11 Times Our Favorite Shows Referenced ‘Star Wars’

Star Wars: The Force Awakens opens worldwide today. It’s a pretty monumental day, both for long-time fans and new aficionados. You smell that? No, it’s not pine or peppermint, it’s excitement. The holidays are always a special time, but that plus a new Star Wars? It’s almost like getting two holidays for the price of one!

Fact is, we all grew up on Star Wars, even if we didn’t get all the references. And the writers/creators of our favorite shows did too. That’s why before you rush out to Star Wars: The Force Awakens (or after, we’re not picky), we’re offering you a list of our favorite eleven Star Wars references in television.

We’re pretty sure next year, there will be a new list of new quotes to add to the list. And that’s okay. No, that’s more than okay. That’s awesome.

Here are some of the best times Star Wars was ever quoted on popular television.:

“You Solo-ed me.“ 30 Rock

30 Rock has used several Star Wars references throughout its seven-year run. But nothing will ever compare to commitment phobia Liz and Criss Chros using Star Wars to declare their love. She loves him. He knows. And a generation (or two) teared up. It was unexpected and lovely and the moment we knew that Criss was worthy of Liz’s love.

“You can’t win, I’ve got the high ground.” Gilmore Girls

The prequels are not usually the movies being mentioned when we’re talking Star Wars, but far be it for Gilmore Girls to shy away from a controversial topic (or movie). Is there anything funnier than Luke’s rant about why Obi-Wan having the high ground shouldn’t matter? There really, really isn’t.

“Help me Chuck Bartowski, you’re my only hope.” Chuck

Flipping the script, Morgan delivers this unforgettable line. Because sometimes the best friend gets the good lines. It’s not always the girl. I mean, even if the line is a line you stole from Princess Leia Organa and just the fact that you’re using it shows how much of a geek you are. Even then.

 “And I’m Princess…Leia.”  Once Upon A Time

Emma Swan’s quick thinking during a time-traveling adventure with our favorite pirate leads to this spectacular quote. Because, of course, the first fake royal name one can come up with in a pinch is Princess Leia.

We’re totally with you, Emma. We would have said the exact same thing. Especially if that would mean we got to be IN the book AS Princess Leia. How cool is that?

“I wanted to be a Jedi.” Pushing Daisies

Ned is adorable for many, many reasons that have nothing to do with Star Wars. But he definitively went from adorable to OMG I LOVE YOU when he admitted he wanted to be a Jedi. Guess what, Ned? So do we!

“I have a bad feeling about this.” Battlestar Galactica

It might have been a coincidence, but we don’t really think so. “I have a bad feeling about this” is one of the most popular Star Wars lines, after all. And to have Gaius Baltar saying this in Valley of Darkness during preparations for a Cylon attack just proves that, yes, he has a very good sense of circumstance. And also, Star Wars is universal. Yes. That.

“Faith’s turn to the dark side of the Force has pretty much put the proverbial kibosh on any away school plans for me.” Buffy the Vampire Slayer 

Far be it for us to list every Star Wars reference in Buffy The Vampire Slayer, we’d be here all day, but we can admit that our geeky hearts rejoiced with every reference (We see you, Joss Whedon. We see you). Especially when, like this time, they came from the Slayer herself!

“I am your father!”” The Flash 

This is not the only Star Wars reference in The Flash , there was also that time Cisco wore a t-shirt that stated “Keep Calm and Han Shot first!” (We love you, Cisco), and that time Barry and co. took Felicity to game night, where they faced up against a team called Pride and Padawans.

But there’s making a Star Wars reference, and then there’s getting Mark Hamill himself to be all like: “I am your father,” and if you manage the later, you win. Thanks for playing, everyone else. 

“You think it’s so easy to replace Yoda?” Orange Is The New Black

Piper will never catch a break. I mean, being in prison is not easy, especially not when you accidentally step on the prized racing cockroach Yoda and have to find a replacement for it. Except, everyone knows it’s not so easy to replace Yoda, right?

“I’ve been dreaming about that since I was five. Well, that, and my own operational Death Star.” How I Met Your Mother 

Barney Stinson may have the bro-code and a closet full of suits, but he will always be a Star Wars fanboy at heart. A Star Wars fanboy with leanings toward the dark side, if his dream is to be believed.

But that’s okay, it’s just fantasy. We’ll take him.  Bonus points for having a life-size storm-trooper in his apartment.

“Huh, Tatooine.” Agents of SHIELD

When Coulson wakes up on the mysterious planet with two moons in the winter finale of Agents of SHIELD he references the planet Anakin and Luke Skywalker were raised on. Because, of course, two moons, duh, Tatooine.  

Have a favorite reference that we missed? Share in the comments below, and may the force be with you.

By: Lissete Lanuza Saenz, Jessica Kreamer, and Samantha Coley