Following James Franco’s good-natured spoof of his earlier Gucci Pour Homme fragrance ad campaign on Funny Or Die, the actor is officially back in front of the camera for the Italian luxury brand’s latest scent, Gucci by Gucci SPORT pour Homme. “James Franco is perfect for this fragrance and perfect for Gucci,” the brand’s creative director, Frida Giannini, tells WWD. “He personifies the sort of nonchalance and unforced appeal that is most attractive in a man. In the advertising campaign, he captures the fragrance’s casual, modern and masculine air.” Shot by famed fashion photographers Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin in Cannes, France, the new series depicts a very wet and chiseled Franco gazing seductively into the camera after a fully-clothed dip in a pool. The sporty fragrance, a mix of fresh citrus scents and masculine undertones like veviter, is available in stores now with products ranging from a deodorant stick for $27 to a 50 ml spray at $57.

I’m of the mind that men’s fragrance ads look much better when the spokesmodel is nekkid but I can settle for wet. James Franco can put his pretty face on pretty much any product and it would sell. He is one of those magnetic personalities that just exudes likability and talent (imagine that!) that companies love to ally themselves with. I am all for James Franco as the new face of Gucci fragrances. I wouldn’t mind gettin’ a sniff of him in person sometime to, er, test this Gucci fragrance … wouldn’t you?

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As you may recall, Howl initially premiered at a very private (and very well-attended) screening in NYC last month but this premiere in Berlin is the film’s introduction to the world. I’m really not loving the porn’stache on James here but I am DYING to see this film nonetheless. I think Franco will make an excellent Allen Ginsberg … wee!! What do y’all think … is the porn’stache hot or not? Are you lookin’ forward to Howl-ing with James Franco?

[Photo credit: Wireimage]

James Franco has been many things lately: NYU student, artist, soap opera star. So it’s not entirely surprising that the hunky actor managed to transform himself, with a pair of black-frame glasses and an adopted haute-Jersey accent, into outspoken twentieth-century poet Allen Ginsberg. Franco’s latest film, Howl, draws on actual interviews and smoky back-room readings and partly reenacts Ginsberg’s 1957 obscenity court case to paint a portrait of the Beat-era bard. Last night at the Crosby Street Hotel, a Cinema Society audience got an early look at the new movie and at Franco, who stood in the packed theater throughout the whole thing. Clearly, he’s got a thing for poets on screen: Among his recent projects is a short film based on the work of Anthony Hecht, and, in a few days, one inspired by Frank Bidart’s uncompromising poetry will (like Howl) play at Utah’s Sundance Film Festival. “I think poems work very well as films,” Franco insisted, adding that he’d had Ginsberg’s voice (and Howl, Ginsberg’s best-known work) in his head since he was about 16. “I’ve listened to dozens and dozens of recordings of him, over the years, reading that poem,” he said. “I’d listen to them in my headphones walking around New York.” Franco wasn’t the only one feeling the Beat. Björk and Matthew Barney lingered well into the after-party, and Alicia Silverstone revealed that free verse also plays a regular role in her life: “My husband has me read Charles Bukowski poems to him,” she said. “It amuses him.”

As you may recall, we saw photos of Franco on the NYC set of Howl last March and as far as looks go, Franco wears Ginsberg’s chunky glasses very well … he looks very much the part. I think we learned in Milk that Franco has the acting chops to deliver an Oscar-worthy performance … I am SO excited for this film. While I am a huge Jack Kerouac fan, I have a huge appreciation for Ginsberg and his work. I’m certain this film will do well at the film festivals which means, hopefully, it’ll be in theaters where we normal people can see it soon.

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I’ve always thought that James Franco would make a good James Dean and, wouldn’t you know it, he actually played a cute James Dean in one of the skits last night. There was also a skit where Franco was tonguing a couple of SNL’s male actors … that’s some funny shizz right there ;) After the jump, check out some of my fave skits featuring host James Franco from last night’s SNL …

The Monologue:

James Franco is busted! Well, sort of. The Port Charles Police Department has released a the mug shot of artist Franco (played by occasional movie star James Franco), who is accused of a serious crime in the fictional city featured on ABC’s hit soap General Hospital. Viewers still have a lot to learn about Franco, who has slept with Maxie Jones in an attempt to get closer to someone else in Port Charles. Reps for the show confirm that the mystery surrounding Franco’s graffiti tag CO77X will be revealed in an upcoming episode, airing Dec. 11. General Hospital airs weekdays on ABC, weeknights on SOAPnet.

Unfortch, I have not been able to watch Franco on General Hospital but I am hearing from fans of the show that he is a welcome addition to the cast. Interestingly (and confusingly) enough, James Franco plays a character named Franco on the show and his storyline is full of mob intrigue and drama … which totally sounds fun. I gotta say, even tho he’s supposed to look all gruff and mean in this mug shot photo, I still think James Franco looks good :) Whatta ya say, General Hospital fans … is James Franco doing well on the show? Are we really missing out by not watching?

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L.A.’s art world was rocked less than a year ago when the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) was on the brink of financial ruin, facing the sale of some its masterpieces. It is a completely different picture today. The Museum of Contemporary Art previewed its new exhibit, “Collection: MOCA’s First Thirty Years.” A big exhibit celebrating big news: MOCA is out of the red. And on Sunday it will open a major exhibition of its collection, more than 500 pieces of art by 200 artists. Philanthropist and arts patron Eli Broad kicked in $30 million. The museum raised another $30 million to get out of the red. They brought in former UCLA chancellor Charles Young to run things. “No 30-year journey is without bumps,” said Broad. “Many of you, I’m sure, recall a year ago, MOCA had a financial crisis.” MOCA began in 1979 by acquiring one major collection, then adding to it. “This is a world-class institution, among the best anywhere in the world,” said L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. As big as this exhibit is, this is just a tenth of MOCA’s collection, which is showing its earlier pieces on South Grand Avenue, and work from 1980 to the present at its Geffen Contemporary space nearby. A shuttle takes visitors between the two. Even with two spaces, how did MOCA’s chief curator choose what to exhibit to celebrate its 30 years? “Quality; the unique vision of the institution; and to tell the history of post-war art from the standpoint of Los Angeles today,” said MOCA Chief Curator Paul Schimmel. The celebration continues with a gala Saturday night. A thousand arts patrons from around the world will be entertained by headliner Lady Gaga, backed by the Bolshoi Ballet. MOCA is not the only L.A. museum displaying contemporary art. Broad has his name on one at the L.A. County Museum. So where does his heart lie now? “It lies in Los Angeles; to make Los Angeles the contemporary art capital of the world,” said Broad. The exhibit will be on display through May.

Celebs aren’t the only ones able to celebrate MOCA’s 30th anniversary, LAist reports that admission to the museum will be FREE to the public all week long:

MOCA–the Museum of Contemporary Art–opened 30 years ago in Los Angeles. To celebrate the anniversary, the museum opens its largest installation tomorrow, featuring more than 500 works from more than 200 artists from its own permanent collection … The new exhibition features a comprehensive look at contemporary art history from the past 70 years, including pop art, abstract expressionism and photography. Highlighted artists and works include: Jackson Pollock’s Number 1, 1949 (1949); Willem de Kooning’s Two Women with Still Life (1952); Alberto Giacometti’s Tall Figure II and Tall Figure III (1960); Roy Lichtenstein’s Man with Folded Arms (1962); Jean-Michel Basquiat’s Six Crimee (1982) and Edward Ruscha’s Chocolate Room (1970-2004).

Amazing!! If you have not been to the MOCA and you live in the area, you must check out this exhibit. I’m hoping David and I can take advantage of this FREE offer sometime this week … the MOCA is a great museum. Congratulations on 30 years!!

[Photo credit: Wireimage; Source, Source]

On Friday night, James Franco traveled even farther north than Columbia’s campus for Dia’s Fall Gala at the Hispanic Society on 155th Street. He showed up halfway through cocktail hour with his grandmother. He yawned a lot. Vulture managed to get a few minutes with him, during which he told us a little about his upcoming guest roles on 30 Rock and General Hospital.

Do you die?
I haven’t died yet. But they only gave me the pages for the day that we shot. I don’t know what’s going to happen. It’s all open.

As I mentioned before, I don’t watch General Hospital but I’m so curious to see Franco on GH … especially after seeing these promo pics and the newly released promo VIDEO of his appearance on the show. After the jump, check out the General Hospital promo video announcing James Franco’s debut on the show …

You guys, we’ve been waiting on pins and needles for this moment, and now we have it: the first images of James Franco in his much talked-about performance on General Hospital. Still no word on who James will be playing (beyond that it has something to do with Jason), but feel free to speculate away based on the image. And don’t forget: James’s first air date is Friday, November 20th! What do you think of this first shot? What’s this character all about? What’s with the all-black ensemble? Does that have something to do with Jason too? Start speculating!

Now, I don’t watch General Hospital at all … not since my college roommate used to make me watch it with her. I’m a total Young and the Restless and Bold and the Beautiful fan (tho B&B is really trying my patience these days) so I have NO idea what is going on on GH. I still don’t know what James Franco is doing on a soap opera but it’s deffo a boon for the show. Folks who don’t watch the show but love Franco are more likely to tune in and get hooked. I won’t be one of those new viewers (I already watch way too much TV) but, again, it’s a big score for General Hospital. Do any of y’all watch the show … are you excited that James is joining the cast?

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While Jack Kerouac is my fave writer from the Beat generation, I’ve read quite a bit of Ginsberg’s poetry, including Howl, and absolutely love the idea of James Franco playing the poet. This would be the second role in a year where Franco plays a gay man … are we beginning to see a pattern? I absolutely hope so :) After the jump, check out a few more pics of Franco on the Howl set this week …

Aww … James looks adorable in those glasses. Tho, I must admit he looks like a really idealized version of the real Allen Ginsberg (who prolly would’ve had much more luck seducing his male crushes if he had had Franco’s looks). What a great idea for a film! I’m curious to see who will be cast in the roles of Ginsberg’s friends Kerouac, Neal Cassady and William S. Burroughs. This is a movie that I will deffo see in theaters. I’ve read about Allen Ginsberg’s love of his Beat friends, I hope that that part of his life will be portrayed in the film as well.

[Photo credit: Splash News]

My guess is that the poor guy was dreaming of acing his next exam, yeah! While this photo is so full of LOL you have to admit that we’ve all nodded off during lectures at one point or other in our scholastic pasts. Shoot, my first 2-hour class my Freshman year of college was a Developmental Psychology class that I slept in all the time. As a result, I changed my major from psychology to political science … and then became a professional blogger. See … things happen for a reason. If Franco keeps sleeping his way thru his classes, mebbe he can go back to acting?

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