Spoiler Alert: Producer dishes how Beyond the Gates began and more BTS scoops in Soapy interview

Heads up, fans of Fairmont Crest! Beyond the Gates executive producer, Sheila Ducksworth, will be sitting down with Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart tomorrow on their new CBS podcast, Soapy, to give an inside look at the hit new daytime drama like no one else can.

Sheila Ducksworth goes Beyond the Gates

Soapy, hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart, will be featuring Sheila Ducksworth tomorrow on the newest installment of their podcast. The uber-talented producer and co-creator of Beyond the Gates knows the show inside and out, and will be sharing her insight and behind-the-scenes information with fans.

When we see our favorite soap stars doing interviews, we’re always hoping they drop some hint of a storyline or future spoiler, but usually they’re bound by an NDA to keep their lips sealed. The rule might not apply to those who make it, and if there’s ever a case of do as I say and not what I do that we’re okay with, it’s when we get to hear from one of the showrunners themselves.

Ducksworth is a television producer and entertainment executive, and is the president of NAACP Venture, a partnership between CBS and NAACP. She is an executive producer of Beyond the Gates, the first production from the joint venture.

On the July 22nd Soapy episode, Ducksworth talks about pitching the idea for the show to executive Mark Pritchard of Procter & Gamble. Already in talks with creator and head writer Michele Val Jean when she had a Zoom call with Pritchard. Defining him as an amazing executive and leader at P&G, she said they were just talking about ideas when she decided to pitch.

Proctor & Gamble was the original forerunner of sponsorships for soaps, dating back to when the serials were on radio in the 1930s. The ads would feature cleaning products (like soap) for the target audience, which was, at the time, housewives — garnering the name “soap operas” for the daytime serials. Eventually, the company began producing its own dramas, like Guiding Light and As the World Turns.

“They were on the ground floor of radio for soap, and obviously TV, and have worked hand in hand with CBS for so long. And so it was really cool. We were talking about projects in general, and I pitched Mark the idea. And truly, Mark said, ‘You know, I love the idea. And when you’re ready to pitch it (I let him know we were in business affairs with our writer), and so when you’re ready to pitch it, I want to hear it.” Ducksworth proudly added, “We were ready to pitch [Beyond the Gates] a year and a half later, and that’s what happened.” Co-host Greg Rikaart responded, “Incredible.”

The Soapy lineup

Ducksworth is the third guest on the Soapy, hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart, podcast, and the first from Beyond the Gates. The show features conversations with past and present fan-favorite stars and show creators from across the entire soap opera genre.

So far, the guests on Soapy’s first two episodes were Eric Braeden (Victor Newman, The Young and the Restless) and Deidre Hall (Dr. Marlena Evans, Days of our Lives). Next week, they will interview Lauralee Bell (Christine Blair, The Young and the Restless)

Also booked for interviews are Maurice Benard (Sonny), Cameron Mathison (Drew), and Eva LaRue (Natalia) from General Hospital; Tracey Bregman (Lauren), Christian LeBlanc (Michael), and Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki) from The Young and the Restless; Scott Clifton (Liam), Lawrence Saint-Victor (Carter), and Heather Tom (Katie) from The Bold and the Beautiful; Tamara Tunie (Anita) and Karla Mosley (Dani) from Beyond the Gates; and Marc Cherry, the creator and writer of Desperate Housewives.

Trending

Fans can listen to Soapy, hosted by Rebecca Budig and Greg Rikaart, on Audacy and other podcast apps, and can watch full videos every week on the CBS Brand YouTube Channel.

You can watch full episodes of Beyond the Gates weekdays on CBS or stream live or on demand on Paramount Plus.

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