Emmy-winning comedian John Oliver is poised to enter the dramatic world of Port Charles, the fictional setting for the enduring ABC television soap opera, General Hospital.
The host of HBO‘s Last Week Tonight publicly expressed his desire for a daytime soap opera cameo on his show in March. He admitted to being envious of ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, who has portrayed mob boss aide Brick on General Hospital for a decade.
Now, producers of the ABC series have granted Oliver’s wish. He is slated to appear for three episodes as an undisclosed character, with his debut scheduled for this Thursday.
In a statement released on Sunday, Oliver quipped: “General Hospital was everything I hoped it would be. It’s a true honour to be a small stain on the history of this illustrious show.”
General Hospital first began airing 63 years ago and has a notable history of featuring unconventional stars, including rock musician Rick Springfield and Oscar-winning Elizabeth Taylor. The show continues to be broadcast on ABC and is available for streaming on Hulu.
Recalling his appeal from March, Oliver outlined his ideal role, stating he wanted to “do something juicy — like murder, or slapping, or being slapped, or being someone’s long lost something.”
He added: “And ideally, I’d like a dramatic close-up of my face,” vowing to “give my all to this performance.”
The 49-year-old, who was born in Birmingham, England is perhaps best known for his outspoken commentary on US politics. He has hosted Last Week Tonight since its inaugural episode in 2014.
The satirical news program is now in its 13th season and has won 32 Emmy Awards in that period.
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In contrast, General Hospital has been running for an incredible 64 years making it the longest-running scripted US drama and the longest-running US soap opera currently in production. The show has won a record 18 Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Daytime Drama and continues to air weekdays on ABC.