I don’t know what to say…
(Part of me is saying I would had love to see that! And the other just screams NERRRRRDS!)
That caught my eye while I was at the gym and almost fell off the treadmill. I too have the same split reaction. I wonder who they used for the troops? Random schmucks with their own armor? Professional extras?
I seriously doubt any of my friends who participated would appreciate the ‘random schmucks.’ The answer to your question is that it was done largely by a group called ‘the 501st’ legion which is an international organization (think SCA for Star Wars.) They are hardcore when it comes to outfits, you have to meet inspections and stuff.
I’m not involved but I know a good number who are. They are quite frequently called upon for special events and they do a lot of community projects.
Though I’m talking about trying to start up a similar organization for geeks with Battlestar Galactica outfits…
If you want more info about the 501st, check out www.501st.com
– IG
Thanks for the info. However, I don’t much fear stormtroopers. Leia is the only thing they ever managed to shoot and she survived both times.
Note that there are a certain number of fans who have organized their own Cobra Legion.
In uniform.
hee hee…
Bob Eubanks (“The Dating Game”) is the long-time Rose Parade commentator for KTLA in Los Angeles, and even he snickered a bit. He made one comment like “There are a bunch of people who really need jobs…”
I believe the 501st had folks from over 20 countries participate in the parade. They can’t march well together, though. It might not be obvious at other times, but appearing in a parade with some of the best marching bands in the world, it was glaring.
It was fun- my kids loved it.
Thanks for the info Improv Geek
Hypno-Toad, be kind; the stormtroopers still managed to kill several ewoks, that does count in their redemption! 
Aside: I still can not look at the photo in the link and wonder if Lucas is thinking: “Yes! Today the world! Tomorrow the galaxy!”
I watched them marching in the parade – and they definitely weren’t marching well, were they? – but was also in hysterics by the Rebellion-costumed band directly behind them. I missed who the band was – did anybody else notice them?
Uh… I’m a little unclear on just one teensy element here: “this year’s parade theme [was] 'Our Good Nature.”
So there were the good-natured Stormtroopers, were they? :dubious:
I would rather they hadn’t opened this door. Will we now have to, for example, suffer bands of pirates promoting the latest lame release of that series? I guarantee that in some dark corner of Hollywood, promotion plans are being made for next year’s parade.
I did like that the Drum Major was a smartly-attired Imperial officer. And I must confess that a properly made suit of stormtrooper armor would be cool to own. As for the COBRA guys, please tell me that they have the Baroness in their ranks. Yummy!
Ah, good! I knew YouTube would come sooner or later with the clips:
George Lucas was also on hand for the coin toss in the Rose Bowl game. Unfortunately, after it came up “USC,” neither the ref nor the TV commentators quipped that The Force was with USC, or that manipulating a coin toss is one of the most basic of Jedi tricks…
I’m hearing Phil Hartman singing, “200 stormtroopers at the front of the big parade” to the tune of 76 Trombones for some reason.
Grambling State University marching band
This is not the offense you are looking for…
