"Passions" the Latest Soap Casualty

Although it hasn't been officially announced, rumor has it that "Passions" has been canceled. I feared as much when I recently learned that the show's contract was up. Last year, "Passions" agreed to some major budget cuts in order to stay on the air. (The soap has always ranked last in overall ratings against other daytime soaps.) What's a shame is that in recent months, the show has been at its best creatively (love the pairing of Luis and Fancy!) and the stories are moving along faster. (Theresa still pines after Ethan, but now she has Jared to keep her warm at night.)

So enjoy the next few months, because it will likely be the last for "Passions." NBC plans to add an extra hour of "The Today Show" to its lineup and needs the room, but that won't start until September, so hopefully we'll have "Passions" around for another eight months.

Stay tuned here for any updates. Hopefully I'll have some good news to report, like another network picking up the fledgling soap. Keep your fingers crossed!

We'll Miss You, Darlene

I'm sad to report that Darlene Conley, who played Sally Spectra on "The Bold and the Beautiful," has passed away. The news was shocking because she had just undergone surgery for stomach cancer, and her prognosis was good. She died on Jan. 14, 2007, and is survived by her son, Raymond Woodson; her ex-husband, Bill Woodson; her sisters Carol Fontana and Sharon Wilson; many nieces and nephews; her longtime friend and caretaker, Eva Hansen; and her manager of 24 years, Sandra Siegal.

She also leaves behind her CBS family. Darlene played the one-of-a-kind, brassy Sally Spectra on "B&B" from 1988-2006. Sally started out as the Forrester family's biggest rival, but later became their friend.

I'll be writing a tribute to Darlene in my Daytime Dial newspaper column. I hope I can do her justice.

SPOILERS! Week of Jan. 15th

AMC: Jonathan thinks he knows who is committing the murders in Pine Valley. Well, it takes one to know one.
ATWT: Carly says goodbye to Jack, Simon and Oakdale.
B&B: Alexandria's disapproval of Thorne and Taylor's relationship may be too much for the couple to bear.
Days: Steve goes on the hunt for EJ down in Mexico and has another brain attack.
GH: Monica has a warning for Dillon and Lulu. Do they know too much?
GL: Someone in Springfield will march down the aisle -- will they live happily ever after?
OLTL: When it comes to Nash, Jessica discovers she may have too much in common with Tess.
Passions: Kay and Miguel get hot and heavy at the ... playground?!
Y&R: JT's need for the truth is more than he bargained for.