Emmy-winning writer and Beyond the Gates creator Michele Val Jean proudly represented the CBS soap opera at the 52nd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards. While the series wasn’t eligible for consideration, Val Jean walked the red carpet and reflected on what being part of the soap opera genre means to her.
During a red carpet interview with JLJ Media’s Candice Mack, conducted in honor of National Soap Opera Day on October 20, the Daytime Emmy Award-winning head writer was asked what the long-running television genre means to her.
“I grew up watching soap operas,” Val Jean shared. “My grandmother watched them, my mother watched them. I just I’ve loved them all my life.”
The Beyond the Gates creator went on to explain that working in daytime television was a lifelong dream. “That was my goal,” she said. “I wanted to write for soaps. I just had to figure out how to get here. I never thought I would have my own show, though.”
Val Jean also caught up with soap journalist Tony Moore, for Dishin’ Days a Days of Our Lives YouTube Channel, where she was asked, how it feels to be so well received by the soap opera community.
“I’ve been writing soaps for over 30 years,” Val Jean said. “So, I know a lot of the people in the community who are so supportive and so excited by the project. That means so much to me, that these people that I’ve worked with for all of these years are coming around me in support. I’m grateful to Sheila cuz she’s the engine that could I wrote it, but she she got it, you know, green lit. And so, um I mean, it’s just been it’s been a hell of a year.”
New episodes of Beyond the Gates air weekdays on CBS and streaming weeknights on Paramount+. Viewers can catch up on the series from the beginning on Paramount+ or by watching Pluto TV’s dedicated 24/7 Beyond the Gates fast channel.
This story was originally reported by Parade on Oct 26, 2025, where it first appeared in the TV section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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