversaw...
- 10/27/2020
- by Denise Petski and Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
CBS Studios has tapped Sheila Ducksworth to head up its production partnership with the NAACP.
Ducksworth, who will serve as president of the partnership, will oversee development and production of all series. She begins Nov. 9. Ducksworth most recently served as head of scripted television and production for Will Packer Media and had stints at Susanne Daniels’ First Move Television and Tracey Edmonds’ Edmonds Entertainment, as well as headed up her own company, Ducksworth Productions.
In July, CBS Studios and the NAACP signed a multi-year deal to develop and produce scripted, unscripted and documentary TV projects highlighting the Black experience for broadcast, cable and streaming. It includes a commitment to developing content for CBS Television Network, and allows for programming to be sold to third-party platforms. The goal is to expand the number of diverse voices who will, in turn, tell more inclusive stories, in order to increase the visibility of Black artists across the industry.
Ducksworth, who will serve as president of the partnership, will oversee development and production of all series. She begins Nov. 9. Ducksworth most recently served as head of scripted television and production for Will Packer Media and had stints at Susanne Daniels’ First Move Television and Tracey Edmonds’ Edmonds Entertainment, as well as headed up her own company, Ducksworth Productions.
In July, CBS Studios and the NAACP signed a multi-year deal to develop and produce scripted, unscripted and documentary TV projects highlighting the Black experience for broadcast, cable and streaming. It includes a commitment to developing content for CBS Television Network, and allows for programming to be sold to third-party platforms. The goal is to expand the number of diverse voices who will, in turn, tell more inclusive stories, in order to increase the visibility of Black artists across the industry.
- 10/27/2020
- by Tim Baysinger
- The Wrap
After announcing a multi-year partnership around four months ago, CBS Studios and the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) have tapped former Will Packer Media exec Sheila Ducksworth to lead their combined venture.
Ducksworth has been appointed president of the new CBS/NAACP production partnership, assuming the role on Nov. 9. In this new position, Ducksworth will oversee development and production for scripted, unscripted and documentary content across linear television networks and streaming platforms.
The partnership aims to elevate a diverse range of voices as well as increasing the visibility of Black artists. It includes a commitment to develop projects for CBS Television Network, but also allows the selling of show to outside entities.
“Sheila is an extraordinary creative executive with an incredible eye for great content,” said George Cheeks, president and CEO of the CBS Entertainment Group. “We are excited to draw upon her leadership and experience...
Ducksworth has been appointed president of the new CBS/NAACP production partnership, assuming the role on Nov. 9. In this new position, Ducksworth will oversee development and production for scripted, unscripted and documentary content across linear television networks and streaming platforms.
The partnership aims to elevate a diverse range of voices as well as increasing the visibility of Black artists. It includes a commitment to develop projects for CBS Television Network, but also allows the selling of show to outside entities.
“Sheila is an extraordinary creative executive with an incredible eye for great content,” said George Cheeks, president and CEO of the CBS Entertainment Group. “We are excited to draw upon her leadership and experience...
- 10/27/2020
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
CBS has hired Will Packer Media executive Sheila Ducksworth to head up its development efforts under a deal with the NAACP.
Ducksworth will serve as president of the CBS/NAACP production partnership, supervising development of scripted, unscripted and documentary content across all platforms and designed to tell inclusive stories that give Black artists more visibility.
“Sheila is an extraordinary creative executive with an incredible eye for great content,” said George Cheeks, president and CEO of CBS Entertainment Group. “We are excited to draw upon her leadership and experience to establish a production venture that is committed to telling ...
Ducksworth will serve as president of the CBS/NAACP production partnership, supervising development of scripted, unscripted and documentary content across all platforms and designed to tell inclusive stories that give Black artists more visibility.
“Sheila is an extraordinary creative executive with an incredible eye for great content,” said George Cheeks, president and CEO of CBS Entertainment Group. “We are excited to draw upon her leadership and experience to establish a production venture that is committed to telling ...
- 10/27/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
CBS has hired Will Packer Media executive Sheila Ducksworth to head up its development efforts under a deal with the NAACP.
Ducksworth will serve as president of the CBS/NAACP production partnership, supervising development of scripted, unscripted and documentary content across all platforms and designed to tell inclusive stories that give Black artists more visibility.
“Sheila is an extraordinary creative executive with an incredible eye for great content,” said George Cheeks, president and CEO of CBS Entertainment Group. “We are excited to draw upon her leadership and experience to establish a production venture that is committed to telling ...
Ducksworth will serve as president of the CBS/NAACP production partnership, supervising development of scripted, unscripted and documentary content across all platforms and designed to tell inclusive stories that give Black artists more visibility.
“Sheila is an extraordinary creative executive with an incredible eye for great content,” said George Cheeks, president and CEO of CBS Entertainment Group. “We are excited to draw upon her leadership and experience to establish a production venture that is committed to telling ...
- 10/27/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Ciera Payton and Morocco Omari are set as the leads in Wendy Williams: The Hot Topic (working title), Lifetime’s biopic about the outspoken television host and former radio star executive produced by Will Packer and Sheila Ducksworth. Payton will star in the title role as Williams, and Omari will play Wendy’s ex-husband Kevin Hunter. Additionally, Darren Grant is set to direct. Debuting in 2021, the film will be paired with a feature-length documentary on Williams. Production begins this month.
Executive produced by Williams, the authorized biopic reveals the highs and lows Williams has experienced throughout the years, from her scrappy upstart days in urban radio to the success of her own syndicated talk show.
A feature-length documentary about the self-anointed Queen of all Media will follow the movie. In it, Williams sheds her private persona...
Executive produced by Williams, the authorized biopic reveals the highs and lows Williams has experienced throughout the years, from her scrappy upstart days in urban radio to the success of her own syndicated talk show.
A feature-length documentary about the self-anointed Queen of all Media will follow the movie. In it, Williams sheds her private persona...
- 9/3/2020
- by Nellie Andreeva and Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Fox has put in development Free Will, a one-hour family drama from writer Kirk A. Moore and Will Packer Media. Quinton Peeples is aboard as showrunner. Fox Entertainment is the studio.
Written by Moore, Free Will is a provocative family drama that follows the Shoppes, a prominent black family based in New Orleans who run a psychic business.
Moore executive produces with Will Packer and Sheila Ducksworth for Will Packer Media.
The project reunites Moore and Peeples, who worked together on Marvel’s Runaways, which is heading into its third and final season on Hulu; Peeples as a co-executive producer, and Moore as a writer. Moore staffed on seasons 1 and 2 of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why for showrunner Brian Yorkey. Prior to that, he staffed on Seasons 2 and 3 of John Ridley’s Emmy-winning series American Crime at ABC, earning a WGA Award nomination. He...
Written by Moore, Free Will is a provocative family drama that follows the Shoppes, a prominent black family based in New Orleans who run a psychic business.
Moore executive produces with Will Packer and Sheila Ducksworth for Will Packer Media.
The project reunites Moore and Peeples, who worked together on Marvel’s Runaways, which is heading into its third and final season on Hulu; Peeples as a co-executive producer, and Moore as a writer. Moore staffed on seasons 1 and 2 of the Netflix series 13 Reasons Why for showrunner Brian Yorkey. Prior to that, he staffed on Seasons 2 and 3 of John Ridley’s Emmy-winning series American Crime at ABC, earning a WGA Award nomination. He...
- 7/7/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
NBC has tapped “Aj and the Queens” alum Josh Segarra to star in its “Night School” adaptation, taking over the role played by Kevin Hart in the film.
The multi-camera comedy pilot, which is executive produced by Hart, centers on a unique mix of adults at a night school Ged prep class who unexpectedly bond over their shared experience and find themselves helping each other both inside and outside of the classroom. Segarra will play Teddy Walker, a charming salesman who enrolls in the class.
He joins the previously announced Shanola Hampton, who plays the Tiffany Haddish role in the pilot, Carrie Dawes, a high school teacher who doesn’t suffer fools and takes no prisoners. “Marlon” creator Chris Moynihan is writer and executive producer.
Also Read: Kevin Hart's 'Night School' Series Adaptation Ordered to Pilot at NBC
Released in September 2018, “Night School” starred Hart as a high...
The multi-camera comedy pilot, which is executive produced by Hart, centers on a unique mix of adults at a night school Ged prep class who unexpectedly bond over their shared experience and find themselves helping each other both inside and outside of the classroom. Segarra will play Teddy Walker, a charming salesman who enrolls in the class.
He joins the previously announced Shanola Hampton, who plays the Tiffany Haddish role in the pilot, Carrie Dawes, a high school teacher who doesn’t suffer fools and takes no prisoners. “Marlon” creator Chris Moynihan is writer and executive producer.
Also Read: Kevin Hart's 'Night School' Series Adaptation Ordered to Pilot at NBC
Released in September 2018, “Night School” starred Hart as a high...
- 3/6/2020
- by Reid Nakamura
- The Wrap
Josh Segarra has been cast in one of the lead roles in NBC’s upcoming pilot based on the film “Night School.”
Segarra will play Teddy Walker, described as a charming salesman, in the multi-camera comedy pilot. The role was played in the film by Kevin Hart. Segarra joins previously announced cast member Shanola Hampton, who will play the character that was played by Tiffany Haddish in the film version, as well as Ian Gomez, Collette Wolfe, James Earl, and Joe Massingill.
Like the film, “Night School” follows a a unique mix of adults at a night school Ged prep class who unexpectedly bond over their shared experience and find themselves helping each other both inside and outside of the classroom.
Segarra’s recent credits include shows like “Arrow,” “Orange Is the New Black,” “The Moodys,” “Aj and the Queen,” “The Other Two,” “Chicago P.D.,” and “Sirens.” He has also...
Segarra will play Teddy Walker, described as a charming salesman, in the multi-camera comedy pilot. The role was played in the film by Kevin Hart. Segarra joins previously announced cast member Shanola Hampton, who will play the character that was played by Tiffany Haddish in the film version, as well as Ian Gomez, Collette Wolfe, James Earl, and Joe Massingill.
Like the film, “Night School” follows a a unique mix of adults at a night school Ged prep class who unexpectedly bond over their shared experience and find themselves helping each other both inside and outside of the classroom.
Segarra’s recent credits include shows like “Arrow,” “Orange Is the New Black,” “The Moodys,” “Aj and the Queen,” “The Other Two,” “Chicago P.D.,” and “Sirens.” He has also...
- 3/6/2020
- by Joe Otterson
- Variety Film + TV
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