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 can’t even express in words how much I love Passions. I even remember the promos from before it even started with Theresa saying how much she loved Ethan. I have been watching from the very FIRST day, on July 5. The beginning scene with Galen Gering and Jesse Metcalfe is burned into my memory. My love and devotion to Passions has never wavered and to I enjoy it even more years later. I will honestly be heartbroken if it goes off the air. I cannot stand any other soap, they are all so insipid. Passions, in its craziness and… Read more »
PLEASE KEEP pasions on the air its the only tv i really love…. I will never watch NBC again!!
Ive been watching passions since day 1,it was heartbreaking to hear that it was going off the air. Something needs to be done b/c us passions fans are not ready to say goodbye!
Please NBC save PAssions it’s the best show you have on your network. There have not been many ratings because some of us go to school and reacord it, or some of us watch it on the internet, or I know that I do I watch it on the internet when i miss it.
Please do not cancel Passions. It is a great soap and I love to watch it while my baby takes a nap. It’s a great show to watch!
i never watch soap operas; but passions is the exception. i am a college graduate in my mid twenties. i have a successful gradaute level career. i am social. i haven great friends and an amazing boyfriend. i am mentioning all this to illustrate the type of person i am. the type of people that watch passions. i watch it with my roommates, friends, and my grandma and aunt. what other show can bring 3 generations of women together?
please save passions.
thank you.
PLEASE don’t take the show away….. I have also been watching since I was 16 I have grown with this show… I work an 8 til five but I take lunch at 1 just to watch the show I drive home and I’m late coming back everyday lol…. I can’t believe Chad is gay I knew it had to be a man though I’m upset
Please save Passion’s! I’ve watched since day 1!!!
i have benn wacthing passions’s like for ever and i just love the show.Every day after school i would come home and wacth it bc i love the people pn it and it is so funny.And u can’t end a show without telling us wht will happern to tess and eathen will they ever be together i hope so
PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL PASSIONS! It is one of my fav shows and I will be very disapointed if you do and WILL NOT! WATCH NBC ANYMORE! THATS A PROMISE!
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.
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.
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!!!!!!!
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… Read more »
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.