John Oliver is heading to the soap opera screen.
The “Last Week Tonight” host revealed Sunday that he was scheduled to appear on both “Days of Our Lives” and “General Hospital.”
The 49-year-old said the latter was “everything[he]wanted it to be” in a statement to Variety over the weekend.
“It’s a real honor to be able to leave a small stain on the history of this illustrious show,” he told the outlet, adding that “Days of Our Lives” was also a “huge honor.”
“I’m glad we’ve already recorded a week’s worth of episodes,” Oliver said. “It has been home to some of the most famous soap opera actors, including Deirdre Hall, Susan Seaforth Hayes, and John Aniston. It has also hosted guest appearances by legends such as Dick Van Dyke, Betty White, and now myself.”
The comedian, who has been a late-night host since April 2014, clarified that “acting on a soap opera is not (his) plan B.”
He explained: “I just offered my hypothetical acting skills to any soap that met my criteria: I wanted to play characters with ridiculous names, I wanted exciting storylines like murders and slaps, and I wanted dramatic close-ups of my face.”
Oliver learned of Stephen A. Smith’s recurring role as Brick on General Hospital and put his hat in the ring during a March episode of the HBO show.
“To all the melodramas out there, let me say this: I officially dedicate myself to you,” he announced. “Write me a role and I’ll be on set in a dizzying moment.”
Smith, 58, then asked Oliver via Instagram if he was “ready to commit”.
An ESPN commentator said, “This is serious, okay? You have to be willing to be the bad guy. … You can’t smile all the time.”
“You have to grimace, you have to be irritated, you have to have all those things,” he continued. “I welcome being hated.”
“General Hospital” executive producer Frank Valentini told Variety on Sunday that he “didn’t hesitate for a second” when Oliver publicly begged to be cast.
“He was everything you would expect: prepared, professional, funny, and really nice to everyone on set,” Valentini recalled.
“He plays an integral part of the story, and we can’t wait for fans to see who he meets within Port Charles.”
Oliver’s three episodes of “General Hospital” will air July 2, 3 and 6, and his “Days of Our Lives” debut will air Aug. 11, 12 and 14.
