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 don’t take Passion’s off the air. I have watched it since the begining of day one. I love the caractures on Passions. I do get sick of the witch craft. but I love the other things.. Please keep Passions on the Air.
Don’t cancel “Passions”. Why in the world would I watch another hour of the “Today” show, and didn’t NBC try that a few years ago with Florence Henderson? That didn’t work – why would this? I look forward to watching Passions when I get home from work (I DVR it), and have even got my husband hooked. He watches with me whenever he has the chance. If Passions is not on, I will have to change the channel, and realistically, I probably won’t change it back. That’s just the way it is. Our television turns on to NBC every morning… Read more »
Why take passions off? It was just getting good again…I have not missed any since it first came on in 1999.
Please do not cancel Passions this is the only show I ever really watch on tv,my 1 hour I get some mommy time to my self,i even scheduled my son’s nap time to 2-3 pm everyday so I could watch it! I need to see Theresa and Ethan finally be a family with both their children I have been waiting for that for years now,I am so happy Gwen is gone now and they have a chance to be together if they get rid of that sicko thats bothering them now! PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL MY ONLY HOUR OF ME… Read more »
While I lived in Egypt for two years, I found and fell in love with Passions. It was a great way to keep homesick feelings at bay. Beyond this, the TODAY show does not need more air time. Please keep PASSIONS on some where.
I have been watching Passions since the beginning, it’s had its good days and bad days, but when they bring two men in bed together, in primetime daytime, when the kids are home is “terrible taste”. I am not judgemental on homosexuality, (that is a personal preference),but I am judgemental on how it is being put across. Who ever is in charge of Passions has done this without thinking of who might be watching. Remember, this is prime tv time for daytime. This whole senario needs to be changed and fast. Thank You for listening and I hope you do… Read more »
Don’t cancel PASSIONS!!!! My friends and I watch it at the gym. Nothing against Al Roker, but the Passions hotties(Ethan, Fox, Luis, Noah and Miguel) make our workouts more enjoyable.
You can’t be serious! We Passions fans need Passions – simple as that!… but take it away from us, and I swear your ratings will drop in the worst way! There are plenty of us here who will refuse to watch ANYTHING besides maybe Days of Our Lives on NBC ever again if you ever remove our favorite show, and that is a promise… I’m not even going to beg here. I am just going to tell you this : trust me, taking Passions from us is not something you really want to do, unless of course, you enjoy bad… Read more »
Another hour of Today?? Why not just ask Rosie O. to join them? I hope NBC’s ratings plummet. If Passions or Days is cancelled, NBC has lost another fan. It is the only escape from the depressing news that is out there.
Passions was the first soap opera I ever started watching. For the past 5 years, it has been my life. The characters, the town, and the storyline all have a place in my heart. This is the most original daytime television show. I will be absolutely crushed if it gets cancelled. It is truly amazing to have a favorite tv show to watch Monday through Friday, every month of every year. The fans have dedicated so much time into Passions. The show has touched my heart. Please, don’t take that away from us. Whenever someone mentions the word, “passions,” I… Read more »
and yes im a man and i love passions and watched since day one love the fact about the gay plot going on between
chad and his boy just try to movie it to another channel so that way atleast it has a better chance of surviving
i love passions and like to see it stay but why does it take forever for a story line to finish and one day last for months move it to scifi you could really do alote more with it and all the chacaters
SAVE PASSIONS! THERE ARE SO MANY AWESOME ACTORS/ACTRESSES, THEY DESERVE THIS CHANCE.
Please please please do not cancel Passions. I have watched this soap since it’s first aired. Cancelling it for another hour of the Today Show is Ludacris!!!! The today show sucks!! I will never watch NBC ever again and I will tell everyone I know that loves Passions as well not to watch NBC too. How can you do this to the fans?? What is the reason for this?? There will be a boycott on NBC.. NBC You Suck NOW!!!!!
Have watched this show for quite a while and am a fan. Keep it on NBC (IF possible)