‘I’d like a dramatic closeup’: John Oliver takes over daytime TV with delightfully wooden soap opera roles

The late-night host’s recent stints on Days of Our Lives and General Hospital have brought viewers to a dwindling genre A man in a dark suit steps down from a helicopter into the aftermath of a warehouse shootout. Flanked by machine gun-toting members of his tactical team, he stalks through the carnage. Without breaking stride, he comes to a defeated fighter lying face down, reaching for a handgun, and shoots him at close range. The man stops in front of another fighter clinging to life, caus...

By Andrew Lawrence