Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with an item that is damn cool. This isn't really news, but it's coverage of an event that we would have all strangled our grandmothers to attend, AFI's tribute to George Lucas, attended by Richard Dreyfuss, Spielberg, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Chewbacca, John Williams and tons more, including Shatner being badass! I can't imagine being there to witness the opening number described below...
I'm one of those fans who is very critical of the prequels (I've banned myself from watching ROTS because each time I see it, I find something that makes me like it less), but I'll never say Lucas is an untalented man. He's a creative genius, especially when he puts his heart into his creativity. I wish him the best and can't wait to see his post-STAR WARS movies.
Now, read the below, but I warn you... you'll try to build a time machine to go back and watch this. Carrie Fisher's rant... Shatner's intro... Harrison Ford's entrance with an old friend, then his later demand that Lucas hurry the hell up with INDY 4... and Mark Hamill's entertaining of the fans... God, sounds like an amazing evening. Thanks to "presgipper" for sharing this with us!
Just got back fromt he AFI tribute to Gerorge Lucas at the Kodak theater in Hollywood! Scored two ticktes from my brother who is an alumni and couldn't go. Had to type right away tonight while memories are fresh. Still in my tux - WHAT a COOL evening!
After donning the old tux and waiting an hour in line, we got our free martinis and a real nice, slick tribute book to ol George - lots of good and rare photos. We got to our seats while the 'elite' were still eating down on the ground floor of the theater. It was a great stage set - a full size X-wing fighter was hanging from the ceiling, and one of the original cars from AMERICAN GRAFITI was off to stage right. A HUGE framed STAR WARS NEW HOPE poster was hanging. My buddy and I started scoping the audience for whom we could glimps - right off the bat we saw Lucas walking around talking with people, and he seemed downright jovial and happy at the whole thing. The honor dias was in the middle of the auditorium, a half circle raised facing the stage. In the middle of course was Lucas's seat. To his right was Steven Spielberg and then George's three kids. To George's left was Harrison Ford and Colista Flockhart, then John Williams and his wife, then Robert Duvall and his wife.( I didn't see Kate Capshaw anywhere the whole evening).
The show started about the funniest way it could start - WILLIAM SHATNER came out and pretended he was at a Star TREK convention, and began answering 'questions' and talking about how Trek changed the landscape of America. Then two stormtroopers with blasters came out and tried to pull him off the stage, but Shatner said he'd comply and talk about Star WARS. He says Hi to George out in his seat, then the music to "My Way" starts to play, and Shatner starts to SING it to George! As he sings, the stages fills with stormtroopers, and as he finishes the song (one great lyric - "regrets, you've had a few - did anyone see Howard the Duck!? - too few to mention...), The song ends with all the stormtroopers doing a long line dance like chorus gals. Hilarious start to the evening!
Next up is a short bio about George growing up in idyllic Modesto CA, about his parents and siblings. Then right into THX 1138 college version. Bob Duvall then stands up and talks about the theatrical version and thanks George, then they show clips. Next out is Richard Drefus talking about GRAFITII, and takes a moment to mention the passing of Anne Bancroft. Then clips and stories about GRAFITII, and filmed comments by Copolla and Ron Howard. Fun stuff, but you KNOW what they're leading up to...
Tom Hanks comes out and intros the STAR WARS phenomenon with a real funny stand up bit about how Cleveland Ohio got NEW HOPE two weeks later than the rest of the country, and what waiting those two weeks was like. He goes into a Abbot and Costello-like bit about how film 1 is really film 4 and how film 3 is really the last film, etc. Then the lights go out and you can barely see two stagehands helping R2D2 and C3P0 out on stage. Clips of Luke Skywalker show, then Mark Hamill comes out and does a good bit about the filming of the original three. Next is Leia clips, and then Carrie Fisher comes out (seeming slightly tipsy?) and proceeds to STEAL THE NIGHT with one of the FUNNIEST things I've ever seen on a stage. She begins to chew Lucas out about how he ruined her life and how he stole her likeness and how she has stalkers now and how her first husband sticks pins into Leia figures! The whole place was in stiches! Then Han Solo clips role, and out comes first Chewbacca (it actually was Peter Mahew in the suit!), then Harrison, with a amusing little bit. The finale is when they all come out on stage together, and the house came down! Seeing R2, 3P0 (it was not Daniels in suit :(, Luke, Leia, Solo, and Chewie on stage at one time, being applauded by Lucas and Spielberg - MAN - that is a geek's dream! Definitely one of the things I'll always remember in my life, seeing my childhood heroes right there before my eyes!
Stage is cleared, and next out is Billy Dee Williams, walking with cane, and give a touching thanks. Then Harrison is back out again, this time for Indie Jones. He is funnier this time, and points directly at Lucas and yells "and if he wants to do a forth one, he'd better HURRY UP, because Sean Connery is getting too old to play my father!" Fun moment, and you could tell Lucas is laughing. John Williams enters and gives a touching and emotional thanks. After him, some talk about episodes 1,2, and 3, but none of the stars are there, much to our surprise (Lucas later comments that Sam Jackson couldn't make it tonight). Then roles a slideshow about George's personal life, kids growing up, etc. Nice.
Then the big moment - Spielberg comes out and gives a touching message to George about their friendship and careers. They've known each other for 36 years now - wow! He announces George as the 2005 recipient, and up comes George through the crowd to thunderous praise. He stops to hug Peter Mahew (now back in tux) and Carrie Fisher. Gives nice talk, thanks parents and kids. And ACTUALLY thanks the FANS - something I'm not used to hearing come out of George. Not only did he say that making the movies would be pointless if we didn't go to watch them (so he could get our $$$, of course), but he also jokingly referred to himself at one point as "the King of wooden dialog," at which point the audience howled.
Show is over. Now we see who we can meet. There are dozens of entrances and exits at the Kodak - hard to find the best place to stake out. We are on the fourth floor and can't descend within the theater, so we head outside and down to the first floor and wait. Jack Valenti is outside checking his blackberry, and Cloris Leachman is walking around, as nice as ever to all fans. Warren Beatty got by us. Then ol Billy Dee Williams hobbles out and is nice to fans, signs a few things, then heads away. Wait a while, nothing much other than Leonard Maltin. So I head back upstairs and end up bumping into Harrison Ford dodging commoners on level four. He is fast and as always rude and grumpy, so I don't bother him. Then back down to the first floor where the always cool Mark Hamill is holding court for all fans, laughing, taking pictures, signing. He signs for me, then I mention how much we love his Joker. He goes immediately into voice, which sends all of us into shakes - it was so creepy! Off he goes, and the place is pretty much emtpy. Carrie and George must have snuck out another exit...
All in all, a FABULOUS evning. It will be broadcast on USA network on June 20th - I strongly alert all fans to get those recorder ready - it was a fun and memorable night!
you can call me "presgipper" if you run this.
