The Star Wars Holiday Special

[Virginia Plane]

  I saw this when I was a kid and liked Star Wars and even then I couldn't finish watching it. I remember the "Wookie Porn" quite clearly.

[Matthew McLaughlin]

I like to describe this monstrosity to people because no matter how much you bash it people just don't believe it's as bad as it is. It's only once you're watching it that you find yourself saying: Okay this is really awful, but it can't possibly get any worse... okay this is worse, but it couldn't get any more disturbing... okay, this is more disturbing, but it couldn't possibly get worse than this... etc etc. It's fun to watch people's faces as they experience this.

The thing that stuns me the most is that it got made at all. I mean, there were meetings about this, groups of people getting together to discuss whether Chewbacca's son should be named "Lumpy" or "Dumpy" or "Little Freak Mutant." Someone had to think up costumes. Writers sat around hammering out the script. And how on earth did they convince Diane Carrol to star in Wookie porn?!

[Helmuut]

I do remember this. I remember the 10,000 commercials pumping it ahead of time. I remember watching it, with Star Wars figures (all 4 of them!) in tow on the couch. For the life of me, I can't figure out how anybody made it through the whole thing. I'm sure viewers, at that time, kept telling themselves... "ok, it's about to pick up the pace" ... "ok, pretty soon now, it'll get better"...

I'm also amazed at what a "Star Wars Crazed" little kid will sit through. I guess before the internet, a kid could only see Luke and Han at A. the movies or B. the Christmas special. It really was a sad joke on the public that made appreciated and loved the first film. I'm sure it all came down to marketing.

My question to all is this... do you think it was perceived to be the total sh!t we perceive it as now, or do you think public expectations were much lower back then?

Regardless, happy it got reviewed. It's piece of my childhood.

[Alex Panz]

Well, it IS Star Wars and it's really a shame that Mr. Luca$$$
will never release this on DVD. Ok, it's boring, but hey, it's a part of what we all like!
so why not do a Special Edition wirl up to date effects and bonus material???? And of course the original version.
Many fans want it, and buy bad bootleg copies of it, so why not make it official??? Very stange. This is truly a must for all SW fans

[Hadrian Wolff]

Welllly wellly well. I remember when this came on TV way back in the day and I was too young to stay up and watch all of it.
For years I have felt deprived. I saw up to were Lumpy got in trouble for playing with his X-wing and that was it. Not sure if I'm lucky or not. I mean. When you say it sucks I feel the urge to find a copy and see it. Anyone who wants to part with their copy can send it to me. I'll take it off your hands. My buds and myself all meet up once a months to drink beer, Vodka and watch bad Sci Fi movies. Most of which we find on here first. THANKS ANDREW! OOOhhhrraaahhh! Devil Dog.

I will say this. From the sounds of it, the Star Wars Moppet special was infinitely better. You guys should check out the long lost TV show Wizards and Warriors. It kicks ass.

[BoyScoutKIevin]

While I have heard of it, I have yet to see it,  but, I must make a point of watching it, after reading Andrew's review of it. If for no other reason, then this has to be his funniest film review--yet.

As an afterthought, how fortunate we are, that at the 19-minute mark, Lumpy is an immature male, instead of a mature female. Otherwise, we would have a new meaning for the words "dish fetish."

[Mark]

In the words of Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith - "Noooooooooo!!!!"That was my reaction when watching this. Now, I love Star Wars, my whole life is Star Wars but as soon as i bought this bootleg dvd on the internet - urrrrgghh. I have no desire to watch this movie again. Ever! If you do have a british copy, be sure to have the one with the Geordie (Newcastle) edition, the mark hamill muppet show episode and all the toy commercials, they much more worth watching than this!

[Kev]

Yup I also have the displeasure of seeing this..it's like a badge you wear... the holday special club.
   
     Thats why they had the wampa slash at lukes face in empire..because it was scarred up and looked different then in a new hope.

   

[Bachi]

That's horrible! Why can't they just leave star wars in the dark coffin, where it was, since 1999?

[George Litman]

I'm really torn about "The Star Wars Holdiay Special".  

Deep down, I know it was  areally bad tie-in/cash-in on "Star Wars" and everything was done badly right down the line (aside from the cartoon segment).  But then again, this IS a part of the SW canon (albeit unacknowledged) and should be watched by anyone who considers themselves a SW fan.  

I've seen it myself and even remember being one of the drooling SW geeks awaiting its premiere back in '78.  I guess, in a perverse way, I like it.  But dang, if only it had turned out better.

Great review, as usual.

-George

P.S. - it was completely unfair that you got thrown out of there for asking such an inevitable question.  But hey, if you hadn't, someone else would have.

[JMR3000]

I saw this when it was broadcast on TV way back when.  I was 13 then, and even though my powers of discerning quality production were not well developed, I remember my stunned reaction to this foul heap.  "How could they make something so awful?" I thought with mountains of disappointment.

Other painful recollections that come flooding back:  Being confused and disturbed by Luke's makeup (I wasn't even sure it was him), the presence of Bea Arthur (MAUDE?????)

[JMR3000]

(Sorry, I hit a wrong button and it submitted prematurely.)

As I was painfully recollecting:  The godawful skit with Harvey Korman (HARVEY KORMAN????), the disappointing appearance of Art Carney (how the great have fallen!), and the very disturbing vision of Princess Leia singing.  Oh, plus the effeminate look of Chewbacca's son, and the mangy old grandfather, who I seem to recall was treated rather shabbily by the rest of the hairy gang.  Thankfully I have NO recollection of the wookie porn <shudder>.

[Efrem]

Yes, this thing was bad.  I remember that the cast of Star Wars also did a ditty on the Donny and Marie Show.  There was singing in that one too, although I don't that it was as bad as this monstrosity.  Boo Yah!!

[Paul Westbrook]

Here it is in glorious infamy. The piece of STAR WARS history that made George Lucas put a paper bag over his head in utter shame (even though I dont think he had anything to do with this mess i dont know). Anyhow this crap has Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, and she's does something that is supposed to be singing, but sounds like the eqivalent of a group of alley cats on a fence. Plus Mark Hamill as Luke in what appears to be .... eye makeup? Someone for the love of God, get me a lightsaber. Amusing this is not! Watch at your own risk.

[Money]

4 words Star Wars Rip off