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Looks like actor-writer-director-producer-poet James Franco (he of esoteric and multi-hyphenate fame) is officially ready to get into the ring with Comedy Central. The Comedy Central Roast of James Franco airs Labor Day (Sept. 2) and has the potential to be one of the more livelier roasts, capable of reaching a brand new demographic.
Previous roast honorees have included Roseanne Barr, Charlie Sheen, Donald Trump, David Hasselhoff and Joan Rivers.
Franco has proven his comedic chops in the recent comedies This Is the End and Pineapple Express and he definitely turned heads with his serious roles-- 127 Hours, Howl and Milk. He's also publishing his first book of poetry (Graywolf Press) in 2014.
Roasters have yet to be announced but expect a heated skewering.
Kent Alterman, Comedy Central's president of content development and original programming, recently said in a statement: "If only James Franco was a more successful, multi-hyphenated, incessant creative risk taker in different media, he'd be the perfect person to roast. Oh well... I suppose we'll just have to make do."
Funny man that Alterman.
In the meantime, Comedy Central released its first teaser of the upcoming roast. Take a peek.