I haven't mentioned James Franco's General Hospital tenure here - mainly because I found it so bizarre that I didn't really know what to say. But it's getting difficult to ignore the fact that James has a serious hard-on for televsion right now. Up next for the actor? A guest spot on 30 Rock. I don't find that choice odd - that's the golden ring for celebrities to have fun with cameos. But an extended contract with a soap opera? I find that puzzling. Most actors struggle to land movie roles (which Franco has accomplished several times over) - so to intentionally throw yourself back into the daily grind seems odd, at best. However, the more research I do on the story, the more interested I become. Here's the scoop on the actor's 30 Rock appearance, via In Touch:
[Jane Krakowski has confirmed the rumors -- James Franco is coming to 30 Rock! According to Jane, who plays ditzy actress Jenna on the NBC hit comedy, the series' creator and star Tina Fey brought the Spider-Man hottie on board after working with him on the movie Date Night. "He and Jenna are set up for an industry type of relationship," Jane explained to In Touch at the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation gala at the New York Marriot Marquis on November 9. Despite their on-screen love being a sham "faux-mance," Jane enjoyed having James on the set. "We just finished our shots together, and he was very lovely. It was great fun to have him, he's a very talented actor!" the blond bombshell added.]
I'm still wondering how Franco's soap opera contract negotiations went down. I picture the casting director hanging up on James' agent the first time, thinking it was all in jest - and pissing herself when the call came back 'round. I'm really interested to see where he goes with this experience. It's fun to see someone of his stature taking chances. Here's a ode to the brilliance that is James, via Go Fug Yourself:
[Franco himself is being tight-lipped about his motives and moving along to 30 Rock without any to-do -- and that's smart, because the speculation is creating way more buzz than it would if we simply discovered he has a beloved old aunt who still drinks from a Luke-and-Laura coffee mug. And in the end, we don't really care about the hows and whys; we're just fascinated that he's here, there, and everywhere. Joining General Hospital, and acting like it's just another gig, displays a ballsy disregard for conventional Hollywood wisdom, and adds a line to his résumé that has already generated more discussion than all the Spider-Man movies combined. For any ridicule Franco may get, he's created twice as much intrigue -- making him not only a clever actor, but a versatile and surprising one. So next year, when commencement rolls around again, we hope someone offers Franco the chance to give that speech. It'll probably be a doozy. Especially now that he'll be able to deliver it while staring longingly into middle distance as one perfect tear rolls down his cheek.]
Forgive me for taking so long - I'm totally onboard!
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