James Franco Enrolling in UH's Creative Writing Program? (UPDATED with UH Confirmation)

• I say let the Intellectuals and deep thinkers be.  This actor has accomplished great things.  University of Houston offers so much to students who want to learn no matter who they are.  Let's give him southern welcome and treat him like any other student. Congratulations goes to Uof H.  

• And you know all this...how?? I could not care less about James Franco but I gotta say you sound really bitter....

• He has THREE MFAs---because he has a great team of underlings who serve as class note-takers, ghost-writers, producers, directors and actors for his little obnoxious films and he has a team of people who shave him, dress him, feed him and rock him to sleep. Every student should be so lucky and if so every student would have multiple degrees. Unfortunately some have to do their own work as well as perform their own mundane tasks such as walking to class, studying, etc. Hooray for Hollywood.

• He has THREE MFAs...pretty sure that makes him more than qualified for the program. The fact that he also happens to be a successful actor shouldn't be held against him. It seems like he's entering the PhD program because he wants an opportunity to learn and improve on his writing, and isn't content resting on his Hollywood laurels.

• OK, so I always have to be the old crank. I accept it. I have learned, in fact, to bathe in that role. And speaking of roles, as one who was in the fine UH Creative Writing Program for a time in its early days (late '70s, early '80s), the privilege we enjoyed was being taught by respected and brilliant literary names like Beverly Lowry, Phillip Lopate and Donald Barthelme (and later Edward Albee, who technically belonged to the Drama Department). I'd like to think that in my time there, we were plenty enough in awe of the people who taught us: real writers, novelists, essayists and editors with real honors that went with their names. We couldn't have cared less if there was some film actor sitting around the table with us (which gives you an idea of how small and selective those classes were and I hope still are). If Franco is accepted, one hopes it will be based on the short stories or novel or poems he submits with his application rather than how many Google hits he got on the People Magazine site. Already too many talented young writers are turned away simply because there's not enough room for them all.

• The REAL news here, methinks, is the fact that Justin Chrestman will be matriculating.

• It must be twice as good.

• This is going to be like when Keenum and the Cougar football team spent a season bouncing around the AP Top 25. Suddenly, it's cool to be a Cougar. Don't get me wrong; I'm excited that the University is getting some buzz, but I hate fair-weather fans, and I feel like this is going to bring a lot of them out of the woodwork.

• What the fuck is a "Creative Writing Writing Program?" It is just referred to as a "Creative Writing Program." There is no need for a second "writing" because the act of writing is implied in the name of the program.

• AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

• Yay! Thanks for the attention!

TotalComments: 11