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 am a HUGE fan of Passion. I do not watch any other soaps and i would hate to see it go. I know that direct tv is going to pick it up but what about those fans that cant afford to get direct tv or those that live in a area that cant get it. Please keep Harmony alive from ALL of Harmonys fans Thank you
YOU CAN’T CANCEL THIS SHOW I WATCH IT EVERY DAY!!! IT’S SO MCH LIKE REAL LIFE IT WOULD BE A WASTE TO SEE IT GO IF YOU WERE GONNA CANCEL SOMETHING CANCEL ONE OF THESE SOAPS THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EVERYDAY LIFE!!!
you cannot cancel passions.I am now 18 years old and i’ve been watching passions since I was 9!!!! It’s played a big role in my life as to where i gave up watching cartoons just to watch the drama and cliffhanging events from this soap. I want to continue to see Passions air for a very long time!! this cannot happen
I have been a preety faithful viewer of Passions for some time now. The show is amusing and lighthearted. I still think Julian needs to be with Eve. I also think Gwen needs to go away. Can’t stand her. I would like to see the show stay on NBC. I feel having to get Direct TV just for that would be absurd.
Thank You,
V.Odom
I am 27 years old and have not missed an episode of passions since the day it came on. As a stay at home mom it was the only hour of the day that kept me sain. I have been following Teresa and Ethans love lifes from the very beginning and now that they are finally together they want to pull it off the air. I am very diappointed that NBC could not find a way to keep it on the air, especially since it is the only soap that has people my own age and were teens when I… Read more »
thats not fair at all, i got hooked on this show when i was 14, im now 20 and it seems like ya’ll are taking my best friend away…. but is this really a true petition? if it is i vote to keep passions running another 8 years… or more…
I’m glad that Passions is moving to DirectTv, but what about those of us that have Dish? I watch Passions everyday but I won’t be able to watch it because of DirectTV! Please do something for us Dishnetwork Poeple!!!!!!!! The show is very good and I would like to be able to see it also!! to see what happens to all my favorite Actors and actresses!
Please do not cancel Passions. I DVR it daily and have watched it since the beginning! It is the only progressive soap on TV. Don’t do it!!!!
Whoa wait a second!!!!!!!!! This is absolutely crazy and cannot be true!!!!!! My heart is now broken for the first time in my life and it isn’t because of a man. Thanx NBC!!!!! You have managed to do what no man could ever do…….But you can unbreak my heart right now by saving my favorite/only soap. PLEASEEEEEE NBC, DONT DO THIS TO ME!!!!!!!!! I cant imagine t.v without Teresa, Ethan, Whitney, Chad, Gwen, Rebecca, Luis, Fancy, Sheridan, Eve, Julian, Sam, Ivy, Jessica, and as much as i hate to admit it, i could use a little Spike in my life… Read more »
I can’t imaginea day without Passions! NBC cannot be serious about cancelling such a popular program.
Please don’t cancel Passions!!! I have watched it from day one and have been hooked on it ever since. Another hour of the Today Show you have to be joking like 3 hours isn’t long enough. Please save Passions, it has a little bit of everything for everyone. Even my husband likes to watch he says that it is different from other soaps.
If Passions had been in the top 4 place and tied with Days of our Lives for first than that should be enough right there to consider not moving to direct tv. You have alot of fans right now that are devestated to see it go and I am one as well. Firts and for most the ratings is what you are after and it will increasingly go down if you take it off the air, so with no hesitation I also will be signing this petition to keep it on the air, after all I won’t have 2 pm… Read more »
I don’t know where to start. I have Direct tv, but it sucks for those who don’t. Also, the show WILL NOT be the same without Paloma, Miguel, Fox, and most definitely Chad and Whitney. I love them soooo much. This really sucks, but I guess there is nothing that can be done. I really want to cry right now. I am so in love with Passions!!!!
FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE!!!!
To all the IDIOTS at NBC hasn’t making foolish decisions in past showed you that you have lost a lot of the key essential viewing audience. MAKING ENEMIES out of the PASSIONS devotees will only culminate in even more loss of viewers as well as income.THE RATINGS WILL TELL THE TALE!!!!!!!!
I think we should all BOYCOTT the TODAY SHOW since it is the program that NBC brainiacs want to replace Passions with so they can extend it to 4 hours.
BOYCOTT NBC, BOYCOTT TODAY SHOW, BOYCOTT, BOYCOTT, BOYCOTT, BOYCOTT.
ME AND MY DAUGHTER ARE LOYAL FANS.PLEASE DONT CANCEL. I HAVE DIRECT TV BUT MY DAUGHTER DONT. GOD DONT LET TODAY SHOW BE ON 4 HOURS 3 HOURS IS ALREADY TOO LONG.
KEEP MY SHOW PLEASE