The Oval (TV Series)

''The Oval'' is an American political drama soap opera created, executive produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry, which premiered on October 23, 2019, on BET. The series chronicles the lives of a family placed in the White House by people of power, while also highlighting the personal side and everyday lives of the staff who run its inner workings.

A spin-off, '' Ruthless'', premiered on BET+ on March 19, 2020.

Cast and characters

Main

* Ed Quinn as Hunter Franklin, the President of the United States
* Kron Moore as Victoria Franklin, the First Lady of the United States
*Paige Hurd as Gayle Franklin, Hunter and Victoria's daughter (main season 1; guest season 2)
*Daniel Croix Henderson as Jason Franklin, Hunter and Victoria's son
*Javon Johnson as Richard Hallsen, the White House Butler
* Ptosha Storey as Nancy Hallsen, the Butler's wife
*Vaughn W. Hebron as Bartholomew "Barry" Hallsen, Richard and Nancy's son (Seasons 1–4)
*Teesha Renee as Sharon Barry's former girlfriend and Kareem's current girlfriend
*Lodric Collins as Donald Winthrop, White House Chief of Staff
*Ciera Payton as Lilly Winthrop, Donald's wife and a fashion designer
* Taja V. Simpson as Priscilla Owens, White House residence staff supervisor and sam's wife
*Walter Fauntleroy as Sam Owen, Secret Service Agent
*Brad Benedict as Kyle Flint, Secret Service Agent
*Travis Cure as Bobby, Lilly's friend
*Matthew Law as Kareem Richardson, local pharmacy owner (main seasons 1–4; recurring season 5 - Present)
*Bill Barrett as Max Carter (main season 2–present; recurring season 1), Secret Service Agent
*Derek A. Dixon as Dale (season 2–2024) A worker at kareem's pharmacy and friend of sharon
*Nick Barrotta as Allan (main season 3–present; recurring season 1–2), Donald's assistant and Ellie's ex-boyfriend
* Kaye Singleton as Simone (season 3–present), the Second lady
*Russell Thomas as Eli Winter (season 3–present), the Vice President of the United States
*Nelson Estevez as Alonzo White - secret service agent

Recurring

* Melissa L. Williams as Ruth Truesdale/Denise Truesdale (season 1-2)
*Russell Charles Pitts as Picky/Leon, Gayle's boyfriend (season 1)
*Maurii Davenport as Lindsay Yuma (season 1) Secret service agent
*Ashley Monique Harper as Jean Peterson (season 1) A White House maid
*Yvonne Senat Jones as Tally (season 1) Ruth's friend
*Natasha Ward as Ellie Lyles (season 1–3) White House press secretary
*Gillian White as Diane Wilmont (season 1–2) former White House press secretary before Ellie
* Janee Michelle as Maude, Victoria's mother (season 1–2)
* Donna Feldman as Dr. Meadows
* Ken Lawson as Officer Driver (Season 5)
* Ariel D. King as Lena (Season 5)

''Ruthless'' crossover guest appearances

* Blue Kimble as Andrew (season 1)
* Lenny Thomas as Dikhan (season 1, 3, 5)
* Joshua Adeyeye as Manny (season 3–5)
* Matt Cedeño as 'The Highest' (season 4)
* Baadja-Lyne Odums as Elder Mother Marva (season 4)
* Colin McCalla as River (season 5)

Episodes

Series overview

Season 1 (2019–20)

Season 2 (2021)

Season 3 (2021–22)

Season 4 (2022–23)

Season 5 (2023–24)

Season 6 (2025)

Production

On February 23, 2021, BET renewed the series for a third season, which premiered on October 12, 2021.

On March 22, 2022, BET renewed the series for a fourth season, which premiered on October 11, 2022.

On September 15, 2023, BET renewed the series for a fifth season, which premiered on October 17, 2023.

On April 16, 2024, the series was renewed for a sixth season, which premiered on January 7, 2025.

Spin-off

On November 7, 2019, it was announced that BET+ ordered '' Ruthless'', a spin-off starring Melissa L. Williams as Ruth Truesdale about a religious sex cult. The series premiered on March 19, 2020.

Storylines between ''The Oval'' and ''Ruthless''

The pilot episode of ''Ruthless'' takes place alongside ''The Oval'' (the first two episodes) after Barry's daughter Callie is kidnapped by his ex-girlfriend, Ruth, who is also Callie's mother. Ruth arrives with three other members of a cult called the Rakudushis, who attack the Hallsen residence. Their series storyline begins exactly after they left the house to arrive back at their camp.

In the 8th episode of ''The Oval''s first season ("Eye on the Sparrow"), the cross-over scene goes forward in the proceeding five episodes parallel with the storyline of the 19th episode ''Ruthless''s season 2 ("The Raku Way") after a central character, who is a member of the Rakudushis, has escaped.

However, parallels with the storyline from episodes 13 & 14 of ''The Oval'' the second season of Ruth meeting with Barry have not quite matched with ''Ruthless'', and the timeline of The Oval 17th episode from season 2 could possibly minorly contradict events during ''Ruthless'' the third season where a Rakudushi guard Manny appears on ''The Oval'' in slight hairstyle and uniform difference (dreadlocks which was cut late season 2 of ''Ruthless),'' however was made into a blip running gag about the haircut and uniform eventually in season 4 also mentioning the change from the purple cloth to military uniform. This in turn may have alter the timeline of events leading up to ''The Oval's'' storyline such as Richard going to the Rakudushis' camp to try and rescue Barry after his kidnapping from Ruth, in which season 3 of ''Ruhtless'' did not addressed how Ruth was able to leave the camp after member Tally escaped, while it can be possible the events could still match within the timeline onwards.

The second half of season 4 and into season 5 of T''he Oval,'' begins to formulate crossover segments with the cast of ''Ruthless'' making multiple guest appearances, within the Hallsen's residence, Richardson's Pharmacy and the Rakudushis compound. The ''Ruthless'' series however have not addressed having Barry and Nancy at the compound as of yet, which may also contradict storylines serving that Ruth may have came in contact with them as well as the White House playing a part in ''Ruthless'' as The President/Government's son Jason becomes an alias and incognito within the camp.

Derek Dixon allegations

On June 17, 2025, ''The Oval'' actor Derek Dixon filed a sexual assault and battery lawsuit against Tyler Perry which alleged that Perry had engaged in numerous acts of unwanted sexual advances against him since 2021. In his lawsuit, Dixon stated that Perry had "been using his power and influence to molest, abuse, and sexually assault impressionable and vulnerable employees and actors who look to him for guidance and mentorship while pursuing their dreams." Dixon had previously filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) complaint in 2024 which alleged sexual harassment by Perry, and afterwards quit ''The Oval'' when the complaint didn't result in any action from the show's producers.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Oval (TV series), The
American English-language television shows
2010s American drama television series
2010s American political television series
2010s American black television series
2019 American television series debuts
2020s American drama television series
2020s American political television series
2020s American black television series
American television soap operas
American primetime television soap operas
American political drama television series
BET television dramas
Television series about families
Television series created by Tyler Perry
Works set in the White House
Television series by Tyler Perry Studios
Television shows set in Washington, D.C.