Star Wars in Pop Culture Part Four: Television – Fantha Tracks

Ever been watching a television show that couldn’t be farther removed from Star Wars and then suddenly a Star Wars reference pops up? Well, when this happens, it absolutely has me grinning from ear to ear. The legacy and impact of the saga reverberates far and wide and filmmakers love to slot in references and Easter eggs where they can.

Let’s continue our series and shift our focus to the small screen.

FRIENDS (1994 – 2004)

Let’s start off with the friends that are always there for us. I find it quite comforting that this show is still on so much and I know a few people who feel the same way. The tragic loss of Matthew Perry last year has only catapulted this show back into the public consciousness once again.

There were a few Star Wars references scattered throughout the shows triumphant ten-year run but one in particular is the most famous. The reference in question couldn’t be more obvious. It’s the season three opening episode titled; ‘The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy’.

Ross and Rachel, who at this point are NOT on a break, are having discussions about fantasies and Ross reveals that he’s had one since seeing Return of the Jedi in 1983. It all revolves around Princess Leia’s gold bikini from her time as Jabba’s prisoner. In typical Friends fashion some hilarity ensues as the gang all eventually find out about this and the gossip spreads. The punch line comes at the end of the episode when Rachel does indeed dress up as everyone’s favourite Princess but it’s the callback and tag to the joke that really stick the landing.

Earlier, Chandler had revealed too much by saying that when he’s in the bedroom, he can’t help but sometimes picture his own mum. Ross then tells this to Joey. Ross clearly has mum on the brain as when Rachel is at the door in the gold bikini – Ross eventually sees his mother in his sensual fantasy. I think it’s fairly safe to say that the fantasy is well and truly over for Ross.

DEXTER’S LAB (1996 – 2003)

This children’s animated show aired on Cartoon Network and was the brainchild of none other than Genndy Tartakovsky, who we all know from the 2003-2005 Clone Wars micro series. The show focused on child super-genius Dexter, who was often locked away in his laboratory as he concocted wild schemes and was always at odds with his sister, Dee-Dee.
The series was both a critical and commercial success and went on to win no less than three Annie awards and was nominated for Prime-time Emmy awards throughout its original run. For years the show was Cartoon Network’s highest rated original series and permeated pop-culture for over a decade.

Why is it included here? Well, the very epicentre of the series, the lab of which Dexter spends the entire show, has a very special password. It’s revealed in the episode titled; ‘The Big Cheese’. The password in question? Two words…STAR WARS.

HOUSE (2004 – 2012)

This medical drama series about a cranky anti-hero doctor, Gregory House, took Hugh Laurie from gifted comic performer of UK television to Hollywood megastar. At one point, during 2008, Laurie entered the Guiness Book of Records as the most watched man in the world thanks to this show.

Confession at the top. This is, and always will be, my favourite television show. I fell in love with it from the start and was devastated when it ended. It was like saying goodbye to an old friend. Laurie is simply magnificent as the flawed yet brilliant doctor and the consistent writing and execution of the show over eight years made it must-see viewing back in the days when shows aired once a week.

There were plenty of Star Wars references throughout the series with Laurie memorably doing a spot-on impression of Sir Alec Guiness as Ben Kenobi but there was one gag in particular that really hit home. During the season three episode – ‘Son of a Coma Guy’ – House and his team are treating a patient who has woken up from a coma after nearly two decades. The patient has no idea about this, however, and on meeting ‘coma guy’ for the first time, House lists off a few things that the patient might have missed. These include “his loving wife”, “missing his kid’s soccer practice” or even “realising that the last three Star Wars movies were…disappointments.”

Ouch. I felt that one. This episode aired in late 2007 and so feelings about the prequel trilogy were still raw and clearly the writers also thought so too.
Don’t worry, doc – I still love ya!

BROOKLYN NINE-NINE (2013 – 2021)

One of the most successful sitcoms of recent years is this police-based work comedy starring Andy Samberg. If you haven’t seen it, it’s one of those brilliant shows that you can dip into, and it’s guaranteed to put you in a good mood.

For those that know the show well, the famous film that’s referenced on a constant basis is Die Hard. Jake Perulta, played by Samberg, is simply obsessed with the film on an outrageous level. There is a plethora of pop-culture references throughout all the episodes and the Star Wars one is really well written. In the season four finale, ‘Crime and Punishment’, Jake and his coworker, Rosa, are framed for a crime they did not commit but the evidence that has been fabricated against them is astonishing and it’s looking like all roads will lead to jail time for the pair.

As Jake enters court to hear the verdict being read out, his fiancé, Amy, says “I love you” and Jake is quick enough to reply with a savvy and charming; “I know.” To really bring home the laugh and in case we’re unsure of where this reference comes from, he even speedily says; “Han Solo. The Empire Strikes Back.”

This show ended its run after eight seasons but was cancelled by its original network in season six. One its most famous fans and advocates to get the show back on air was Jedi Master himself – Mark Hamill. The force was clearly with Master Skywalker as it was picked back up by a different broadcaster for its final act.

JUST SHOOT ME (1997 – 2003)

Sticking with American sitcoms and Mark Hamill, we turn our attention to this comedy starring David Spade. You can’t get more of an obvious reference than an entire episode’s plot centred around Mark Hamill, who plays himself in the episode titled; ‘The List’.

Finch, played by Spade, meets Hamill at a restaurant and let’s just say that Finch becomes the epitome of ‘annoying fan’. He won’t leave poor Mark alone, and Mark tries his best to be friendly and warming but Finch proves just too much. At one point, Hamill asks Finch to “please leave nicely.” Finch replies: “That’s what the cop at the convention said.” There’s plenty of gags throughout the episode and you can check out pretty much the whole thing on Youtube on the shows official page.

The timing of this was smart too. Hamill was truly back in the public’s eye thanks to the 1997 Special Editions and the prequels were just over a year away from hitting theatres. Hamill gets to display his adept comic timing too, as we’ll see repeatedly in this series of pop-culture references.

SUPERNATURAL (2005 – 2020)

This fantasy series ran for a goliath 15 seasons and consisted of 327 episodes. The show has a dedicated fanbase of followers, its own conventions and even has its own day in the state of Texas, June 23rd 2018, known as ‘Supernatural Day’ by the Mayor of Austin.

The stories followed brothers, Dean and Sam Winchester, as they hunted ghosts, monsters and all things supernatural in the realms of our world. Throughout the pair’s travels across the Unites States, they often fell foul of the law as they tried to save their fellow citizens from ghoulish creatures. In order too keep on the road and hunting down evil spirits, the pair became quite adept at thinking on their feet and giving false identities. They went through every pop-culture and music reference you can think of to fool the cops and they kicked things off in style all the way back in season one. The pair introduce themselves to some detectives as “Agents Ford and Hamill.” Perfect cover…unless the other detectives were Star Wars fans too.

Later in season four, Sam completely goes full fanboy and uses the cover name Wedge Antilles.

THE SIMPSONS (1989 – probably forever)

We end part one of our television specials with perhaps the most famous family in the world (I’m including the Royal Family in that) and a show that is currently on its 35th season, boasts 762 episodes and a theatrical film back in 2007 to top it all off. The show, unsurprisingly, holds the record as the longest running sitcom in the world and though its quality has obviously declined, I still find it comforting that The Simpsons are only a flick of a button away in a trying world.

It would take a novel to list all the Star Wars references in the show but here I’ve listed some of the most fun and original ideas.

Season three, episode titled ‘I Married Marge’, we are in a flashback to one of Homer and Marge’s first dates. They’ve been to see Empire and as they’re leaving the theatre Homer says for all the crowd to hear; “Who would have known that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father?”
In season six, ‘Lisa’s Rival’, little Ralph Wiggum wins a diorama contest by stuffing a cardboard box full of action figures, despite all the efforts that others have gone into making theirs. He’s crowned the winner as Principal Skinner is a huge Star Wars fan.
In the season nine episode, ‘The Last Temptation of Krusty’, the café is called Java The Hutt. A commonly seen joke now but this may have been the first use it.
Season 12, ‘Worst Episode Ever’, sees Comic Book Guy receiving a box of goodies including some Princess Leia breast tape, a signed script by Lucas and an alternate copy of the film showing Chewbacca to be Luke’s father.
Season 15, ‘Co-Dependents Day’, is a just one massive Star Wars reference with the film series ‘Cosmic Wars’ taking centre stage and Jim Jam Bonks the star of the show.
Season 18, ‘Please Homer, Don’t Hammer ‘em’, features a lightsaber dual between Skinner and Bart with ‘Dual of the Fates’ playing.
Season 18, ‘Revenge is a dish best served three times’, is hilariously dedicated to everyone who died in the Star Wars films. My personal favourite saying, ‘Whoever Jimmy Smits played’.
Season eight, ‘Mayored to be Mob’, is the most famous one of all as it stars Mark Hamill who famously delivers the song; ‘Luke be a Jedi tonight.” This depiction of Hamill was released as an action figure and proudly sits in the oddities section of my collection.
Finally, a home video release was compiled and released as ‘Bart Wars – The Simpsons Strike Back’ in 1999.

I think it’s safe to say that there will be endless more Star Wars to come and be sure to take a look at the Star Wars mini specials that The Simpsons have released on Disney+.