Passions: Cancellation Details & Petition to Save NBC Soap
The peacock network is announcing today that the eight-year-old soap Passions has been cancelled. This comes as a shock to some but the writing has been on the wall for awhile. Still, things may not be as grim as they may seem.
Passions debuted on July 5, 1999 and was created by Jim Reilly, a writer from Days of Our Lives. Reilly is the head writer on the soap and is an executive producer with Lisa de Cazotte. The supernatural sudser takes place in fictional New England town Harmony and replaced the long-running Another World. Now it looks like Passions will be replaced itself.
The soap has been in danger for quite some time. When NBC renewed the series in May 2006, the network renewed it only for one year and required significant budget cuts. As a result, $4-5 million was slashed from the yearly budget and caused several crewmembers and performers to be let go. Now, nearly a year later, NBC has cancelled the soap. Why?
NBC recently announced that they would be expanding the popular Today Show from three to four hours weekdays. The Today Show is a great cash-earner for NBC and has been around for 55 years. The cast, including Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry and Al Roker, is scheduled to hold a news conference today at the Television Critics Association (TCA) winter preview tour to announce the news show expansion.
That “super-sized” version of Today will leave NBC affiliates with one less hour in their mid-morning slot. To compensate, NBC is releasing the Passions timeslot to affiliates. As a result, Passions will be pulled — though not for awhile.
The present Passions contract runs out in June but the new expanded Today won’t debut until Fall 2007. To fill the summer months, NBC is expected to negotiate with the Passions cast and show creatives to extend the soap until August. That could be the end.
But, like Tabitha and any good soap fan knows, there are always possible ways to cheat death. How could Passions survive?
NBC is proud of the soap. As recent as last week, the network issued a press release touting the fact that Passions was fourth in the ratings for all soaps in the very desirable female 18-34 demographic. Passions even tied for first place (with Days of Our Lives) for that demographic for the first week in January. As well, NBC owns Passions completely, allowing the network to keep all profits.
Because of its strong popularity with young women, there are rumblings that NBC may try to keep the series alive elsewhere. Possibilities include producing the soap (perhaps in a shortened version) for Disney’s SoapNet cable station, the struggling MyNetwork TV or even on the Internet.
The soap won’t go off the air for several months so we probably won’t know what the future holds for Passions and the Harmony residents for quite some time.
What do you think? We know there are lots of Passions fans out there. Would you like to see the soap continue? If so, consider signing our petition (leave a comment) so NBC and Passions executive producers Jim Reilly and Lisa de Cazotte will know how you feel. We’ll keep you posted on any new developments. Stay tuned — and in the meantime, let’s save Passions! 
Please note, due to the overwhelming response, 4,500 petition comments have been archived (for bandwidth issues).
To NBC Daytime Programs
cc: Jim Reilly and Lisa de Cazotte
We, the undersigned have enjoyed much of your programming, particularly the ongoing Passions series. We have enjoyed the stories and the work of the cast each week and are dismayed about the announced cancellation.
We believe that the ratings have not accurately shown the show’s popularity and potential for future revenue.
We respectfully request that you reconsider your decision to cancel Passions and to find a way to keep it on NBC daytime. If that is not possible, we implore you to find another venue to continue telling the engaging stories of the people of Harmony.
Thank you in advance for your attention and consideration.
The Undersigned fans of Passions
March 16th, 2007 at 6:56 am
Please save Passions! I am a stay at home mom and this is what i look forward to everyday form 2pm-3pm. I have been a fan since the 1st day. Please dont cancel it.
March 16th, 2007 at 12:35 am
I LOVE Passion’s its the best soap out there. it appeals to younger girls like me, the actors are sooo talented and HOT. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!! don’t take the beloved people of Harmony away.
March 15th, 2007 at 8:37 pm
U GUYS NEED 2 PUT PASSIONS OUT ON DVD SET IF IT GETS CANCELLED AND EVEN IF IT DOESNT…DO IT FOR THE FANS….IM #1PASSIONS FAN…ILL NEVA WATCH NBC AGAIN IF PASSIONS IS CANCELLED!!!!!!!
March 15th, 2007 at 7:51 pm
I have watched Passions since it first began, and I am a loyal fan who is devasted that it is being cancelled. I Tivo it everyday and watch it every night when I get home.
It is the BEST soap out there, on any network. I like Days too, but it is not as interesting as Passions.
Cancelling Passions for an extra hour of the Today show is horrible. The show is long enough as it is, and Meredith Viera sucks. Since Katie left, the show is not the same, and I refuse to watch it.
Cancelling something like Martha or iVillage or Rachel Ray would be better, or just sticking with 3 boring hours of the Today show.
If Passions goes off the air for good, I’m boycotting NBC. The only show worth watching is Heroes anyway, so it will not be much of a loss to me.
I hope another network picks it up and is hugely successful, and NBC will be sorry they ever let it go.
-A very angry and disappointed fan-
March 15th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
I love this show. I use it as my escape from reality, I have become very dependant on this soap to clear my mind on a daily basis. The characters are the total package: sexy, funny, and lovable or love to hate. PLEASE SAVE PASSIONS, or at least bring Luis on to Days of Our lives.
March 15th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
just signing to save passions! i love this show , even as silly as it can be sometimes i cant help but not to watch it!
March 15th, 2007 at 1:29 pm
Please dont take passions away it is my favorite show and the only show i watch. i’ve been watching it ever since the first episode at age 16 and now i’m going to be 24 next month and i’m still watching it. it would be a tragity if this show were to end and i’d be so sad so if you care, please keep the show on and running because there are many other fans out there other than me of all ages that would be sad to see the show go. so keep it on or switch it to another network.
March 15th, 2007 at 1:12 pm
HEY ANYONE WHO READS THIS PLEASE SIGN AND ASK ANYONE YOU KNOW TO SIGN TO SAVE PASSIONS! IT IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SHOW!
March 15th, 2007 at 9:55 am
We have been watching passions sence we were little kids now we are teens and we really enjoy watching passions. We look forward to watching it when we have a bad day to cheer us up. The show is really good for anyone to watch. Everyone we know watches it and loves it. If you take it off the air everyone would be so mad. So please dont take it off air we are begging you.
March 15th, 2007 at 8:10 am
PLEASE save Passions!!
March 14th, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Please save passions!!!!
March 14th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
Please save passions I have been watching it since I was little, it’s the only soap opera that I watch!! I’ve been watching it for so long I feel like I’m part of it…PLEASE you have to save it!!!!!!1
March 14th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
PLEASE SAVE PASSiiONS!!!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS SHOW AND I CNT SEE IT END PLEASE DNT CANCEL
March 14th, 2007 at 7:59 pm
I have watched Passions since the begining. I would really hate to see it go. There is enough of the Today show on already. Please DO NOT cancel Passions!!!!!!!!!!!
March 14th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
don’t cancel this show, i am 24 years old and i still love this show. i try not miss any. give it another chance.
sophia
March 14th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
PLEASE dont cancel Passions!! This is one of the few things that I enjoy watching on daytime tv, and I love all of the plot lines the people think of!!
March 14th, 2007 at 6:28 pm
I can’t believe this!!! I have been watching Passions since July 5th, 1999 and I refuse to let it go. I would do anything to save this show, so please do the same and KEEP PASSIONS ON THE AIR. I love this show too much to stop watching it and sit back and let it get cancelled. THERE ARE MILLIONS OF FANS OF THIS SHOW. Please keep Passions alive!!!
March 14th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
PLEASE keep Passions on the air, it is the ONLY progressive soap opera on television, IT MUST BE SAVED!
March 14th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
You can’t cancel passions! There is way too much good stuff going on to be like “Oh, it’s over!” I love this show!! Who needs another hours of the Today show? Three hours isn’t long enough?? Can’t we move it 3? Please!!!!!!
March 14th, 2007 at 4:07 pm
PLEASE DO NOT LET PASSIONS GO OFF THE AIR!
i got my mom to get tivo just so i record it everyday so i can watch it because i am at school. i love every person in it! especially Heidi and Lindsay. they are my favorites! please dont stop playing it! do something!!!