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 UPN thumbs up 'Star Wars' parody April 10,1999 By Rob Owen,Post-Gazette TV Editor MEMO: "Star Wars" blasts back into theaters with the first of three prequels this May. Why wait till then? We're counting down to the premiere of "Star Wars: The Phantom Menace" (a.k.a. "Episode 1") with a weekly update. UPN will spoof the "Star Wars" franchise the night before "The Phantom Menace" premieres in "Thumb Wars" (9:30 p.m. May 18 on WNPA). The half-hour special from writer/director Steve Oedekerk ("Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls") stars a whole hand's worth of thumbs as various "Star Wars" characters. Last year Oedekerk made the short film "Thumbtanic," a parody of "Titanic" that also starred thumbs in the leading roles. ETC.: Variety reports "The Phantom Menace" clocks in at two hours and 11 minutes. Theater owners have a long list of rules they must follow if they want to show the movie. For instance, it must be shown in the largest theater at a multiplex for at least the first two months. Theaters will be allowed to begin playing the movie at 12:01 a.m. May 19.
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