John Oliver to Guest Star on ABC’s General Hospital in Three Episodes

CNN's Kasie Hunt was tickled when discussing John Oliver's recent stint as a soap opera star on the long-running General Hospital. The post ‘What Was That?’ CNN Host Delighted By John Oliver’s General Hospital Role first appeared on Mediaite.

Most people know John Oliver as the Emmy-winning host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight. But lately, he’s been popping up somewhere viewers never expected: daytime soap operas. After recent stints on General Hospital and Days of Our Lives, fans are calling for the comedian to make the jump from Primetime Emmys to Daytime Emmys. Oliver’s stint as a soap actor began back in March when, while discussing soap opera celebrity cameos on Last Week Tonight, he volunteered his acting services to any showrunner that would take him. “I have a genuine love for soap operas,” the late-night show host said. “I want to be part of that world. So, to all the soap operas out there, let me say this: I am officially offering myself to you. Write me a role, and I will be on your set so fast it’ll make your head spin.” As part of his bid, he reenacted a scene from General Hospital and listed out a number of conditions for his participation. He explained he wished to play a character with a “ridiculous name”—not himself—and he wanted a juicy story arc which included something like “murder or slapping.” Almost four months after his initial request, Oliver’s dream has become a reality, with a recently aired cameo on General Hospital, where he plays “Z,” the director of a global spy agency—getting all of his requests met, down to the dramatic slap. But while the initial proposition might have seemed like one of Oliver’s signature comedic bits, he seems to have taken the job seriously, and social media users are taking notice of Oliver’s acting. “John needs to come back after a few months to cause chaos. He is a soap opera natural,” a user said on X, reacting to one of Oliver’s scenes. Another user on X added: “John Oliver, that daytime Emmy is YOURS.” Oliver’s performance featured him, in noticeably darker hair, stepping out of a helicopter, shooting people, delivering dramatic lines, and a slap by actress Laura Wright (who plays Carly Spencer) that most fans embraced. “He did a great job! And that soap opera trope of the face slap? Chef’s kiss!” a user commented on YouTube. While for many, this stunt might be their first introduction to Oliver beyond clips from Last Week Tonight, others are pointing to Oliver’s past acting credits. “If you’ve seen Community, you know how good John Oliver is at this kind of stuff. He’s great,” a user added on X. While Oliver’s stint as Z on General Hospital has (at least for now) come to an end, soap fans can expect to see the British American actor in another drama, with episodes featuring him slated soon for Days of Our Lives. For Oliver, joining the iconic franchises seems to be more than just a comedic bit. “It’s going to be great to, at the end of my life, say ‘Hey, remember that time I was on General Hospital?’” he said in a behind-the-scenes video. “It was pretty cool.”

Find out about John Oliver's dramatic new career choice!

Comedian John Oliver made a dramatic debut on the long-running ABC soap General Hospital this week, and the fan response has been remarkably unified. The HBO host’s surprise appearance left both his co-star and longtime viewers reaching for the same superlatives. John Oliver’s General Hospital role gets amazing reactions The Last Week Tonight star descended […] The post John Oliver’s Explosive General Hospital Role Has Costar & Fans Saying the Same Thing appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.

John Oliver sure knows how to make an entrance. In the final moments of Thursday’s “General Hospital,” the long-running ABC daytime soap opera set in Port Charles, New York, the HBO host — sporting a dark suit, jet black hair and flanked by armed guards — descends from a helicopter and surveys the aftermath of […]

The late-night host and ardent soap opera fan makes his first appearance Thursday on the iconic daytime drama