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
The writeing on this show moves at a snail’s pace. However it has alot of good stories, I only watch once a week, simply because it goes nowhere slow and once a week is all that is required to keep up to date with everything. you want raitings to rise give us a reason to watch every day. none the less i would like to see this show around in the future.
i think its crazy that they want to switch to direct tv and even will NO LONGER POST EPISODES ONLINE. nbc is crazy for making such stupid decisions. they are loosing lots of viewers. passions has been around for too many years for now to just cancel
passions off the year no way.
it’s the only soap that has a twinge of magic and lots of excitment. I have been watching this show since it aired in 99 with my daughter and i still do when i have a day off watch it with her . it’s our down time together. Don’t take it off the air
Aliaster Crane has to do something. Please dont cancel passions if you do all im hopeing is for everyone to be with the person they love because then that will mean that one should never give up on their true love. Sheridan must get back with Luis and Theresa should stay with Ethan forever please let their at least be peace in Harmony. I feel like i live in Harmony thanks you passions I feel like i live in a soap oprah and Passions is the greatest thing in this world i live for passions.please dont cancel it
I can’t believe Passions has been cancelled!! Passions is by far the most entertaining soap on TV. I only watch Days of our Lives because it comes on before Passions. NBC will soon regret the loss of such an amazing show
What a sin! The best soap on TV! I so enjoy the story line, the creativity, the writing and all the characters.
Please don’t take it off the air! Cut the news and add back Passions! Direct TV is the worst possible vehicle for this best, great, entertaining soap and I wouldn’t change over to Direct TV. Guess I’ll be cutting back on my NBC viewing should Passions be removed from the venue.
I have been watching Passions every since it came on the air and if it is taken off I will only Watch Days of our lives and then change the channels and never watch NBC anymore I have had direct tv and it is terrible. We don’t need all this time for The today show I will not watch it all all. SAVE PASSIONS
This is the worst news EVER! I have watched Passions since the 1st day. Gone to Soap Fest JUST to see the Passions actors. The is yet another big network mistake.
I can’t believe you are cancelling Passions!!! And to move it to Direct Tv it stinks!! I unfortunately don’t have Direct and won’t be able to continue watching my favorite soap. I am a busy single mom with a full time job and this hour of my day is my relax time!!!
Don’t cancel we don’t need another stupid talk show I’ll switch to direct tv if you don’t keep passions and I will spread the word!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PASSIONS is the best soap opera that I have ever watched. This soap if full of creativity and great acting. With my busy schedule, one of the ways I sit down an relax after the day is by eating dinner as I watch PASSIONS.
There is no way that passions can go off the air.That’s my soap, everyday i watch passions. I’ve been watching it for eight years I know all the cast names. No please save the the show i love passions it is a wonderful show, I am hoping and praying that it remains on tv if not on nbc then on another channel.
I have been watching this program since day one. I also watched the Today show for several years. They increased it from 2 hours to 3 hours a few years ago. Frankly, I did enjoy it when it was two hours, but when they expanded it to three hours it became a bore. Now they want to expand it to four hours, and Katie Courie is gone and replace by Meridith, a very boring and very unpersonalable. Viewers do not want this. Some viewers do not watch soaps, but I think that is the minority. Does the stronger shows have… Read more »
I’ve been watching passions 4 years now and is taped due to Im at work I watch 3 others soaps rather than sit coms. do not cancel passions on nbc I will not beable to have direct tv and dish net work. I can’t afford both in my home. I’m a soap lover of 34 years. jo ann of minnesota
please don’t cancel passions.we don’t need a extra hour of the today show. all they talk about is what i live everyday,and that is haveing a child in irag.it is a show i have enjoyed since it started.it is something to look forward to,even it is on the internet.