I expected that! Which is why I posted!

Glad I could help. But really, I understand the initial shock. We all had it. But now that it's had time to sink in and its clear that Franco isn't doing this because he's in debt or has an untreated brain tumor, all that's left to do is watch the circus and wait to hear what he says when it's all over.

Nice article about James Franco and the future of soap operas. Thank you to EW.com for it's continuous soap coverage the past few weeks.

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/10/30/james-franco-on-general-hospital-save-daytime/

I still don't understand how the burden is on daytime if a very limited run by a B-list actor doesn't get the numbers up. If daytime sinks or swims it's not based on James Franco.

That's very nice of them to take ABC at their word about OLTL.

I believe ABC that OLTL is safe for the time being. In couple years, it will be a different story.

I still don't understand how the burden is on daytime if a very limited run by a B-list actor doesn't get the numbers up. If daytime sinks or swims it's not based on James Franco.

That's very nice of them to take ABC at their word about OLTL.

I wouldnt class a guy whos satrred in major blockbuster hits that have grossed huge amounts for studios and has been nominated and won various awards b-list.

That's very nice of them to take ABC at their word about OLTL.

They might as well. It doesn't cost them anything to repeat ABC's party line. It probably earns them a few points. If OLTL got canceled tomorrow it's not like EW would lose credibility. If this were a business magazine, that would be another story.

I still don't understand how the burden is on daytime if a very limited run by a B-list actor doesn't get the numbers up. If daytime sinks or swims it's not based on James Franco.

That's very nice of them to take ABC at their word about OLTL.

He is not going to get the numbers up. He will get some people and the press tuning in for him and him alone with the intention of tuning out immediately after. So the burden is on GH to produce a quality show (tall order) so maybe just a small fraction of the people decide to stay and the mainstream media doesn't bury the show under an avalanche of ridicule and mockery.

Unless Franco is also coming on as HW, EP or the new head of ABC Daytime he can't "save" a damn thing.

True. I'm not even convinced that Franco can bring in enough viewers to bump up GH's ratings.

Unless Franco is also coming on as HW, EP or the new head of ABC Daytime he can't "save" a damn thing.

You said it! They ratings may go up maybe .1 or .2, but that's about it. And when he leaves, they will go back down. Honestly, I am really hoping many media critics analyze GH while Franco is on the show and discuss how horrible characters like Jason, Sonny, Carly, Jax, Sam, Spanelli all are, and then maybe ABC and Disney get the hint and boot them all out!

You said it! They ratings may go up maybe .1 or .2, but that's about it. And when he leaves, they will go back down. Honestly, I am really hoping many media critics analyze GH while Franco is on the show and discuss how horrible characters like Jason, Sonny, Carly, Jax, Sam, Spanelli all are, and then maybe ABC and Disney get the hint and boot them all out!

sadly, those char's will be praised because they are exciting when you first tune into GH...

You said it! They ratings may go up maybe .1 or .2, but that's about it. And when he leaves, they will go back down. Honestly, I am really hoping many media critics analyze GH while Franco is on the show and discuss how horrible characters like Jason, Sonny, Carly, Jax, Sam, Spanelli all are, and then maybe ABC and Disney get the hint and boot them all out!

That would be a dream come true, which means it won't happen.

First look:

http://sn.soapnet.go.com/news/article/first-look-james-franco-general-hospital

He looks very yummy

Am I the only one who thinks Franco's character will be secretly hiding in some sort of warehouse and will only communicate via phonecalls the entire time or something, leading up the climax of the story where that will be the first time he sees Jason and Sam?

With his limited taping schedule, I kinda believe he'll just be locked up somewhere, taping by himself the entire time till they end the story.