L-R: Brandon Claybon, Mike Manning. Photos: Instagram
Beyond the Gates” makes history as the first Black-led soap opera, and it further breaks ground with a prominent gay storyline.
CBS’s new drama features Congressman Martin Richardson (Brandon Claybon) and his husband, Smitty (out actor Mike Manning), a former political reporter turned stay-at-home dad.
This portrayal adds a significant layer to the show’s focus on the Black experience, going beyond the inclusion seen in past series like “Generations.”
Executive producer Sheila Ducksworth has promised a “fresh, new, different, really glossy, fun and really epic” series. Martin’s political ambitions, potentially leading to a historic presidential run, are intertwined with the complexities of his family life.
Premiered February 24 on CBS and Paramount+.
