Small Screen: ‘Beyond The Gates’ Helps CBS Stay In The Lead For Its 39th Consecutive Year, Netflix Integrates A.I. into Platform

George Lopez and Mayan Lopez - Kevin Winter

Broadcast: CBS has renewed Beyond The Gates for a second season in 2025-26 due to its strong ratings, continuously helping CBS stay in the lead for its 39th consecutive year. The series, which premiered in February, is the first daytime drama centered on Black characters since Generations in 1989. CBS originally ordered Beyond the Gates in February 2024. The series comes from CBS Studios/NAACP Venture, in association with Procter & Gamble’s P&G Studios. CBS plans on finishing the 2024-25 season as the top broadcast network in daytime, as it has since the late 1980’s.

Beyond the Gates, The Young and the Restless, Let's Make a Deal, The Price Is Right, and The Bold and the Beautiful have been the most-watched shows on daytime television. According to season-to-date results, this lineup collectively averages around 2.76 million viewers. Let's Make a Deal averages 2.21 million viewers, while Beyond the Gates has seen a 48% increase since its debut and typically averages 1.82 million viewers. 

CBS’s The Bold and the Beautiful is partnering with Shout! TV to bring you free ad-supported streaming television (FAST), which will include classic episodes across multiple platforms. The Bold and the Beautiful launched on FAST during early April 2025 on Plex. Prime Video will also be streaming the soap on FAST as well as AVOD sometime during this month, May 2025, and on Roku Canada in June 2025.

NBC is celebrating 100 years on the air! While a premiere date for the six-hour event has not yet been announced, we do know that it will feature a mix of NBC alumni, including stars from Saturday Night Live, Seinfeld, the Law and Order franchise, Cheers, I Dream of Jeannie, and many more. Additionally, NBC has revealed its fall schedule, which includes NBA coverage and a new comedy, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, starring Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe.

The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins will be Pearlena Igbokwe’s first new scripted series for NBC. The series will follow a former football player, played by Morgan, as he goes on a mission to rebrand his tarnished image. In addition to Morgan and Radcliffe, the main cast includes Erika Alexander, Bobby Moynihan, Precious Way, and Jalyn Hall. According to NBCUniversal Entertainment’s Senior Vice President of Program Planning & Scheduling, Steven Kern,  the series could debut as soon as November of this year. The pilot's writers, Carlock and Means, will executive produce alongside Morgan, Tina Fey, Eric Gurian, and David Miner. Director Rhys.

After two seasons, NBC has canceled Found (2023). It's been rumored that the series is preparing to be sold off to other outlets. Found is just one of the latest NBC series to be canceled as NBCUniversal prepares for its presentation, which took place this Monday, May 12, 2025, in New York. Sonay Hoffman, Greg Berlanti, Nkechi Okoro Carroll, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, and Lindsay Dunn are the executive producers. Berlanti Productions and Rock My Soul Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, are the producers. 

Regarding cancellations, Lopez vs. Lopez (2022) is another series that has been cut after just three seasons. This multi-camera comedy starred comedian George Lopez and his real-life daughter, Mayan Lopez, along with cast members Selenis Leyva (Breaking), Brice Gonzalez (Flamin Hot), and Al Madrigal (The Way Back).

In the series, George and Mayan Lopez portray an estranged father and daughter who navigate their dysfunctional family while experiencing the highs and lows of reconnecting. Lopez vs. Lopez was the only remaining comedy series on NBC waiting for a renewal. Debby Wolfe co-created the series with George and Mayan Lopez. George Lopez also served as an executive producer alongside Bruce Helford, Michael Rotenberg, and Katie Newman. Additionally, Lesley Wake Webster, Marcos Luevanos, Keith Heisler, and Dan Signer held the role of co-executive producers, while Mayan Lopez and Marc Solakian were producers.

Next up on the chopping block is Night Court! (2023), Unfortunately, the reboot, which has three seasons under its belt, is being canceled.

Night Court, a revival of the original 1980s series, was initially renewed due to positive ratings. However, those ratings began to decline year after year. Melissa Rauch led the cast, which also featured original series cast member John Larroquette, along with Wendie Malick, Lacretta, and Nyambi Nyambi.

The series follows the cheerful Abby Stone (Rauch) as she steps into the shoes of her late father, Judge Harry Stone, overseeing the night shift of a Manhattan court. The Rauchs executive produced the series via After January Productions, while Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television served as the co-studios.

Adding on to NBC’s list of cancellations is legal drama, Suits LA. The series launched in February of this year and featured Lex Scott Davis (Superfly), alongside recurring cast members Anthony Aziz (Septembers of Shiraz), Azita Ghanizada (Alphas), Alice Lee (The Union), Sofia Pernas (Tracker), and Troy Winbush (Medical Investigation).

Although Suits LA gained significant traction upon its debut, interest quickly ground to a halt. This decline resulted in disappointing ratings and numerous negative reviews. 

This is one of many cancellations from the network, joining the aforementioned, Lopez vs Lopez, and Night Court. Aaron Korsh is the series creator and serves as the executive producer. David Bartis, Doug Liman, Gene Klein, Anton Cropper, Genevieve Sparling, Rick Muirragui, and Jon Cowan are the executive producers.

Police drama, The Irrational (2023) has also been canceled from NBC after two seasons. The series follows Professor of Behavioral Science Alec Mercer (Martin) as he assists on various high-stakes cases involving governments, law enforcement, and corporations. His unique approach to understanding human behavior led him and the team on a series of intense mysteries.

The series, which initially held viewers’ attention, started off well,  but eventually began to decline by double digits towards the second season. The cast includes Jesse Martin (Rent), Maahra Hill (black-ish), Travina Springer (To Live and Die and Live), and Arash DeMaxi (Partner Track). Arika Lisanne Mittman, Sam Baum, Mark Goffman, and David Frankel are the executive producers. 

Dick Wolf’s Law & Order (1990) and Law & Order: SVU (1999) have both been renewed with NBC, marking Law & Order: SVU’s 27th season, and Law & Orders 25th season. Though sadly, Juliana Martinez and Octavio Pisano will not be returning to NBC‘s Law & Order: SVU as series regulars. It's not clear whether the decision not to have Martinez or Pisano return was due to creative or financial reasons, but there has been a pattern of budget cuts across multiple NBC series, affecting casting, episodes, and other important areas. It’s also unclear if Martinez and Pisano’s characters will wrap up their storylines by the end of Season 26, though the season finale will air this Thursday, May 15, 2025, so we will see! Additionally, Michele Fazekas will be joining the SVU team as show runner for season 27. The season finale, “Post-Rage,” is directed by Norberto Barba.

NBC’s One Chicago Series, Chicago Med, Chicago Fire (2012), and Chicago P.D. (2014) have all been renewed for another season, bringing us a total of eleven seasons for Chicago Med, thirteen seasons for Chicago Fire, and fifteen seasons for Chicago P.D. All three series are currently aired on Wednesday nights on NBC, and according to the network, this season alone, all three have reached around 46 million viewers across NBC and Peacock.

Dick Wolf and Peter Jankowski are the executive producers for all three series, while Allen MacDonald and Stephen Hootstein are executive producers of Chicago Med. Andrea Newman, Reza Tabrizi, and Matt Whitney are also executive producers of Chicago Fire. Gwen Sigan, Chad Saxton, Gavin Harris, and Jason Beghe serve as executive producers on Chicago P.D.

During CBS’s Los Angeles press briefing, revealing their 2025-2026 schedule, Donnie Wahlberg (Saw 2) and Sonequa Martin-Green (The Walking Dead) revealed that she’ll be playing the role of Detective Lena Peters, the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family, in the upcoming title, Boston Blue. A spinoff of Blue Bloods (2010)

Wahlberg, an executive producer on Boston Blue, said that Martin-Green was not only the first choice, but the only choice to portray Detective Peters. The series was officially greenlit back in February, shortly after the cancellation of Blue Bloods. Boston Blue isn't Martin-Green's first time gracing our screens. She's had roles in Fox’s New Girl (2011), CBS’s The Good Wife (2009), as well as ABC’s Once Upon A Time (2011). She is represented by IAG and Untitled.

ABC has decided to renew a few of its popular scripted television series for the upcoming 2025-2026 television season. Among them is Abbott Elementary (2021), which has earned critical acclaim and features series creator Quinta Brunson in the lead role as Janine Teague. Long-running series Grey's Anatomy (2005) and The Rookie (2018) follow the journey of a rookie police officer. Also returning is Will Trent (2023). Additionally, ABC has also announced the production of a new spinoff series from the series 9-1-1 (2018), titled 9-1-1: Nashville. The series intend to expand the franchise's exploration of first responders and the challenges they face in a new setting.

Despite the various challenges CBS has faced, the network remains on track for its 2025/26 schedule, which was revealed on Wednesday, April 7, 2025. George Cheeks, CBS President and CEO and a former executive at NBCUniversal, stated that the schedule has not been affected by the turmoil surrounding Paramount. “What’s great for us is that despite all the disruption, we continue year after year to maintain a strong schedule. This allows us to make, as Amy mentioned, some difficult decisions to create an optimal lineup,” he explained. 

With only a few days left on the FCC’s 180-day “shot clock,” CBS’s parent company, Paramount, is waiting for its takeover by Skydance. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr noted that the regulatory review, which is crucial for the transfer of broadcast licenses, is not connected to the other issues surrounding Paramount.

The creator of CBC and NBCUniversal’s Allegiance, Anar Ali, has signed with Atlas Literary and Atlas Artists in the U.S. Anar Ali is currently nominated for eight Canadian Screen Awards, including an award for Best Dramatic Series. 

Allegiance is a character-driven police drama set in Surrey, British Columbia. The series centers around identity, belonging while policing politics and justice. Ali was born in Tanzania to Indian parents, grew up in Western Canada, has lived in Mexico and the UK, and currently resides in Toronto. Channel 4 has also struck a deal with Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper, The Sun, to air a documentary, Madeleine McCann: The Unseen Evidence, which was produced by The Sun with support from Channel 4 News maker ITN Productions. The documentary will detail the disappearance of Madeline McCann, who vanished 18 years ago, revealing “bombshell evidence” around Christian B, the only remaining suspect in the case. 

ITV has purchased Kiefer Sutherland’s Rabbit Hole (2023) for ITVX. The series originally aired on Paramount+ for one season but was soon cancelled. It starred Sutherland as John Weir, a master of deception who was framed for murder by powerful forces, influencing and controlling the population. Finding himself on the run, Weir must discover what's real when everything seems to be upside down. 

SpinCo, the parent company of NBCUniversal and Comcast, has received a name change, going from the formerly SpinCo to Versant Media. 

CEO of the new company said that although there were many other names he and his team could have chosen, ultimately Versant Media evokes “a sense of energy, and underscores our role in driving progress”. What does this mean for the company, right? Well Versant, pronounced like “conversant,” will be the home for networks such as MSNBC, USA, CNBC, and E!, along with other media outlets. Versant will build on its previous portfolio by acquiring other outlets while also releasing other media assets so that they may have a new existence. 

Clare wong - Amy Sussman

Streaming: Fox has revealed its fall 2025 schedule, which includes four more scripted series at risk of cancellation: Accused (2023), Alert: Missing Persons Unit (2023), The Cleaning Lady (2022), and animated comedy The Great North (2021). These shows rank as the bottom four lowest-rated scripted series currently on the network. Accused, developed and executive produced by Howard Gordonwas significantly affected by the recent strike, skipping the 2023-24 season entirely. The lengthy gap between seasons has further hurt its ratings. Meanwhile, The Cleaning Lady, which stars Élodie Yung, has been changing the unfortunate loss of one of its leads, Adan Canto, to cancer. This loss has undoubtedly impacted the show's future. 

How are we feeling about Artificial Intelligence these days? From Netflix's recent update, I’d say the streaming platform is enjoying it! 

This past Wednesday, May 7, 2025, Netflix announced that it will be updating its TV homepage to integrate AI to help viewers discover its ever-expanding lineup. Chief Product Officer of Netflix, Eunice Kim, said that the new layout is meant to be a “more flexible canvas” so that viewers can easily watch at their convenience. 

Netflix is also expanding its use of AI to its mobile app to include a chatbox search option. So for all of those times you just wanna say exactly what it is that you’re looking for, you now will be able to. 

“We want you to be able to discover shows and movies using natural conversational phrases, like, ‘I want something funny and upbeat’, or ‘I want something scary, but not too scary, and also maybe a little bit funny, but not like “haha” funny’, said Chief Technology Officer Elizabeth Stone.

You can expect to see these changes in effect within the upcoming months.

Winston Duke leads in Kingsland, the new drama series by Kevin Hart and Charlamagne Tha God‘s audio production company, Short, Black & Handsome (SBH).

Duke (Us) plays investigator Jamison Wright, assigned to the grisly case of serial killings. Alongside is Yara Martinez (Jane The Virgin), who plays Roxanne Wright. Also starring are Joniece Abbott-Pratt (Why Did I Get Married?), Jason George (Grey’s Anatomy), Joe Morton (Scandal), and Jabari Banks (Bel-Air). Hart and Charlamagne are executive producers with Nicole Shelton as director and Dwayne Alexander Smith (Triple Threat) as writer. 

The story follows a Black nation during its tenth anniversary, suddenly experiences a series of brutal lynchings. shattering its ideal image of perfection and igniting a manhunt for a serial killer. 

“The series explores themes of race, power, marriage, and morality in a new and exciting way,” said writer Smith, whose debut novel, Forty Acres, from 2014 is currently in development as a feature film at Netflix. “I am grateful that Kevin, Charlamagne, and team saw my vision and helped bring it to life with an amazing cast. I am excited for listeners to be transported to Kingsland.” You can find all nine episodes on Audible.

Apple TV+ is releasing a new thriller series, “The Wanted Man”. The series follows the dismantling of Felix Carmichael (Hugh Laurie), the  powerful leader of the infamous British crime syndicate ‘The Capital.’ For nearly 20 years, Carmichael has been in custody, and during that time, it's become evident that someone from his team has betrayed him. Set on revenge, Carmichael goes after the traitor, marking him once again as a wanted criminal. 

Although her role has not been specified, I do know that Thandiwe Newton will portray a single mother, with her son being portrayed by Elliot Hefferman. Newton has earned a Primetime Emmy Award and a British Academy Film Award (BAFTA), and has appeared in numerous genres ranging from comedic (Norbit), Action (Mission: Impossible 2), and even thrillers (All The Old Knives). She is represented by Independent Talent Group and WME.

Apple TV+’s comedy series, Acapulco, is wrapping up its 4th season, with the finale airing on July 23, 2025, with another season on the horizon. Originally airing in 2021 on Apple TV+, Acapulco was inspired by the film How to Be A Latin Lover starring Eugenio Derbez and Salma Hayek. The series follows a young Maximo Gallardo as he gets a job at a famous resort in Acaoukci, but soon enough, he realizes that working at the facility isn't at all what he had imagined. 

Season 4 will show present-day Maximo (Derbez) working at Las Colinas, the same attempting to breathe life back into the resort, amidst a competitor trying to steal the number one spot in the yearly ranking of ‘best hotels’ in Acapulco. Acapulco was created by Austin Winsberg, with Eduardo Cisneros and Jason Shuman. Winsberg, along with Laybourne, Derbez, and Ben Odell, are executive producers, while Jaime Eliezer Karas is the director.

Onyx Collective is finalizing the cast for Hulu’s legal drama, Reasonable Doubt. Morris Chestnut (The Best Man), who joined the show as a regular in Season 2, will have a reduced screen time but will still appear as a recurring character in the upcoming season. New additions for Season 3 in recurring roles include Brandee Evans (P-Valley), Richard Brooks (9-1-1), April Parker Jones (Tom Swift), and Keith Arthur Bolden (Cobra Kai). 

Evans will portray Monica, a sharp-witted and charismatic agent. Brooks will take on the role of Eddie, a haunting figure from Jacqueline's past whose unresolved trauma threatens to disrupt everything she has worked for. Jones is set to play Rosie, an authoritative “momager,” while Bolden will depict Sal, a father managing his son’s film career. Reasonable Doubt follows the story of Jacqueline Stewart (Corinealdi), a Los Angeles criminal defense attorney who struggles with her marriage, motherhood, and high-stakes murder cases while trying to maintain her balance in life. 

The series is written and executive produced by Raamla Mohamed, with Kerry Washington and Pilar Savone also serving as executive producers. Co-executive producers include Shawn Holley, Jon Leshay, Tamara Gregory, Erika Harrison, and Zahir McGhee.

Looks like the cast of Starz drama, P-Valley, is staying busy while they wait for a new season!

Nicholas G. Sims (P-Valley) stars in a TV series based on Phillip Lafayette Gibbs, one of two Jackson State College students killed by Mississippi police in 1970. The story details the events of May 15, 1970, when Mississippi police opened fire during a peaceful protest outside the dormitories of  Jackson State College (now Jackson State University), killing two unarmed students and injuring 12 others during a peaceful protest against racial injustice.

Gibbs, a 21-year-old pre-law student, and 17-year-old track star, Green, were two of the victims who were shot and killed during the protest. Sims and Desmond Jackson of BVC Films have agreed and have solidified life rights with the Gibbs family to adapt the tragic event into a civil rights story. 

They’re currently developing a pilot for the six-part series, Blood on the Books, starring Amari Bacchus (Adolescence), who’ll play James Earl Green, a high school student who was also killed during the incident. Producers say Blood on the Books “seeks to reclaim and shine a light on a moment in history that was buried – not because it wasn’t important, but because it was inconvenient.”

The series is produced by Percival Bernard, Sims, Jackson, and Philip Lawton-Flores. 

Netflix's limited series, Forever, inspired by Judy Blume's novel of the same name, is concluding its season finale. The series follows the romantic journey of childhood friends Keisha (Lovie Simone) and Justin ( Michael Cooper Jr.) as they reunite during their teenage years. In the finale, Keisha and Justin must say goodbye to one another. Justin kisses Keisha's forehead after touching the necklace he gave her. She turns and walks away while Justin walks in the opposite direction. 

"I don't think this is the end... I think this is the end of a chapter for this version of them," explained star Lovie Simone.

Created by Louisa Levy, Prime Video's drama Off Campus, based on the book series by Elle Kennedy, has cast Antonio Cipriano (Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin), Jalen Thomas Brooks (The Pitt), and Josh Heuston as series regulars. Off Campus follows a prominent ice hockey team as they navigate the challenges of love and self-discovery while transitioning into adulthood. 

Cipriano will portray Logan from the second book, The Mistake, while Brooks will play Tucker from the fourth book, The Goal. In Season 1, Heuston will take on the role of Justin, a love rival. Levy and Fattore will serve as executive producers alongside Wyck Godfrey, Marty Bowen, James Seidman, and Leanna Billings. Annika Patton and Elle Kennedy will be producers for the series. 

Cipriano recently appeared in the crime thriller Alto Knights (2025) and starred in National Treasure: Edge of History (2022). Brooks plays Colton Davidson in Max Walker’s (2021) and was featured in the horror film Thanksgiving (2023). Heuston has also had significant roles in Max's Dune: Prophecy (2024) and Netflix's Heartbreak High (2022).

Apple‘s Cape Fear has two new faces: Jamie Hector (Bosch) and Clara Wong (Billions).

Cape Fear, a 10-episode series, follows a happily married couple, attorneys  Anna (Adams) and Tom Bowden (Wilson). Max Cady (Bardem), a notorious killer from their past, soon gets out of prison, stirring up deadly trouble for the power couple. This thriller delves into the heightened obsession with true crime that has ensued over the past few years. The series is based on both the novel The Executioners as well as the acclaimed 1991 film remake directed by Martin Scorsese.

Scorsese, Antosca and Alex Hedlund, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey, and Steven Spielberg for Amblin Television are all executive producers, while Bardem, Adams, and Morten Tyldum will direct the pilot. Hector is known for his role in Amazon’s Bosch (2014) as well as its sequel Bosch: Legacy (2022). Hector can also be seen in Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019), The Strain (2014), and The Wire (2002). He’s repped by Paradigm and Robersons Artist Management.

Wong has been in the romcom, You Hurt My Feelings (2022), as well as The Assistant (2019). You can also catch her in the film Miracle on 74th Street and Bunnylovr (2025). She’s repped by Lasher Group and Nicolosi & Co.

Ryan Guzman, who has starred in ABC’s 9-1-1 since 2018, has been inciting rumors that he may be the next to exit the drama. Based on his latest Instagram post, there have been conspiracies that Guzman may be exiting the series towards the end of the eighth season. 

“Well, it officially happened. It’s the last day on this lot,” Guzman said while showing the plaque of all the productions that have filmed on Stage 6 on the Fox lot. The show has been on for eight seasons, but Guzman has only been on it for seven of them, joining in Season 2. 

The rumors originally started when Guzman’s character, Eddie Diaz, moved to Texas to be with his son. Despite the character's move and the series being based in Los Angeles, it seems Guzman’s screen time has not been affected. 

So perhaps this has all been a ruse to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, or maybe, there's some character development we don't know about. Either wary, rest assured, because Guzman isn't going anywhere…yet.  

Sachin Sahel (The 100) and Brady Roberts, co-creator of the podcast Escaping Denver, are collaborating to bring us Sideshow, a heist series following street performers in a travelling circus that uses their skills to commit high-stakes robberies. Think of Leverage (2008), but with a traveling circus instead of hackers. 

Joining the duo is Toronto and Calgary-based Titan1Studios. The duo is also expecting to begin casting within a few months. Wes Ambrecht, the Vice President of Titan1, said that the series will be a “rip-roaring new way into the heist genre that mixes high stakes missions with complicated character dynamics in a setting that every inner child longs to know more about, Sahel is repped by Red Management and Brave Artists Management. Roberts is repped by Integral Artists.

Amazon Prime Video’s prequel series, Legally Blonde, has announced the addition of Chloe Wepper (The Rookie), Kayla Masionet (Speechless), and Lisa Yamada (The Bold and the Beautiful) as recurring guest stars. 

Wepper will portray Ms. Burke, Elle's chemistry teacher and cheer team choreographer. Maisonet and Yamada will play Tiffany and Amber, who are friends and classmates of Elle. Wepper is represented by OPE Partners, Maisonet by Intention Management, Paradigm, and Schreck Rose, while Yamada is represented by Luber Roklin Entertainment, Innovative Artists, and Jackoway Austen Tyerman.

Laura Kittrell created the series and serves as co-showrunner and executive producer alongside Caroline Dries. Reese Witherspoon, Lauren Neustadter executive produce along with Marc Platt, and Jason Moore is directing the first two episodes. Amazon MGM Studios is producing the series. 

​​Rescue HI-Surf (2024) will not be returning for a second season. Although it gained a decent following, the series didn’t receive the level of viewership that was anticipated. The show focused on the lives of heavy water lifeguards who patrolled and protected the shores of O’ahu. The series averaged around 2.98 million viewers this season, which may seem substantial, but in the larger context, the numbers could have been much higher.

Currently, there are no plans to sell the series. Matt Kester created the show and served as executive producer, alongside John Wells and Daniele Nathans.

Terry Crews, known for playing Julius Rock, hopes to be voicing the patriarch figure in the animated series Everybody Still Hates Chris (2024) for many years to come. Crews recently expressed his enthusiasm for the series, stating,  “To do it again animated, we can go forever… That’s the plan. Let’s get some of that Family Guy, Simpsons-type stuff. I want that 20-year longevity on that show.”

After Everybody Hates Chris ran for four seasons on The CW from 2005 to 2009, Chris Rock reprised his role as narrator for the animated series that premiered in September 2024. Crews and Tichina Arnold took up their roles as Chris’ parents, Julius and Rochelle Rock, delivering the tough love that we came to know from the original series.