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 turn 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 became a reality when he made a cameo on General Hospital as “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 his acting skills.
“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 getting a slap from 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 daytime 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.”