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Y&R’s Peter Bergman Reminds Us All Why He is One-of-a-Kind in Memorable Flashback-Driven 30th Anniversary Episode

Courtesy/CBS

Monday’s episode of The Young and the Restless featured the highly-touted and highly-anticipated 30th anniversary show for Peter Bergman.  For three decades, and with three Daytime Emmys for his work, Bergman has made Jack Abbott one of soap operas all-time classic characters.

And, if anybody needed a reminder, or a refresher course of just how good Peter Bergman has been in this role, you needed to look no further than the tremendous flashbacks the producers of the series pulled to punctuated Jack Abbott’s life story since Bergman’s arrival on the scene, replacing Terry Lester in the pivotal role.

Photo: CBS

What was great about this standalone episode, celebrating a milestone for one of their legacy cast members, was that it did not show the same ole’ same ole’ clips that often can be standard fare in soapland.  Instead, viewers were treated to some of the more heartbreaking moments for Jack, i.e. when he tells Nikki that their son who had died saved another child’s life, and that he got to hold the baby.  Then there was the gut-punch when Jack realizes Phyllis has been sleeping with none other than Nick Newman, and he feels the fool and that she played him.  There is the moment when Jack tells his dying father John, that he will look after the family now, and there is even boardroom corporate drama that back in the day was so exciting to see.  How great were Jess Walton and Bergman together back then as Jill and Jack? And then there is the rivalry of soap rivalries between Victor Newman and Jack Abbott played to the hilt by Eric Braeden and Bergman, respectively.

Watching Bergman’s work in flashbacks would be enough on its own. Now add to that the real-time mature version of Jack, who has realized his many failings and how he would do anything to be CEO of Jabot, including duping his sister, Ashley with the Blood-Abbott clause and more, and you’ve got soap gold.  You definitely needed some hankies for this episode, especially watching the reactions of Bergman acting mostly by himself when going in and out of the flashbacks.  We have often said, no male actor can cry quite like Peter Bergman, and move you to tears.  And in this episode, he did that several times over.

How fitting that Jack was sitting around with his siblings: Traci, Billy, and Ashley as well as his mother, Dina, his son, Kyle and his niece Abby, that brought the episode to its conclusion looking back at the life and times of the Abbott family through Traci’s manuscript that Jack helped write.

In the end, Jack celebrates what being an Abbott means, and remembers those who have passed, and looks forward to new members of the clan to come.

What were your thoughts on Peter Bergman’s Y&R 30th anniversary episode, his performance and those retro-clips? Let us know in the comment section below.   And for more on Bergman’s 30th anniversary make sure to read his interview with Michael Fairman TV here.

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Sometimes the standalones aren’t that great (Billy), but this was really nice. I enjoyed the flashbacks. Well done.

Loved it (I don’t usually care for standalone episodes) but Jack is my favourite character; and I am a huge Peter Bergman fan. I absolutely love him and I happen to believe he is the BEST actor on the show.

He’s such a class act, as well as being a very good actor. From his days as Cliff Warner to his past 30 years as Jack Abbott, Peter Bergman has consistently given us good performances, never phoning it in, always working with what was given him, elevating some bad writing at times just by being so good.
He’s one in a million.

Year in, year out, Peter Bergman is the BEST actor on daytime television.

Having been a more recent convert to Y&R, after AMC went off the air, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing some of the history of the show as well as Peter’s great acting. I also remember him lovingly as Cliff on AMC.

American Idol

AMERICAN IDOL: Was it Shady of Former Contestant Alyssa Raghu to Sneak in on Best Friend Julia Davos’ Audition and Score a Golden Ticket?

Show business is really cutthroat and it was fully on display on Sunday night’s latest episode of American Idol.  We’re not sure after the dust settled if we should be more upset with the judges: Lionel Richie, Luke Bryan and Katy Perry, or former contestant Alyssa Raghu.

But, here is what went down. 20-year-old Julia Davo, auditioned for the judges with a performance of David Bowie’s “Life on Mars?” She also had mentioned that she is best friends and roommates with former ‘Idol’ contestant Alyssa Raghu.

The judges felt Davo needed more work, and should come back and audition again, once she has honed in on her vocals a bit more while allowing for her voice to grow. However, when the judges gave their verdict, Raghu was now in the audition room.  They told Raghu, “When she’s absolutely ready in your eyes, bring her back to us.”

Photo: ABC

It was at the point, there was a swerve by Raghu when she addressed the judges, “I know you said that my voice was going to grow until it was 21. You said that when I was, like, 15. Just for giggles, I’d love to sing you something.”

At the point, Katy Perry gave her the OK to sing. But, while viewers initially thought at home, that she may just be singing for the judges to prove that she has become a better singer, she was actually angling to get in the competition, once again.

Photo: ABC

“I think this was a really weird plot twist,” Perry confessed after Raghu’s performance of Mariah Carey’s “My All.” Katy added,“I think you could go in. Do I think you could win it? No, personally. If you were going to go to Idol one more time, I want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you could win.” So with that, Katy gave Raghu a “no.”  However, Luke and Lionel were being generous and gave her two votes as “yes.” Therefore, Raghu received a golden ticket right in front of her friend who received a “no.”

Davo tried her best to say how happy she was that Raghu is receiving another chance, because as she said, “She deserves this.” But in the end, it was awkward and uncomfortable to watch.

Alyssa’s previous journey on Idol went something like this: She made it to the Top 50 of Season 16 but was eliminated by the end of Hollywood Week. She returned for Season 17, making it all the way to the Top 8.

Watch the auditions of Davo and Raghu below.

Now let us know, do you think Raghu should have auditioned after her friend did not receive a golden ticket? Should the judges have allowed Alyssa to sing and then vote to put her in the competition for the third time? Weigh-in via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Jason Explains Part of Where He Has Been; What Do You Think Will be Revealed as the Rest of the Story?

GH fans received a part of the backstory of just where Jason (Steve Burton) has been for the last two plus years on the Thursday, March 16th episode of the ABC daytime drama series.

In story, as Jason (Steve Burton) is hiding out at the Quartermaine boat house, Michael (Chad Duell) brings him a change of clothes and when Jason lifts up his sweatshirt, and is in then in only a tank-top, his arm is exposed showing his tattoo. Michael is shocked to see that on Jason (in real life, Burton now has that tattoo).

When Michael questions Jason as to where he has been for over two years after the tunnel collapsed on him, Jason explains. He tells Michael he found his way out of the tunnel. However, on his way out there were two gunmen waiting fo him who kidnapped him and he was taken prisoner.

Courtesy/ABC

Next, Jason shares he was flown out of Greece and ended up in a windowless room. He reveals a man wanted him to do a job and had leverage on him to force him to agree to take it.  When Michael asks Jason what exactly was the job, he says he’s been working as a private military contractor, i.e., a mercenary.

On the night of Dante’s (Dominic Zamprogna) shooting, Jason explains he made his way to Port Charles and was working with the other shooter, Hamish. However, he was unaware that the target was Sonny (Maurice Benard).  When Jason realized what was up, he made sure Hamish missed his shot. Michael inquires if Jason would have even come back to Port Charles if Sonny wasn’t the target.

At that point, Jason shared that the job he was given isn’t done, and if he doesn’t finish it, bad things will happen. At the end of the episode, Jason is having a flashback where it’s revealed he is in custody at Quantico and it’s John “Jagger” Cates (Adam J. Harrington) from the FBI who is holding him there. John tells Jason he has a recording proving RICO violations that will carrying a twenty-year sentence. We fade to black.

So, what do you think is really going on here? Jason looks to be working with John Cates and the FBI as part of a deal to bring someone to justice to get out of a 20-year sentence for RICO violations. But, who is the man that Jason and potentially John want to bring down? What did you think of the backstory of Jason’s two-year disappearance thus far? Share your thoughts in the comment section, But first, check out the key scenes from yesterday’s GH below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Carly and Jason’s Emotional Reunion Is Cut Short When John and Anna Arrive on the Scene

If you watch daytime drama and General Hospital you know that there is an unique bond and deep love between the characters of Carly Spencer and Jason Morgan. You also know that when Laura Wright (Carly) and Steve Burton (Jason) get together in scenes with high stakes and high drama, they deliver in spectacular fashion.

On today’s, Friday, March 8th episode of the ABC daytime drama series, Carly is in for quite the shock when her beloved Jason is standing right there in the dark and in her living room. For two years, Carly has grieved Jason’s ‘death’, only for him to be right before her.

With tears in his eyes, and just saying “Carly”, it stops her dead in her tracks.  She runs towards Jason and they share an emotional reunion. You came back,” Carly cries. Jason says he is sorry it took so long to contact her. Problem is, Jason has been shot and is bleeding out and needs her help. Jason obviously had no where to go, and is only letting himself truly be known to Carly, because he can trust her with his life and vice-versa.

Photo: ABC

Carly goes to get a first-aid kit, and tells Jason to promise he won’t leave. He promises. But as he sits down on the couch, he is in bad shape. Carly returns as they clean the bullet wound area. Still in shock, Carly says, “How can you be here?”

Things get very touching when Carly tells Jason she wishes she could call her mom for help. Jason tells her not to call Bobbie. Just then, Carly says she can’t because her mother died. Jason goes, “Bobbie died?” As soon as the two were going to talk about it, there is pounding noises at Carly’s front door. It’s John (Adam J. Harrington) and Anna (Finola Hughes). Jason hides.

Photo: JPI

Anna asks Carly if they can come in. They show her the screen capture of Jason on the roof. Carly plays it very convincingly asking FBI agent Cates and Anna if this image of Jason is real.  Anna confirms Jason is alive and they need to search her house. Carly firmly tells them they cannot search the house, but they tell her they have a warrant and don’t have to have her permission.  Jason listens in from the staircase. We fade to black.

Photo: ABC

So, what did you think of the reunion scenes thus far between Carly and Jason and the performances of Laura Wright and Steve Burton? Share your thoughts via the comment section below. But first, check out the moment Carly and Jason saw each for the first time in two years.

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Peter Reckell returns for a second visit with Michael Fairman following the wrap-up of his recent run as Bo Brady on Days of our Lives.Leave A Comment

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