A long time ago (well, 31 years ago) in a galaxy far, far away (Television City isn't technically a different galaxy, unless you consider TV producers to be people who don't spend much time on planet Earth), an evil was unleashed upon the human race.
Today marks the 31st anniversary of the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special, a Christmas not-so-spectacular roasted by critics including some here at TV Squad years after it hit the air and even some of the franchise's most ardent fans.
That also includes George Lucas who once remarked at an Australian convention that he wished he could buy up all of the world's remaining copies of the show and smash them into oblivion with a sledgehammer. I wonder if 31 years from now, he'll be saying the same thing about Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace?
While I'll admit that the photo at right is not the most detailed, and Ansel Adams is unlikely to claim it as one of his own due to its lighting and composition, it should prove an important image for Star Wars fans.
The sign artfully painted on the glass door in this tasteful, Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired hallway within the Skywalker Ranch compound in Marin County, Calif. reads "LucasFilm Television." You'll have to trust me on that. This is as close as I could get with a camera.
You might wonder what the big deal is about that sign -- considering that LucasFilm has a show on the air already with Cartoon Network's Star Wars: The Clone Wars. But, those 22 episodes originate across the building in LucasFilm Animation -- a separate division.
Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Clone Wars might just be the beat best action and adventure show on television.
Admittedly, there isn't a ton of competition as action shows are few and far between on TV these days. They're expensive to produce in live action, so reality TV, detective shows and "chick-flick" dramas drive network schedules. Since the Star Wars universe exists only in the imaginations of George Lucas and his team encamped north of the Golden Gate bridge, The Clone Wars has more room to play affordably.
The second season of The Clone Wars launches this Friday on Cartoon Network. To build some force behind the premiere, LucasFilm Animation hosted a press event at Skywalker Ranch in Marin County. Munching on Wookie-Cookies (as all of the catering was Star-themed) and rubbing elbows with costumed Clone Troopers and bounty hunters, show creators and cast members mingled with reporters in an enthusiastic, nerd-friendly atmosphere.
The long-rumored Star Wars live action series is reportedly coming together quickly and will begin shooting before 2009 ends.
You can pick any one of many collected reports, but they all say the show is well past the planning stages and is only waiting on completed scripts before George Lucas begins casting the essential roles.
While news of Star Wars on TV might have generated a bored groan from viewers after the prequel movies came and went, the critical and ratings success of Cartoon Network's The Clone Wars shows that a galaxy far, far away can work on TV if the writers, directors and cast remember that this is all supposed to be fun -- not high drama of a deeply spiritual nature.
There's still plenty of Comic-Con International coverage en route from me, including exclusive interviews you'll only find here.
But, as the Monday morning after the madness dawns, we'll take a few minutes and review the major impressions left by the four day weekend.
What happened? What were the biggest themes of the convention and what didn't happen that everyone was hoping would. In other words, what was Comic-Con 2009, and where did it fall short?
The Clone Wars is the big title for Lucasfilm's TV slate currently, but will George Lucas use this big event as the perfect launching pad to announce a live-action Star Wars series?
Of course, not everything is from a galaxy far, far away today, as other top shows hold their first panels and press events. I'll be running from interview to press conference to panel as fast as my sore feet will carry me.
You can keep tabs on where TV Squad's Comic-Con presence is in and out of the Convention Center by following our Twitter stream, @tvsquad.
George Lucas will come as close to San Diego's Comic-Con as he could ever dare when he appears via video conference as part of the event's Star Wars presentation.
It's not top secret news that George Lucas is planning a live-action Star Wars television series that would fill in the gaps between big screen entries Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Episode IV: A New Hope. With talk of the show preparing to roll camera in Australia, the status of the TV production will be first and foremost on most fans' minds.
Speculation has it that Lucas might even shine his Death Star super laser of wisdom down on his followers by answering fan-submitted questions during the convention appearance.
Lionel Lum's awesome Bumblebee costume was one of the many cool things I saw at last year's San Diego Comic-Con. The giant show floor was packed with sweaty costumed fans, big geek friendly displays, and a few not-so incognito celebs. Folks at home got a small taste of all the corporate sponsored nerdery thanks to G4's daily coverage. This year, G4 will air the first televised panel in the convention's history.
Attack of the Show hosts Olivia Munn and Kevin Pereira will host "The Star Wars Spectacular." The taped panel will feature special guests, a table read and new footage from Cartoon Network's Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The panel will take place July 24 and air July 25 at 2 p.m. on G4. After the panel broadcast, G4 will air three live hours (on the East Coast) of Comic-Con coverage with celeb interviews and more.
In an interview with StarWars.com (yeah, I go there) former Buffy the Vampire Slayer baddie James Marsters talks about his new character, Captain Argyus, who he voices on tonight's ep of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. But, here's the interesting news: Marsters says George Lucas once considered him for the role of Anakin Skywalker for the Star Wars prequel films.
"When George Lucas was casting The Phantom Menace he, for one day maybe, considered me for the role of Anakin Skywalker and possibly found that I was too old," Marsters told StarWars.com.
Too old? That's an understatement. Anakin Skywalker was a wamp rat-fearing tween in The Phantom Menace. Marsters was 37 when that film came out! Maybe Lucas was eying him to play an older Anakin in the prequels that followed Menace? Either that, or Lucas is far more out of touch than most people think he is. (That's a scary thought). Anyway, Marsters would've also been too old to play the 20-something Anakin we saw in the later prequels. Dude's in his late forties already.
(S02E08) As much as I enjoy this show, I'm always afraid that it's going to start becoming too Sheldon-centric. Sheldon is easily the quirkiest character, so falling into the trap of, "hey, check out this ridiculous thing that guy said," over and over again would be quite easy. So far though, the writers have managed to avoid that; which is why I was happy to have a Wolowitz episode this week.
Of course, Sheldon was still there being his ridiculous self, but he wasn't there to move the plot along; much as his "Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock" game didn't move anything along (everyone always picked Spock).
Over the past few days it has once again become quite apparent that they have yet to invent an Olympic sport that I won't watch. Really. Fencing, Women's Air Rifle, Badminton... I'll watch it all. I spent my weekend traveling between the various channels, internet streams, and the occasional visit to my Slingbox in Boston. As far as the games go, they're as good as they've ever been. The coverage from NBC though, unfortunately, is still not nearly what it should be.
I'll admit, they got me. When I read about the plans for more live coverage, and how they were going to make use of all the other NBC/Universal properties, I thought this would be the year, the Olympic nirvana that always could have been. It's really not panning out that way. More than anything else, the word that keeps coming to mind for the NBC coverage is annoying. After the jump, some notes for NBC.
Clone Wars, Secret Saturdays, a teenager with a super watch, and yet another Batman cartoon. These are just some of the items that were announced at the Cartoon Network upfronts this past week. A presentation, mind you, that was attended by one George Lucas.
Lucas was there to promote the CN's pickup of the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which many are expecting big things of. This series, which we told you about way back in May of last year, will continue the adventures of Obi-Wan, Anakin, and many others during the Clone Wars. According to Stuart Snyder, President and COO of Turner Animation, Clone Wars will be a game changer for the network and will be event viewing for kids as well as entire families. "Star Wars: The Clone Wars will be appointment television for everyone in the family", said Snyder
TV Squad already did a review of this episode when it was originally broadcast. What follows is a review of the DVD extras.
Extras include:
Episode commentary by Seth McFarlane and a bunch of other members of the production team (absent are any of the character voices other than McFarlane himself).
A twelve minute interview of George Lucas by Seth McFarlene on Star Wars, Family Guy, and a variety of other topics including dating.
A nineteen minute documentary about how much the creators of Family Guy love Star Wars.
The original animatics for the episode (includes jokes and animations that didn't make the final cut).
A Family Guy Star Wars Clip Show (clips from Family Guy episodes which reference Star Wars).
While I'll admit that the photo at right is not the most detailed, and Ansel Adams is unlikely to claim it as one of his own due to its lighting and composition, it should prove an important image for Star Wars fans.
Lucasfilm's Star Wars: The Clone Wars might just be the 
The long-rumored Star Wars live action series is reportedly coming together quickly and will begin shooting before 2009 ends.
There's still plenty of Comic-Con International coverage en route from me, including exclusive interviews you'll only find here.
Today is Star Wars Saturday at 
George Lucas will come as close to San Diego's Comic-Con as he could ever dare when he appears via video conference as part of the event's Star Wars presentation.
Lionel Lum's awesome 
In an interview with 
Trey Parker and Matt Stone can't seem to keep themselves out of trouble. Paramount is now upset over the footage from their season premiere this past week of 
Over the past few days it has once again become quite apparent that they have yet to invent an Olympic sport that I won't watch. Really. Fencing, Women's Air Rifle, Badminton... I'll watch it all. I spent my weekend traveling between the various channels, internet streams, and the occasional visit to my Slingbox in Boston. As far as the games go, they're as good as they've ever been. The coverage from NBC though, unfortunately, is still not nearly what it should be.
Clone Wars, 
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