John Oliver’s “Last Week Tonight” soap-opera pitch became real twice over: he will appear on ABC’s “General Hospital” and NBC’s “Days of Our Lives,” with taped episodes already set to air in July and August.
John Oliver didn’t just say he wanted to be on a soap opera—he offered himself up publicly, and less than four months later, two of them took him up on it.
On the June 28 episode of HBO’s “Last Week Tonight. ” the comedian revealed he has already taped a week of episodes of “Days of Our Lives. ” calling it a “huge honor.” Then he doubled down. Oliver told viewers he will also appear on ABC’s “General Hospital. ” adding that there’s something uniquely funny about showing up in two soap worlds at once.
The path to Port Charles started in March, when Oliver did a segment about how much he loves soap operas and joked he was “jealous” of Stephen A. Smith’s recurring role on “General Hospital” since 2016. Oliver responded with a mock-serious pitch to the entire genre.
“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,” Oliver said at the time. “Write me a role, and I will be on your set so fast, it will make your head spin.”
By June 28, the offer had crossed the line from joke to booking. Oliver said two separate soap operas accepted his invitation. For “Days of Our Lives. ” he showed a promotional photo and joked that “you can tell how much I visually don’t belong anywhere near” the other actor in the scene. He also shared a promotional image of his “General Hospital” character—wearing a suit with a serious expression—while standing alongside men with guns.
Oliver’s pitch didn’t come without conditions. During his original March remarks, he said he wanted a fictional character with a “ridiculous” name instead of appearing as himself, and he wanted to do something “juicy.”
He later said on “Last Week Tonight” that he “cannot wait for everyone to see what these two soaps have done,” and he was “so grateful” that both shows “played along with us.”
In a statement shared with Variety. “General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini said the production “didn’t hesitate for a second” when Oliver publicly said he wanted to appear on a soap. Valentini added that Oliver “plays an integral character in the story. ” and said he can’t wait for fans to see who Oliver’s character crosses paths with within Port Charles.
Oliver’s soap opera debut also fits into a longer record of screen work beyond late-night television. The “Daily Show” alum has a recurring role as Duncan on the NBC sitcom “Community,” and he voiced Zazu in the live-action version of “The Lion King.”
The schedule is already set. Oliver’s “General Hospital” episodes will air July 2, 3 and 6, and his “Days of Our Lives” episodes are scheduled for Aug. 11, 12 and 14.
John Oliver Last Week Tonight General Hospital Days of Our Lives HBO ABC NBC Frank Valentini Stephen A. Smith Port Charles television