Keith D. Robinson Makes 'Beyond the Gates' Debut as Dr. Ted Richardson: 'Give Me a Chance'
Many fans of CBS' newest soap opera Beyond the Gates (BTG) were left heartbroken as Maurice Johnson, who originally played the role of Dr. Ted Richardson, was replaced on today's (May 15) episode by fellow actor and singer Keith D. Robinson.
Robinson, who has an extensive acting career, is known for films such as Save the Last Dance (2002), Fat Albert (2004), Dreamgirls (2006), This Christmas (2007) and Dear John (2010) and TV series such as ER (2001), Half & Half (2002), American Dreams (2003) and Saints & Sinners (2016).
The Louisville, Kentucky native joins the show during the height of a tumultuous time between his character and Nicole, played by Daphnée Duplaix, after it was revealed at their anniversary party that Eva, played by Ambyr Michelle, is Ted's daughter.
In a video posted to X/Twitter yesterday, Wednesday, May 14, Robinson, 49, expressed both excitement with taking over the role of Ted as well as understanding that it will take some time for fans to warm up to him.
"What's up, guys? It is hump day. Tomorrow is Thursday, May 15. Dr. Ted Richardson will be played by yours truly, Keith D. Robinson," he said.
"For those who are excited to see me, thank you. For those who mourn, just give me a chance to earn your love as Ted continues to earn Nicole's love," he added as he panned his cell phone camera over to Duplaix who was reading a script.
However, fans on the social media site expressed both heartache and support towards the recast.
One user wrote: "Do we really have to recast Ted? Like I'm too used to seeing Maurice at this point" with a GIF of Shaunie Henderson typing and mouthing "Waste. Of. Time."
Another tweeted: "Bring back Maurice" with a GIF of a car door sliding shut.
There was also a tweet asking if Johnson could return to the show as a different character.
But as much as fans mourned Johnson leaving, there was also favor for Robinson.
One person tweeted: "And let me just say this before tomorrow lol. I know we all love Maurice as Ted but don't do too much about my man Keith Robinson. That's a good man Savannah and we will not spew hate towards him because of a cast change."
Another tweeted: "As soon as I saw Keith (laughing emoji) I MISS YOU MAURICE (defeated emojis) I'll give Keith grace as time goes on but the wound is fresh rn (shy laughing emoji)".
And another user praised Robinson's ability to immediately "make this role his own" as "astounding", saying: "This is how you take over and not let us down! (rejoicing hands emoji)"
Johnson, 46, who has had supporting roles in TV series such as Meet the Browns (2010), Single Ladies (2011), and Hawaii Five-O (2012), along with film credits in When the Bough Breaks (2016), Billionaire Boys Club (2018), Farm to Fork to Love (2021) and Respect (2021), truly rose to fame playing the beloved-turned-disgraced Ted.
Having been on the show since its February 24 premiere, fans got used to seeing the dapper Johnson on their TV screens each week. After nearly 40 episodes, he became a household name the more he embodied Ted and because of his insane chemistry with Duplaix - both attributes that led to his nickname "Turtleneck Ted" and his and Nicole's "ship" name "Ticole".
However, towards the end of March, the Augusta, Georgia native shared a Change.org petition with fans on social media asking them to sign it in an attempt to keep him on the show.
As of today, the petition, which "call[s] upon CBS and the creators of Beyond the Gates to rethink their decision and reinstate Maurice Johnson in the role of Dr. Ted Richardson," has garnered just under 1,300 verified signatures, with fans still signing up to 45 minutes ago.
But while CBS has neither responded to the petition nor released an official statement on the reason behind Johnson's departure, in his final episode, which aired Tuesday, May 13, Ted's last plea to Nicole was him vowing to regain her trust and them spending their next anniversary together in love.
And while recastings happen all the time, especially on soap operas, it did come as a shock for the first recasting to happen so soon into its first season, just over 50 episodes in.
But with an announcement just three days ago that BTG has been renewed for a second season, and Robinson being captured in photos on set celebrating 100 episodes, he and the rest of the cast have lots more twists and turns to look forward to as anything can happen beyond the gates at Fairmont Crest.
Beyond the Gates airs weekdays on CBS at 2pm EST and on Paramount+.
