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Phenomenal actor James Franco has been making some interesting role choices lately. He’s starred in films like “Milk,” and the “Spiderman” trilogy, and he’s been nominated for Golden Globe, SAG, and Emmy awards. Yet he’s also guest starring on “General Hospital” for two months. And it was HIS idea. According to the producers, James wants to “explore all aspects of his craft” and the intense shooting schedule of a soap seemed like a challenge to him. Okay… I’ll buy that. Only because I can’t think of any other possible reason. And it could also explain him guest starring on “30 Rock” soon, as Jane Krakowski’s love interest.
Ready for the latest twist in the incredibly wild and unpredictable career of one James Franco? Sources confirm to me exclusively that the Spider-Man/Milk actor will follow up his upcoming arc on General Hospital with a guest appearance on 30 Rock.
NBC declined to comment, but a Rock-solid insider tells me that Franco (playing himself) will be involved in a faux romance with Jane Krakowski’s Jenna — a relationship engineered by their respective agents. Sound familiar? It’s probably because this is the storyline Tina Fey floated by me at the Emmys way back in September.
”[Jenna gets] into a high-profile relationship with a movie star that is arranged by their agents,” Fey explained at the time…
Franco is scheduled to start work on his Rock eppy this week.
[From Entertainment Weekly]
Guesting on “30 Rock” certainly isn’t strange like guesting on “General Hospital.” But the thing about wanting to explore all areas of his “craft” (I want to throw things when people talk about their “craft”) could definitely explain why James would want to spend a little time on a good sitcom. I mean if the guy’s open to evil twins and doctors with eye patches, it makes sense that he’d want to try a scripted comedy as well. And there are very few traditional sitcoms left on the air, especially once you rule out the family-focused, TGIF sorts.
For the most part I think “30 Rock” does a good job with their guest stars. Last year they got a little too into it and I think they over-promoted Jennifer Aniston’s spot. And frankly Salma Hayek’s acting was so bad that I couldn’t watch her episodes. But they did a funny job with a brief Oprah cameo, and Mad Men’s Jon Hamm was fantastic is Tina Fey’s as-dumb-as-he-is-handsome boyfriend. James strikes me as the sort who won’t require a lot of tending to his vanity and will focus more on his character than getting a lot of attention.
Here’s James Franco attending Fashion Group International’s 26th annual Night of Stars at Cipriani, Wall Street in New York on October 22d. Images thanks to Fame Pictures . Header photo is James’ first photo from “General Hospital” - thanks to Soapnet.
Written by JayBird
Posted in James Franco, Television
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6 Responses to “James Franco to guest star on 30 Rock”
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I don’t watch soap operas, but I can see that it would be an acting challenge.
btw, I loved Salma Hayek on 30 Rock.
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I thought Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer were terrible (although I think Schwimmer’s material was a big part of the problem–just not funny). Jerry Seinfeld was the worst, though. Franco would probably be funny, although I’m not sure he’d get the rhythm of the show. Still, should be interesting.
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Seinfeld is about as funny as old socks to be blunt (if his old sitcom was anything to go by - maybe him and his gigantic white runners are phenomenal at standup, not that I want to volunteer 90 minutes of my life to find out)
And James Franco is quite brilliant - he’s galloping towards “can do no wrong” status with me, big style. Acting on a soap, when done well, requires a lot of subtelty and depth especially as the plot lines can get a bit daft. There are some excellent soap actors on british soaps - June Brown and Lacey Turner from Eastenders (I don’t often watch it, but Lacey in particular is an absolutely stellar little actress) and also Michelle Keegan from Coronation Street is always excellent.
It could be like singers doing Abba. because the songs are ubiquitous, everyone assumes they’re easy to sing - quite forgetting that nearly all of them were written for a soprano and mezzo-soprano’s voice.
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I like James Franco. He was so sexy in Milk
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I like James Franco too. He is so sexy in everything.
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I think Franco will be awesome - I was surprised by how hilarious he was in that pot movie. Whatjamacallit. Pinapple Express.
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