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
polease dont cancel passions, this soap is so unique, and full of fun, please please dont cancel this graet soap opera.
I have watched Passions since the day it aired. I can’t stand the thought of it going off the air for another boring hour of the Today Show. This a Crock of yo know what! If it can be aired on Direct TV, why can’t there be someway to get it aired on one of Comcast’s Digital staitions? I live in Ga and Passions is the first thing I turn to when I get home from work. Please check with Comcast and see if they get the show aired on one the digital channels. Direct TV sucks here. It’s off… Read more »
Passions is the shiznit, you can’t take it off it’s the bomb. You have to create a way for the show to keep playing. It can’t end!!!!!:-(
Only “Soap” that ever hooked me. Loved the campiness, almost making fun of the soap genre. Understanding it is moving to DirecTV, but not willing to purchase the dish…too many complaints about it.
All to expand the “Today” show an hour….Geesh consider taking a talk show off the air. How are “Maury’s” ratings?
And not willing to continue webshowings of the show?
Sigh,
John W Rauch
If Passions has to go down, it should go down in a blaze of glory. A huge meteor should hit the town of Harmony and out of the wreckage, climbs Alistaire Crane. For real. Let’s stay true to the roots of the greatest soap opera ever.
i am disappointed ” passions” is being cancel. I like da show & the actors. The storyline Is Good. I Hope Ya Keep The Show ON. PLEASE RECONSIDER TAKING THE SHOW OFF & LET IT AIR 4 MANY MORE YEARS.
hey i luv pssions so much plzzzzz don`t cancele it
plzzzzzzzz!!!!
I have been watching Passions since day one I dont watch the today show im starting to think if you cancel Passions I may just stop watching Days of our lives too!
Me and my daughter have been watching since well me since it aired in 99 and my daughter since she was born in 06 please don’t cancel we love the show we don’t like all the new chacters but we love the show.
Gone are the days of skipping school to watch passions, gone are the days of maternity leave waiting for passions to come on after DAYS! We all grow and move on, please don’t make us move on to another daytime soap, I want PASSIONS to stay on the air.
I LOVE PASSIONS they can’t cancel it!!
CANNOT IMAGINE THAT YOU WANT TO CANCEL PASSIONS — SUCH A UNIQUE AND INTRIGUING SHOW!! I am 68 years old and in all those years Passions is the only soap opera that caught my attention. I watch or tape every show — it is the highlight of my day. I’m very busy and active and it is the only time I sit down during the day. PLEASE COME TO YOUR SENSES AND DON’T DISAPPOINT PASSIONS’ LOYAL FANS.
Save Passions I have been watching it since it began, this would be so sad, Even my husband watches it.
Please, don’t cancel Passions, I have been watching for a long time; and there are other ways around making more time for the Today Show. I have watched both; but I can actually say that if you are considering revenue; you’ll end up losing more than gaining. NBC has been losing it’s watchers due to the fact that they are taking away then giving. You consider that Today Show has more viewers; but have you really looked at the big picture?
passions is the bomb………..how can you cancel such an open-minded show………….jeesh…………nbc will suck forever in my book…………