Over the summer, John Oliver has made a pair of unlikely cameos in popular soap operas. While this may seem like an unlikely career move for the comedian and television host, it is something that appears to have paid off – at least for the shows he appeared on anyway.
The “Last Week Tonight” host made cameos in two of America’s longest-running daytime dramas, popping up in “General Hospital” and “Days of Our Lives” after making a joke offer earlier this year. Not only did his roles provide some comic relief on both soaps, they also provided a welcome ratings boost.
According to ratings, the two shows saw an increase in viewership during his appearances, proving that his acting career might not be a total joke.
John Oliver Asked Soap Operas to Give Him a Role
Oliver’s unexpected soap career began after he learned that ESPN host Stephen A. Smith has made a number of appearances in “General Hospital.” The sportscaster has an infrequent recurring role as Brick, a security specialist who works for the mob. He subsequently offered his own services for any soap opera that was willing to give him a part.
His only conditions were that he wanted a silly name, a bizarre storyline, and to be slapped by one of the characters in the show. “General Hospital” star Nancy Lee Grahn responded to Oliver’s plea and both “General Hospital” and “Days of Our Lives” offered roles to Oliver.
Smith has made recurring appearances as Brick on “General Hospital,” prompting Oliver to publicly offer his services to any soap willing to hire him.
For “General Hospital,” Oliver portrayed the mysterious figure known as Z. As the boss of the World Security Bureau, the character was involved in multiple conspiracies and arrived in style by helicopter with an armed escort. He ultimately received a slap from Laura Wright’s Carly Spencer.
In “Days of Our Lives,” he played Salem’s chief city water inspector Devlin St. John. His slap request was fulfilled by Dan Feuerriegel’s EJ DiMera, who he was also able to hit back during the scene.
‘General Hospital’ Got Its Best Ratings in 15 Weeks
It turns out that his appearances in the two soap operas has not just been a fun wish fulfillment exercise. It has also provided a welcome boost in engagement and ratings. According to The Guardian, “General Hospital” attracted its largest audience in 15 weeks during Oliver’s three-episode appearance.
While there haven’t been exact figures provided for his “Days of Our Lives” cameo, the appearance did spark plenty of conversation and attention online from viewers. That provides a welcome boost for a genre that has spent years battling declining audiences and cancellations.
While “General Hospital” has remained relatively resilient despite wider changes affecting daytime soaps, the boost in ratings will have been welcomed by network executives and could lead to further guest appearances from major stars.
During this Sunday’s episode of “Last Week Tonight,” Oliver was also keen to point out that he has not been killed off on either soap, leaving the door open for him to return in the future.
“Meaning technically, I can always come back,” he said. “Though to be honest, that doesn’t necessarily mean anything anyway. It’s soap operas. No one ever really dies.”
