As the time draws near for James Franco's first appearance on General Hospital, we're finding out a touch more about his storyline and about Franco's taping of the show.

What we know:

• Franco plays a character named...Franco.
• The character is an artist.
• The graffiti "CO77X" relates to him.
• He has some sort of involvement with Jason and possibly Sam.

  Franco is set to appear in 10+ episodes and began taping on October 30, according to Entertainment Weekly.

  On his first day, Jill Farren Phelps told EW, Franco taped a whopping 65 pages. Remember, now, that in film, actors do maybe one or two pages of script a day. Phelps reports being incredibly impressed by the actor's ability to memorize.

  Apparently, Franco was in talks with GH for six months. After hearing that acting in soaps is difficult, he wanted to try it, requesting only that his character be "a little off."

  There have also been hints that when Franco leaves the show after the story arc, his departure may not be permanent.

  Phelps also expressed the hope to EW that possibly Franco's appearance on the show will open the door for other stars to give soaps a try. It's not such a far-fetched idea. Franco is unusual in that he doesn't have to look for work. However, that isn't the case with some film stars who have found themselves off the A list. Just take a look at the film stars working on network television and in theater, two much more labor-intensive fields. Can soaps be far behind?

  Photo: Gary Gershoff/Getty Images Entertainment

Laura Wright has announced that she has signed to do four more years of that feisty, sexy character that she has made her own, Carly Corinthos Jacks.

Wright has been discovering the joys of Twitter; regarding her news, she added to her tweet, "You guys are stuck with me". Viewers will be very happy to read that.

Photo: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

Popular General Hospital actor Dominic Zamprogna married on November 1. Zamprogna, 30, and his fiancee, Linda Leslie, were married in Hollywood's Griffith Park.

Zamprogna plays Dominic Pirelli/Dante Falconeri (though the Pirelli alias is on its way out), and this week, he was literally in cold water with the object of his affections, (Julie Marie Berman). Let's hope when they're back on terra firma, they can start a real romance.

Dominic, we wish you and your bride much happiness.

Photo: Adam Larkey/American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

James Franco has started taping General Hospital - looking mighty handsome as a man in black.

We'll have to wait until November 20 to learn about the character that Franco portrays, but if he's a threat to Jason, we're talking mob, I think.

Photo: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

General Hospital stars Kelly Monaco, Rebecca Herbst, Jason Thompson, and Greg Vaughan lend their voices to childrens stories released by Speakaboos.

Speakaboos is a digital content publisher for kids that produces not only stories but educational activities for children, all available online for free. Products can also be downloaded for viewing offline or on portable media devices, with at least fifteen percent of revenue contributed to charities for children's causes.

Right now, there are 75 childrens' stories and songs available, featuring such stars as Kevin Bacon, Nick Cannon, John Krasinski and Kelly Ripa.

General Hospital cast members were involved in the following, all released today, November 3:

• Billy and the Brown-Out read by Greg Vaughan

• Bluebeard read by Rebecca Herbst
• Frankenstein read by Greg Vaughan
• The Frog Prince read by Kelly Monaco and Jason Thompson
• The Little Mermaid read by Kelly Monaco and Jason Thompson
• The Wise Little Girl read by Rebecca Herbst

Photo: Courtesy of Speakaboos

November comes
And November goes,
With the last red berries
And the first white snows
- Clyde Watson

• November 2 Rachel Ames (Audrey Hardy)
• November 3 Julie Marie Berman (Lulu Spencer)
• November 11 Tyler Christopher (Nikolas Cassadine)
• November 11 Denise Alexander (Lesley Webber)
• November 20 Jason Thompson (Patrick Drake)

Photo: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

Don't worry about Greg Vaughan. This is one actor who lands on his feet and takes whatever life brings him with enthusiasm.

Vaughan has been busy tweeting, and it's all good:

Oct 16th: ...I was cast in the independent movie, Sebastian!...I'll be playing a doctor, so maybe all those years on GH rubbed off! I'm excited...The director contacted Tyler Christopher, who had worked with [him], and mentioned me for a part...

Oct. 28: First, all my love & thoughts to my friend Natalia, I know she's still smiling, maybe even more! ...Second, I'm officially making my return to the NEW 90210tomorrow!! I'm 100% thankful for all your love & support! God Bless You All!!! HAHAHA

Vaughan will not be reprising his old role of Cliff.

He adds:

...filming on the beach with a sunrise, made me realize how much I enjoy being out of the basement!!

Photo: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.

Lost actress Marsha Thomason will be performing opposite James Franco during the storyline that begins November 20. Thomason played Naomi on Lost. From 2003-2005, she appeared on Las Vegas with our very own Vanessa Marcil. She was also a regular on the CW series Easy Money.


Photo: Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images Entertainment

Natalia Livingston (Rebecca Shaw) is leaving General Hospital and will take her black eye pencil and dark eye shadows with her. The character of Rebecca is being axed.

ABC Daytime, in a statement, has said that "Natalia has decided to pursue other projects." This means that either Natalia Livingston wants to leave the show, or that General Hospital is getting rid of Rebecca and Natalia with her.

Rebecca Shaw appeared in Port Charles in January 2009, during the big hospital fire. She turned out to be the blond, heavily made up, rough talking con artist twin of the late Emily Quartermaine. Emily's death coincided with Natalia Livingston's departure from GH on May 7, 2008.

There was speculation in recent weeks, in fact, that Rebecca would actually turn out to be Emily (probably with amnesia), but it is not to be. It is unclear how far writers are planning to take the Nikolas-Elizabeth relationship, or if Elizabeth will wind up with Lucky, but in either case, Rebecca is now a third wheel and out the door.

We wish Natalia all good fortune.

Photo: American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.