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’m blue 🙁
Please bring Passions back on the air this is the only soap I have watched from the very start, I still cannot believe it was cancelled. Please, Please bring Passions back.
i love passion please put back on air
I have to agree with everyone else My day is just not the same without Passions I enjoyed it emensly and thought it was sometime stupid and funny but it kept you wanting to watch just to see what was next I think the people or person who writes the show has an amazong imagination I I have to agree with some that all these stupid reality shows are just stupid and I would not waste my time watching them sometimes I think there is not anything to watch with all these channels it’s rediculous. I think Passions lost a… Read more »
Let’s all write to all the networks, especially NBC and Fox and Soapnet and see if they can’t do something to put Passions back on I feel so bad for the actors who are out of work It’s hard to find acting gigs, and I doubt if the soap actors are paid as well as movie stars or even prime time actors. I miss Passions!
Nobody cares about the Today Show, its hosts, Kathie Lee, reality shows, or those pampered and spoiled “athletes” on the Olympics. Take all this stuff OFF!
PUT PASSIONS BACK IN PRODUCTION! There are MANY highly educated fans; I am one; I am working on my doctorate. PASSIONS crosses many lines–it appeals to MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE!
NBC or somebody, get a clue!
PASSIONS IS THE BEST TV SERIES ON! (or was!)
PASSIONS has many fans and deserves to be back in production. It was the ONLY series I made sure I watched regularly, even taping it when I was in Europe for extended periods of time. Meeting other PASSIONS fans was always fun, because they were from all walks of life–from kids and teens to college profs to scientists–I have met people in all of those categories who loved PASSIONS. In addition, PASSIONS had some of the BEST actors alice today–can anyone her age even come close to Lindsay Hartley’s acting ability (not to mention her beauty.) Juliet Mills is the… Read more »
Pleaassssssssssssssssse bring it back its the only show on tv I care to watch
I LOVED THE SHOW. I Enjoy every bit of it and its intensity. The characters are great at what they do. I loved the story plots and was real schocked it cancelled. PLEASE BRING IT BACK!!!!!
I cannot believe that Passions has been taken off the air! I really looked forward to the show, even though it was only on 3 days a week, which I was unhappy about but was grateful for Mondays through Wednesdays. It has been a unique soap that had me both laughing and crying at times. There are so many reality shows on the air that I am dumbfounded. Why would anyone watch a reality show when they can put on the news or live their own life and face reality. We need more entertainment! I found Passions to be just… Read more »
bring passions back!!!!!!!!!
It feels like a part of me is gone. After watching Passions daily for the last 8 years I can’t imagine life without it. I can’t describe how wierd I feel about getting so emotional over a tv show but Passions was different. It gives you excitement trying to hold onto hope for Teresa and rage at all the horrible things that got in her way. I love this show and it was very shocking and hurtful to see it go without warning.
i lost my mom and this show passions is what kept me going laughing and waking up every day looking forward to the next show. didnt care much about the witch magic but loved the rest of it it was so awesome bring passions back please I was so bored today days is getting boring and I dont like any other soaps so bring passion back !!!!!!!!!!!!!is the greatest show i have every seen in 9 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!go passions go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
please bring passions back somehow we would be so greatful its the best shoe ever love that show you know alot people switch over and bought dirctv to get passions its not fair at all to us fans please send something out for us to sign or something passsions rocks !!!!!!!!!!!!get it back today
PLEASE, PLEASE, KEEP PASSIONS ON THE AIR. I started watching Passions in 1999 when I was going through chemo-theraphy and the levity and sometimes silliness of the show keep me laughing and looking FORWARD to the next episode. It helped me through treatments. I was so disappointed when it was taken off NBC but at least it was put on direct TV 101. Can you not move it to another channel??? This show is a cliff hanger and we need more of them instead of the Today Show Crowd.