Not Quite OT: Passions Creator James E. Reilly Dies at 60

[David]

 

James E. Reilly, who created produced and wrote the recently cancelled Passions (1999-2008) has died of heart disease at age 60.

In 1995, long time soap scribe Reilly made headlines when he wrote a demonic posession story into the staid, traditional sudser Days of Our Lives.
Days' ratings soared, & NBC gave Reilly a blank check to create Passions.

Passions, a Dark Shadows/Bewitched hybrid, was a strange show indeed.
Though never a ratings winner, it had quite a cult following.
Passions was silly and often senseless, but you could see Reilly's deep love of classic horror & retro TV in his goofy scripts.

In 2001, Passions used DS music cues.
Later it was revealed that Tabitha (Juliet Mills), Passions' 300 year old witch, once dated Barnabas Collins!

Reilly lived in Upstate New York & reportedly never visited the Passions set or met the cast.
He was a true original.

I watched Passions entire run~~it was an absurd show, but a fun thrill ride!!

Thanks, James.
RIP

David