Tamara Tunie, Karla Mosley, Clifton Davis, Daphnee Duplaix
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CBS Network’s first Black soap opera “Beyond the Gates” is a huge hit with daytime TV viewers.

Beyond the Gates premiered on CBS on Monday, Feb. 24.

The ratings are in and the series averaged 5 million viewers in the first week.

In its first week on air, Beyond the Gates averaged 5.2 million unique viewers. It was in a virtual tie with General Hospital among total viewers.

Beyond The Gates‘ audience is 55% Black, higher than The Young & Restless (29%), The Bold and the Beautiful (30%), and General Hospital (22%).

“Beyond the Gates” stars Clifton Davis and Tamara Tunie as Vernon and Anita Dupree, aka “The Duprees.” Vernon’s father built Fairmont Crest, a gated enclave of upscale homes.

Karla Mosley, Tamara Tunie, Daphnee Duplaix
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Karla Mosley (left) and Daphnee Duplaix (right) play their daughters Dani and Dr. Nicole Dupree Richardson, a clinical psychologist.

Tension builds in the air as the Dupree family gathers at the country club to discuss Dani’s ex-husband, Bill Hamilton (Timon Kyle Durrett), marrying his paralegal, Hayley Lawson, at the country club.

Dani, a reformed alcoholic who fell off the wagon, is beside herself with jealousy. Tempers flare when she spots Hayley at the club, and she slaps fire out of her.

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Later, at the wedding (which seemed more like a funeral), Dani’s emotions boil over and she threatens Bill and Hayley with a gun.

Vernon uses his connections down at City Hall to help Dani avoid serving hard time in prison.

And the drama continues daily at 2 PM EST.