Soap opera legends and The Young and the Restless veterans Melody Thomas Scott (Nikki Newman) and Peter Bergman (Jack Abbott) were recent guests on The Social CTV, where they opened up about their decades-long careers on Y&R. During the chat, Bergman dropped a very interesting tidbit: Melody is the reason he became Jack Abbott.
How Peter Bergman Became Jack on Y&R
Bergman, who took over the role of Jack Abbott from Terry Lester, discussed the unique phenomenon of recasting in soap operas. He said he thinks it’s a “miracle” that audiences are willing to accept a new actor in such a long-established role. He also revealed that Scott was actually the one who suggested him for the job after seeing him on All My Children.
Scott chimed in to explain, “I was a huge All My Children fan, and I learned that they had let him go, and I thought they were insane.”
She continued, “My husband was producing the show at the time and I said, ‘This is your next Jack Abbott.’ Because we were desperately trying to find a replacement for Terry Lester and I just knew even though his character on All My Children was nothing like Jack Abbott, I just knew he could do such a great job and I was right.”
Of course, Bergman was quick to add, “I send her a thank you note every year.”
Scott, who joined The Young and the Restless back in 1979, is married to Edward J Scott. Over the years, he has served in several capacities, including senior producer, supervising producer, executive producer, and more.
Long Live the Show
She also credited the show’s longevity — now over 13,000 episodes — to its ongoing, never-ending storytelling and the deep emotional attachment fans have to the characters, who truly feel like family.
She also took a moment to reflect on Nikki’s evolution through the years — from a young, snotty girl from the wrong side of the tracks to a refined, polished woman after meeting Victor Newman, who she says sort of recreated her.
Both actors also touched on their characters’ iconic, on-again, off-again romance and their two marriages on the show.
Watch the full interview below!
Photo Credit: Francis Specker/CBS Broadcasting, Inc.
Key Takeaways
- Peter Bergman and Melody Thomas Scott discussed their careers on The Young and the Restless during an interview on The Social CTV.
- Bergman revealed that Scott recommended him for the role of Jack Abbott after watching him on All My Children.
- Scott credited the show’s success to the emotional connection fans have with the characters, describing them as family.
Follow Soap Opera News on Google News to stay up to date with all the latest news, spoilers, recaps, interviews, and more.
Leave a Reply