Passanante Joins ‘OLTL’ Writing Staff

Photo: PGP

Friday, April 2, 2010 11:00 PM ET | By Scotty Gore

(SoapOperaNetwork.com) — “As the World Turns” Head Writer Jean Passanante returns to her Llanview roots. 

Soap Opera Network‘s Xavier Toups broke the news that the scribe would soon be re-joining the “One Life to Live” writing staff earlier this week.  Now SOAPnet.com is confirming the report.  Passanante is expected to make the move from Oakdale to Llanview sometime later this year when the recently cancelled “ATWT” wraps production this summer. 

Head Writer of “As the World Turns” since 2005 (and Co-Head Writer from 2001 to 2005 and 2009-10), Passanante got her start in daytime as an associate head writer on “One Life to Live” in 1993.  She remained at the soap for the next five years (including a stint as Co-Head Writer with Peggy Sloane from 1996-97).  After leaving “OLTL,” she became the Co-Head Writer of “Another World” from 1998-99.  Then she moved to “All My Children,” and served as Co-Head Writer (and later briefly as sole Head Writer) from 1999-2001, before ending up on “As the World Turns.”

As a member of the writing teams of four different soaps in the past two decades, Passanante and her fellow scribes have been nominated for several Daytime Emmy and WGA Awards (several of which they one) over the years.     

During her previous stint on “OLTL,” Passanante worked alongside current Head Writer Ron Carlivati, who was a writer’s assitant on the soap from 1996-98 before being elevated to Script Writer.  Passanante will serve as an Associate Head Writer, however, Carlivati is expected to retain his current position. 

“One Life to Live” airs Weekdays on ABC. Weeknights on SOAPnet. Anytime on ABC.com and SOAPnet.com. Check local listings.