Since John Oliver’s soap-opera dreams started coming true with his stint on General Hospital, I’ve seen some fans complaining about his special guest appearances on that show as well as Days of Our Lives. “You’re not even writing for the characters we want to see,” the comments tend to say, “and now you’re wasting screen time on this guy?!?”
I understand it, and I suspect the Last Week Tonight host does, too. We all know that the daytime audience is passionate and, if we’re being honest, cranky. (Myself included.) Still, I wanted to go on the record with a big, loud thank-you to Oliver for visiting soapdom, and the reason is threefold.
Sincerity Will Get You Everywhere
First of all, the former Daily Show correspondent’s love and enthusiasm for the genre has been unmistakable. He’s appeared to be just as genuinely excited to be part of the mix as I was to open the mailbox as a youngster and discover that Louise Shaffer had written back to me from the set of Ryan’s Hope in the ’80s.
Second, not to put too fine a point on it, but Oliver kicked ass. The Community vet was completely convincing as WSB bigwig Z on General Hospital and an absolute hoot as Days of Our Lives water inspector Devlin St. John (who is already half of a would-be supercouple we’re shipping).
Yes, some viewers wouldn’t be persuaded to stop grumbling that Oliver took time away from their regularly scheduled favorites. But others… they had to give him credit. The guy said, “Put me in, coach!” and then he hit a home run.
The third reason I want to thank Oliver is that his passion for soaps and his subsequent, wholehearted participation in them got a whole lot of people talking about the genre who otherwise wouldn’t have. The guy has gotten daytime some of the most — and best — press it has seen since Beyond the Gates debuted.
Y’all Come Back Now
Frankly, I hope Oliver isn’t finished yet. With new headwriters coming in to rescue Young & Restless from its kidnapping-a-week cycle and never-ending game of corporate musical chairs, I’m sure they could find something fun for him to play.
A plum role for Oliver on Beyond the Gates is beyond obvious: He should be a would-be gigolo who pulls out all the stops in hopes of getting hired by Vanessa, aka the merry madame of the DMV. As for Bold & Beautiful, I envision Oliver getting serious again, this time as a colleague of Taylor’s who is brought in to counsel Steffy and Finn through the collapse of their marriage.
Who would you like to see Oliver play next? Drop your answers in the comments. And be sure to check out the new edition of Soaps’ Burning Questions below. Among the hot topics are Oliver’s wig — possibly but not necessarily the silliest since Bold & Beautiful put a mop on poor Krista Allen’s head — Young & Restless’ hunky junkie and Days of Our Lives‘ impoverished millionairess.
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