John Oliver is heading to soap opera screens.
The “Last Week Tonight” host revealed on Sunday that he booked roles on both “Days of Our Lives” and “General Hospital.”
The 49-year-old called the latter “everything [he] hoped it would be” in a statement to Variety over the weekend.
“It’s a true honor to be a small stain on the history of this illustrious show,” he told the outlet, going on to call “Days of Our Lives” a “huge honor” as well.
“I am happy to say that I’ve already taped a week of episodes,” Oliver said. “It’s been home to some of the most renowned soap opera actors, like Deidre Hall, Susan Seaforth Hayes and John Aniston. It’s also featured guest appearances from legends like Dick Van Dyke, Betty White and now me.”
The comedian, who has been a late-night host since April 2014, clarified that “soap opera acting is not [his] Plan B.”
He explained, “I simply offered my hypothetical acting abilities to any soap that would meet my terms, which were: I wanted to play a character with a ridiculous name, I wanted a juicy storyline like murder or slapping and I wanted a dramatic close-up of my face.”
Oliver put his hat in the ring during a March episode of his HBO show after finding out about Stephen A. Smith’s recurring role on “General Hospital” as Brick.
“To all the soap operas out there, let me say this: I am officially offering myself to you,” he announced. “Write me a role, and I’ll be on your set so fast, it’ll make your head spin.”
Smith, 58, subsequently asked Oliver via Instagram whether he was “ready to commit.”
The ESPN commentator said, “This is serious, OK? You’ve gotta be willing to be that bad guy. … Can’t have the smile on your face all the time.
“You’ve gotta wear that scowl, you’ve gotta be irritating, you’ve gotta be all of those things,” he continued. “You’ve gotta welcome being disliked.”
“General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini “didn’t hesitate for a second” when he saw Oliver’s public plea for a role, he told Variety on Sunday.
“He was everything you’d hope he’d be: prepared, professional, funny and genuinely kind to everyone on set,” Valentini recalled.
“He plays an integral character in the story, and I can’t wait for fans to see who he crosses paths within Port Charles.”
Oliver’s three “General Hospital” episodes will air July 2, 3 and 6, with his “Days of Our Lives” debut, meanwhile, taking place on August 11, 12 and 14.
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