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 have directv but i still would like for it io stay on nbc i also have cable. passion is one of my favorite soaps. so please continue to carry it for the ones who don!t have directv. i have watch it from day one. i do beleive they could make it more intresting than just focus on one person. it has been on teresa and ethan to long. try something else for awhile.
Crazy as it I can’t help but watch Passions everyday! Please don’t cancel it! And whose bright idea was it to add another hour to the Today show, isn’t 3 hours enough???
I don’t like watching Soaps as a rule but my wife who watches almost everyone got me hooked on Passions when it first aired and I usually get home from work to watch it as we are eating supper.Please reconsider cancellation of Passions and keep it on NBC it is one of the best daytime Soaps after “Days”.
NBC cancells Passions so it can go to Direct tv and now run 4 hours ofr today show? Why not watch instead CNN,Headline news and Fox CNews. Or go to tv land watch it or nostalgia channel maybe. Atleast if was on Soap net or SciFi more could see it. I for one cannot get direct tv or afford to switch plus pay $200 for deposit on sat deal on my credit card. At 61 on fixed income is not really plausable. Must be quite a few of viewers out there not able to swich to direct tv or want… Read more »
please don’t take passion’s off i don’t have direct tv and i can’t get it cause it doesn’t offer local channels in my area direct tv already has it on nbc thats unfair to us dishnetwork cause we wouldn’t be able to watch it please reconsider so we can enjoy it also ty
My mother and I used to watch Passions together until she moved 2 hours away. Now we talk on the telephone everyday after we watch Passions to talk about the show. We have cable and do not like satelite or Direct TV and do not want to switch. We have been watching this show for years! We are both very upset over the networks decision!
passions is the FUNNIEST thing i’ve seen on tv in a LONNNNNNNNNNG time! please keep it on NBC! thanks!
please do not cancel passions. I have been watching it since the second episode and it would be a real waste of 8 years to never see what happens in the end.
THIS IS SAD FOR I CANNOT AFFORD CABLE AS I AM ON A LIMITED BUDGET. I DONOT UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WOULD TAKE THIS OFF THE AIR. THIS SHOW HAS MADE ME LAUGH AND CRY. TO ME IT IS AWESOME, THE ACTORS ARE GREAT. I LOVE TIABETH (sp) and her little girl. this is pure genious at work, the writers. i loved the nurse orangutan precious. that was so funny. I look forward to seeing it everyday. Who needs more The Today show??? I don’t I vote to keep PASSIONS ON !!!!!! GO PASSIONS, LETS KEEP IT ON !!!!
Please dont let Passions end, I have been watching for over a year now. I’m not a big fan of soaps but I do love Passions it is one of the 2 soaps I watch.In my opinion Passions sould be one of the top soaps along with All My Children. The other soaps you can cancel but not Passions PLEASE!!!!!!
Please don’t cancel Passions. We Tivo it and my husband and I watch it every night together. We love it! It is the most entertaining show on all of TV (not just daytime!) Please, Please reconsider and keep Passions going! It is so clever, humorous and wonderfully entertaining! Juliet Mills is the best actress ever! And the rest of the cast is fabulous as well. The sets and wardrobe are wonderful to watch. The historical references and humorous undertones are brilliant! Have enjoyed so many clever moments, like “Nancy Grace” etc. Please keep Passions on the Air. THANK YOU, Michelle… Read more »
Like most Passions fans I’ve been watching it since the begining. I’ve loved the story since from the start, when Alistor was sopposed to be in a coma last year, I was suprised when he was the munk in Rome. Now I was even more suprised when Vincent, Eve and Julian long lost son was the blackmailer. In other words keep up the great story lines and plots and please keep Passions on NBC Sincerely Passions greatest fan Rennie
My husband and I wouldn’t miss a day of Passions. Even though sometimes it is somewhat bizarre, we don’t want to see it cancelled. There’s already too much of the Today Show. Keep Passions on air, please.
hi!im a huge fan of Passions!!!!please keep it on the air!i look forward to the show every day,it always keeps me entertained to!please please dont do this!it would break my heart and countless other peoples hearts to!
You’ve GOT to be kidding me. My mom is 85 and we both watch Passions every day. Please don’t cancel it or move it to Direct TV. How will we ever find out the finish of the story lines?