Franco's UCLA Commencement Speech ... Sort Of

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While some graduating seniors from UCLA hoped to hear alum actor James Franco deliver their commencement speech this year, Franco reportedly dropped out at the last minute, citing a need to be on location for his next film.
But with a newly released video clip from Funnyordie.com, Franco gives a glimpse at what his speech might've been like. The video is played off as a test given to UCLA, who then withdrew the 'Milk' and 'Pineapple Express' actor from the ceremony.
Warning: Foul Language
The curse-addled, ego-driven speech is a parody of the speech that never was, complete with Franco showing off pictures of him snoozing in class and comparing himself to Barack Obama. Franco pauses for crowd breaks and cheers in between self-inflated comments and even quotes author R.L. Stein, mocking the usual pomp and reverence seen from commencement speakers.
In a UCLA news release from June 3, Franco apologized for not being able to attend the commencement, set for June 12.
"I deeply regret not being able to keep my commitment to giving the commencement speech at UCLA's graduation this year," he said in a prepared statement. "Unfortunately the date conflicts with me needing to be on location to begin pre-production on my next film. I wish everyone in the 2009 class the best of luck in all of their future endeavors."
Upon the announcement that Franco was to be the commencement speaker for the class of '09, some students took to protesting, citing that he was not a proper choice. Two days after Franco withdrew, UCLA announced that Linkin Park lead guitarist and UCLA alum Brad Delson would keynote the commencement.
Franco graduated from UCLA last year with a major in creative writing and minor in robotics.
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2009-07-09 15:24:30
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