CBS plans Black daytime soap opera

The scandalous antics of Black friends and families will no longer be relegated to primetime staples such as “ Tyler Perry’s Sistas” and wildly popular reality shows such as “Married to Medicine.”

The daytime soap opera world will welcome its first new series starring a predominantly Black cast in 35 years.

CBS, in partnership with civil rights organization NAACP, announced Wednesday its development of “The Gates,” a soap centered on a wealthy Black family living in a posh, gated community.

The daytime drama will be written by Emmy winner Michele Val Jean, whose credits include more than 2,000 episodes of iconic soaps including “The Bold & The Beautiful” and “General Hospital.” The 72-year-old daytime veteran will also serve as showrunner.

“The Gates will be everything we love about daytime drama, from a new and fresh perspective,” CBS Studios/NAACP president Sheila Ducksworth said. “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,” the former “Soul Food” producer added.