NEW YORK -- I could tell you how many times I've sat through the six Star Wars films, but that would be embarrassing and then you wouldn't be able hear the rest of this report because you would be too busy laughing.

But suffice it to say, it is a lot. I love the films, even the ones that aren't particularly good, but I never got too deep in analyzing them beyond "double lightsabers are cool" and "I like people in big black capes."

So I wasn't prepared for how deep the History Channel's new documentary, "Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed" delves. "The Legacy Revealed," which premiered Monday, May 28 at 9 p.m., starts off with some typical pop culture talking heads like Peter Jackson, J.J. Abrams and Steven Colbert discussing how rad Star Wars is.

But look out, here comes Dan Rather! While you're at it, say hello to Tom Brokaw! And what the heck is Newt Gingrich doing here? I mean, besides comparing Jedis to Jesuits. Next thing you know current Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is adding her two cents, and an army of college professor and authors are weighing in all the classic archetypes present in the franchise.

This isn't your typical behind-the-scenes documentary. Instead it is an examination of the academic and historical influences present in the films.

Along the way, you'll learn how the entire Star Wars saga is a fundamental greek tragedy (with Anakin turning to the dark side to save Padme and in turn killing her), that Luke is reminiscent of King Arthur with his lighstaber representing Excalibur, how the evil Palpatine's rise is modeled on 1930s Germany, and that the first film was -- at least according to Tom Brokaw a "western in the future" although technically, it takes place in the past -- but I digress.

Not to imply there aren't lighter moments. Filmmaker Kevin Smith reminds us that Jabba the Hut is sexy because without him, we'd never get to see Leia in a bikini. That's what makes Star Wars so great -- following history and making it at the same time.