General Hospital
‘General Hospital’ Executive Producer Frank Valentini on the Decision to Cast John Oliver as ‘Z’
If you’re still reeling from yesterday’s General Hospital, just wait until today’s Friday, July 3 episode and the second of a three-part appearance by Last Week Tonight host, John Oliver in his role as the head of the WSB named “Z.”
Oliver made a grand and delicious soapy entrance when after massive gunfire broke out between the WSB, Cullum (Andrew Hawkes), Josslyn (Eden McCoy) and Cassius (Ryan Paevey), he lands in a helicopter no less with two armed guards and surveys the situation, killing one man, walking over a dead Cullum ,and seemingly going to assist a wounded Josslyn, but is he?
The casting of Oliver as the much-talked about character of “Z” was all about perfect timing, once General Hospital’s Emmy Award-winning executive producer, Frank Valentini, heard of Oliver’s desire to appear on a soap after catching ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith in his recurring role as Brick.
Photo: ABC
Z HAS LANDED
It was back on the March 8 episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver that the comic and host did a hilarious send-up of letting the soap world know he would be up for an appearance with a few demands, some of which included familiar soap tropes.
Valentini spoke with TV Insider on how this all came together once he heard about Oliver’s desire to be on a soap. “My reaction was, ‘Let’s go for it,’The funny thing is, I always watch his show but I was a little behind, so I didn’t see that episode (in March) and a lot of people from my staff sent me the link,” explained Frank. “When I watched it, I said, ‘Oh, we gotta go for this,’ and everybody was very excited. The timing worked out perfectly because we needed somebody to be Z, the head of the WSB.”
In fact, once they determined Oliver would play Z, he wanted a major introduction for the character. “Well, when the writers wrote Z’s entrance, they wrote it that he came in a big black town car. And I said, ‘No, no, no,’ and they said, ‘Why? What’s wrong with that?’ And I said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with that, but we’re going to take it up a notch because it’s John Oliver. We’re going to have Z enter in a helicopter.’ So, he made his entrance in a helicopter.”
According to Valentini, Oliver was all-in during his time on GH, “He was very curious about who was who and who did what. On day one, he only had one line. The next day, he had 20 pages, and he was amazing. He remembered every line, did a great job, and it was a lot of fun to have him on the set.”
Photo: ABC
JOSSLYN’S INTERACTION WITH Z
In a preview of what’s to come now that Z has touched down on Spoon Island, Valentini teased, “He tries to get information out of Josslyn, and we see how committed and tough she is and what a good WSB agent she is. She makes a deal with him to give him what he wants, and she gets something she wants, which is very personal.”
Then, Valentini revealed, “Z is keeping a huge secret that affects a lot of people in the town. And then he interacts with another character, who’s already in a couple, and openly flirts with her.” In addition, look for Z to get slapped, as the EP explained that was one of John’s short list of demands was to get a patented soap slap!
MORE GUEST STARS TO COME
In even more juicy news, Frank shared that there is yet another special guest star coming to GH, “We’re having another special guest who’s a big fan of the show at the end of the year.” Who could it be? Stay tuned.
Watch John Oliver’s General Hospital teaser video below, where he tells a tale of wanting to have soap twin and more.
Now let us know, was making John Oliver “Z” inspired casting? What bombshells await as “Z” hits the ground and looks to have run-ins with Josslyn, Carly and more? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
John Oliver’s had three wishes. To be given a goofy name, to shoot somebody and to be given the classic soap opera slap. He’s already been granted the first 2 wishes. I’m afraid the slap is going to come from Carly and most likely she will be the woman with whom he flirts because, well, Carly. She is the Song of the Sirens all rolled up into one obnoxious package. No mortal man can resist her- not even the formidable Z.
Knowing how Carly reacts to things, she’s probably going to slap him when she finds out that Joss got shot. Not that it was his fault, of course,. But an angry mom has gotta blame somebody, and Cullum is no longer available. (For which my dragons are very happy, of course)
Or there’s also the possible that Z tells Carly that Val is going to the Indonesian black site, where he can be Jason’s cellmater and she will never see either one of them again, which would definitely be worthy of a slap.
We know, of course that Jason is coming home in another week or so, but Z might not yet be aware of the facts regarding the incident on the docks when he talks to Carly, so he might still assume Jason is guilty, regardless of the fact that Cullum was a piece of dragonshit (now literally so)
Previews feature Carly asking Z in her usual angry voice,” Are you trying to hit on me?” So I ask Frank, “Are you trying to torture me?”
Frank does incredible things with a low budget, he has to be the best EP of all time.
I am in awe of what they pull off on General Hospital!!! Head and shoulders above every other daytime soap, and quite frankly, not sure why ABC can’t pop in an evening episode every once in a while. I know the show does great on Hulu. Frank Valentini truly impresses me, as do the people who work for him…the writers, directors, actors, etc. The show rarely disappoints. And the introduction of John Oliver onto the show….brilliant. Hopefully once this arc concludes, they can encourage Z to return from time to time. I really love GH.
I loved yesterday so much
Thank you for sending him off to never never land. I know it’s just a show but I cheered when the s.o.b.got shot.
Michael, John Oliver would make a great interview on your platform.
Or maybe Mr. Fairman could guest on John’s show.
I Thought Z was great ! Thought he looked real cool
Loved the landing in the helicopter !
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Jonathan Bennett Talks On Where Joe Fitzpatrick is Headed and Soap Opera Shirtless Scenes
It had become abundantly clear that roomies Dr. Lucas Jones (Van Hansis) and PCPD detective Joe Fitzpatrick (Jonathan Bennett) seem destined towards a romance on General Hospital.
In fact, to get Lucas all hot and bothered (although he does fully let on), during the Friday, October 16 episode, the good doctor helps Joe pick out something less stuffy to wear to a bar to meet people.
However, the moment is met with Joe taking off his shirt in front of Lucas and doing a quick change from sport coat and button down shirt to a more relaxed casual button down shirt. In fact, the ABC soap opera even called out the moment as their clip of the day (see below).
Courtesy/ABC
MAJOR STORY TEASE FOR JOE
Bennett spoke with OUT in a new feature about what may be on the horizon for the by-the-book Joe and the moral Lucas, and how he learned that once the producers and writers on a soap script in a shirtless scene, if it goes over well, said actor, can expect many more in the months to come!
“I’m so excited for the audience to see where my character goes on General Hospital. It’s going to be monumental and I think people are going to love it,” teased Bennett. “I was shirtless in an episode and so petrified to shoot it,” he added. “I wanted to look my best and feel good. I really worked hard to get my body to a good place and I did it.”
STAYING CAMERA READY
However as Jonathan points out, now he is finding himself half-naked in upcoming scenes as officer Joe! “I think I shot myself in the foot! Now that I did it once and it turned out well, every few weeks I read a script and I’m coming out of the shower, changing my shirt, or in the bathtub,” revealed Jonathan.
So, how does he keep camera ready? “I’m in the gym more, I have a better diet,” pointed out Bennett. “You have to stay healthy if you’re going to be shirtless every few weeks! I’m gay, an only child, and an actor. Of course I love the attention!”
While Bennett’s Port Charles story is going to reveal itself in the coming months, you can also see Jonathan back as the host of The Food Network’s Halloween Wars 16th season which concludes on Sunday, October 25.
Now below. check out the scene in question from Friday’s GH entitled, “Lose the Shirt.”
Weigh-in: What do you think will be “monumental” that Jonathan has teased that viewers will find out about Joe in the coming weeks? Are you feeling the on-screen chemistry between Joe and Lucas? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
The Friday, October 16 episode of General Hospital marked the on-screen debut of the mysterious Jude, played by primetime vet and Australian-born Wil Traval.
While not much has been revealed just yet, Traval spoke to TV Insider in his first conversation since joining the iconic ABC soap opera in a new interview out today.
As GH fans witnessed, Jude was introduced in scenes at a bar with Dr. Britt Westbourne (Kelly Thiebaud), and it would seem this may be her new leading man after things went south between Britt and Jason (Steve Burton). Traval said of working with the Daytime Emmy-winning Thiebaud, “I can’t speak more highly of her. I think she’s fantastic. It’s the biggest delight in my life to be working with her.”
Courtesy/ABC
FROM BROKEN BACK TO PORT CHARLES
As it turns out, Wil was supposed to be on board for a very short visit to Port Charles. However, as he revealed, things didn’t go the way he planned and his stay got extended!
“Originally, it was going to be a short guest role, I believe, and at the end of the week I got a call saying they might want to offer me a contract on the show, which was a real surprise and delight.” the actors shared. “And the rest is history from there.”
The road to General Hospital was not an easy one in some other respects. Traval was in the middle of recovering from a car accident that broke his back when he got the call to submit a self-tape for the role of the mysterious stranger back in June. Suddenly, he found himself getting a callback which in turn led to a chemistry read with Kelly Thiebaud.
WHO IS JUDE?
In the week to come, General Hospital viewers will learn Jude’s connections to the residents of Port Charles and his true identity.
With an Australian contingent on the canvas, and its tentacles throughout GH history including: Dr. Tristan Roberts (Dean Geyer); Robert Scorpio (the late Tristan Rogers); and Josslyn’s father Jax (last played by Ingo Rademacher), and Jerry Jacks (last played by Sebastian Roche), one would think Jude HAS to be tied to these characters from down under, or does he?
So, what did you think of Wil Traval’s on-screen debut as Jude? Who do you think he will be revealed to be connected to? Do you think Jude will make a solid leading man for Kelly Thiebaud’s Britt Westbourne in story? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section below.
General Hospital
‘General Hospital’s’ Josh Swickard Stars in Faith-Based ‘The Space Between Us’ as The Man Who Has an Affair with a Married Woman
While General Hospital’s Harrison Chase’s (Josh Swickard) marriage to Brook Lynn Quartermaine (Amanda Setton) has seemingly come to an end based on trust issues, and his unrelenting believe of the innocence of his ex-wife Willow Cain (Katelyn MacMullen) when she has committed heinous crimes, Josh Swickard is also being featured in another story on another platform in the new faith-based movie, The Space Between Us.
In the streaming feature now on the Angel platform, Swickard is playing Levi Boone, a handsome young solider, who finds himself attracted to a married woman played by Jennifer Taylor. The two have an affair. The movie made it’s debut last week on October 8.
According to the loglines, “The Space Between Us dives deep into modern relationships, following marriages straining under the heavy weight of busyness, unmet expectations, and spiritual disconnection. Described as a story of grace in the mess, the film takes a grounded, deeply relatable look at how even the best intentions can fall apart—and how faith, strong community, and honest vulnerability can bring true healing.”
Photo: Angel
In a cast interview, which features Swickard, Taylor and Kristoffer Poloha, the trio discussed their thoughts on betrayal in marriage, and who’s right and who’s wrong and more.
Josh Swickard explains, “The audience can get it from a lot of sides too where we can show it, and if you have crossed that line in your marriage. it doesn’t have to be over. And when two people are willing to work, anything’s possible. Not giving the end away. I’m just saying. It could happen. It could happen. People can end up together.”
Meanwhile, Kristoffer Poloha added, “Like, wait a minute, but this other guy steps in and I think passion takes over. I think what you see is how easy it is to stumble. Whether it’s adultery or whether it’s another type of sin, you can basically burn your house down in many different ways and how quickly it is to light that fire.”
The Space Between Us is from Canyon Productions. The company delivers faiith-based media designed to encourage, inspire, and uplift viewers along their spiritual journeys. By showcasing the genuine struggles and eventual triumphs of relatable characters facing tough real-world challenges, Canyon aims to create projects that point audiences directly toward hope and perseverance.
You can check out the discussion between Josh, Kristoffer snd Jennifer Taylor on what happens with their characters in the film below, followed by the scene where Swickard’s Levi meets Taylor’s Mona … and her husband!
So, will you be checking out Josh Swickard in The Space Between Us? What do you think about GH’s Chase, portraying the man that ignites passion in a woman who previously had been faithful to her marriage? Let us know via the comment section.
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