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John Oliver Wraps His ‘General Hospital’ Guest Star Turn as Z: What Were Your Impressions?

By Michael Fairman

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Courtesy/ABC

Last Week Tonight’s John Oliver’s three-episode guest star arc on General Hospital has come to its conclusion. Oliver’s final appearance on the ABC daytime drama series was Monday, July 6.

Oliver, who publicized back on a March episode of his late night talk show, that he was offering himself up to the soaps and pleaded for a juicy role, certainly got his wish ten-fold on General Hospital in the role of the head of the WSB named Z.

During his run, Z helicoptered down to Spoon Island to survey the damage after the shootout which found, Cassius (Ryan Paevey), Cullum (Andrew Hawkes) and Josslyn (Eden McCoy) shot. Cullum died, Cassius and Josslyn survived. Oliver’s first order of business after touching down was to shoot an injured WSB henchman!

Photo: ABC

Z STRIKES A DEAL

Later, Z visited Josslyn at General Hospital, where the two brokered a deal. He would set free Valentin (James Patrick Stuart) and Jason (Steve Burton), and she would agree to put the blame on the entire messy WSB situation on Cassius as the scapegoat to make the organization look back because of Cullum’s misdeeds.

On Monday and to close-out Oliver’s visit to GH, he lived out some of his soap trope dreams when in a confrontation with Carly Spencer (Laura Wright), he gets a patented soap slap, when Z won’t help Carly get her daughter, Josslyn out of the WSB. Later, he tries to ask Carly out for dinner and flirts with her, but she flatly turns him down.

Photo: ABC

ONE LAST LOOSE END TO TIE UP

In his final scene, Z enters a maximum security type hospital room where Cassius Faison is being held as a prisoner. Z informs Cassius that he will get the death penalty and be charged with murder, kidnapping and more, unless he comes to work for him. It’s Cassius Faison’s a get-out-of-jail free card.

Previously, Laura Wright who shared scenes with Oliver expressed to Variety on the talk show host’s job well done, “A lot of times people like to come on and make fun of what we do, and I’m not a big fan of that. Our job is as important as anyone else’s, and we don’t consider it a different type of acting or anything like that. So, I was so impressed with the writing that honored what he does well while also staying true to what we do, and how he showed up and delivered. It was incredible.”

Next up, Oliver will be seen in a undisclosed role on Days of Our Lives on August 11, 12 and 14.  In case you missed it, here’s a preview!

So what did you think of John Oliver’s performances a GH’s Z? Would you like to see him make another return visit as the powerful head of the WSB down the line? What was your favorite moment of Oliver’s on GH over his three-episode arc? Let us know via the comment section.

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I would love to see John Oliver return. He knew his lines, his acting was pretty good and convincing. He was cast perfectly in this role. Nice job John!

They gave him A TON of great material & he knocked it out of the park! He was inserted right in the middle of the climax to a HUGE storyline & fit in seemlessly. I hope he attends the next daytime Emmys with the GH cast when they submit that shootout episode for Best Daytime show AND THEY WIN! It was THAT SPECTACULAR. GH IS ON FIRE! Excellent job John, cast & crew. THAT is how you make the end to a long storyline PAYOFF!!!! KICK ASS GH!!!!!!

Most comedians make good actors with the exception of Jerry Seinfeld.

John Oliver understood the assignment. He did not disappoint. I wish he had more interaction with other players instead of orbiting around Carly’s sun. Now to those who recently discovered John Oliver, I urge you to watch Last Week with John Oliver on HBO. If you don’t subscribe, you can catch him on YouTube. Oliver is not only hilarious, he fights the good fight and underscores incredibly important issues largely ignored by the media. His promotion of GH will surely boost GH’s ratings so one good turn deserves another- watch Last Night wuth John Oliver. Moreover, I understand he is genuinely a nice fellow.

He proved he can act. Unlike some other stunt casting (SAS), John delivered with the quality material he was given. The way Z told Carly he never had an agent’s mommy complain was well written and well acted!

Kudos John. Come back again someday.

Loved,loved,loved him. The walk and face..shooting someone as you walk by a true soap move. My favorite was the slap heard around the world.

Excellent. Would love to see him return. Nice writing here, and good decision to have him in scenes with two of their strongest actors, Wright and McCoy. His scene with Joss was my favorite.

I mean, John Oliver is a known actor, so I knew he would be able to do the material. However, his portrayal of “Z” was nothing to write home about. It was a standard portrayal of a day player character for three episodes.

Bravo!! John nailed the character Z!!!

John Oliver’s appearance on GH was so fun and added an air of uniqueness to the show. He did a great job of acting. I would love to see him become a semi-regular fixture in the cast.

John Oliver makes no James Bond!I wasn’t impressed!And who slaps some one of his position!”Head of!”WSB”(CIA)!

Um…Carly does. Perhaps you haven’t met her, so allow me to introduce you to Caroline Benson, AKA Carly Spencer. She will stop at nothing to protect her children. She grabbed a bailif’s gun and shot her son’s kidnapper in open court, so slapping the head of the WSB is just another Tuesday for Carly.

You’re reminding me of another reason why I have hated Carly no matter what talented actress plays her. The “kidnapper” to whom you refer was the beloved Dr Tony Jones who was driven to temporary insanity after Carly tried to pass off baby Michael as his. By the time tests revealed that AJ was the biological father, Tony had bonded with the infant. So he snapped and took Michael in a state of tragic desperation. So Carly shoots poor Tony in the head while in court. Carly basically ruined Tony’s life, and she never expressed any remorse for that, or for what she did to AJ( which is another story). Yes, I hate Carly.

Oops. My response above was meant for Sue, not Mildred. (Although I’d like to tell Mildred that John Oliver would never presume suitable to play James Bond. In fact, the very idea would make him chuckle).

He did a great job and I hope they can have him back really soon

Writers missed a chance in the Carly-Z encounter, where an infatuated Oliver introduces himself as “Z … but you may call me Zed.”

I thought John Oliver fit in great with general hospital his a natural and and should return

Love Him please let him return. Love the it aint gonna happen with the Carly slap

Absolutely!

I want him to come back. Please.

John Oliver did it! He was a wonderful addition to the WSB story line. He came in hot

I totally loved it.My favorite scene is when he asked Carly to dinner.And thee slap it was comedy look on his face he bought a lighter act to the drama world love love loved him

He was fantastic! Thoroughly enjoyed him as Z. He managed to create an interesting character I wanted to know more about just in those few scenes.

General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Ethan Lovett Hightails Out of the Country, Christian Howard Wraps His Stint

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Christian Howard

That was quick! Christian Howard, who now looks to have literally stepped in for Nathan Dean to wrap up a few episodes for the character of Ethan Lovett made a quick exit on Friday’s July 31 episode of General Hospital.

GH viewers were stunned earlier this week on the Monday, July 27 episode when a voiceover announcer shared that Christian Howard was now playing Ethan Lovett. Next, Ethan hits the sheets with Ava Jerome, played by three-time Daytime Emmy-winner, Maura West. All seemed to be moving forward when suddenly at the end of the Thursday, July 30 episode, Ethan spots newcomer Hudson (Troy Lennon Appel) at the Metro Court Pool, and makes a quick getaway.

Then, it’s revealed after packing his bags at Lulu’s (Alexa Havins) house, that out of nowhere, Ethan received a lead on an incredible opportunity so he has to say goodbye to Lulu and run out of town and was leaving Port Charles.

Courtesy/ABC

RUNNING OUT OF TOWN

In fact, Ethan was in such a hurry, he forgot to say goodbye to Ava who had been waiting for him at the Metro Court pool. There is clearly a connection to Hudson and baby Phoebe after Ethan spotted the guy, because Ethan also glanced over to the baby and Brook Lynn (Amanda Setton) at the Metro Court pool, before he ran to Lulu’s to pack his things. All of this points to Howard being an emergency recast for Dean.

It’s definitely been a week of change on-screen on the ABC soap with the news of Maxie, Spinelli, James, Georgie and Bailey all suddenly leaving Port Charles for Australia, after Spinelli got an offer he could not turn down.

That exit was written because Kirsten Storms is at this time,, and the very foreseeable future, not returning to General Hospital and is living in Tennessee. As she had documented via her Instagram stories and posts, she has been going through several personal ordeals. In addition to Storms, Ryan Paevey also exited the series earlier this month when he ended his run as Cassius Faison, while leaving the door open for his return down the line.

So, will newcomers Kelly Kruger (Serena Baldwin), Dean Geyer (Tristan Roberts) and Troy Lennon Appel fill the void of the multitude of exits? What are your theories on Christian Howard’s departure as Ethan Lovett on GH? Let us know via the comment section below.

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General Hospital

‘Knots Landing’ Favorite Donna Mills Joins ‘OnlyFans’

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Donna Mills, who at 85-years-old is still turning heads, booking film and TV roles and co-hosting the We’re Knot Done Yet podcast with her Knots Landing pals, Michele Lee (ex-Karen) and Joan Van Ark (ex-Valene), is now joining the world of Only Fans.

The news came Mills herself in a statement, where she shared to Variety, “I’ve always appreciated the incredible support and encouragement I’ve received from my fans over the years. Social media has been a wonderful way to stay connected, but I’m excited to join OnlyFans because it offers the opportunity for a more personal and direct connection.”

While OnlyFans is primarily known for its steamy content, Mills is taking a different approach, explaining that she will be “sharing moments from my daily life, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and engaging with fans in a more meaningful way. It’s simply another platform to spend quality time with the people who’ve supported me throughout my career while staying true to who I am.”

Photo: JPI

WHY DID DONNA MILLS JOIN OTHER CELEBRITIES ON ONLYFANS?

Andy Bachman, CEO Creators INC who presides over OnlyFans also shared in a statement, “This is not about changing who she is. It is about giving her longtime fans more access to the personality, style and behind-the-scenes moments they already love. Donna has always been fearless and ahead of her time. She told me, ‘YOLO — let’s do it,’ and that perfectly captures her attitude. She is approaching OnlyFans on her own terms and creating a space that feels authentic, personal and completely true to her.”

Mill’s move to OnlyFans comes on the heels of others in Hollywood who are pivoting to the platform not only for its revenur, but to control their own narrative of what they want put out into the world about themselves. One example is Shannon Elizabeth of American Pie and Scary Movie fame, who told Variety that since April she has earned more than $1.2 million in seven days via her OnlyFans account.

Photo: JPI

FROM THE CUL DE SAC AT SEAVIEW CIRCLE TO PORT CHARLES

While Donna Mills is best- known for her role as Abby Cunningham Ewing on Knots Landing from 1980-1989, 1993, she also won a Daytime Emmy for her role of Madeline Reeves on General Hospital. Mills played the evil mother to Nina Reeves (then Michelle Stafford) and sister to Liesl Obrecht (Kathleen Gati) from 2014-2015 and again in 2018.

The veteran actress also had a leading role in the soap opera, Love is a Many Splendored Thing, where she and GH’s late, great sister, Leslie Charleson (ex-Monica Quartermaine, GH) played sisters Laura and Iris Donnelly from 1967-1970. Mills began her soap career on The Secret Storm back in 1966.

So, what do you think of Donna Mills joining OnlyFans? Do you think the once exclusive provocative content platform, which is going more Hollywood, will ultimately be where big named celebrity post their own content? Share your thoughts via the comment section below, and in case you missed it, you can check out the Michael Fairman Channel’s most recent chat with Donna Mills from earlier this year and our livestream with Donna, Michele and Joan from 2025 below.

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General Hospital

GENERAL HOSPITAL: Troy Lennon Appel Makes His Debut as ‘Hudson’: Is He a New Love Interest for Josslyn? Baby Phoebe’s Bio-Dad?

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TROY LENNON APPEL

Towards the conclusion of the Thursday, July 30 episode of General Hospital, Troy Lennon Appel made his debut asa “mysterious and shady businessman” going by the name of “Hudson.”

The person who first saw Hudson was none other than Ethan Lovett, who is now played by another soap newcomer Christian Howard, who replaced the exited Nathan Dean in the role.

From the looks of things, Ethan was not at all happy to see Hudson at the Metro Court Pool. It looks as though Ethan doesn’t even want Hudson to know he is in the same town. So, how do these two know each other? Is Hudson the father of baby Phoebe? Is Hudson possibly a Quartermaine? Like Dillon Quartermaine … or someone else from the Q clan? Stay tuned.

Kelly Kruger, Lynn Herring

Photo: ABC

TROY LENNON APPEL JOINS KELLY KRUGER AS THE LATEST ARRIVALS ON-SCREEN TO GH

Meanwhile, for his premiere airdate, which also marked the first on-screen episode of Kelly Kruger as Serena Baldwin, Troy spoke to TV Insider and shared a bit about the character he’s playing and more.

Appel expressed, “Hudson is a shady businessman, and you’re not clear as to his motives, He goes one way, but then leans the other, and so he kind of keeps you on your toes. So far, what I’ve played, this guy is way cooler than I am, so it’s been so cool to play him. But he’s just been a force to be reckoned with so far, and I’m not even entirely sure as to all of his intentions in Port Charles. I’m excited to see where his journey goes, because I’m very lucky to be playing this character.”

As GH casting lore goes, Troy actually read for the role of Joe Fitzpatrick that went to Jonathan Bennett, but the producers were impressed by him that they created the role of Hudson with Appel specifically in mind. And stand by … according to Appel, he screen-tested with Daytime Emmy-winner, Eden McCoy (Josslyn).

So, is Hudson the new man for Josslyn?  All Appel would say was, “I did a chemistry read with Eden much later when I kind of cemented that I was going to be playing another character, and it all just happened and I’m insanely grateful that it did.”

With Troy Lennon Appel, Kelly Kruger, Christian Howard, and Dean Geyer (whose character of Tristan was revealed to have ties with the WSB) all appearing on the latest episode of General Hospital, was it jarring for you, or are you excited for what’s to come? Weigh-in via the comment section.

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Jonathan Bennett joins the cast of GH as Joe Fitzpatrick. Catch the latest promo! Leave a comment.Leave A Comment

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