The Oval (TV series)

The Oval is an American political drama and soap opera created, executive produced, written, and directed by Tyler Perry, that 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 streaming television spin-off, Ruthless, premiered on BET+ on March 19, 2020.

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, wife of Donald
 * 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–present)
 * 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 (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)
 * Russell Charles Pitts as Picky/Leon (season 1)
 * Maurii Davenport as Lindsay Yuma (season 1)
 * Ashley Monique Harper as Jean Peterson (season 1)
 * Yvonne Senat Jones as Tally (season 1)
 * Natasha Ward as Ellie Lyles (season 1–3)
 * Gillian White as Diane Wilmont (season 1–2)
 * Janee Michelle as Maude, Victoria's mother (season 1–2)
 * Donna Feldman as Dr. Meadows
 * Ken Lawson as Officer Driver (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)

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.

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 Ovals 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 Ruthlesss 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 The 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.