Apparently, GENERAL HOSPITAL's James Franco is synonymous with Christmas trees. Who needs Santa Claus? Fresh off a sketch on this week's SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE in which he played the operator of a Christmas tree lot who was a little too...er, attached to his trees (if you consider naming and french-kissing a scotch pine "too attached"), came Monday's GH, when Franco (the character) visited Port Charles' only all-night Xmas tree lot. Turns out staying open until midnight made terrific business sense, because it appeared that nearly everyone in town waited until after-hours to go tree-shopping. (Note to GH: It gets cold in Buffalo, N.Y., region after dark!) Carly even brought infant Josslyn out — without a hat! — for some last-minute...er, sprucing up. There, Carly ran into Franco, who was eyeing the exact same tree, and challenged her to a coin flip (with a two-headed coin) over who would get to buy it. He ultimately relented — perhaps out of concern for Josslyn's bald pate in the chill night air. (He did warn Carly not to take her daughter for granted.)

The tree lot was also good for family therapy: Robin and Patrick got into a spat over the size of his tree — which sent interested observer Lisa fleeing back to the relative calm of the hospital — until they agreed to compromise. Meanwhile, Luke and Lucky used the search for the perfect pine as an excuse to feel each other out and snipe over Christmas plans. Luke wasn't sure if he was staying in town for the holiday — but he was certain he wasn't calling Laura for her birthday! Clearly the Quartermaines were the only sane ones — since Monica and Tracy were already arguing over the decorations, they clearly must have shopped before nightfall!