WTF: James Franco Joining ‘General Hospital’ for Extended Story Arc
James Franco will guest star on ABC’s “General Hospital” for a lengthy story arc this fall. According to the story at The Huffington Post:
The “Pineapple Express” and “Spider-Man” actor will play a mystery person who comes to the soap opera’s town of Port Charles. The recurring role will begin Nov. 20 – to coincide with November sweeps – and will last about two months.
Executive producer Jill Farren Phelps says it’s “an honor that an actor of Franco’s caliber would choose to spend some of his valuable time in Port Charles.”
James Franco
I’m having a hard time understanding Franco’s motivation on this one. Franco broke through in a big way in 2008, garnering a Golden Globe nomination and stealing scenes from everyone not named Danny McBride in Pineapple Express while also appearing in a critically acclaimed role opposite Sean Penn in Milk. Franco’s upcoming 2010 film releases include Your Highness with Danny McBride as well as a supporting role with Steve Carell in Date Night.
I… Well… I mean… you know…
Sorry, I got nothin’
The soap opera genre doesn’t get the respect they deserve, probably because of the stupid outrageous storylines. But if you read up on the rules of filming a soap you will find it is drastically different from that of movies. In soaps there aren’t constant retakes, in fact they frown on more than one take for a scene. The volume of dialog that is filmed in one day is also quite enormous compared to movies. And in soaps the actors don’t have insight into their characters. I was never a fan of James Franco before but this move impresses me. Maybe he wants the discipline that comes with this type of strict filming.
Or maybe he’s not so stuck up that he is “only a movie actor” but instead wants to be a “working actor”. Like I said this move impresses me. At least he’s not sitting on his butt for months in between promotions and filmings getting into trouble at clubs with DUI’s like certain celebs.
Oh and Elizabeth Taylor guested on General Hospital once before.
Or maybe his mother or grandmother is a fan of the show and he’s doing it for them
~Bonnie