Jack Abbott is a fictional character from the American CBS soap opera
The Young and the Restless. The character was first introduced in 1980
being portrayed by Terry Lester. Lester departed from the series in
1989 and was replaced by Peter Bergman shortly thereafter. Bergman
relocated to California for the role after he successfully auditioned
for the part. His first episode aired on November 27, 1989. Jack is
known for his longstanding feud with the Newman family patriarch,
Victor Newman as well as his romances with Nikki Newman, Phyllis
Summers and Sharon Newman. Jack has represented the Abbott family as
the patriarch since the 2006 passing of his father, John Abbott.The
role of Jack Abbott was first written into the series on July 22,
1980, being portrayed by Terry Lester. In May 1985, it was announced
that Lester would be leaving the role; he stated that it was because
of a CBS film (Blade) he starred in which could have possibly become a
series: "I wanted to work something out. I've enjoyed being with the
show. However, I was concerned about the possibility of Blade being
picked up as a series and being tied to The Young and the Restless."
However, he ended up staying. Brett Porter briefly portrayed the role
in 1986. The writers picked up on Lester having "played with Jack's
dialogue" according to his intuitions. In 1989, Lester quit out of
anger, as he felt that Jack was being "squeezed" out of the storyline,
and was upset that Lauralee Bell's character Christine Blair was moved
to the forefront of several storylines. Lester made his last
appearance on September 1, 1989. The producers immediately began
exploring recast options. At the time, Bergman, who had rose to super
stardom as Dr. Cliff Warner on All My Children, had recently been
fired. Bergman's firing made headlines, and Melody Thomas Scott, who
portrays Nikki Newman, suggested Bergman as Jack to her husband and
former executive producer Edward J. Scott when she read of the news in
Soap Opera Digest. Bergman revealed that the producers had contacted
his agent and asked about his height; he initially thought it was a
joke. They then inquired about Bergman's feelings about replacing
someone, and he was hesitant to take the role. He stated in 2009: "I
was on All My Children and replacing someone was sheer death, and it
never worked on All My Children." When the producers called him again,
he decided it "couldn't hurt" to audition. Scott arranged for Bergman
to come to California and audition with Jerry Douglas and Jess Walton,
who portrayed John and Jill Abbott respectively. After a successful
audition, Bergman was offered the part. Bergman reluctantly relocated
to California after accepting the part. He made his debut on November
27, 1989. Other actors were considered for the role, including Jon
Lindstrom, who screen tested for William J. Bell, which was later
broadcast on an episode of 48 Hours.In 1997, Bergman appeared as Jack
on an episode of the popular CBS series The Nanny entitled "The
Heather Biblow Story". In the episode, he shared an onscreen kiss with
fellow guest star Pamela Anderson. Bergman also guest starred as Jack
on another of the network's comedy series' The King of Queens; he
appeared in the episode "Inner Tube" along with fellow cast members
Melody Thomas Scott and Scott Reeves (who portrayed Ryan McNeil). In
2006, Bergman stated: "I love what I do! I get a new script every day,
and I can't wait to find out what happens next. I've been doing this
for 18 years, and I still can't wait to see what Jack has in store for
us next."While he was in the role, Lester stated that Jack was a
villain, but not entirely: "I think Jack has changed in the past four
years, although there's a tendency to make him the same old circus
villain he was in the beginning. Happily the producers, the writers
and myself were able to keep Jack progressing - never a wonderful
person, but not nasty just to be nasty." Of the character, Bergman
stated that: "Jack goes from tender, loving scenes at the beginning of
an episode with Nikki, where he's so pathetic and loving and sincere,
to taking someone's head off by Act 5. Jack is mercurial that way. He
can be in a perfectly good mood and you scuff his shoe and he wants to
kill you. I don't have any problems supporting that with real
emotions."
The Young and the Restless. The character was first introduced in 1980
being portrayed by Terry Lester. Lester departed from the series in
1989 and was replaced by Peter Bergman shortly thereafter. Bergman
relocated to California for the role after he successfully auditioned
for the part. His first episode aired on November 27, 1989. Jack is
known for his longstanding feud with the Newman family patriarch,
Victor Newman as well as his romances with Nikki Newman, Phyllis
Summers and Sharon Newman. Jack has represented the Abbott family as
the patriarch since the 2006 passing of his father, John Abbott.The
role of Jack Abbott was first written into the series on July 22,
1980, being portrayed by Terry Lester. In May 1985, it was announced
that Lester would be leaving the role; he stated that it was because
of a CBS film (Blade) he starred in which could have possibly become a
series: "I wanted to work something out. I've enjoyed being with the
show. However, I was concerned about the possibility of Blade being
picked up as a series and being tied to The Young and the Restless."
However, he ended up staying. Brett Porter briefly portrayed the role
in 1986. The writers picked up on Lester having "played with Jack's
dialogue" according to his intuitions. In 1989, Lester quit out of
anger, as he felt that Jack was being "squeezed" out of the storyline,
and was upset that Lauralee Bell's character Christine Blair was moved
to the forefront of several storylines. Lester made his last
appearance on September 1, 1989. The producers immediately began
exploring recast options. At the time, Bergman, who had rose to super
stardom as Dr. Cliff Warner on All My Children, had recently been
fired. Bergman's firing made headlines, and Melody Thomas Scott, who
portrays Nikki Newman, suggested Bergman as Jack to her husband and
former executive producer Edward J. Scott when she read of the news in
Soap Opera Digest. Bergman revealed that the producers had contacted
his agent and asked about his height; he initially thought it was a
joke. They then inquired about Bergman's feelings about replacing
someone, and he was hesitant to take the role. He stated in 2009: "I
was on All My Children and replacing someone was sheer death, and it
never worked on All My Children." When the producers called him again,
he decided it "couldn't hurt" to audition. Scott arranged for Bergman
to come to California and audition with Jerry Douglas and Jess Walton,
who portrayed John and Jill Abbott respectively. After a successful
audition, Bergman was offered the part. Bergman reluctantly relocated
to California after accepting the part. He made his debut on November
27, 1989. Other actors were considered for the role, including Jon
Lindstrom, who screen tested for William J. Bell, which was later
broadcast on an episode of 48 Hours.In 1997, Bergman appeared as Jack
on an episode of the popular CBS series The Nanny entitled "The
Heather Biblow Story". In the episode, he shared an onscreen kiss with
fellow guest star Pamela Anderson. Bergman also guest starred as Jack
on another of the network's comedy series' The King of Queens; he
appeared in the episode "Inner Tube" along with fellow cast members
Melody Thomas Scott and Scott Reeves (who portrayed Ryan McNeil). In
2006, Bergman stated: "I love what I do! I get a new script every day,
and I can't wait to find out what happens next. I've been doing this
for 18 years, and I still can't wait to see what Jack has in store for
us next."While he was in the role, Lester stated that Jack was a
villain, but not entirely: "I think Jack has changed in the past four
years, although there's a tendency to make him the same old circus
villain he was in the beginning. Happily the producers, the writers
and myself were able to keep Jack progressing - never a wonderful
person, but not nasty just to be nasty." Of the character, Bergman
stated that: "Jack goes from tender, loving scenes at the beginning of
an episode with Nikki, where he's so pathetic and loving and sincere,
to taking someone's head off by Act 5. Jack is mercurial that way. He
can be in a perfectly good mood and you scuff his shoe and he wants to
kill you. I don't have any problems supporting that with real
emotions."
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