Don't get me wrong, we're almost as happy as the next man that Spider-Man is getting his long overdue day in the sun this year, but it's not enough. The Thanksgiving Day parade we'd want to be watching would have to include some of the following:

A Yoda Balloon
To be honest, we have no idea how this hasn't happened already. If ever there was a fictional character more suitable for translating into giant inflatable form that isn't named Pikachu or Snoopy, we'd like to meet them. It's not like Star Wars isn't popular enough, or that George Lucas doesn't have the Clone Wars TV show to promote. Why hasn't this happened yet?

A Partially-Deflated Superman Balloon
Because who doesn't want to see more of this?

A Brock Samson Balloon
Yeah, you heard us. And he can be pulled by lots of people dressed as the Monarch's henchmen. Admittedly, this may just be part of our Venture Bros-filled dream lives that would also include a Venture musical, complete with singing Hank and Dean and Nathan Lane as Phantom Limb. But until then, we can comfort ourselves with the dream of a giant, mulleted balloon of black t-shirt-wearing pain smoking and floating throughout the streets of a cold New York November morning, terrifying evildoers and NBC announcers alike.

Scenes From The Spider-Man Musical Being Performed In Front Of Macy's For An Unenthusiastic Audience
Just as every year's parade features special guests from the latest Broadway hit miming a song from their show while jumping about trying to desperately keep warm, why not give everyone a chance to see what U2 and Julie Taymor have cooked up for the perpetually-troubled Spider-Man musical Turn Off The Dark, thereby convincing everyone once and for all that Arena Rock and outsider superheroes really isn't a good fit after all. After all, given all the troubles the production has gone through already, this kind of performance may be the only time anyone will see anything from the show.

Stargate Universe Float
This is another no-brainer. What better way for the newest Stargate to win over new audiences than with a float filled with cast members to sum up what the series is all about? This is what I picture: The float itself looks like a scale version of the Destiny, with Scott and Chloe having sex on one side, Rush and Eli looking at computer screens and frowning, before Young walks up and shouts at them, leaving TJ to one side, looking on concerned. At the back of the float, Greer can look crazy and shoot his gun in the air, and somewhere, Camille can have multiple showers because that's what she seems to do if last Friday's two shower scenes are anything to go by. How could that not make everyone want to tune in on a regular basis?

Make those changes, and all it'd take would be the addition of Edward James Olmos and Mary McDonnell as replacement Matt Lauer and Meredith Vieiras (with Mark Sheppard taking the Al Roker wandering reporter role, of course; he has to be in everything, after all), and the show would be perfect. Well, for us, anyway. What changes would you need to make you have to tune in?

It's almost Halloween, but you still need an idea for a DIY costume that will be the envy of all fanboys and girls across the galaxy? Lucky for you, Star Wars fans are a crafty bunch and they have plenty of tips for everyone from the most-advanced to the laziest costumer.

For those of you wanting to create a more authentic look to your Boba Fett costume, here's a handy video tutorial on how to weather his cape using a pizza cutter, cardboard and spray paint!

For the younglings in your life, here's a super-easy craft tutorial on how to make an adorkable DIY Kids' Yoda costume by Craft magazine's Susan Beal:

I used an Empire Strikes Back Yoda action figure for inspiration, and carried him around the fabric store to loosely match fabric colors to him and his outfit. The central piece, a simple brown robe, is altered from an adult T-shirt, and the other elements (a hat, snake, belt, and walking stick) are all quick sewing projects using basic templates.

If your Padmé Amidala costume is ready to go but you're not sure how to make your face look less like you've been wrestling with Acklays and more like you're ready to make out with a Skywalker, then this is exactly what was used on Natalie Portman in the films!

Check out these Padmé Make-up Pointers from Revenge of the Sith Make-up Supervisor Nikki Gooley:

Make-up by Nikki Gooley
Foundation: Make-Up Forever Face and Body foundation was applied in shade # 03. Concealer: Gooley used Shu Uemura Mark Concealer with Yves St Laurent Touche Eclat Concealer in # 03 under the eyes.
Powder: Gooley applied Visiora 003 Powder.
Eye shadow: Stila powder shadow in Barefoot Contessa # 33 was applied all over the lids. Then it was worked it up into the socket and blended out with Stila in Moonlight # 38. On the top lids, the lashline was lined with Stila shadow in Java # 8. Gooley then dabbed her browbones with Calvin Klein Eye Gloss.
Brows: Brows were filled in with Stila Convertable Eye Color Liner in Teak.
Mascara: Gooley used a classic favorite, Maybelline Great Lash in Black.
Cheeks: Stila Convertable Cheek Color, a cream blush in Peony, was dabbed on the apples of the cheeks and blended up onto the cheek bone.
Lips: Stila Lipstick in Jo was applied, then blotted. Gooley then used Elizabeth Arden 8-Hour Cream over the top of the lips. Gooley says that although it's usually used as a skin cream, she loves using it on lips because it gives them a nice, natural sheen.

Don't forget to give your dog a chance to show off his Sith or Jedi pride too! Craft magazine Senior Editor Natalie Zee Drieu made these cute Ewok, Darth Vader and Princess Leia dog costumes from felt, cotton fabric, yarn, and ribbon!

The trick about making quick Halloween costumes and especially ones for dogs is that you don't have to be perfect. Time is of essence here and we are all busy crafters. Since most of the costumes will only need to be worn for a few hours at most, cutting corners is definitely okay in my book. If you don't know how to sew or need to get it done in a snap — fabric glue, hemming tape, and sticker Velcro works wonders! Also, I used existing doggie jackets as pattern templates. Using these help me fit the dogs better and I didn't have to worry about doing too many fittings or wasting time creating patterns from scratch.

For the truly last-minute Star Wars costume, you can always print out and wear these vintage and prequel masks right now! Or do a mash-up and be a Sith Luchador!

• Vintage Star Wars masks
• Revenge of the Sith Masks
• Clone Wars Masks
• Star Wars Lucha Libre Masks

While you're in the Halloween crafting spirit, here are some handy templates from Starwars.com to print out to make your own Spooky Sith-O-Lanterns! Or try your hand at sculpting a Halloween Yoda Pumpkin.

Get more inspiration for your own Star Wars costume by checking out the Rebelscum Halloween Costume Contest Gallery!

Once you're finished with your costume, be sure to post them to the io9 Scifi Halloween Costume Show!

Bonnie Burton is a Senior Editor for Starwars.com. She is also the author of the books "Draw Star Wars: The Clone Wars" and "You Can Draw: Star Wars." You can find her 24/7 on Twitter & on Grrl.com.

[Star Wars blog]