A lot of soap operas have been cancelled recently—not even James Franco could save them (although the one he's appeared on, General Hospital, is one of the last remaining). For fans of All My Children, whose finale airs on September 23rd, it may be comforting to know that the show will go on... albeit very briefly, and away from your television screen. more ›

Today ABC announced that it will kill off two of its soap operas: All My Children and One Life to Live. Sources tell us that the daytime dramas will fall down an elevator shaft and slip into a coma, respectively, which gives the network room to bring them back whenever they want. The last soap opera standing on ABC will be General Hospital... so good move, whoever cast James Franco on a recurring role on the show. more ›

No, there can never be too much James Franco news. The actor has been making the rounds screening Howl, where a lucky NY Mag writer caught up with him. Instead of asking about his portrayal of Alan Ginsberg, however, Franco was asked about his role on General Hospital. And thank goodness for that, because frankly we couldn't get through the first paragraph of the explanation he penned for the Wall Street Journal. more ›

Now that James Franco has been on General Hospital for the past ten days, and counting, it's time to check in on his Port Charles alter ego, known as "Franco." Seriously. The too-weird-to-be-real scenes of his mysterious artist character include him hitting on a younger blonde lass, who in real life probably never dreamed she'd be sharing a scene with the Hollywood actor... who in turn probably never thought he'd be spewing lines like, "If it makes you feel any better I don't want to have your babies. Any commitment longer than an evening makes me break out." What do you think of his temporary role? more ›

Set your DVRs: Starting November 20th actor/student/dreamboat James Franco will be making his debut on General Hospital—which inexplicably is just way more exciting than his upcoming cameo on 30 Rock. more ›

Can actor James Franco single-handedly save Soap Operas from their rapid demise? More importantly, even if he could, should he? Word on the street is that Franco (currently attending both NYU and Columbia) is temporarily moving to the fictional town of Port Charles, New York to be a "mysterious person" on daytime drama General Hospital. ABC has confirmed it, and there is speculation "that his story arc will be a few months long and that he'll do one day on the set each week, filming scenes for several episodes at once." Franco will be on small screens around the nation starting November 20th, and there's no use pretending you aren't going to set that DVR. more ›

Say goodbye to your stories... well, the story of Josh and Reva at least. Guiding Light is going off the air after 72 years and many story lines only a soap opera could embrace (cloning! time travel!). The Daily News gives the farewell a double article treatment; one focusing on GL's late writer (the "mother of stories") Irna Phillips, and the other on the show's final days as it leaves the airwaves. They note that audiences may not have time for hour-long shows anymore, and As the World Turns may be the next victim of our busy schedules. As for The Light, it will officially go out after airing its final episode this Friday at 10 a.m., and surely Mayor Bloomberg will even shed a tear. Did you know that it's been filming in New York City since 1949? Pat Kiernan has a farewell video. more ›

At the Made in NY awards last night the Mayor called the longest-running soap opera in television history, Guiding Light, a “real New York institution.” The show only recently announced its cancellation, after being on radio and television for 72 years. Bloomberg told those in attendance, “This fall, the ‘Light’ will fade after 57 wonderful years in New York City. I really hope that Phillip, Alexandra, Alan and all the Spaldings can work out their differences, that Olivia and Natalia find true love, and that we finally find out who killed Edmond! I think it was Josh—but I never liked him, anyway.” Though he claimed to be unfamiliar with the show, it sure sounds like the Mayor takes an afternoon break to watch his stories. Maybe he'll find comfort in this slideshow tracing GL's history. more ›

Governor David Paterson hoped his and his wife's admission that they had extramarital affairs meant that everyone could move on. Other politicians certainly want to move on and constituents generally don't think it's a big deal (Hookergate fatigue?), but now that the tabloids have license to run with it, it means details (and long cover headlines) galore! more ›