'Passions' heads to DirecTV

Segments to begin airing this fall

By JOSEF ADALIANNBC is closing in on a deal that will keep sudser "Passions" alive via an unusual outlet: DirecTV.

In what would be its biggest-ever original programming initiative, satellite provider is set to acquire original episodes of the soap opera from NBC U TV Studio. Segs would likely begin airing this fall, after the sudser ends its run on NBC.

There will be some changes, however.

Instead of five days per week, "Passions" will air only four times per week. It's also expected the show's budget will be reduced further to accommodate the different business model.

Neither NBC nor DirecTV would comment, but insiders said a deal could be finalized by week's end. It's unclear how much DirecTV will pay NBC, but a typical sudser costs a little more than $1 million per week to produce for network TV.

DirecTV has been edging further into the original content business, airing several first-run skeins on what it calls the 101. It's unclear if the company will program "Passions" on that channel or use the sudser as part of a larger programming initiative.

Peacock said earlier this year that it was canceling "Passions" after an eight-year run on the net (Daily Variety, Jan. 15).

I lol when I read that....make that a long drawn out cancellation of what? 3 to 4 years? Even PC still managed to be more a soap on its worst day that Passions at its best.

And its not at all funny. Passions to me is the reason why people don't take soaps seriously anymore. I mean really how can you when you've got witches and the most idiotic crap on tv claiming to be a soap opera. Thats not what the genre was about. The ONLY positive thing I can say about this is that maybe Days will have a chance to get even better without it bringing it down. Plus I won't EVER have to see it on Cable TV again. This is simply life support. And as is usually the case the plug WILL get pulled. Perhaps sooner than later and maybe vice versa but I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't last past a year or 2.

And I can see Galen Gering going to Y&R. He'd definitely fit in very well there. Lindsay needs to abandon ship ASAP seeing as how she has so much potential. Is Jer still going to be the writer?

Considering that Lindsey said in a SOD interview a few weeks ago that she was going to try for another baby if Passions had continue on NBC for another year, it is obvious she likes working on the show.

"We care about this show and are extremely proud to give it an exclusive home here at DIRECTV."

I can't touch that! It's too easy!

I lol when I read that....make that a long drawn out cancellation of what? 3 to 4 years? Even PC still managed to be more a soap on its worst day that Passions at its best.

And its not at all funny. Passions to me is the reason why people don't take soaps seriously anymore. I mean really how can you when you've got witches and the most idiotic crap on tv claiming to be a soap opera. Thats not what the genre was about. The ONLY positive thing I can say about this is that maybe Days will have a chance to get even better without it bringing it down. Plus I won't EVER have to see it on Cable TV again. This is simply life support. And as is usually the case the plug WILL get pulled. Perhaps sooner than later and maybe vice versa but I wouldn't be surprised if this doesn't last past a year or 2.

And I can see Galen Gering going to Y&R. He'd definitely fit in very well there. Lindsay needs to abandon ship ASAP seeing as how she has so much potential. Is Jer still going to be the writer?

I don't agree that the witch and a few other things is the problem. Trassions being filth cannot be disputed, but Tabby and Timmy were a big attraction, and they were an integral part of what should have been a blossoming show. I loved them, and I also appreciated that it was only 1/4 of the show. Hell in the Closet was our 1st sign that Reilly should be on meds... That is when the show began to severely go downhill.

Tabby and Timmy were original and a welcomed changed. They matched perfectly with the rest of the show. Who knew that Reilly had no intention of taking the characters/stories anywhere? Innovative? Brilliant? I laugh at that! The man would not know drama and sunspense if he tripped over it...

Why so many fans abandoned the show is the question as opposed to why so many began watching.

The mere fact that each and every character has been destroyed for plot purposes, not one character has developed in the 8 years this show has been on the air, the "stories" have contined from July 1999 with no resolution in sight (even after being cancelled), the characters say the same thing day in and out, the woman are all self loathing and chasing a man, the men are too stupid to live, no one is really interesting, the characters only interact with their love interest and/or the character torturing them, no one is happy, the head nonwriter is obsessed with beastiality, nonconsensual sex, violence, degredation of women, a bunch of eunuchs, the copy paste thing Reilly has done for about 6 years...is PLENTY reason to not take this show seriously...

Reilly simply destroyed his own creation, and NBC was right to kick him out!

ANDREA

Considering that Lindsey said in a SOD interview a few weeks ago that she was going to try for another baby if Passions had continue on NBC for another year, it is obvious she likes working on the show.

It isn't obvious she likes working on the show with that statement. It shows she likes getting paid for not working on the show when she takes mat leave.

It isn't obvious she likes working on the show with that statement. It shows she likes getting paid for not working on the show when she takes mat leave.

LoL! So true.

The celebrated daytime drama, which currently averages 2 million viewers and enjoys an intensely dedicated fan base, will end its network run on NBC September 7 with a series of cliffhangers and will resurface on DIRECTV September 17, picking up where the series left off. The show will remain in its current time slot of 2 PM ET and DIRECTV will air encore marathons of the show each weekend. The majority of the cast and crew are expected to return when the one-hour series begins shooting the new DIRECTV episodes in August.

I knew we wouldn't get any closure on the network run front. I guess as happy as I am for those who have DirectTV or those who are willing switch, I'm still bitter. Prlly really won't missing anything anyway, nonetheless, it'll be interesting to see where this all goes- how the show looks, who stays/goes, etc.

It isn't obvious she likes working on the show with that statement. It shows she likes getting paid for not working on the show when she takes mat leave.

That is what I meat. She likes the pay and the benefits. She and the cast are also extremely close. I think she even has said Eva is like a second mother to her.

For those that don't have Direct TV, I'm sure the episodes will end up on YouTube eventually.

I don't know. YouTube is starting to get anal about copyrighted material. If people do upload episodes of Passions, then my advice is to grab them right away.

It isn't obvious she likes working on the show with that statement. It shows she likes getting paid for not working on the show when she takes mat leave.

I don't agree. That statement to me seems like she/they want to make sure there is a stable income in the home before they welcome another child into it. Justin is still doing pilots while Lindsay's income is steady.

That's what I got out of it...

ANDREA

It has taken me forever to respond to this absolutely amazing development for Passions, because I've been really busy with work. However, I'm beyond thrilled that its going to continue. I'm strongly considering a switch to DirectTV. I have a couple of months to figure out if that will be a beneficial move for me or if NBC will still show the same day episodes at NBC.com. Passions is a wacky, fun, endearing, addictive and entertaining show. I hope it prospers on DirectTV and becomes a pioneer for the soap opera genre. I'm looking forward to season 9.

Edited April 28, 200718 yr by skiman12082004

I don't agree that the witch and a few other things is the problem. Trassions being filth cannot be disputed, but Tabby and Timmy were a big attraction, and they were an integral part of what should have been a blossoming show. I loved them, and I also appreciated that it was only 1/4 of the show. Hell in the Closet was our 1st sign that Reilly should be on meds... That is when the show began to severely go downhill.

Tabby and Timmy were original and a welcomed changed. They matched perfectly with the rest of the show. Who knew that Reilly had no intention of taking the characters/stories anywhere? Innovative? Brilliant? I laugh at that! The man would not know drama and sunspense if he tripped over it...

Why so many fans abandoned the show is the question as opposed to why so many began watching.

The mere fact that each and every character has been destroyed for plot purposes, not one character has developed in the 8 years this show has been on the air, the "stories" have contined from July 1999 with no resolution in sight (even after being cancelled), the characters say the same thing day in and out, the woman are all self loathing and chasing a man, the men are too stupid to live, no one is really interesting, the characters only interact with their love interest and/or the character torturing them, no one is happy, the head nonwriter is obsessed with beastiality, nonconsensual sex, violence, degredation of women, a bunch of eunuchs, the copy paste thing Reilly has done for about 6 years...is PLENTY reason to not take this show seriously...

Reilly simply destroyed his own creation, and NBC was right to kick him out!

ANDREA

You're absolutely right about Timmy and Tabitha being original and a major part of what made Passions interesting to say the least. Right now Endora is probably the cutest thing I've ever seen on that show and I love watching her and Tabitha together which is kinda sad. I guess what I was trying to say was that them combined with all this out there stuff just ruined it for me. It went too far and it became so ridiculous.

Youtube is becoming the Devil. I hate that place nowadays. Sorta like I've grown to hate eBay also.

There are several non-Youtube sites that have full episodes of Passions now. It should not be hard to be able to watch the episodes after the switch.

After the transition, would anyone like to see the show have a new opening? I'm thinking pics of all the characters being shown, just like other daytime soaps have.

Edited April 29, 200718 yr by Vanguardian

If the decrease from 5 days to 4 days a week means that production costs are more than covered...will the actors still have to take pay cuts?

Does Channel 101 show many commercials? Perhaps there will be more Web site tie-ins