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‘Last Week Tonight’s’ John Oliver Admits He Wants to Be on a Soap Opera; Reenacts Scene from ‘General Hospital,’ Loves Unhinged Plots of ‘Days of Our Lives’

By Michael Fairman

Published

8 months ago

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Photo: JPI

On the March 8 installment of the Emmy-winning late night talk show series, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, on HBO Max, the usually highly- political fare turned in the last segment as Oliver lobbied for a guest role on a daytime soap opera for 10 minutes pointing out why he arrived at this decision.

Oliver revealed he just discovered ESPN sports personality and frequent General Hospital guest star, Stephen A. Smith had his own recurring role as “Brick” on the ABC soap opera.

In fact, to prove his acting prowess, Oliver reenacted a scene in the vein of one of Brick’s shootouts on GH. To make this even funnier, 30 Rock alum, Jack McBrayer showed up to play Colonel Harland Sanders, as they showed a clip of George Hamilton as the KFC Founder in scenes with Emme Rylan (ex-Lulu) and Kirsten Storms (Maxie) from 2018. In the set-up, Oliver made sure his soap character was killed by Colonel Sanders.

Photo: ABC

Oliver then pitched the writers and produces of daytime dramas, “To all the soap operas out there, let me say this: I am officially offering myself to you. Write me a role, and I’ll be on your set so fast, it’ll make your head spin. I only have a few conditions: First, I don’t want to play myself, I want to be a character. And I want his name to be ridiculous. Also, I want to do something juicy — like murder or slapping or being slapped or being someone’s long-lost something — and, ideally, I’d like a dramatic closeup of my face. But in return, trust me, I will give my all to this performance.”

Courtesy/HBOMax

Earlier in the segment, Oliver said he was delighted by the unhinged the plots of soap operas have been over the years. As an example, he shared most come from Days of our Lives. The talk show host illustrated that with a scene where Stefano (the late Joseph Mascolo) has Marlena (Deidre Hall) tied up. The Phoenix then frees her, only to learn she is possessed by the devil.

“This is why we have TV: for breaking news, and this,” Oliver said after the clip came to an end. He added, “Honestly, if HBO said ‘F–k it, cancel everything, we only show Marlena transforming into the devil now,’ I’d roll over willingly. I might even start watching this network.”

So, what soap opera should nab John Oliver for a guest spot? General Hospital? Days of Our Lives? If you got the chance to see the comedy bit, what did you think of it? Let us know via the comment section.

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Please let this happen! I adore John Oliver and he’d make an excellent WSB agent for the sake of hilarity. I’d also love to see him engage in his rapid speech with Spinelli, who also engages in rapid speaking. I say yes. If sports announcer Stephen Smith can do it, the brilliantly funny John Oliver can do it.

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Oliver can’t be any worse than Smith.

Why not make him Spinelli’s father?

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Yes ! I could really enjoy him as Spinelli’s father.

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I think he’d be much better than Smith. Oliver did get one good quip in while he pled to the soap networks for a cameo and advised Smith NOT to run for president. I like your idea about his being Spinelli’s long lost father or maybe his goofy, eccentric uncle from Britain.

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Oliver is solid. He was great recurring on Community. Hell, yes, I’ll watch him on any soap that casts him!

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I enjoy John Oliver, but I hope he stays on his show. They already have a bloated cast without adding stunt casting.

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Well, that assumes he still HAS a show, once the hostile takeover of HBO by that asshat Larry Ellison is complete.

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Beyond the Gates

53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards Winners: ‘General Hospital’ Takes Drama Series, Tamara Tunie and Scott Clifton Top Acting Honors

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1 day ago

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October 30, 2026

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The 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards have just concluded on Friday night, October 30, and it was ABC’s General Hospital who took home the top prize for Outstanding Drama Series for the sixth time in row. Executive Producer, Frank Valentini accepted the award on behalf of the show.

Beyond the Gates scored its first two acting honors in the young history of the show. Veteran actress, Tamara Tunie won her first ever Emmy for Lead Actress a Daytime Drama Series for her performances as Anita Dupree, while Ambyr Michelle took home the gold in the Emerging Talent category.

Scott Clifton won his fourth Daytime Emmy overall, and second Lead Actor Emmy for his heart-tugging performance as Liam Spencer, who believed he was battling an inoperable brain tumor, only for it to turn out to be medical ruse to bilk Liam’s father out of $1 million dollars.

Scott Clifton

Courtesy/NATASYouTube

DECADES BETWEEN BETH MAITLAND AND ROGER HOWARTH LAST EMMY WIN

In the Supporting Actor and Actress categories, Daytime Emmy history was made with Beth Maitland  (Traci Abbott, The Young and the Restless) winning her second Emmy 41 years since she won her first won, and Roger Howarth (Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless) following suit for the men with his coming 32 years after he won in 1994 for One Life to Live.

Roger Howarth

Courtesy/NATASYouTube

Jeff Kober picked up his second Daytime Emmy win for his role as Cyrus Renault on General Hospital in the Outstanding Guest Performer in a Daytime Drama Series category. He previously won Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for the role in 2022, following a nomination in the same category in 2021.

The Kelly Clarkson Show, meanwhile, won Outstanding Daytime Talk Series it its final year, while Sherri Shepherd won for Outstanding Daytime Talk Series Host after finding out her talker had been canceled after four seasons.

Genie Francis

Photo: NATAS/YouTube

THINK OF LAURA

General Hospital star Genie Francis (Laura) received the Lifetime Achievement Award and shared from the stage, “I know 50 years sounds like an awfully long time, but it doesn’t feel like that to me,” she said. “As they say, if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.”

Overall, General Hospital, Beyond the Gates and The Kelly Clarkson Show received the most gold statuettes for the night with four wins apiece.

Here’s a look at the honor roll for tonight’s big winners below:

Outstanding Daytime Drama Series
General Hospital

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree, Beyond the Gates)

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
Scott Clifton (Liam Spencer, The Bold and the Beautiful

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actor
Roger Howarth (Matt Clark, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Supporting Performance in a Daytime Drama Series: Actress
Beth Maitland (Traci Abbott, The Young and the Restless)

Outstanding Emerging Talent in a Daytime Drama Series
Ambyr Michelle (Eva Thomas, Beyond the Gates)

Outstanding Writing Team for a Daytime Drama Series
General Hospital

Outstanding Guest Performance in a Daytime Drama Series
Jeff Kober (Cyrus Renault, General Hospital)

Outstanding Casting for a Daytime Program
General Hospital

Outstanding Directing in a Daytime Drama Series
Days of our Lives

Outstanding Talk Series
The Kelly Clarkson Show

Outstanding Talk Series Host
Sherri Shepherd, Sherri

Outstanding Lighting Direction for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates

Outstanding Costume Design/Styling for a Daytime Program
The Young and the Restless (Episode 13273)

Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup for a Daytime Program
Beyond the Gates, The Kelly Clarkson Show

So, who were you happy to see win a Daytime Emmy on tonight’s 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards? Do you think the right show and actors took home the gold? Let us know your thoughts via the comment section. In case you missed it, you can watch the replay of tonight’s livestream of the Daytime Emmy ceremony below.

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Beyond the Gates

Who Should Win Outstanding Daytime Drama at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards? (Poll)

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2 days ago

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October 30, 2026

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Drama Series Daytime Emmys

Tonight at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards, the top prize is Outstanding Daytime Drama Series. This year four soaps are in the running, will the best show take home the gold? Now it’s your turn to let us know your pick!

Going into the night’s festivities, The Young and the Restless leads all nominations this year with 18. Meanwhile, the upstart Beyond the Gates, in its first Daytime Emmy appearance in its history received a record 15 nominations for a first time entry into the Emmy competition.

Then, there is General Hospital who could win its sixth Daytime Emmy in a row for Outstanding Daytime Drama series and its 19th overall. Will they continue the streak?

Meanwhile, Days of our Lives looks to prove just because they are on Peacock and not on network television that they continue to be relevant, especially in a year where we learned Ryan Gosling and John Oliver where big fans of the show.

To watch the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards live, you can catch it on the NATAS/Emmy official You Tube channel here beginning at  8pm ET/5pm PT.

Now it’s your turn! Take the Michael Fairman TV poll below and then let us know in the comment section, which show you are rooting for tonight to take home the gold statuette?

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Beyond the Gates

Who Should Win Outstanding Lead Actress at the 53rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards? (Poll)

Published

2 days ago

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October 29, 2026

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Lead Actress Nominees Daytime Emmys

Five leading ladies of daytime drama are getting ready to go for the gold on Friday night, October 30 at the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards.

Will it be one of two women securing their first-ever Daytime Emmy nominations from the newest soap on the block, Beyond the Gates? Will Heather Tom become the winningest actress ever in Daytime Emmy history if she wins what would be her 7th gold statuette?

Could Michelle Stafford become a four-time Daytime Emmy winner? And, will Stacy Haiduk, win for Lead after previously being nominated in twice in the Supporting Actress category? Stay tuned.

In case you didn’t know, and to get you up to speed, the 2026 Lead Actress nominees are: Stacy Haiduk (Kristen DiMera, Days of our Lives), Karla Mosley (Dani Dupree, Beyond the Gates), Michelle Stafford (Phyllis Summers, The Young and the Restless), Heather Tom (Katie Logan, The Bold and the Beautiful), and Tamara Tunie (Anita Dupree, Beyond the Gates).

Heather Tom

Photo: CBS

HEATHER TOM POISED TO BREAK TIE WITH ERIKA SLEZAK FOR WINNINGEST ACTRESS IN SOAPS

Heather Tom spoke with Variety on the potential of breaking the daytime actress tie for most wins with One Life to Live’s veteran Erika Slezak. The B&B actress, writer and director explained she is not in rivalry with Slezak.

“I don’t think I could be in a rivalry with Erika Slezak because she’s just iconic. It kind of floors me to think that I’m kind of in the same conversation as her, because I was such a huge fan. I had the honor working with her and I just loved every single second,” shared Heather. “She always just brought it. There was never a day where she phoned it in. I certainly cannot feel like I’m in the rivalry with her because I would just have to say that she’s already won.”

As previously reported, ahead of the big day, the annual Lead Actress Ladies Luncheon was turned into a dinner and a house party by last year’s Lead Actress winner, Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis, General Hospital).

Make sure to tune-in to the 53rd annual Daytime Emmy Awards streamed live on the NATAS/Emmys You Tube Channel beginning at 8pm ET/5pm PT emanating from the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California tomorrow night!

Now below, vote in Michael Fairman TV’s poll and let us know which Lead Actress should win the Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy, and then let us know in the comment section who you 

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