I will be taking several weeks off from writing and publishing specific political topics in order to cover some entertainment and milestone anniversaries. This will apply to the last two weeks in May and throughout most or all of June.
This week addresses two of my latest television picks which I find entertaining and enjoyable. The first is a new series. The second is a nearly 125-year-old professional sports team returning to greatness.
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Open Gates
Beyond the Gates comes from the imagination of Sheila Ducksworth, who co-executive produces the series. The production boasts a cast of characters who are dominantly Black. It is the first such daytime soap on a U.S. broadcast network.
As one who took in plenty of the daytime dramas in decades past, it is not a genre which turns me off. Involvement in following such productions is more than what I usually want to give of my time. So, for the time being, I am giving Gates a chance.
I applaud Ducksworth, series creator and co-executive producer and head writer Michele Val Jean, and the production as whole for a very good reason. Most of the new daytime soaps I checked out, throughout many years, and just as they premiered, were not good. They were not in shape. They were not interesting. It would take at least a year to come to fruition. Sometimes more. Beyond the Gates is already strong.
The drama revolves around the Duprees, a prominent family of generational wealth in a private area in Maryland. The matriarch and patriarch are Anita and Vernon—she is a retired singer and actress and EGOT winner; he is a former civil rights activist and retired U.S. senator—and they are played by Tamara Tunie and Clifton Davis. Their adult daughters, in their 40s, are Nicole and Dani—the former is a respected psychiatrist; the latter is a former model and divorced housewife—and they are played by Daphnée Duplaix and Karla Mosley (pictured above, with their onscreen parents, left to right).
Nicole is married to surgeon Ted (first played by Maurice Johnson; now played by Keith D. Robinson). Their adult children are Martin (Brandon Claybon) and Kat (Colby Muhammad). They also have adopted adult son Andrè (Sean Freeman). Revealed early in the series is that Ted years ago had an affair with a dangerous woman named Leslie (Trisha Mann–Grant), who has used aliases, and they produced daughter Eva (Ambyr Michelle).
Dani is divorced, after 30 years, from unethical attorney Bill (Timon Kyle Durrett). They have adult daughters Naomi (Arielle Prepetit) and Chelsea (RhonniRose Mantilla). Established from the first episode is Bill, divorced from Dani, engaged and newly wed to the young woman with whom he had an affair. She is Hayley (Marquita Goings), seemingly naive, who used to have a friendship with Naomi.
Martin, who is gay and a congressman, is married to journalist Bradley “Smitty” (Mike Manning). They have adopted children. Kat, who isn’t given a profession (but is analytical), has an antagonistic connection to Eva. They both seem interested in the same man, Tomas (Alex Alegria), who works for Bill at his law firm. Andrè, a photographer, is interested in unavailable nurse Ashley (Jen Jacob), who is in a relationship with fireman Derek (Ben Gavin).
Naomi, an attorney who helps her community, is married to police detective Jacob (Jibre Hordges). Chelsea, a former model who is launching a clothing design business, is bisexual and exploring. (One scene had Chelsea asking Martin about threesomes. That isn’t often on Network TV.)
The community, named Fairmont Crest, is also connected to realtor Vanessa (Lauren Buglioli). She is married to a surgeon with a gambling addiction. Vanessa has friendships with Nicole and Dani. She has the respect of Anita and Vernon.
The series, as I mentioned, has started out well. Ball is rolling. It does need to more effectively integrate Ashley and Derek, who are also friends with Naomi and Jacob, as their relationship is spiraling. I would recommend the same with the background of “Smitty.” I noticed actors Jacob and Manning look physically like they can play family members—cousins is more likely—while sending Derek to lonely and unfulfilled real-estate wife Vanessa can create surprising story.
The action with Beyond the Gates, with what especially works, is with the Duprees. Dani is a fiery. Nicole is regal. They have experienced cheating husbands. But the bedrocks are Anita and Vernon, wise and relatable parents and grandparents, who lead and protect their family whenever necessary.
This is a fine cast. Three performances already stand out as meriting Emmy nominations in 2026: Tunie, whose role was specially created for her, is divine. Also recognized for her work as a medical examiner on NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Tunie is an actress who does not come across acting. … Mosley, at times bitter and other times alluring, has stood out right from Episode One. … Mann–Grant is terrific and fearless, and not over the top, as her character is clearly deranged.
Three of the Gates cast members have had major awards recognition. Though she was never Emmy-nominated for her work on the former CBS soap As the World Turns, Tunie won a 2007 Tony Award as one of the producers for Best Musical Spring Awakening. Davis was recognized, in 1972, with nominations for both a Grammy (1971 R&B Song for “Never Can Say Goodbye” recorded by Jackson 5) and a Tony (Best Actor in a Musical for Best Musical winner Two Gentleman of Verona).… Manning, who has been with other daytime soaps, won two Emmys—his first as a producer; his second as a performer—for the Internet-based serial The Bay.
Last week, and in time for this publishing date, CBS renewed Beyond the Gates for a second season.
Following is an interview with Ducksworth, Duplaix, and Tunie from The Paley Center for Media.
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Roaring Tigers
Last year was not just luck.
After clawing their way into the 2024 Major League Baseball postseason, the 2025 Detroit Tigers are leading not only their American League Central division. With the games of Sunday, May 18, 2025, Detroit Tigers leads the entire AL with a record of 31–16 and .660. If that isn’t enough…Detroit Tigers also have the best record in all of MLB. Currently in battle for the best record in the National League, and tied 29–18 and .617, are the NL East New York Mets and the NL West Los Angeles Dodgers.
The following is from MLB.com @ Standings (2025 MLB)—May 18, 2025:
So I am now into following Detroit Tigers. I am watching via the FanDuel Sports streaming app.
I was amazed by last week’s three-game sweep, at Detroit’s Comerica Park, of Boston Red Sox. It was due to one player from Game #02, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. In extra innings, bottom of the 11th, centerfielder Javier Báez hit a three-run, walk-off homer that won Tigers the game with 10 to 9 runs. It was not just that moment. The 32-year-old Baez (who won the 2016 World Series with Chicago Cubs and was co-winner of the 2016 National League Championship Series MVP) had another three-run homer earlier in the game. He alone drove in 6 of his team’s 10 runs.
The pitching is excellent. Last November, 28-year-old ace Tarik Skubal, above, won the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s 2024 AL Cy Young award with unanimous No. 1 votes by all 30 of the AL sportswriters. He also won the pitching triple crown: Wins-vs.-Losses (18-4), Earned Run Average (2.39) and Strikeouts (228). The left-hander is a pleasure to watch. Tigers are lucky to have him.
Following is “Game Highlights: Javier Báez Three-Run Walk-Off Home Run | 5/13/25” published to YouTube by the channel of Detroit Tigers.
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