DVD Coverart for the Family Guy "Star Wars" special, BLUE HARVEST(2008).
© Fox Home Entertainment
Title: Family Guy: Blue Harvest
Rating: Unrated
Cast: Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green, Mila Kunis, Mike Henry, Adam West
Writer: Alec Sulkin
Director: Dominic Polcino
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Original Year of Release: 2007
Extras: More than four minutes of exclusive DVD material, Uncensored Track, The Animatic Version, Commentaries, Interviews with Seth MacFarlane and George Lucas, Family Guy Star Wars Clips Show, Once in Life Time: The Making of Blue Harvest
Buy it now!
Family Guy: Blue Harvest
By: Robert T. Trate, ColumnistDate: Sunday, January 20, 2008
Since the dawn of ‘Star Wars’ many have tried to spoof it. Some have even tried to pay homage to it. ‘Hardware Wars’ (1977) came out almost immediately after ‘Star Wars’. It wasn’t the best spoof or parody of ‘Star Wars’ but it holds the distinction of being the first. The Muppets had ‘Star Wars’ characters on their ‘Muppet Show’ (Season 4, Episode 17) and ‘The Muppet Babies’ took on the ‘Star Wars’ universe by putting themselves in as the main characters in an homage to the film. Even in the realm of comic books Kevin Rubio has gone after the “holy trilogy” with the adventures of “Tag & Bink”. These parodies and “spoofs” have been fun, yet, without a doubt Mel Brooks’ ‘Spaceballs’ has stood out as the defining parody of ‘Star Wars’. That is, until now.
‘Family Guy: Blue Harvest’ is the ‘Star Wars’ parody/ homage that all fans have been waiting for. It is irreverent and twisted but it never reaches the point of being deprecating towards itself or the source material. Seth MacFarlane and company knew how to make us laugh in that galaxy that seemed so far away (post Sith, 2005) and made us remember that deep down we still have a place in our hearts for ‘Star Wars’.
If you saw the premiere of "Family Guy" with its ‘Blue Harvest’ episode there isn’t much different to the actual episode pertaining to the story line. There are actually four extra minutes added to the episode. A couple more guest cameos, several new jokes and few extended scenes that were too impious for TV. My personal favorite is the crucified Stormtrooper in the Stormtrooper church. These additional scenes pale in comparison to the ‘Dirty Dancing’ dance number and Chris (Seth Green) pointing out that ‘Robot Chicken’ had already done a ‘Star Wars’ show a few months earlier (if I have to explain that joke to you, you really aren’t a Star Wars fan or a fan of Adult Swim).
Special Features:
Immediately after the DVD loads the jokes start. The “Family Guy” creators have even gone to great lengths to design their DVD menu after the ‘Star Wars’ DVD. So along with the cover art parodying ‘Star Wars’ the menus also have that “Family Guy” touch.
“Conversations with George” is a personal interview between “Family Guy” creator and star Seth MacFarlane and ‘Star Wars’ creator George Lucas. MacFarlane has a great ease and comfort with Lucas and his questions are the type any fan boy would love to ask given the opportunity. He doesn’t go for the throat with questions about episodes I through III. Instead MacFarlane hums different pieces of music and asks him to name the scene. He asks Lucas, “Do you watch your own movies?” MacFarlane learns that Lucas has never bought a ‘Family Guy’ DVD, but his Tivo his filled with them. There have been many “Entertainment Tonight” style interviews with Lucas and this is by far the most personal, relaxed and open I’ve ever seen. It really shows Lucas as a gentle giant who can laugh at himself and his creation.
“Once in Life Time: The Making of Blue Harvest” is short documentary about the making of ‘Family Guy: Blue Harvest’ which encompasses everything from why they decided to do an hour long ‘Star Wars’ show, its creation (an incredible and in depth look behind the scenes), its clip screening at Comic Con and the premiere for the cast and crew. The only downside to “Once in Life Time” is that much of the information and material is spoken about on the commentary track; which makes listening to it redundant.
Several times on the DVD the ‘Family Guy’ creators and crew spoke of doing another complete ‘Star Wars’ episode. With the zeal and enthusiasm they had for this episode I’m sure we will see an ‘Empire Strike Back: Family Guy’ and a ‘Return of the Jedi: Family Guy’. Personally, I hope they go after the ‘Star Wars Holiday Special’.
Now there are two versions of ‘Family Guy: Blue Harvest’ a standard version and a Special Edition with limited-edition collectibles.
