John Oliver certainly knows how to make a striking entrance.
During the closing moments of Thursday’s episode of the long‑running ABC daytime soap “General Hospital,” set in Port Charles, New York, the HBO host — dressed in a dark suit, with jet‑black hair and surrounded by armed guards — descends from a helicopter to survey the chaos left by a firefight. He draws a Glock and shoots an injured gunman as he writhes on the ground, then rushes toward Josslyn Jacks (portrayed by Eden McCoy).
“Everything will be alright,” he tells her. “I’m here to help.”
As audiences of the series are aware, Josslyn is the troubled daughter of Carly Spencer and has been serving as an agent for the World Securities Bureau (WSB), a spy organization dedicated to maintaining order, since the death of her boyfriend. The WSB now works to thwart the mad scientist Mikkos Cassadine, who plans to unleash a freezing device capable of destroying the planet.
“General Hospital” broadcasts on ABC on weekdays and later streams on Hulu. In its 64th season, it holds the distinction of being the longest‑running scripted American drama and the most‑awarded daytime drama with 18 Outstanding Daytime Drama Emmys. Oliver’s episodes are scheduled to air on July 2, July 3, and July 6 on ABC, and the details of his role remain confidential.
Laura Wright, the beloved Daytime Emmy‑winning actress who has portrayed Carly Spencer (née Corinthos) on “General Hospital” since 2005, co‑starred with Oliver’s mystery character in the upcoming episodes, and told Variety that the two enjoyed working together. While Oliver approached the role with professionalism, he also managed to make Wright laugh during rehearsals.
“We had no idea what to expect,” she says of Oliver’s appearance on the series. “Often guests mock what we do, which I’m not fond of. Our work is as vital as anyone else’s, and we don’t view it as a different form of acting. Therefore, I was deeply impressed by the writing that honored his strengths while staying true to our craft, and by the way he delivered his performance. It was incredible.”
Wright adds that she was surprised when Oliver revealed he had never taken acting classes, given the deliberate choices he made in their scenes that resembled those of a seasoned performer.
“If he was nervous, you couldn’t tell,” Wright maintains. “He delivered his lines flawlessly. We were deep into a storyline that had been developing for months, making it all the more amusing that he stepped right in without missing a beat. It’s as if he had been part of the show for years.”
Oliver will appear in two additional episodes of “General Hospital” and has also filmed a three‑episode arc on another soap, “Days of Our Lives,” slated to air in August. He has cited ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith’s decade‑long portrayal of Brick, a suave security consultant, on “General Hospital,” as inspiration.
“General Hospital” was everything I hoped it would be,” Oliver remarked. “It is a true honor to be a small part of the history of this illustrious program.”
