The soap opera Gods haves smiled down upon late night talk show and Emmy winner, John Oliver. The Last Week Tonight host revealed on Sunday’s June 28 episode of his HBO Max series, that he booked two roles on two different soap operas, General Hospital and Days of Our Lives and his long-fueled desire to appear in a role on the genre had been fully realized, twice over!

Previously, Oliver let it be known back in the March 8 episode of this late night show, that after realizing ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith (Brick) had a recurring role on a soap opera, that he was tinged with jealously and wanted to do the same sharing, “To all the soap operas out there, let me say this: I am officially offering myself to you. Write me a role, and I will be on your set so fast, it will make your head spin.” Oliver also had some mandates he wanted a character with a “ridiculous” name, and he wanted,” something juicy, like murder, or slapping, or being slapped, or being someone’s long-lost something.”

So, who came a calling? First up, General Hospital! Oliver will be playing a “significant” character to a major storyline (and i think you know who it will be!) in episodes that begin this week for a three-episode arc starting on Thursday, July 2, Friday, July 3 and wrapping Monday, July 6.

Photo: JPI

JOHN OLIVER COMES TO PORT CHARLES

In a statement, GH executive producer, Frank Valentini told Variety, “When John Oliver publicly threw down the gauntlet and said he wanted to appear on a soap, we didn’t hesitate for a second. He was everything you’d hope he’d be: prepared, professional, funny and genuinely kind to everyone on set. He plays an integral character in the story, and I can’t wait for fans to see who he crosses paths within Port Charles.”

John Oliver added: General Hospital was everything I hoped it would be. It’s a true honor to be a small stain on the history of this illustrious show.”

On the Sunday, June 28 episode of Last Week Tonight, Oliver shared, “General Hospital had genuinely picked me for a role and given me the chance to hang out in Port Charles, the home of Luke and Laura, the Corinthos family and Brick, and given me the chance to join the ranks of guest stars like Elizabeth Taylor, Sammy Davis Jr, and of course the great Colonel Sanders.”

Oliver explained, “I’ll be on General Hospital next week and while I’m not going to spoil anything. I will show you this picture of my character. Yes, that is me surrounded by men with guns. And yes, my hair has been dipped in an ink well (see lead photo of this article), and if you can tell from my face, I’m acting my hardest.”

As the story broke, GH’s Chris McKenna (Brennan) took to X and said “Go to ‘Z’ with the hashtags #GH and @HBO, meaning Oliver has to be playing the never-before-seen boss of Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), who Carly (Laura Wright) and Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) are trying to get to.

JOHN OLIVER COMES TO SALEM

Following, his stint on General Hospital and as first reported by Oliver himself, he will next be seen in episodes streaming on Peacock of Days of Our Lives, August 11, 12 and 14. Given DAYS usually tapes ten-months in advance of streaming, it’s clear they worked in some new scenes featuring Oliver just the other week.

In a statement on his guest star role on Days of Our Lives, series executive producer, Ken Corday shared, “When John Oliver said, ‘Call me soaps, I’m available and willing to travel. I want to be a part of that world,’ our world, we had to heed the call!”

Photo: CordayProductions/ChrisHaston

On Last Week Tonight, Oliver explained, “I’m thrilled to announce I have an update, because I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of little show called Days of Our Lives. The show that gave us unforgettable moments like the Devil possessing Marlena, Sami Brady trying to rescue Phillip from Iraq by going in full soldier drag and Bo Brady discovering a mysterious woman in a bayou that everyone called Swamp Girl until learning she was actually a princess. Well, I’m happy to say that I’ve already taped a week of episodes on Days of Our Lives!”

He acknowledged being part of the iconic series and its legendary stars: “This is clearly a huge honor to come to the home of some of the more renowned soap actors like Deidre Hall (Marlena), Susan Seaforth Hayes (Julie), and the late John Aniston (ex-Victor).”

Courtesy/HBO

Oliver then showed a photo of himself in a scene with EJ DiMera played by Dan Feuerriegel and wearing a rather humorous hair piece. No word yet on what role he will play on DAYS.

So, what do you think of John Oliver being given two soap roles from two shows, who quickly picked up on the the late night talk show host’s desire to appear on a soap and wrote roles and booked him? Weigh-in via the comment section, but first check out the promo from this week’s General Hospital featuring Oliver below.

Next week on all-new episodes of Days of Our Lives, Jacob Martinez makes his highly-anticipated debut as Javi Hernandez replacing Al Calderon in the role.

Since DAYS tapes ten months ahead of streaming episodes on Peacock, Martinez has already been with the show for quite awhile and now viewers will see just what will happen between exes, Leo Stark (Greg Rikaart) and Javi, and Javi and his current boyfriend, Gus (Michael Ocampo).

Look for Martinez to make his debut on the Tuesday June 30 where in official Days of Our Lives spoilers, viewers should look for a clash between Leo and Javi where they agree to avoid one another. However, then on the Wednesday, July 1 episode, Gus questions Javi. Is it about his feelings for Leo or something else?

Photo: JPI

THE NEW JAVI HERNANDEZ

In his first week on-screen Martinez will also share the screen also with Cherie Jimenez (Gabi) and Josh Taylor (Roman).

Martinez expressed on his DAYS journey thus far to OUT.com, “The truth is, Javi is the kind of character I wish I could have looked up to on television as a kid. Getting the chance to hopefully be that inspiration for another kid somewhere in a small town makes it all worthwhile.”

Photo: JPI

He added, “Being Hispanic, gay, and an emergency medical technician definitely helped me draw from real-life experiences when I got the role. But after reading the first few scripts, it became clear to me what truly drives this character: his heart. Javi is the type of person who constantly puts others before himself — not only on the job, but in his personal life as well.”

So, now we can officially welcome Jacob to Salem! And let us know if you are looking forward to his debut next week on all-new episodes of DAYS, plus if you are rooting for Leo and Javi … or Gus and Javi, via the comment section. But first, check out the latest promo for the action next week on DAYS below.

The June 22 episode of Days of Our Lives reminded us all of why Deidre Hall is iconic in the role of Dr. Marlena Evans. Here we are 50 years later, and Marlena is still the heroine of the long-running soap opera, and Deidre remains one of the most most recognizable names in the history of soaps.

To pay tribute, and to look back at the life and times of Marlena, the story starts with Marlena flipping through a photo album of her with John (the late Drake Hogestyn) over the years. As she misses him dearly, she gets a knock on the door and its none other than John’s son, Paul Narita (Christopher Sean).

With Andrew (Colton Little) in Salem working on a case, he sits down with Marlena, who says she can’t believe its been fifty years since she first arrived in Salem! Cue: Deidre’s first scenes on DAYS when she finds Mickey Horton (the late John Clarke) playing chess against himself inside the mental institution she worked.

Courtesy/Peacock

THE FLASHBACKS OF MARLENA’S LIFE

From there, viewers definitely got the cliff notes version of the history of Marlena and entrenched within them, some of the biggest moments in Deidre’s enduring run.

Paul thinks he is looking at 70s, and early 80s Marlena while going through her scrapbook, but he is actually looking at her twin, Samantha (Andrea Hall). Cue: when Marlena confronted Samantha about impersonating her, and then later getting a call on her radio show from the Salem Strangler (Jack Coleman as Jake Kostichek) who killed Samantha thinking it was Marlena.

In the present, Belle (Martha Madison) has arrived at this time to meet up with Paul, unaware of this trip down memory lane. She wants to go over the findings in the chess board mystery Stefano willed to Marlena and John, in private with him, since Marlena previously said she wanted nothing to do with it.

Back to the history lesson, Marlena speaks highly of Don Craig and even though their marriage didn’t work out, she could find a path forward with the new love her life, Roman Brady. (Wayne Northrop however is never shown, possibly to keep the story focused on John as Roman for confusion sakes?)

Paul sees a photo of a young Carrie (Christie Clark) in the album and Marlena says she was such a godsend after losing her baby. In fact, Marlena says caring for Carrie prepared her for her having and raising her own twins, Eric and Sami. Cue: The twin visiting Marlena in the hospital.

JOHN AND MARLENA’S LOVE CONQUERED ALL

Then, in a way to get through and incorporate the wild storylines only Marlena could have been in, she tells Belle and Paul, she has been through so much in her life, how lucky she was to find John, and some of the most unbelievable experiences no one could imagine. Cue: Marlena possessed by the devil and levitating from the bed. Next, John confronting Marlena being the Salem Stalker, where she admits she killed Alice Horton, pretends she needs help, then pulls a gun on her beloved John!

The comment is made by Paul and Marlena, that she literally has been to hell and back and she could not have survived were it not for her beloved John. Cue the big emotional highpoint clips; The Pier Scene! Marlena steps out of the fog when John sees her from a distance. After believing she was dead for four years, here she was before him in one of the greatest reunions in a soap opera love story in history. What followed were other times of the life of times of Jarlena.

Courtesy/Peacock

MARLENA’S ‘GIFT’ FROM STEFANO HAS A NEW CLUE

When Marlena makes a brief exit to the other room, Belle fills in Paul on the chess set Stefano left her mother and the photo of the Lire. Paul said he will investigate. Marlena comes back into the room and overhears, and says to promise her if things get dangerous he will back off, she does not want anyone hurt by Stefano’s games.

As the episode comes to a conclusion, it’s just Belle and Marlena going through the photo album giggling about 70s hairstyles and all the memories. Belle speaks on the impact Marlena has had in everyone’s lives, and that she is both the heart of their family and the heart of Salem.

An end card comes up acknowledging Deidre Hall’s 50th anniversary as Marlena, and we fade to black.

So, what did you think of Marlena’s walk down memory lane? Were you happy to see the flashback clips utilized throughout? Were you touched by the scenes and the performance of Deidre Hall? Let us know what you thought of Deidre’s 50th anniversary episode via the comment section below.