James Franco Guest Stars on 'General Hospital'

James Franco is a perplexing character. When producers announced last month that the actor would be joining the long-running soap opera General Hospital for two months in a recurring role, we didn't know if we should be surprised, intrigued, or just accepting. (The fact that Franco approached the show himself and actually asked to work in daytime TV only adds to our confusion.)

In truth, we think this could work. And not just because Franco seems too good to be on daytime TV. In fact, it's because he isn't always. Franco is a likable yet extremely inconsistent actor. Compare his raw and powerful performances in Freaks and Geeks, James Dean, and Milk and a remarkably self-aware comedic performance in Pineapple Express with his largely-ignored starring roles in forgettable films like Tristan & Isolde, Annapolis, and Flyboys. He's starring as beat poet Allen Ginsberg in Howl and returns to comedy in the upcoming films Date Night and Your Highness, but still accepts a paycheck for garbage like Nights in Rodanthe and The Wicker Man. And perhaps most importantly, he plays a central role in the Spider-Man franchise, but portrays Harry Osborn in a way more suited to soap operas than blockbusters anyway.

Watch the new promo for Franco's upcoming stint on GH below to judge for yourself:

Franco also recently filmed an episode of 30 Rock, in which he plays himself. But which version of James Franco is that, really?

Franco's first General Hospital episode airs next Friday, Nov. 20. Will you watch?

-- Daniel Lehman