Upcoming Star Wars Spoof To Feature Original Sounds and Castby Phillip Valys ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR

Just about every science fiction-crazed filmgoer, young or old, caught the pulse-pounding space opera Star Wars in 1977. Decades later, millions are still screaming the eons-old question, “who shot first, Han or Greedo?”

Given the bug eye-inducing news that Robot Chicken mastermind Seth Green is helming a spanking-new George Lucas-endorsed Star Wars spoof, perhaps the new query should be, “what if that pressing question finally got answered…using stop-motion animation?” Avid SW fanatic Green is taking that risk. Mere inches from Robot Chicken’s third season premiere this spring, George Lucas arranged a meeting with Green to produce an all stop-motion claymation send-up of his popular 30-year-old franchise. The collaboration between Lucas and Green germinated from the former’s special effects production camp Lucasfilm, whose interest in Robot Chicken culminated after watching three Star Wars-inspired clips- one of which hilariously featured Darth Vader calling Emperor Palpatine to inform him the Death Star had been blown up. Intrigued, Lucas and company immediately tapped Green to direct the all-claymation special. Mark Hamill, reprising his role as Luke Skywalker, lends his voice for the Green/Lucas collaboration. The special also features a bevy of comedic talents such as Conan O’Brien and Seth MacFarlane, not to mention guest voiceovers from Robert Smigel, Malcolm McDowell, Hulk Hogan, James Van Der Beek, Breckin Meyer and Joey Fatone. Lucas, pleased with Green’s late-night Cartoon Network comedy staple, also agreed to voice a cartoon version of himself. And most surprising of all? A handful of Lucasfilm’s authentic pre-recorded sound bites were parceled out for Green to boost up the parody’s production values, including Chewbacca’s grunts and R2D2’s bleep-bloops. “Robot Chicken: Star Wars” premieres June 17 at 10 PM on Cartoon Network.

Check out the original Robot Chicken spoof which inspired this special:

Concert Preview: John LegendBy Jamie Kahler ASSISTANT WEB EDITOR

Not many artists can say that they have been nominated for eleven Grammys in their lifetime, let alone before their 30th birthday. Singer-songwriter John Legend is one of those few people. Legend (who’s turning 29 this December) has won five of those eleven Grammys. The pianist’s first record, Get Lifted (2004), sold over $2.3 million records worldwide, while his latest CD, Once Again (2006), sold $1.7 million. Legend, accompanied by John Mayer and Corrine Bailey Rae, performed on the 2007 Grammy awards, notably they were introduced as the best upcoming singer-songwriters of our time. Now Legend has taken on a North American tour, which will be heading into South Florida this Wednesday, May 2. Opening the show will be Grammy-nominated Corrine Bailey Rae. The English Singer-songwriter released her self titled album in 2006 and as a result her album has gone double platinum. Rae’s CD landed her the top spot on the U.K. charts, and number four here in the US.

While exam week will be very hectic for all, it is almost guaranteed to be an outstanding show; after all Legend did win five Grammys.

Catch Legend this Wednesday, May 2 at 8:00pm at Seminole Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood. For more information on John Legend and Corrine Bailey Rae visit www.johnlegend.com and visit www.corinnebaileyrae.net