Is this a parody of James Franco?

OK, a little off topic for this weblog...not science, not nerdy. But The New York Times has an article up, James Franco Straddles Two Roles at Yale, which made me think of this SNL sketch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4-_8iDzkgU Do you think The New York Times reporter was playing an inside joke? Or is James Franco actually a real life parody of himself? (I don't even know what I mean I guess)