What is Star Wars?

The transformation of the fan-made greeting "May the 4th be with you" into the foundation of an annual Star Wars publicity storm had the sharp smell of cynicism. But this week it seems quaint. Force Friday, a new, wholly corporate creation, will close this work week on September 3rd. The day is an announcement and celebration of the toys and merchandise fans will see by this holiday. I'm thrilled to see The Force Awakens, but I'm already exhausted by the Star Wars hype that could continue indefinitely. To get some healthy perspective on Star Wars as films, not the centers of promotional vortexes, I invited longtime fan Bryan Bishop onto the show. We chat about how technology has allowed the actual films to be changed over the decades, both by director George Lucas and a collection of dedicated fans. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices