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
Do not cancelle passions why do you need a 3 to 4 hr today show every day who watches it the moms that do not work and set on there buts this is my down time at night after it is taped during the day
Please keep it going. I love the campy feel. Ironicaly I enjoy this more than Days, and AMC!
I am insisting that you save the soap PASSIONS. It is my favorite show of all time! I ALWAYS look forward to the one hour program every day. I wake up monday through friday soooooo happy that and after my PASSIONS I am me again and I intisipate what is going to happen tomorrow! You dont know how much this show means to people. PASSIONS means so much to me that I think I will cry if it is cancelled. I will most likely turn off my cable if PASSIONS gets cancelled. I mean why pay money for cable if… Read more »
Passions on internet? Please!! I dont have direct tv 🙁
Great News Passions fans, Passions has officially been saved for Canadian residents past it’s cancellation on NBC. Allarco Entertainment, a new Pay Television provider that is starting up in October will be airing Passions for Canadians. It will be shown of one of their premium stations. I know this for a fact because I myself spoke with them yesterday and they told me that they will indeed be airing Passions. Don’t worry about missed shows either because if you subcribe right away in October you will be able to see all of the shows that were shown on Direct TV… Read more »
PLEASE DON’T CANCELL PASSIONS, IS THE ONLY SOAP ME AND MY MOM WATCHING, ANS WE ARE LOVING IT….PLEASE SAVE PASSION, EVERYDAY WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEE IT. THREE HOURS OF TODAY SHOW IS ENOUGH.
DON’T CANCELL PASSIONS PLEASE
Great news Passions fans!!! NOt only will Direct Tv be taking over the soap opera Passions, but Canadians will now be able to watch Passions past it’s cancellation on NBC. Allarco Entertainment, a new pay TV provider will be airing Passions on one of it’s premium stations when it starts up in October.You will need to subscribe to this Premium service though in October. I know this for a FACT because I myself spoke with Allarco Entertainment today and they told me under no uncertain terms that they will be airing Passions. They have also informed me that they will… Read more »
i love this show its the best thing i do during summer i would hate for it to be canceled!!!!!!!!!!
dont take passions off the air. this show is one of the best show thats out there for young adults. there are alot of people out there that watch passions and have gotten to know the characters as if they were someone we actually know. not being able to watch passions is like not being able to see our friends or family. we have grown to love these people.taking passions off the air is not only going to hurt the fans but is going to hurt nbc. passions fan are not going to settle for watching something else on nbc… Read more »
leave passions on!
Passions is the best soap on the air. It’s like reading a fariy tale. Please don’t let it go!!!!!!
Passions is the best soap out there, the only one I watch. Not only that, but it is the only show I watch on the NBC Network. No one needs another hour of the Today Show. Passions is what we want!
PLEASE SAVE PASSIONS!!!!! I have loved the show since day one and love it even more everyday. I work alot so I have a dvr and watch it as soon as I get home. I even got my husband and 7 year old son to love the show. come on please save the show or myself and alot of others will never watch your channel again no matter what you put on.
PLEASE DONT CANCELL PASSIONS ITS MY FAVORITE SHOW AND IF IT GETS CANCELLED I WOULDNT HAVE ANYTHING TO LOOK FORWARD ON TV.SO PLEASE IM BEGGING U DONT CANCELL PASSIONS ITS THE BEST SOAP OPERA EVER
PLEASE DO NOT CANCEL Passions!!!It is the only daytime drama that I watch!!!I love the offbeat caracters and storylines!Besides,not everyone has satillite to watch the best program that is on television.That means alot from someone who doesn’t care to watch television too much!! I had stopped watching the other soaps on tv because everyone in them are doctors,lawyers,and people who have money growing on trees!I find their sappiness and overindulgence to be a bit boring.Passions brings the Passion in my day!Please let Tabitha whip up one of her spells to save the show!!
Thanks-Tina N.