Peter Bergman as Jack on 'Y&R' |
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone more passionate, well versed, and talented in daytime television than Peter Bergman (Jack, The Young and the Restless).
In fact, the press considers him soap opera royalty, but unfortunately, they don’t make actors like him anymore. Nominated for his umpteenth Emmy on daytime’s No. 1 show (he earned his first nod in 1983 for his hugely popular breakout role as Cliff Warner on All My Children), Bergman delivered one sensational performance after another.
His character, Jack Abbott, dealt with the death of his father, John, the loss of his company, Jabot, and suffered the news of Phyllis’s affair with a married man.
Having won the best actor Emmy three times — fair and square, may we add, in 1991, 1992 and 2002 — Bergman tells us he’s just happy to be back in the race with award-worthy material after languishing on the backburner for a few years.
We’re keeping this intro short because you’re going to absolutely love reading what one of our favourite actors has to say about the wacky world of daytime. It’s very much ado about everything!
TV Guide: Congrats on your one millionth Emmy nomination — does it ever get old?
Peter Bergman: Thank you. No, it doesn’t. It’s especially nice this year, since I had taken my name out of the running for the last couple of years.
TVG: I always respected you for that decision. If you don’t have the material to win, why would you want to be nominated?
PB: Exactly. Alas, that had happened for the last couple of years I was recognized and that was my fault. To be honest, I was embarrassed to be sitting there with a nomination without the work to justify it or support it. After I last won in 2002, I promised myself I would never do that again. And now, here we are again — competing! If anyone has a better Emmy reel than me this year, then they deserve it because mine is really good.
TVG: Would you ever consider throwing your name into the supporting actor race if you weren’t front and centre next time?
PB: I can’t imagine doing that because it’s a funny line to walk. There is a mindset in daytime that if you are a lead actor, you increase your chances at winning in supporting, but it’s a dangerous game to play because it blurs every category and interferes in due process. I think we need to define what makes an actor lead or supporting.
TVG: I agree. I wish the Emmys would allow the press to be involved somehow because we watch every soap and don’t have any allegiances to any specific show.
PB: I do too! You guys are actually watching all these shows. It’s your job!
TVG: What did you think of Victoria Rowell [ex-Drucilla, Y&R] lambasting the Emmy system in Soaps in Depth, calling it ‘contaminated,’ and daytime ‘racist’ because she failed to be recognized by her cast?
PB: I look at her with compassion and concern. I don’t think she’s playing with a full deck.
TVG: And the work being judged began in January 2006. When the Emmys air, we’re already into half a year of eligibility for next year’s Emmys!
PB: Exactly. It’s a flawed system, which was born from another flawed system. We haven’t perfected it yet. Another weird thing: I got my pre-nomination on either the 16th or 18th of January. When the Emmys air on June 15, it will be half a year this process has been going on! I mean, come on! There is so much about it that’s maddening, especially with the pre-nominations. For Victoria Rowell, I don’t even know what to say about her because she’s not grounded in reality, however, the system does amount to a popularity contest. You’ve heard all the rumours of who is reviled on their soaps, and that ultimately costs them a nomination even if they had the goldest of golden years.
TVG: I love speaking to you because you really understand how this kooky system works — and you know your soaps, not just Y&R.
PB: [Laughs.] I’m one of the three people in soaps who actually watches all of daytime.
TVG: Let’s talk about Y&R these days — there’s been a lot of backstage upheaval, but you finally got a front-burner storyline!
PB: It’s a double-edge sword, but I agree, I’m having a stunning year in terms of story. But at what cost? I’ve lost my entire family, the woman of my dreams, my job at Jabot, and basically he has no real connection with any of the characters. It’s perilous stuff; it’s both great and disconcerting. Having said that, I do think the show is better especially with in its pace, and slightly more sophisticated. Remember when our show used to begin with that downstage flower piece, and slowly open up with Jack looking out a window? We don’t do that anymore!
TVG: Do you consider Jack Abbott the role you were meant to play — if your predecessor Terry Lester hadn’t gone off the deep end — because many still have a fond place in their hearts of you as AMC’s Cliff.
PB: It’s funny — after being fired from AMC, I was walking in New York and ran into Erika Slezak [Viki, OLTL] and told her I was going in to audition for Jack on Y&R. And God bless her, she responded, ‘You do realize, sweetheart, that you’re absolutely wrong for that role!’
TVG: That’s funny!
PB: She meant well, but I think I spent 18 years trying to prove her wrong.
TVG: To be fair, pundits weren’t sure if you could play a villain because you were soap’s all-American hero. In many ways, you’re the acting equivalent to Tom Hanks, but with more depth and range, because boy, did you prove us all wrong.
PB: [Laughs.] Jack is certainly more fun; but looking back now, he’s certainly a character I was meant to play. Cliff Warner, though, sits lovingly in my heart and if that was all there was I would have been content.
TVG: Does it seem like a lifetime ago that you were on AMC?
PB: Yes, until I see or talk to James Mitchell [Palmer, AMC] — and then it feels like I left a year and a half ago.
TVG: Have any story ideas or wishes for Mr. Abbott in the future?
PB: I do. Listen, I don’t need Jack to win every time he’s at war with Victor Newman, but I want the audience to wonder who’s going to win, and clearly we’ve lost that over the past few years. It’s David and Goliath — and everyone sees it coming down Broadway, Victor will be victorious. It’s just not as interesting.
TVG: And finally, upon my suggestion, Ricky Paull Goldin [Gus, GL] concurred that it’s about time the lead actor nominees hold a luncheon before the Emmys just like the best actress nominees do each year. Thoughts?
PB: Women lunch, men don’t. Christian Le Blanc [Michael, Y&R] talked about this, but it’s very hard to arrange with all our schedules. At this point, they just need to know we love and respect all of them and I have stolen s*** from all of them. [Laughs.]
Published: Thursday, June 7, 2007