LostinHarmony

Thanks for sharing this. I remember seeing this a while back on a YouTube channel that got deleted, along with the individual character promos that were released in the weeks leading up.

I think he had checked out. From what I recall Reilly didn't want to go to DirecTV and was ready to promote Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas to headwriters by the 2nd year of the move to take over. Passions was cancelled before the second year of DTV so we never got to see MarDar's version of PSNS, but I would've liked to have seen their own vision for the show to see if they wouldve tried to return the show back to what it once was or if it wouldve descended further. Many here seem to be impressed with MarDar's DAYS run and Marlene's AMC run with PP.

I see Marlena de LaCroix just posted about the new Passions book. She was always a fan of Reilly so no surprise she was thrilled for this: https://marlenadelacroix.com/2025/12/a-joyful-look-back-at-passions/#:~:text=Cornell's%20book%20is%20chock%2Da,serious%20fan%20of%20“Passions.” Did you ever get around to it over the holidays @Ryanc2 and @Toups? For anyone that's read the book Ken Corday put out a while back, does it give any more insight into Jim Reilly?

BTG is my current fav soap, just got around to watching yesterdays episode and I'm excited for whats to come. Hoping for an even better year 2 ahead, and more for my Eva. She's my fav and i'm rooting for her and Izaiah, Kat can keep Thomas haha. I cosign on Dani and Andre being the hottest soap couple of 2025. My thoughts don't typically align with everyone elses, I enjoyed Winterfest for example, but I'll still be tuned in come the new year, the only soap holding my attention.

I mentioned it in the BTG thread but just finished reading SWEAT, if anyone else read it there was a shoutout to Tarrick watching his new favorite soap and cackling at Dana/Leslie and her wigs. Also, recently finshed reading the new behind the scenes of Passions book, good info in there about that soap.

Brook Kerr mentions in the book that her favorite episode is when Jerry Springer guest starred on the show as "Larry Winger." I had to look it up, such a hilarious episode.

I must be easy to please, i just finished watching and enjoyed the heck out of todays episode. Sure, I wish there was another day of Winterfest and more drama, but I didn't mind what we got at all.

Learning how closely McPhereson and Thomas worked with Reilly and the plan for them to take over Passions makes me happy that thy were able to actually be head writers elsewhere. What was the consensus on their work head writing DAYS and AMC 2.0? I never knew Reilly did a cameo on Friends, of course always a mystery, you only see the back of his head like he was Alistair Crane himself. McKenzie seems like she went through it on the set, and I don't want to minimize her struggles, but it seems like she struggled a lot with her image even without her agent calling her fat.

Here's what I could find for Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/PASSIONS-Spells-Secrets-Unauthorized-Cult-Favorite-ebook/dp/B0G2HRDGGT/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3NYTUL65EUUXZ&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.dnmU-D3OZevflpQQ63EHryopfA14a0DKAYDPEWrFGsXGjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.YUnyuGutWMjRfYC4a5bPeocvJdP1ijwtRHkQIPegKa0&dib_tag=se&keywords=passions+sins+spells+secrets&qid=1764946983&s=digital-text&sprefix=%2Cdigital-text%2C119&sr=1-1 Here in the states I got my copy at Barnes & Noble.

It's funny, YouTube took me on a nostalgia trip rediscovering things from the early 2000s that I loved recently and I realized from adult eyes the same thing. I think for Passions it's probably the nostalgia factor, those 12-17 year olds are now in their 30s/40s reliving that time. Hard to know if I'd been as into it as an adult, but as a kid for whatever reason me an my friends were obsessed haha

No disrespect taken at all, however I stand by what I said.

Yes, and Kathleen Noone was simply offered the role from Lisa de Cazotte from their years on Sunset Beach together. I wonder if MarDar had taken over the show as planned, what the show wouldve looked like. Reilly was ready to tap out, but I'm glad they at least got their shot to eventually headwrite Days and AMC. Also, did you get the sense that the LA earthquake really did a number on Reilly. I think he was afraid to come back west, he made the joke about his dog but I think he was talking about himself and then he stopped Marlene from house hunting for him.

After reading the new Passions book that dropped, I find it interesting that Dana Sparks initially auditioned for Ivy, and when she didn't get it she practically begged them for another role and eventually got Grace. James Hyde auditioned for Hank at first and was called back for Sam. I think by now everyone knows McKenzie Westmore originally auditioned for Gwen but i find it interesting how she went and got a boob job at 19 with her mothers approval, for the part and then ended up getting cast older as Sheridan. Also Chrystee Pharris originally auditioned for Whitney.

Just finished reading the book, honestly this book told me a lot about James E. Reilly. @Toups would likely find this a good read. Alot of good details about Passions including how Reilly almost called it quits and Marlene McPherson and Darrel Ray Thomas almost took over, how no one realized Ben Masters had dementia until he suddenly disappeared and everyone was asking where he is. Tracey Ross loved herself some Ben Masters, the way she talks about him makes his passing hurt even more. The lack of respect the soap industry showed the show, even evident by the soap blogs not even covering this books release says a lot. Honestly, as a Passions fan i have a new found respect for the show even more reading how they pulled this off. I think the book is a good read not just for fans of the show but soap fans in general. NBC gave Jim hella power after that Days stint, overall its a good read.

This was so well done, was thinking of this earlier today.

was looking up details about Hidden Passions on Amazaon and stubbled across this...

LMAO, I was just sitting here thinking how much I liked it, especially the messaging given what shes been through. I'm enjoying Haylee's recent developments but I still need to know what was up with the pregnancy and her connection to Randy, I'm so confused by her.

Agreed, he's my favorite. I also liked Phideaux Xavier's directing today, specifically the shots with Bill and Dani on the stairwell.

I'm so happy to have BTG back! Since I dont currently watch the other soaps it was a long week without them. I agree with whoever said OG Ted was back with the backbone, seeing him stand up to Leslie today and then Nicole inviting him to go to the hospital together made me smile. Especially since I was pissed with Ted last week for offering up the house, well played.

YES! lmao I also didn't like Fancy with Luis, she was better paired with Noah in my opinion.

I can't wait for the day we meet Ruwina and all the dirt she probably has on the Duprees or drama in her own family.

That was around the same time they kept appearing on VH1's Best Week Ever and when they got 2 covers for TV Guide Magaine. Definitley the best years of the show. Yes, Donn Swabby was the better Chad to me, although Charles Divins did eventually grow on me. I would love to peek inside the original bible for this show because it definitley got darker. Up until shortly after Josh Ryan Evans passed away, the show felt more in sync. Then it got dark... some of it I enjoyed like Sheridan in the pit and the whole Beth and Charlie thing, but once Jessica was being pimped out, the blackmailer half man/half woman storyline, etc. it felt like a different show almost like it had forgot what it was.

I thought both Liza and Natalie were good in the role. Natalie made Gwen more likeable in my opinion and I wouldn't have minded her Gwen and Ryan McPartlin's Hank together. Ryan's Hank was pretty to look at, but him replacing Dalton James might as well had been another character. I'll never forget when Liza returned to the role on her first day back and blamed Theresa for why Ethan was stuck in the elevator, I was like there goes our "villain" version of Gwen and she hopped right into it. I hear you on Josh Ryan Evans, he was definitiley irreplaceable. To be honest, the show got "lucky," for lack of a better word, that the storyline played on screen the way it did to explain everything. Not sure if you know, but the original intenet was for him to die on screen as a real boy and be resurrected later that year as a doll again. I didn't mind Endora, but what would you have preferred for Tabitha's projectory? I'm only 2 years younger than you, I was 9 when the show premiered.

Did anyone else spot that fly buzzing around Vanessa and Vernon in Orphey Genes after she walked in, I hate flys lol. I can only imagine how TMG wouldve improvised had it buzzed around her, especially the other day when she was enjoying her toast haha

What a great episode, Jazmen is killing it with his scripts, my fav. Brandon and Mike were not only great together today but the chemistry between Mike and Jibre was just as good. Such a fire week so far, and it seems like it's only heating up.