Passions

[LostinHarmony]

For a show so bad, what do you think kept it around for 8 years on NBC and then a pickup for its 9th season on DirecTV? Why didn’t they can this bad show sooner, especially for the way people dragged PSNS, people had it made up in their minds after day 1 and the first few weeks it was “trash,” how’d it survive? Surely being owned by NBC can only get you so far. PSNS had a loyal fan base and cult following, but the overall audience wasn’t big so I’m just curious how a show deemed so bad by the soap audience could last nearly a decade?

[Vee]

Daytime programming ennui and a misplaced and expensive loyalty to Jim Reilly, who NBC adored in the 90s and early 2000s.

[Khan]

 

NBCU/Comcast is probably still paying off Reilly (or his estate) for his last contract with the network.

Edited January 12, 2019 by Khan

[Soaplovers]

I've always wondered if the show could have been salvaged with a change of writers?  Sometimes the creator isny always 5he best person to run a show.

[Khan]

Perhaps.  OTOH, even Irna Phillips might have had difficulties writing for many of PASSIONS' so-called actors.

[Vee]

Passions on paper, as a story bible, had many of the building blocks of classic soap: Its characters, families, future twists (Ethan being a Bennett, etc). The problem is JER never had any interest in decent writing or talented performers. He was a deeply screwed up Catholic with both prudish and perverse impulses re: sex, women, and anything 21st century and giving him his own show was never going to end well.

[Soaplovers]

Irna would have charity rhomer'd them.

[Mitch]

The best description of poor JER.

 

[Vee]

That's the brief and polite version.

[LostinHarmony]

Had the show got a 10th year I can’t imagine anyone headwriting the show except perhaps Ron Carlivati.

 

However, I would imagine Marlene Clark Poulter and Darrell Ray Thomas would have been promoted instead of moving to DAYS.

[pdm1974]

I feel year 9 just got so wacky and out of hand I'm not sure anyone could turn that ship around.

 

Passions did have some of my favorite dialogue of all time though...

Grace- "I haven't had thing to wear since the house got sucked into hell!"

 

Some of the actors should have gotten awards just for keeping straight faces.

[LostinHarmony]

Haha, yes @pdm1974, PSNS often made the classic lines section of SOD

Edited February 17, 2019 by Riverdalefan1

[amybrickwallace]

 

That's a major understatement. Then again, the grossest stuff of year nine was on DirecTV. I don't think some of it would have gotten past standards and practices...had NBC still had any at the time. 

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Edited February 17, 2019 by amybrickwallace

[LostinHarmony]

Like other soaps, Passions had its fare share of celebrity fans from Julia Roberts who got Emma Roberts hooked on it, to Lin-Manuel Miranda and so many others.

 

Well Angie Thomas, the author of ‘The Hate U Give’ and ‘On the Come Up’ is also a huge fan and got a surprise visit from some of the cast members today at her LA book signing at Barnes & Noble...

 

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And here’s VIDEO of the tearful moment she sees them...

https://mobile.twitter.com/angiecthomas/status/1096975356349665280

 

Edited February 17, 2019 by Riverdalefan1

[amybrickwallace]

They all look great. Has it really been 20 years???