Star Wars is awesome!! It’s truly amazing how much a part of pop culture this franchise is. Especially considering it’s not really that old. Well, compared to others anyway. It’s such a part of pop culture it only makes sense that references and homages find there way into movies and TV that have NOTHING to do with Star Wars at all. For instance, Toy Story 2 is about as removed from Star Wars as you can get but that doesn’t stop them from referencing it especially since Emperor Zurg is sort of a Darth Vader knock off:
That’s what I wanted to go thru today. These aren’t little Easter eggs you can barely see, but scenes referencing lines and characters from the movie all the way to flat out homages and parodies! It was supposed to be just ten but..yeah, right. To be honest this list almost ballooned out of control! Let’s begin, in no particular order :
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
This may be the most out there one. During the movie we cut to a scene showing what the garage guys were doing to Cameron’s car. They needed a big fanfare in this scene. What did they choose? What else!!!
Big Bang Theory
Of course, I could make this whole list The Big Bang Theory as there has been a million references on that show. Even a mock opening crawl in one episode. But I will stick with this scene as an example since it’s a more direct homage than others. And wow is Bob Newhart a good sport!
Friends
This is a classic. Anyone who saw Return of the Jedi at the right age had the same fantasy Ross had in this episode. Princess Leia and that golden bikini!
Family Guy
Well, duh. Family Guy has done straight up full on parody’s of these movies, which even I had to admit I laughed at. So it’s only natural a few references made it in here and there.
The Simpsons
Yeah I mentioned these in my Garfield article ad as you can imagine, plenty show up here. Obviously even more than with Garfield.
That 70’s Show
As you probably know this show was never high on my radar. But how can you not set a series at the time the original Star Wars came out and not make a million references? Apparently, they couldn’t. I’m not old enough to remember but I like the idea that Star Wars was a iconic as soon as that first movie was seen be people. Some franchises take some time to gather a following, not this one!
Scrubs
Because of course they did! And it didn’t take very long for them to do it either.
Energizer Bunny Commercial
Because, sure. Why not? By the Vader also appeared in a Target ad opposite Heidi Klum. Yeah makes no sense to me either.
Back to the Future
Yeah no way to leave this off, though it’s not the best example I freely admit. But you gotta love it anyway.
Night at the Museum II
This scene fails because Vader doesn’t say a word. Still clever but could have been better. Seriously was James Earl Jones unavailable?
E.T.
I still remember the laugh at the theater this little scene got. A cute gag. And that Yoda costume was pretty impressive for the time!
Sesame Street
This is something I really need to touch on more. And that is the way Sesame Street does a decent job parodying TV and movies all in the name of educating children. Here is a Star Wars example:
And yes R2D2 and C3PO literally appeared on the show. Only on Sesame Street can two droids walk on and the reaction is barely a shrug
Muppet Babies took some digs at the movies also:
And finally, I talked about this before but couldn’t leave if off. Yes, this happened :
Mark Hamill, never change! Did I mention they did “Pigs in Space”? Of course the did!! Seriously guys this whole episode is worth a watch (Chewbacca is even in it!). I do wonder just how much of a favor Frank Oz’s doing Yoda was for George Lucas.
There are tons more I had to keep some off because the list was just getting to damn long. I left off Hot Shots, The Flash, Robot Chicken, Tiny Tunes and plenty more. And no mention of Spaceballs because that’s a straight up parody not just a quick gag or reference. The call backs are way to numerous to even count! That movies deserves an article someday. Did I miss your favorite? Comment and let me know.
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