Conan Says No
As we mentioned earlier, James Franco left UCLA graduates scrambling for a last minute replacement for a commencement speaker after her suddenly pulled out of addressing his alma matter.
Franco was supposed to be the university's speaker this year, but he ended up canceling on them with just two weeks to go and a lame excuse. He claimed he had to be on location for "pre-production" on an upcoming film.
They couldn't give him ONE day off?????
So students took to their Facebook accounts and started a petition to have funnyman Conan O'Brien be their speaker instead.
But really, we think Conan's got enough to worry about with being Jay Leno's new replacement, especially with the ratings he got this week.
So, in a short yet polite statement, O'Brien has just declined the offer to address the graduation UCLA class, saying:
"I am honored to be asked but I am so busy launching "The Tonight Show" there just is not enough time to give this speech the preparation it deserves. I wish everyone in the class of 2009 the best and I am honored that they thought of me."
Maybe Jimmy Kimmel is available?
[Image via WENN.]
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Why don't they focus their attentions on getting James Franco back?
He may want to start by hiring some decent writers. Him making weird faces only goes so far. And his man on the street stuff is tiresome. How about if he offers up enemas to people on the street?
"Low Ratings"???
SHUT THE FUCK UP, PEREZ.
i hate how you keep repeating statements or pushing certain people on your website, and by doing so, hope that we'll all believe it or like whoever you're promoting,
CONAN RULES!!
Thank God. Maybe they can get Andy Richter if he doesn't have other commitments.
Conan is hilarious… He'll bring the ratings in soon enough.
We love james FRANCO
Just b/c they sign a petition doesn't mean he's suppose to do the commencement. I doubt he does have 1 day off, especially now that he's starting his new show.
Typical UCLA class, so intent on getting a celeb. It's not like it's a ivy league school. Get over yourselves assholes.
Re: Suzy Q – UMMM WE'D RATHER HAVE NO ONE THAN JAMES FRANCO AKA HIGH TIMES MAN OF THE YEAR!!!
I AM IN CONTACT WITH HIS PR PEOPLE AND ALL HOPE IS NOT LOST FOR US AT UCLA. WE ARE TRYING TO GET SOME SORT OF PRE RECORDED SPEECH OR SOMETHING!
lmao!!!
UC MERCED got Michelle Obama
what not UCLA?
SERIOUSLY IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHO WE CAN GET BECAUSE IM SURE MANY PEOPLE WOULD HAVE ACCEPTED HAD THEY BEEN APPROACHED. BUT FOR SOME ODD REASON UCLA THOUGHT SINCE JAMES FRANCO JUST GRADUATED AND SERIOUSLY OWED UCLA, HE WOULD DO IT AND THEY WOULDNT HAVE TO PUT IN THE WORK TO GET SOMEONE ELSE. NOW HE BAILED AND WE ARE LEFT HANGING.
is he human? weird.
My sister said the students did not even want James Franco to speak because he was a crap student, with sparse attendance and he slept in class.
Many of UCLA did NOT want Franco as the speaker. What a joke. Franco had time to take 60 units a Quarter when he was there, but doesn't have time to speak? WTF? It's likely he caught wind of the "UCLA Students Against James Franco as Commencement Speaker." Stupid.
I place the blame on Franco, but also on the idiots that supported his being the speaker to begin with.
Go Bruins!
do you know how to spell perez? it's alma mater.
I didn't really care if James Franco spoke or not…he probably would be better to look at than some old guy rambling on about his ucla days but is kewl. I'm curious to see now if they get anyone to speak since this will be my graduation and I will be there to witness whoever they get.
How about Bill Mahr…you respect all his ideas and values…a man that'll make you proud. /sarcasm off
UCLA's graduations must just suck. Bill Clinton was supposed to be at our commencement but cancelled due to a labor strike. I went to my department's graduation and honestly - not a single professor I had was there. Horrible.
HOW ABOUT JAY LENO?!?!?!?
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HE'S GOT TIME ON HIS HANDS THESE DAYS.
Franco's excuse is so lame. Pre-production is just rehearsals and stuff…
They should ask Jay Leno, what's he doing now?
Maybe Perez should pinch hit.
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After all it is UCLA, what do you expect? Their alumni do not have an loyalty to that stinkin' school, who would?
That's too bad, Conan would have made an awesome speech!
The new film Franco's doing is in Belfast, Ireland. One day off?? It takes 12 hours to get from LA to Ireland.
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UCLA student got what they wanted. He's not doing it. I say fair play to him. He's stuck his two fingers up at them cause now they can't get anyone.
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ahahahahahahahahahahahhahahahhahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Why not ask Perez?
This is why UCLA is a big joke. While other universities engage real leaders as commencement speakers, this institution chases actors and chat show hosts. Sad.
Re: sirengirl – GO TROJANS!!! WE LOVE FRANCO!!!!