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
I am very disappointed at directtv for getting this soap passions on the air to see after they took if off NBC. Its like they just got it on directtv just to get people that really liked this show to sign up to the direct tv.and now that there signed up under a contract they take it off the air. this really stinks…….i believe they broke a contract and many others for doing what they did please bring it back on 101 hope to see it back on soon ……
wow, if u think that other show needs another hour then wow, thats stupid, passions is a great show and its better then that whatever show thats taking passions away! look u cant do this! Too the fans, Do u even no how many people watch that well, let me tell you alot my older sister watches it with me and my two bestfriends, bailey and kelly so also and my mom watches it sometimes when she gets home from work! you cant end passions, u just cant, and another person is my friends mom jess, she watches it all… Read more »
i am very upset passions is ending, ive been watching it for years i think i watched when it first stared, and yes there are silly line, from the witches haha, but thats what makes you know alittle bit funny. It really is a great show and ending it, is very upsetting. thanks for listening.
Jen.
it is so stupid that passions is going off the air, its my favorite show. Its not fair to the fans who watch that show to just take it off the air, some people have watched since the begining! At least let the show come back next year! why? why, end the show, its great, please make it come back! ( :
my friends and i would really love if there was ever a chance it came back on the air. I mean i watched the last episode, i think i like cried! 🙁
thanks
emily.
.
why the hell they felt they needed for another HOUR of the today show is beyond me. People coulndt even listen to viera for ONE hour what makes them think people will tune in for 3?!?!? Its like the local news being on at 5,530,6, and 7 theres not THAT much to talk about and nobody tunes in much past the second hour. Did these executives really go to college? If so they wasted ALOT of money, I can do a better job without a degree.
This is so sad because Passions started the year my husband and I met. It has been a part of my entire adult life. I love Passions and am going to miss it very much. Even with all of the wacky story lines. That is what sets it apart from the rest. Please find a way to bring it back. Thanks
why why why? please bring passions back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Its the only show i watch and have watched from day 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
There has to be a way PASSIONS doesn’t end now?
I”ll never enjoy another show in my life like i did this one.
We Want PASSIONS back. PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i’m very upset about this.
atleast give us a few more eps like a few yrs later in harmony. A movie something that will leave us with a bit of the greatness that is passions.
or even like a spin off thats in now lol
well i hope u come up with something quickly otherwise ppl are going to start saying bye bye to direct tv
so so sad
ps i have yet to find the eps on itunes not cool
Please reconsider this show is the best one on TV and I too have been watching it since day one, and then through Directv. This has a great story line, and the cast is incredible…I was sooo sad to see it end, although I loved how it ended so well for everyone great to see a happy ending for a change! But the best ending would be to bring it back and let us enjoy the show forever….Thanks to the cast for always doing an incredible job, will miss your great work! Best of luck to everyone.
Please don’t take this show off it my favorite show in the whole world i don’t care about the today show move to some other time just keep passion alive
WHO CARES ABOUT THE “TODAY SHOW” whatever that is KEEP THE PASSION ALIVE !
i cant believe direct tv is doing this!! i turely will never forgive this if passions is taken off the air. if passions goes off the air with direct tv, i go off of direct tv. i switched to direct just to watch passions.
i bet switching passions to direct made them alot of money, and they surely will loose mine if passions is not put back on the air b/c direct tv is so laggy and sucks.
-passionately upset !
There has to be a way to keep Passions on the air.
i moved to direct tv just to watch passions!! im very upset with direct tv desion to take passions off the air, it feels they are breaking the contract “switch to direct tv to watch passions” .
passions is the best soap out there. i’ve watched the whole time passions has been on the air faithfully! i love passions – PLZ DONT TAKE IT OFF THE AIR! passions cast members are the best soap artist, so passionate. this is heart breaking.
i love passions!!
What a shame. Passions was such an addicting show. Just so you all know Direct TV is VERY displeasing. But I only put up with it for this ONE soap.. nothing else. I’ve been watching passions everyday for the last 6 years. Since I was 15!!! Bring it back for all the faithful viewers!