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 watched Passions since th debut in 1999. This was the one soap that I knew I could always watch because no matter where you go you can get NBC with an antenna. Please forget about the fourth hour…how many people do you really think are going to watch four hours of the today show? The show is not that popular. I only watch about a half hour of it before I shut it off. Think about the younger viewers, they will be the ones alive to keep your channel in the top of the ratings.
I have been a huge passions fan since day one. The show has brought in many otherwise unknown actors and turned them into great stars. (aka Justin Hartley,Jesse Metcalfe)The caliber of the actors and actresses on the show is outstanding. Although sometimes the plots may be outlandish,it keeps viewers attention and the love stories are touching and real. If NBC wants to extend the today show maybe they should consider taking another time slot.NBC used to be the best network for soaps, in my opinion, now they will only have days, which is another favorite, but with just one show… Read more »
YOU ALSO CANCELLED MY FAV SHOW ANOTHER WORLD AND I WAS VERY MAD AND NOW YOU WANT TO CANCEL PASSIONS PLEASE STOP CANCELING THE SOAPS OR NOBODY WILL WATCH NBC AGAIN!!!!!
Please Please PLEASE save Passions! It is the ONLY thing I watch EVERY day, EVERY week without hesitation! I have watched the show since the beginning and there is no other show out there like it and so entertaining!
I don’t watch anything else. Please don’t cancel Passions!!!!!! I love this show so much!
I’m a Junior in High School and I’ve been watching Passions since I was in elementary. I don’t often get a chance to watch Passions because I go to school, but when I do watch it everything just halts at home. I just sit my happy little self down and watch the entire show. I would be so depressed if Passions doesn’t show on TV anymore because their is nothing else that I can watch. I’d rather not find another soap to watch because it will never ever measure up to what Passions brings to the table. Please save Passions,… Read more »
Please don’t cancel PASSIONS!!!!! everything that we have been waiting for is finally coming out and together. We really do not need another hour of the today show, and even if you have to do add another hour, maybe you could think of putting the soap on later or something. Or you could possibly give it to another local network like the cw or something. I absolutely love, love, love PASSIONS!!! It is so wonderfully written and has great actors. I have been watching since day one and I tape it so that i can watch it after work. I… Read more »
Please dont cancel Passions it is the only soap I watch and I love it!!!
DON’T CANCEL PASSIONS!!!ITS THE BEST SOAP OUT THERE!!
Passions is the ONLY soap opera I watch. I have been a regular watcher since the first year. PLEASE dont get rid of my show. PLEASE
to all the numnuts at nbc.Who wants to watch the today show for another hour?Can you not tell so far from the responses that people are watching PASSIONS and not another soap,Ilove this show save passionssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss.
I have watched from the beginning and it would be terrible for it to be cancelled. Its to the point that my husband comes home from work and asks me about the show and he always start off with “Did Teresa and Ethan finally get together yet?” I can’t imagine him coming home and saying anything else. Please find a way to save Passions, Even if it was sent to another T.V. stations. Please, Please, Please find a way. Its kind of funny because I usually don’t beg for anything but Please,Please, Please SAVE PASSIONS!!!!!
Please do not cancel Passions. Although I don’t watch it at the time that it comes on because I have to work at that time I do tape DOOL and Passions everyday. I would hate to see it go off the air. Please Please Please leave it on the air.
I’ve been watching Passions since the first episode. I would love it if it was picked up by someone else. It needs to live on.
Sincerely,
Dana
Save Passions!!! I do not think it is necessarily accurate in attempting to cancel this entertaining daytime drama for its alledged replacement. Even if it were to be replaced by another show, it is absurd. Keep Passions alive!!!