Before The Mandalorian (2019-present), there was the Star Wars Holiday Special (1978), which aired on CBS. This infamous television travesty featured stars, songs and enough sentiment to blow up the Death Star. While audiences weren’t necessarily thrilled with the special, it garnered enough publicity to warrant and 2023 behind-the-scenes documentary.
How did the Star Wars Holiday Special come about?
Before the high point of Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980), creator George Lucas was approached about bringing Star Wars to the small screen. While Lucas and company were reportedly very involved from out outset, TV producers wound up taking control of the project.
Speaking to Mashable, Lucasfilm’s Gary Kurtz recalls how the pressures of setting up The Empire Strikes Back got too much, revealing, “We just left it to them and just had the occasional meetings with them, provided them with access to props and the actors, and that was it.”
The basic story of the Star Wars Holiday Special concerns a cosmic celebration (Life Day) and focuses on Chewbacca and his family. Where did that aspect come from? Lucas himself, although he didn’t intend for things to turn out the way they did!
Meet the Mandalorian
The hero in the Disney+ smash The Mandalorian wears distinctive alien armor, as does Boba Fett, who was actually introduced in the Star Wars Holiday Special. Yes, really. George Lucas actually conceived Fett for The Empire Strikes Back, meaning the character was essentially ready to go. When the 1978 special happened, however, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to launch him onto the world stage, using early design ideas for Darth Vader to bring the bounty hunter to life.
The Boba Fett sequence is animated and features other beloved Star Wars characters. Influenced by artist Moebius, who inspired the look of such movies as The Fifth Element (1997), the animation was done by Nelvana, Ltd. They went on to make the Droids and Ewoks.
The quality team produced a memorable result, making The Story of the Faithful Wookiee a rare treat amongst the special’s super cheesy offerings.
Much-loved characters and bizarre situations
The Star Wars Holiday Special is a big-hearted, soppy tribute to family and friendship. One character who wouldn’t approve of this was Han Solo. That being said, Harrison Ford was on board for the fun. Famously, the Wookiees weren’t given subtitles, so when Chewbacca grunts something at Han and he replies, “I feel the same way about you too pal,” you have to wonder just what’s going on there!
They’re flying in the Millennium Falcon to Chewie’s home planet of Kashyyyk, where his family awaits. His wife, father and kids make excited preparations at their treehouse. A true oddity of the special is when the Wookiees spend extended periods of time talking and no one has a clue what’s being said.
Mark Hamill appears as Luke Skywalker. Rolling Stone describes him sporting “several pounds of pancake makeup, eyeliner, and other cosmetics that leave him resembling less the Luke we met on Tatooine than a young Carol Channing.” Hamill’s serious car accident and resulting facial surgery were thought to be behind the move.
Crazy credits
While some have noted the lack of credit for R2-D2 performer Kenny Baker, he actually wasn’t involved in the production. Mick Garris, who went on to become a horror director, operated the droid by remote control. Meanwhile, James Earl Jones voices the one and only Darth Vader and is acknowledged onscreen for the first time – he hadn’t been credited for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977).
Carrie Fisher sings in the Star Wars Holiday Special
The Star Wars Holiday Special has a big closing number in the form of “Happy Life Day.” Set to the legendary movie theme by John Williams, it’s belted out by none other than Carrie Fisher. This dirge-like ditty was apparently a draw for the young actress. How come? Ranker writes that the song was “a major reason Carrie Fisher signed on to the Special in the first place, as she was looking to launch her own musical career.”
Fisher wasn’t exactly thrilled with the end result, although she did come to appreciate it in an unexpected way.
Guest stars galore
Some big names were lured into CBS’s tractor beam for the Star Wars Holiday Special. Future The Golden Girls (1985-92) star Bea Arthur plays Mos Eisley cantina owner Ackmena. Among her patrons is what appears to be a relative of the villain, Greedo.
Comedian and Mel Brooks collaborator Harvey Korman plays three roles, including an alien chef. Fellow comic Art Carney appears as salesman Saun Dann, with Diahann Carroll performing a surprisingly intimate dance for Itchy the Wookiee via hologram!
More musical powerhouse action was provided by Jefferson Starship, who supplied the track, “Light the Sky on Fire.”
George Lucas tried to use the Force
In later years, George Lucas would exert enormous creative control on the Star Wars franchise. For example, the original trilogy had its effects tweaked as technology improved. He apparently expressed a desire to destroy all copies of the Star Wars Holiday Special. However, Legends Revealed presents a more nuanced picture, mentioning the fact Lucasfilm has been happy to screen the notorious misfire, albeit occasionally.
Lucas is also quoted from a 2005 interview, where he says it “probably wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but you learn from those experiences.” This appears to find the producer in a philosophical mood, unless he was under the influence of a Jedi mind trick.
Rogue fun
For years, the Star Wars Holiday Special circulated as a bootleg video. It’s also freely available on YouTube. No one seems to want to take it down, so we’re guessing its existence is at least tolerated by George Lucas, despite his distaste for it.
Connection to Police Academy
Among the jokesmiths on The Star Wars Holiday Special was Pat Proft, an American comedy writer and actor who went on to pen The Police Academy (1984), as well as The Naked Gun films.
Elvis has left the galaxy
Directing the madness that is the Star Wars Holiday Special was Steve Binder. A decade earlier, he’d lined the lenses on Elvis Presley‘s iconic comeback special. This gives him, perhaps, the singular honor of working with both Elvis and Darth Vader.
Carrie Fisher found the Star Wars Holiday Special very useful
Carrie Fisher reportedly played a copy of the Star Wars Holiday Special during parties. Was this because she was proud of her efforts? Not so much. In fact, she found it was a great way of clearing out stragglers.
An enduring legacy
The Star Wars Holiday Special has been referenced in other Star Wars media, with the ultimate shoutout coming in The Mandalorian; MeTV notes how Life Day is name-checked. The title character also uses a weapon designed for the Nelvana animated sequence.
Disney associate Marvel has loudly promoted the special through a one-shot comic book, with Life Day featuring “a collection of festive tales from all across the STAR WARS SAGA.”
A documentary has been made about the Star Wars Holiday Special
Given how infamous the Star Wars Holiday Special is, it was only a matter of time before a documentary was made about it. Titled A Disturbance in the Force, the feature, which premiered at SXSW in 2023, provides a comical behind-the-scenes look around the set and at just what it took to bring this mess of a special to life.
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A Disturbance in the Force is slated for release on December 5, 2023, meaning it could very well be the perfect holiday gift for those who still look back on the special with fondness.