In honor of Peter's 20 years as Jack Abbott, we will feature an overview of Jack's rich history in Genoa City under Bergman's reign. We will look back on Jack Abbott's deeds, both naughty and nice, and finish up with an in-depth interview with three-time Emmy® winner Peter Bergman.

Here's the third of a five-part series:

Jack Abbott: 1999 - 2003

Victor won his divorce from Diane by agreeing to award her a seat on the board of Newman Enterprises. To celebrate his freedom, Victor surprised Nikki with a romantic getaway to a tropical isle. During his absence, Jack and Brad moved to seize control of the company. Nick sent a message to Victor suggesting he return home immediately. Thanks to Jack and Brad's trickery, the Newman jet was unavailable. Victor arranged a commercial flight for Nikki, while he boarded a small plane. But before the plane could reach the nearest airport, it crashed in the New Mexico Mountains. The pilot died and Victor was found unconscious by a stranger named Chet. He helped Victor recover from his wounds. But when Chet learned his patient's identity, he held him hostage. Chet explained that he was angry at Victor for the devastation he wrought by taking over his dad's small company. Back in Genoa City, Jack and Brad won enough board votes to be named the new CEOs of Newman Enterprises. Meanwhile, Chet's girlfriend, Ramona tried to help Victor win his freedom. When Chet discovered Ramona's betrayal, he held them both hostage. Eventually, Victor and Ramona were able to free themselves. But before they could completely escape from the remote mountain, Chet found them. In a fight, Chet fell to his death. Victor returned to Genoa City and struggled to reclaim his company. Jack agreed to step down as CEO, provided Victor return Jabot to the Abbotts. Victor agreed to sell the company back, but retained a promissory note on the company. With Jabot back in the hands of the Abbotts, Jack returned to Genoa City.

Jill was thrilled when Billy returned for a visit. But Billy resented his mother because she spent little time with him as a boy. When John returned to Genoa City, he tried to improve relations between mother and son. Unknown to Jill and John, Billy was developing a reliance on alcohol. When Billy's best friend, Raul, expressed interest in Mac, Billy suddenly saw her appeal. Jack found himself attracted to Phyllis Summers. They began a heated affair. Eventually, Jack ended his affair with Phyllis, she returned to New York City. Later, continuing his on-going attraction to women who are bad for him, Jack slept with Leanna Love.

Diane gave birth to a boy whom she named Christian Victor Newman. Victor insisted on a paternity test, which proved that he was not the infant's father. Victor told Diane to leave town lest he brought legal action against her. Diane was convinced that Nikki switched the sperm samples and confronted her about the truth. Diane and her baby moved to Italy, and Nikki (with Victoria's encouragement) confessed to Victor that she had indeed switched the samples. Victor berated Nikki, noting that her actions resulted in the creation of an unwanted child. A guilt-ridden Nikki did some investigating and discovered that Jack was the biological father. Nikki secretly traveled to Italy to apologize to Diane for her role in the sperm switch.

Over at the Abbott mansion, Ashley gave Brad her consent to adopt Abby. But the cozy little threesome was interrupted when Traci came to town with her and Brad's teen-age daughter, Colleen. Traci admitted that she and her husband, Steve, were having marital problems. Everyone decided it was in Colleen's best interests to stay in Genoa City while Traci returned to New York to salvage her marriage. Ashley found herself uncomfortable with Brad and Colleen's budding relationship. Later, when Traci announced that she and Steve had reconciled, Colleen (who by now was part of the Glow By Jabot crowd) didn't want to leave town. She ran away and wound up at the shelter, where Amanda (who was living there at the time) convinced Colleen to return to her family. Colleen went back to New York, but started acting out by smoking pot with her friends. John persuaded Traci to let Colleen live with him, and wasn't long before Colleen was once again in Genoa City.

Phyllis went after Jack like gangbusters, but got cold feet when he started talking marriage and children. Phyllis new how much Jack wanted to raise a child (he hadn't met his son Keemo until the latter was already an adult), but parenthood was a touchy subject for Phyllis, as it reminded her that she had been deemed unfit to rear her own child, Danny, by a court of law. Phyllis finally accepted Jack's proposal, and they made plans to throw an engagement party. But during the preparations Phyllis began to experience sharp abdominal pains and was eventually hospitalized. Phyllis underwent surgery for a tubular pregnancy; she recovered but was told she couldn't bear children. Phyllis wanted to call off the engagement, but Jack refused, insisting that he loved regardless of her inability to have kids. At the engagement party, Phyllis was all set to officially end their relationship, but a moving speech by Jack in front of the guests overwhelmed her. Once again Phyllis accepted Jack's proposal, and they wed in a lovely ceremony Dec. 26, 2001.

Phyllis suffered severe side effects from her fertility drugs, and had no choice but to discontinue the treatment. When Nikki learned of Phyllis's diagnosis, she confirmed to Jack that he was the biological father of Diane's son, Kyle. Diane and Phyllis soon learned the truth and, later, a custody battle ensued. Much to Jack's disappointment, Diane retained full custody of Kyle. Diane moved into the Abbotts' pool house so Jack could have access to Kyle. The arrangement, however, led to some nasty confrontations between Diane and Phyllis. At one point, Diane tried to fake an accident in the driveway in order to blame Phyllis. Unfortunately, Diane was really hurt when Phyllis accidentally ran over her leg; on the plus side for Diane, she was able to extend her stay at the Abbotts. One night, while Kyle was with Phyllis and Jack, a fire broke out in the poolhouse, and Diane barely escaped the inferno. After a police investigation, Phyllis was arrested for starting the blaze. Phyllis and Jack were convinced that Diane set Phyllis up, and set out to prove Phyllis's innocence. (The plan called for Phyllis and Jack to pretend to break up so Jack could romance Diane and get her to confess.) Despite Jack's best efforts, though, things looked pretty bleak till the proverbial eleventh hour, when Paul and Lynne arrived at Phyllis's trial with new evidence that cleared Phyllis.

Meanwhile, a pregnant Ashley had left town to rest. When she discovered Tuvia's poor sales she realized Victor must be behind it and she sped home to get answers. Ashley then had a terrible car accident and paramedics rushed her to the hospital where Brad and Jack blamed Victor for her accident. Olivia informed Brad that their baby boy, nearly full term, did not survive the crash. A bereaved Brad had to tell Ashley their baby died and Ashley grieved terribly.

A friendship between Damon and Phyllis begins to get hot when Damon happily fills in for Jack when he stands Phyllis up for dinner. Brad can see Damon is starting to have feelings for this redhead even though his mission was to get info from her that Jabot could use against the competition. Meanwhile, Damon and Victoria begin seeing each other much to Victor's dismay. Vanessa Lerner, an old colleague of Damon, comes to town and shares her breakthrough discovery that will revolutionize the cosmetic industry. Damon and Dru tell Jack about Vanessa's findings and Damon plans a trip to the Ryukyu Islands, off the coast of Japan, to find the rare Neofinitia orchid from which this product will be made. Dru wants in on the action: she moves her wedding to Neil to Japan. Damon, Vanessa, Phyllis and Jack attend the wedding Jack is still angry with Phyllis for keeping her knowledge of the bribery a secret. Damon and Vanessa set off to find the orchid. Lily struggles to find the perfect wedding present for her parents on their special day and decides to make Dru a bouquet. Damon and Vanessa react when they see the prized orchid in Dru's bridal bouquet. Phyllis catches the bouquet after the ceremony and realizes she might have something very special in her possession. When Phyllis agrees to give Jack the orchid to save their marriage, they reconcile on New Years Eve.

For more history on The Young and the Restless, check out the Y&R Forever site.

Coming up: Jack Abbott: 2004 - Present.

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