Some Star Wars-themed episodes of popular animated shows have been nominated for the 60th annual Prime Time Emmy Awards:

• Outstanding Animated Program (for programming less than one hour) - Robot Chicken: Star Wars

• Outstanding Animated Program (for programming one hour or more) - Family Guy: Blue Harvest

Source: TheForce.Net

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Briton Karen Traviss, author of such Star Wars tie-ins as the Republic Commando series and parts of the Legacy of the Force series, will come to Tempe’s Changing Hands Bookstore Monday evening, July 28 — fresh from Comic-Con International in San Diego that weekend.

Traviss is bringing with her a garrison of stormtroopers to mark the release of her newest book Star Wars: The Clone Wars, which drops July 26 and is loosely based on the CGI movie of the same name debuting Aug. 15 in theaters. It takes place between Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

According to Changing Hands, the story “takes readers to a time when the young Anakin Skywalker is mentoring his first Padawan, a girl called Ahsoka, as he learns to be a warrior and rises to the status of hero of the Clone Wars. Clone trooper action, battles, and adventure abound in this series for Star Wars fans of all ages.”

The signing and discussion is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Seating with book purchase begins at 6 p.m., with general public seating at 6:45 p.m. Changing Hands Bookstore is located at 6428 S. McClintock Dr., Tempe. [MAP]

Source: TheForce.Net

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Who needs The Clone Wars? Sure, the new CGI Star Wars movie is coming to theaters Aug. 15, but why dwell on the past of the prequel era (again) when you can learn the ways of the dark side at the bionic feet of Darth Vader himself? That’s what happens in The Force Unleashed, a multimedia extravaganza centered on a video game arriving Sept. 16 from LucasArts.

This launch trailer represents the Xbox 360 version of the game, as far as I can tell. But there will be versions for Nintendo Wii and DS, PS3, PS2 and PSP — as well as a novelization, comic book adaptation, tabletop RPG supplement and miniatures, action figures and LEGO sets.

Did I forget anything?

Follow the jump for the game’s trailer (and certain spoilers): (more…)

Here’s a peek at a promotional poster for McDonald’s Happy Meal toys that tie in with the upcoming film Star Wars: The Clone Wars:

PHOTO VIA REBELSCUM.COM

I guess they’re taking the “super-deformed” concept from anime and running with it. All the way.

So judging from the poster, it looks like we’ll be seeing Luke, Leia,  Han and Chewie — and Ewoks — in this prequel?

I was hoping the first-ever Star Wars Happy Meal toys would be a little cooler. Now I’ll have make up a story for my kids to explain why Darth Vader flies around with his swollen head sticking up out of his TIE fighter.

At least there’s no Jar-Jar to be seen …

RELATED STORY:

• NYT: Toys ‘R’ Us plans midnight openings for ‘Clone Wars’ toys

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The New York Times reports that Toys “R” Us stores are now displaying clocks counting down to July 26, when many will open at midnight to start selling the toys that tie in with the new Star Wars movie, The Clone Wars. That movie comes out Aug. 15. (Times writer Douglas Quenqua also mentions that McDonalds will have its first-ever Star Wars-themed Happy Meal.)

East Valley locations that will be a part of the midnight madness include 1516 S. Power Rd., Mesa, at Superstition Springs Center, and 12801 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix, at Paradise Valley Mall.

(more…)

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As The Clone Wars draws ever nearer, The New York Times’ Dave Itzkoff profiles George Lucas — who is now apparently “Free to Follow His Heart Right Back to ‘Star Wars’” (if you can still call it Star Wars).

(more…)

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If you’re like me and the most recent incarnations of Star Wars seem a bit cartoony for your taste (not that there’s anything wrong with that), you might enjoy the new “Coruscant Nights” series of books from Del Rey and prolific Star Wars novelist Michael Reaves.

Jedi Twilight, Street of Shadows and Patterns of Force will tell the tale of Jax Pavan, a Jedi Knight who survived the betrayal of Emperor Palpatine by melting into the shadows of the Empire’s slums and making his way as a private investigator.

(more…)

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Can somebody please explain how Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope makes the American Film Institute’s top-10 lists of the best genre films, but Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back gets left out in the cold like a Tauntaun in the wastes of Hoth?

(more…)

Comedian Harvey Korman, a fixture on The Carol Burnett Show who played the celestial chef Gormaanda in the apocryphal 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special, has passed away at the age of 81.

Korman filled several other roles on the Holiday Special, which also featured Jefferson Starship, Diahann Carroll, Art Carney and Bea Arthur. (Seriously.)

Despite introducing Boba Fett to the galaxy, the show is a one-time event that George Lucas considers never to have happened (like Han shooting first). But Lucas liked Korman enough to bring him back for his 1994 film Radioland Murders (a fine little movie.)

Pictured: Harvey Korman as Gormaanda the four-armed Julia Child of the Star Wars galaxy.

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE PHOTO

The Associated Press is reporting that in Wales “A man who dressed up as Darth Vader, wearing a garbage bag for a cape, and assaulted the founders of a group calling itself the Jedi church was given a suspended sentence Tuesday.” As far as I’m concerned, this is what they call a victimless crime. (more…)