All Things Considered

James Franco Checks In To 'General Hospital'

By Jesse Baker

November 20, 2009 11:00 AM

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James Franco? The movie star? On daytime television?

Franco, one of Judd Apatow's original proteges, first came to national attention on the television show Freaks and Geeks. He later earned a Golden Globe for his portrayal of James Dean and played a supervillain in the Spider-Man franchise. Last year he played a drug dealer in Pineapple Express and won acclaim for his role opposite Oscar winner Sean Penn in Milk.

So what's he doing on General Hospital?

Jill Farren-Phelps, executive producer of the ABC daytime drama, is happily puzzled about it herself.

"We too thought, 'Really? He wants to do a soap? Really?' " Farren-Phelps says, adding that no deal-making or sweet-talking was required.

In fact, the idea came from Franco's camp: His manager, Miles Levy, brought the idea to the show. (Levy also manages Steve Burton, who plays General Hospital bad boy Jason Morgan.)

"The truth of the matter is that James is not in any kind of box," Farren-Phelps says. "I think that is part of why he's here."

Bigger than Daytime

Whether Franco is scratching an itch or researching something for his next role is anybody's guess: He's not giving interviews. He has mentioned that this experiment is kind of like "performance art," a notion one of his collaborators has expanded on elsewhere. It's more than just a cameo role, though: He spent three days on the set, which means his character — oh-so-originally named Franco — will hang around Port Charles through at least the start of 2010.

If James Franco won't share what's in this sideline for him, the benefit for Farren-Phelps and the folks at General Hospital is obvious. Elizabeth Taylor was the last movie star to stir this much excitement on the ABC daytime drama, when she crashed Luke and Laura's wedding.

"We think it has sort of a cool factor that definitely freshens the image of daytime," Farren-Phelps says. And daytime needs some freshening: It's no secret that soaps are in a state of depression, with ratings down across the industry.

Star Turn Won't Keep Casual Fans Tuning In

"It takes a lot to actually get people engaged on a full-time basis with one of these shows," says Samuel Ford, who has lectured on soaps at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He says one rebel Hollywood actor won't do much to breathe life back into General Hospital.

"A lot of times, audiences shift in and watch for the short term," Ford says. But because they have no support group to watch this show with and talk to about it, they shift back out."

Regardless, General Hospital is keeping Franco's storyline open. If he ever wants to give up movies, Farren-Phelps says, he'll always have a home in Port Charles. Copyright 2010 National Public Radio. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

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ROBERT SIEGEL, host:

And we turn now to a very well known hospital, at least well known on television, ABC is hyping it as the most anticipated star turn on daytime TV since Elizabeth Taylor crashed Luke and Laura's wedding.

(Soundbite of TV Series, �General Hospital�)

Unidentified Man #1: James Franco guest stars in a shocking �General Hospital� event.

Mr. JAMES FRANCO (Actor): (as Franco) I like it here in Port Charles, folks are so friendly.

SIEGEL: That's right, movie star James Franco is joining the cast for a special limited storyline. He made his first appearance today. He is one of the original Judd Apatow proteges and he has a �Spiderman� franchise under his belt. Franco doesn't need �General Hospital� to boost his resume. So, Jesse Baker tried to figure out what he's doing on daytime TV.

JESSE BAKER: It's a happy puzzlement to �General Hospital's� executive producer.

Ms. JILL FARREN-PHELPS (Executive Producer, �General Hospital�): We too thought, really, he really wants to do soap, really?

BAKER: Jill Farren-Phelps says there was no deal making or sweet talking involved. Franco's manager brought the idea to �General Hospital.�

Ms. FARREN-PHELPS: The truth of the matter is I think that James is not in any kind of a box. I think that's part of why he's here. I don't think it has to do with the fact that he has, you know, soap opera roots anywhere.

BAKER: Franco's career is 12 tiers above daytime TV. From roles as James Dean to a weed connoisseur, the guy is already high in Hollywood.

(Soundbite of TV Series, �Pineapple Express�)

Mr. FRANCO: (As Saul Silver) What you do is you write all three ends at the same time�

Unidentified Man #2: Really?

Mr. FRANCO: (As Saul Silver) �and then the smoke converges, creating a trifecta of joint-smoking power.

BAKER: And last year, earned acclaim as Harvey Milk's boyfriend in �Milk.�

(Soundbite of movie, �Milk�)

Mr. FRANCO: (As Scott Smith) If you say anything about politics or the campaign or what speech you have to give or anything, I swear to God, I'm going to stab you with this fork.

BAKER: Whether Franco is scratching an itch or researching for his next role, he's not giving interviews. But he has mentioned it's like performance art. It's not just a cameo though. He spent three days on the set, which means his character, oh-so originally named Franco, will be hanging around Port Charles through at least the start of 2010.

(Soundbite of �General Hospital�)

Unidentified Man #3: An artist, who canvas is murder.

Mr. FRANCO: (As Franco) Silenced cells, heard all about it, right?

Unidentified Man #3: No one is safe.

Mr. FRANCO: (As Franco) We may be dealing with a whole different kind of animal here.

Unidentified Man #3: Not even an expert killer.

Mr. FRANCO: (As Franco) I need to know who took this�

BAKER: Okay. So, if he can't figure out what's in it for James Franco, at least we know what �General Hospital� hopes they'll get out of it.

Ms. FARREN-PHELPS: We think it has sort of a cool factor that definitely freshens the image of daytime, which is something that, you know, is devoutly to be wished.

BAKER: And daytime needs some freshening. It's not a secret that soaps are in a state of depression. Ratings across the industry are down.

Professor SAMUEL FORD (Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology): It takes a lot to get people really engaged on a full-time basis with one of these shows.

BAKER: Samuel Ford has lectured on soap operas at MIT. And he says one rebel Hollywood actor won't do much to breathe life back into �General Hospital.�

Prof. FORD: A lot of times, audiences shift in and watch in the short term. But because they have no support group to watch this show with and talk to about it, they shift back out.

BAKER: Regardless, �General Hospital,� is keeping James Franco's storyline open. If he ever wants to give up movies, Jill Farren-Phelps says he'll always have a home in Port Charles.

For NPR News, I'm Jesse Baker.

(Soundbite of music, �General Hospital Theme�) Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio.

Source: NPR

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