second act

After Having "A Lot Of Fun" The First Time Around, Y&R's Peter Bergman and Susan Walters Are Reveling In Their Next Chapter

- Devin Owens

Soap Opera Digest: During Susan's first stint on the show, Diane was laser-focused on splitting up Jack and Phyllis. What stands out to you most about that era? Peter Bergman: It was a lot of fun.

Susan Walters: Yeah, there was a lot of funny stuff that went on.

Bergman: We had a lot of laughs, it was crazy.

Walters: I just remember there was a lot of laughter behind the scenes, but now we seem to be moving at such a pace all the time that we don't get to laugh a lot.

Peter, do you remember when Diane finally seduces Jack, but I have this cast on my leg from having put myself behind Phyllis's car, so I had to have crutches and a cast in a negligée? I remember thinking, "This is just hell," and we laughed so hard.

Bergman: This is as bad as it got, exactly: "Aren't I sexy bringing my crutches to bed with me?" They were crazy, fun times. They really were. Here's something I remember, we had one of those many celebrations that [Co-Creator/Former-Head Writer] Bill Bell threw at the Bel-Air Bay Club, and at one point, Susan and [her husband] Linden [Ashby, ex-Cameron et al], Michelle Stafford [Phyllis] and maybe Christian [J. LeBlanc, Michael] were at the table and I think Michelle said, "Oh, we got the best table in the whole place!" and I actually felt that to my core, that I was at the most fun table.

Walters: The "cool kids" table. I have no recollection of that night. I have no idea what was I wearing? Bergman: I don't know.

Walters: It was probably black. I'm looking forward to the 50th anniversary, black-tie event because we can have you and [your wife] Mariellen and Michelle and Christian and me and Linden at a table again. I mean that's what's so fun about this.