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
please save passions. i only watch 5 hours of tv a week and its passions. one hour/day. if i cant watch it i tape it. i never miss a beat of it. please please, if you must take it from nbc, post the shows online like you do now or move it to another network.
Please Please Save Passions!! I have been watching this since day one and I absolutely fell in love with it. There is so much entertainment and excitment that I love it. I even named my now 6 year old son after Ethan one I loved the name and I loved the character. I need PASSIONS in my life or I think I am going to co crazy missing it. PLEASE SAVE PASSIONS!!!
I have watched Passions since day one! I love it! I have been a fan of NBC soaps since I was about 5 years old with my mom! I love Passions and dont want to see it end! It is refreshingly different than any other soap out there and deserves to live on. Personally, I dont think the Today show needs another hour!!
YOU can’t replace passions…this is the next soap for the younger generation, like days once and is…I dont watch the early morning show..yes the writers really need to improve the story line, i know if they listen to what the fans want, passions will be voted the best soap it was when it first started…Days and Passions are the only two soaps i watch, everyday i dont miss them…don’t cancel them!!!!!I will stop watching nbc all together, all shows if they do
It would be a dumb move to cancel this show its a great show.. think real hard at who ur trying to please…
i have been watching passions since it first aired.i was 15 and i still watch i even got a dvr so when i work i can record it. this is the only soap i watch.please keep it on the air!!!
Please do not cancel Passions. Its the one and only soap that I watch and love and grew up with it.
how many comments do you need! pls dont cancel the show i love it its my favorite.. sure it may be a lil corny but that what sets it apart from the rest!!
this show is my favorite and its unique and thats why its sooo interesting. I work when its on but i faithfully DVR every episode and I dont know what
I would do if it got cancelled please save passions
keep passions.
My grandma watches soaps and is the reason I do too. Passions is my soap. She has Young and the Restless and I have Passions. I used to record it on my VCR since it came on while I was in school. My summer vacation days didnt start until I finished watching Passions. This is my soap! I watch it because it is not the same OLD thing you get from every other soap. Yes it has its love triangles and people in hospitals and people able to get around town in one scene. But it also has Tabitha (RIP… Read more »
Save passions, I have been watching since it sarted, and that was when I was in middle school! Its the only soap of its kind and that makes it the most entertaining!! So please SAVE PASSIONS!!
Just before the OC left the air I’ve been addicted to Passions, its my favorite show….I love how the show gets you so attracted to the different conflicts..there’s always something that keeps you interested in watching..and watching..PLEASE dont cancel PASSIONS!!!!!!!
I love passions to much to try and say goodbye now. Now is not the time t oleave. Us fans are not ready for the show to be cancelled. I want to see ethan and teresa be happy with lil ethan and jane. The show is just beginning and you don’t even know it. Just reconsider, think about the fans.
I always hated soaps until I watched Passions, but this show completely pulled me in. The storylines are intriguing and the actors are superb. I was heartbroken to hear that the show is being canceled only 2 years after I started watching it. I hope and encourage the network and writers to keep the show alive, even if it has to be moved to a different station.