Apparently I was mistaken on which song was called that. I thought the old one was just the Ewok song or Yub Yub or something like that.
Whatever. I don't care anymore.
The greatest piece of TV ever produced.
While this "special" is rightly regarded as dreck, it does contain a good cartoon featuring Bobb Fett that foreshadows TESB and ROTJ (i.e. the use of his rope to tie someone up and the use of his jet pack). Obviously, BF is a character that Lucas HAD put a lot of thought into either right before or right after Star Wars.
I've never seen it, does any one know where i can find a copy?
Since it has never been officially released and probably never will be. Your best bet is to buy a bootleg tape at a sci-fi convention or at a comic book convention like I did. But make sure the tape dealer has a tv and vcr set up so you can check the video/audio quality of the tape before you buy it. Usually you shouldn't have to pay more than around $15.00 for it.
I do not endorse buying bootlegs and the only reason I bought the "THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL" at a convention is the fact that it's doubtfull Goerge Lucas will ever authorise a legitimate release. If Phil or the moderator want to take this message down for any reason that's more than fine with me.
Yes I know that the words are spelled "George" and "authorize".
I was in a hurry and didn't correct them.
Missed another one "doubtful". I'm having a bad day.
Thank you for the info.
The above messages sound okay to me. Unless a large number of people compain it will stay.
I watched the special recently and it looked like Luke had a slightly different lightsaber hanging from his belt than the one in ANH. I admit it's hard to see. Could they not find/get the original prop?
Have you found a copy Jason?
And if you did, did you destroy it immediately?
If I remember correctly, there was a lot of emphasis on Chewbacca and the Wookie culture. I think this was only aired once, in Nov.'78.
Actually, you can see it online at
http://datamaster.gamesnet.net/files/general/
The filename is sw-holspecial or something like that. I've downloaded it (masochist that I am) but haven't had the time or the nerve to watch it yet.
Oh, and here are some links to some amusingly scathing reviews (complete with pictures!):
http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2000/12/05/star_wars_tv/index.html
http://www.teleport-city.com/movies/reviews/scifi/starwars.html
http://www.ohthehumanity.com/review.php3?ID=411
http://www.stomptokyo.com/movies/star-wars-holiday-special.html
I just watched this...
It was "interesting." I'm not sure how I managed to survive.
I just watched this...
At the risk of stating the obvious... Why?
I must make a confession concerning the Star Wars Holiday Special.
I was only three when the special aired on television, but I must have watched it with my family (my two older brothers were deeply into Star Wars), and for years, I had vague memories of watching something on T.V. involving Wookies and the cast of Star Wars. Everyone I would mention it to, though, would laugh and say that no such thing existed. For years, I thought it must have been a fever dream or something.
It's so good to know that I wasn't hallucinating. (Of course, considering how tacky that special was, most people probably just blocked it out of their memories.)
Thanks for all those links.
I did watch it college...and...I can't explain it, but it didn't strike me as painfully awful as you guys say. Or maybe I didn't see the whole thing, because I don't remember much of it.
I remember Wookies...and not much else. Elsewhere on this board somebody mentioned Bea Arthur; I sure don't remember her in this.
I *do* remember comparing this to the other so-called variety programs on network TV; they always consist of: lame chat with a celebrity plugging his/her latest thing; lame jokes from a standup comedian; a beautiful woman singing about love. And that's it. Period.
Most variety programs had extremely little variety, but this one did. It had...um, I don't remember.
I just liked it better than those other holiday specials and "variety" programs which seemed so much alike, so lame, boring, and unoriginal.
I remember a ridiculous promo Merv Griffin once did for his talk show where he said his next show "runs the gamut" from music to comedy. The nitpicker in me cried out, there is no gamut, and it's the same as every other talk show, augh!
(I didn't *really* yell at the TV.)
Did I like it just because it was Star Wars and sci-fi? Um, I don't remember. I don't think so. And no, I've never been on drugs, or anything similar, in case you're gonna ask.
I guess I don't always know bad writing/acting. Sometimes I do, but not this time, I guess. I'll have to go to that site where I can download it and watch it again sometime.
So I'm tooling around some Bad Movie links, and I come across the above. I'm not a rabid fan, but I keep up with the tie-ins, and I'd never heard of this - Star Wars on TV! With the original cast, yet!
Well. Once I'd stopped laughing I realized I just had to head over here and ask if anybody's seen this thing. Apparently it involves Chewbacca's family...Malla his wife, Lumpy his son, and Itchy his dad <mmmmph-SNICKER-mmmph-snft> and their (non-subtitled) adventures whilst waiting for Chewie to get home for Life Day.
The result must be the contents of George Lucas's ugliest acid trip. Itchy watches VR porno, starring Dionne Warwick in a pink wig...Malla watches a cooking show with Harvey Korman as a (female) three-armed host...Imperial troops who come for Chewbacca get distracted watching Jefferson Starship in silver lame.
Meanwhile Bea Arthur (I swear) belts out a tune in an Anchorhead cantina. And our three Wars headliners - including Harrison Ford - make cameos as they check in for Life Day...performing in a fashion, one reviewer commented, as if they'd had to get REALLY schnockered in order to take part. The whole thing finishes up with Carrie Fisher carolling along to the main Star Wars theme.
By this time, of course, I was dying to check it out, but it's not available on video, just as a multi-generation copy on eBay. George Lucas is apparently on record as stating that he'd like to find every single copy and personally smash it.
Well, again. It turns out there's a crazy auntie in the attic that the Wars universe never talks about. Any thoughts?
The Episode IV Special Edition creates a nit with the Boba Fett Cartoon. In it apparently Boba Fett and Han Solo meet for the first time. BUT in the Special Edition scene with Jabba and Han talking outside the Falcon Boba Fett is clearly there. So how come Han doesn't recognize him in the Holiday Special cartoon?
Well, after hanging up-side down for a few days, your memory would get scrambled, too.
Man, you gotta love Carrie's song at the end, huh?
What a piece of work this show was.
The Episode IV Special Edition creates a nit with the Boba Fett Cartoon. In it apparently Boba Fett and Han Solo meet for the first time. BUT in the Special Edition scene with Jabba and Han talking outside the Falcon Boba Fett is clearly there. So how come Han doesn't recognize him in the Holiday Special cartoon?
Also, Lucas apparently didn't have much to do with the making of this special, and is among the many to pray that this never sees the light of day again.
No doubt with Episode III coming out on DVD in December, this will probably get released on DVD as well....to milk the franchise for all it's worth
No doubt with Episode III coming out on DVD in December
But only the first of many versions of it...
Right...
Original release
Special Edition Release
Expanded Special Edition Release
Digitally Enhanced Expanded Special Edition Release
.....Ad nauseaum
Here's my request,
The "Make Up Your [bleep]ing Mind, Already!" Release
(aka, the "Sell This Again and I'll Hunt You" Release)
Heartily Seconded!
No doubt with Episode III coming out on DVD in December, this will probably get released on DVD as well....to milk the franchise for all it's worth
Actually it is quite doubtful, as Lucas has publicly stated he'd like to find every known copy of the special and smash them with a sledgehammer.
For once, we are in agreement.
I don't know... you can *always* lure in George Lucas with the promise of adding CGI...
As long as he can cut out Bea Arthur, the cyber porn stuff, Jefferson Starship... Actually, you might as well cut the whole thing down to 3 minutes.
As for CGI -- erase some of that Ziggy Stardust garbage off of Luke's face, and that might be all you'd need.
Bea Arthur played Ackmena...as if....
As for CGI -- erase some of that Ziggy Stardust garbage off of Luke's face, and that might be all you'd need.
So you could see how messed up his face was from his car accident?
Well as I recall, he didn't have any of that cr&p in Empire or Jedi, and that was after the accident too!
Y'know, has it occured to anyone that this piece of... err, work... doesn't deserve the discussion we're giving it?
Anyway, you know Lucas- just like Peter Jackson, he can never bring himself to take anything OUT, just to add new things IN.
Perhaps some of the worst moments like the Jefferson Starship number could be visually replaced with CGI swooping shots across the forrest of Kashyyk, complete with slapstick wookies falling off railings, creatures eating other creatures and belching, droids and ships being all over the place for no reason, and the occasional hidden Milenium Falcon, muppets, and Lucas family members?
(BTW, anyone interested should head to www.theforce.net/humor. Besides looking up the wealth of riffs they've done on the Holiday Special, it's worth checking out the "Jaxxon's 11" comic. The most recent episode, Everybody Comes To Vol's (http://www.theforce.net/humor/jaxxon/jaxxon-08.asp), has a riff on the Holiday Special. Also of note is the Fan Fiction 'The Big Snub' (http://fanfic.theforce.net/fanfic.asp?action=view&ID=119) which pokes fun at a lot of "boy, I wish I could forget that" moments from the EU- and Lumpy is one of the best.
Finally, even if you don't take 'ol Zarm's advice and check those out - which you should- THIS (http://www.echostation.com/humor/phantomholiday.htm) is a must-read; so scary because anyone who's seen the Holiday Special can actually picture this monstrosity, too. :-) )
I sure wish they'd release the CARTOON from "The Holiday Special". That was pretty good.
SUGGESTION: Put the cartoon on "The Revenge of the Sith" DVD!
Well as I recall, he didn't have any of that cr&p in Empire or Jedi, and that was after the accident too!
Empire and Jedi were filmed later, after he'd had more time to heal. This was fairly soon after, as I recall.
Anyway, you know Lucas- just like Peter Jackson, he can never bring himself to take anything OUT, just to add new things IN.
Not true. He removed two songs from Return of the Jedi - Special Edition. Yes, he added two other songs, but the original two are gone, unfortunately.
UNforunately? Those original songs were awful!
Don't worry, they will be used on a future episode of Sesame Street.
Those original songs were awful!
Blasphemy!
Blasphemy? It's having a sense of annoying tunes (or lack thereof).
Personally, I'd take a pan flute/pop tune over an Ewok chant any day!
It's having a sense of annoying tunes (or lack thereof).
A bad sense. Come on, "Celebrate the Love"? BARF! Not to mention the Imperial helmets getting hit no longer even fit the tune playing as it happens. And it's a celebration in the Ewok village so it should sound like Ewoks, damnit! Other planets shouldn't even know about the Emperor dying yet, so how the h-e-double toothpicks are they celebrating the same night? At least the DVD version adds Jar Jar screaming "weesa free" on Naboo to stick it to all the haters, but really, none of that stuff belongs there.
And don't even get me started on that lame "Jedi Rocks". This travesty only exists so they could shove that stupid little CGI guy in there to run up and sceam into the camera. This is even worse than Boba Fett turning to mug at the camera after he's been inserted into the Star Wars Special Edition along with Jabba. QUIT BREAKING THE D@MN 4TH WALL ALREADY! This isn't supposed to be that kinda movie!
Come on, "Celebrate the Love"? BARF!
"Celebrate the Love"? What are you talking about?
And don't even get me started on that lame "Jedi Rocks". This travesty only exists so they could shove that stupid little CGI guy in there to run up and sceam into the camera. This is even worse than Boba Fett turning to mug at the camera after he's been inserted into the Star Wars Special Edition along with Jabba. QUIT BREAKING THE D@MN 4TH WALL ALREADY!
Okay, first off, calm down dude.
Second, I'm kind of indifferent about Jedi Rocks -- I hated the original song, but this one's nothing particularly special either, and I agree about that CGI Fozzie-soundalike.
But what are you talking about with Boba Fett mugging for the camera? (for that matter, how can you tell with that guy's helmet?)
But what are you talking about with Boba Fett mugging for the camera? (for that matter, how can you tell with that guy's helmet?)
As he's walking by at the end of the scene, he turns and looks directly into the camera, for absolutely no in-story reason. It's as if to say, "hey fanboy, here I am, Boba Fett, look at me I'm in Star Wars now too not just Empire and Jedi!"
Anyway, for the rest of the stuff, we're getting into a bit of a thread hijack, so I'm willing to agree to disagree, okay?
Sure, but I have to dispute that "glance" about Boba Fett. First of all, he is looking all the way around the set, so a brief look (which is all -- if any -- there is) is justified. Second, since Lucas shot the Special Edition stuff himself and has never intended the movies to be self-indulgent it doesn't make sense that he would do something like that here.
""Celebrate the Love"? What are you talking about?"-Jedi Outcast
Listen carefully to the end of the original ewok sound- the Ewok voices transition into a chorus in English (er, I mean Basic...) where the Ewoks were singing something to the essential beat of 'yuh-duh-duh--duh-duh, (milisecond pause, then yelled out) Yub-Yub!*' it transitions into a choir singing "Celebrate the light- freedom! Celebrate the migh- power! Celebrate the fight (?!?)- Glory! Celebrate the love! Celebrate the love! Celebrate the love! Celebrate the love!" (On the final love, the voices rise in pitch and are cut-off as the iris ushers in the end credits theme.)
Sorry for the re-hijack.
*Not actual words
Then why was J implying that that was the new song...?
Oh forget it, where were we?
Oh right, that makeup thing -- even if they did have to use it because of Hamill's accident, let's face it the glam garbage that they used for the whole special was atrocious.
When I first saw a screenshot, I thought this was a new female rebel pilot... even ow, it looks like they dubbed Hamil's lines to an actress
Then why was J implying that that was the new song...?
Apparently I was mistaken on which song was called that. I thought the old one was just the Ewok song or Yub Yub or something like that.
Whatever. I don't care anymore.
I give you the complete history of the Star Wars Holiday Special:
January 1978:
Stunned by the success of Star Wars, the execs at Fox approach Lucas about doing a TV special set to release during the holiday season. Lucas agrees and slaps together a script.
June 1978:
Lucas finishes shooting the special and delivers it to the Fox execs, who are horrified at the resemblance that their childrens' special bears to THX 1138. Ultimately, only the scene where Leia sings to the Star Wars opening score is used.
September 1978
After watching his holiday special dwindle to a couple of minutes, Lucas, exhausted and on multiple antibiotics for a cold, falls unconscious at his desk on a Monday morning. In a bizarre turn of events, he begins to sleepwalk, sits down at a typewriter, and writes a new script. He then mailed the script directly to Fox. Waking up with no memory of his actions, Lucas writes a letter officially ending his involvement with the project.
October 1978
Shooting begins on the Star Wars Holiday Special, the Fox execs having misunderstood Lucas and assumed that the script he provided was intended to be his final contribution to the project.
November 1978
Lucas turns on the TV just as the Holiday Special begins. He spends two hours watching in horrified confusion as his beloved new franchise swirls around and around the proverbial drain. Despite the fact that he doesn't remember writing the script, some horrified part of him feels responsible for its release.
And now, on the same note, I give you the Holiday Special DVD release schedule.
-The Holiday Special: Special Edition with CG effects (DVD)
-The Holiday Special: Blu-ray collectors edition (Blu-ray)
-The Holiday Special: Original, unaltered edition (released for a six month period to "satisfy the demands of the fans". Much to the fans consternation, this edition was derived from a bootleg copy of the Special rather than the original version)
-The Holiday Special: 3D Edition
-The Holiday Special: Ultimate Edition (released after Harrison Ford sued Lucas to remove all of his scenes from "Holiday Special" releases)
-The Holiday Special: Ultimate Collectors Edition (Released in the "Ultimate" pack with all six movies: Harrison Ford scenes restored)
-The Holiday Special: Collectors Edition (individual version of Ultimate Collectors Edition)
quote:I do not endorse buying bootlegs and the only reason I bought the "THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL" at a convention is the fact that it's doubtful George Lucas will ever authorize a legitimate release.
I wonder what the original source of these Holiday Special bootlegs is? Maybe Bob Crane taped one on his home VCR.
What I find hard to believe is that anyone who taped this piece of trash didn't burn the tapes immediately.
I have never seen it and would like to watch at least once to be able to male up my own mind.
I have one word for you Anne. bittorrent Not that I endorse bootlegging or illegal file sharing or anything.
The Rifftrack, though, is hilarious!
The Nostalgia Critic reviews it for Chirstmas. Caution: a lot of profanity (no, he didn't like it)
It is singularly horrid -- Star Wars turned into a cheesy 70s variety show. The Life Day bit is just a wrapper for the sketches.
As noted, Mark Hamill had just been in his car wreck so he's wearing six pounds of makeup. The wampa attack in Empire provides the in-universe cover for his facial injuries.
And if you thought Carrie Fisher looked stoned, you're right. Carrie Fisher's drug problem had just started to kick in.
A very funny review. I loved it.
I have to agree with the critic on his feelings about Lucas.
"Lucas says: "Episode 1 is okay...Howard the Duck is okay...but "The holiday Special is not okay.""
What sort of moronic logic is that?
Somehow I feel Carrie Fisher wasn't the only one on drugs during this...I think Lucas was too
I think the artists who did the cartoon are the same ones who did MTV's "Aeon Flux"....the similarities are too coincidental to ignore.
The last time I looked, the whole thing can be seen on YOUTUBE...if you can stomach it.
My understanding is that Lucas had little to do with the production -- Fox wanted something to keep the public interest up since Empire was still a year and a half away, so Lucas let them do it. I'm sure he thought, "Hey, how bad could it be?"
Nelvana did the animated segment; they'd also do the Droids and Ewoks cartoons. Aeon Flux was CCHTV.
The director was Steve Binder, whose biggest credit is probably the Elvis '68 comeback special.
My understanding is that Lucas had little to do with the production -- Fox wanted something to keep the public interest up since Empire was still a year and a half away, so Lucas let them do it. I'm sure he thought, "Hey, how bad could it be?"
Which I'm sure in later years Lucas used to rationalize his decision to be the sole creative voice in the prequels rather than bring in some other witters/directors; "don't want to risk something like the Holiday Special"
Also I understand that he is embarrassed and has done everything in his power to keep it from being released; being a big proponent of changing his films every few years. But I think he's being a spoiled sport with this. Sure it was bad but why not include it as an extra on some DVD release? He could even do a commentary where he laughs at it, talks about how bad it is and apologizes to the fans.
In my opinion, Lucas >IS< responsible for the Holiday Special.
Here's why:
A. Lucas should have read the script before giving it the "Green Light".
If Lucas did not like the script, he should have written it himself.
B. Lucas should have watched it before it was released...then if he didn't like it, he should have made the writer/director do it over again until he/she gets it RIGHT.
After "three strikes", Lucas would take over and do it the way he feels it should go.
Well, out of morbid curiosity, I looked this up on YouTube. Yes, it's there, and I watched about two-thirds of it. Not the absolute worst thing I've ever seen, but it was incredibly BORING!
I stopped watching around the time "Cantina Barmaid Bea Arthur" was singing her farewell song to her patrons when the Empire shut the bar down. I really don't feel I ever need to finish the rest of it, life's too short, know what I mean?
Interestingly, this was filmed around the time Carrie Fisher was in the middle of a full-blown (get it?) cocaine bender, which apparently had resulted from her not being able to deal with the sudden fame and stardom from the success of A New Hope. She had spoken about this at length before, and also once said that George Lucas gave her a copy of the Special in exchange for doing audio commentary for the original trilogy, and then said that she plays it "usually at the end of a party when she wanted her guests to leave".
As for Harry Ford, god bless him, he dealt with the incredibly lame and moronic dialogue he was given here and eventually emerged as the most successful of all the SW actors. However, in 2006, while appearing on Conan O'Brien, Ford was suddenly put on the spot by O'Brien when he asked Ford about having done the Special, and then showed a clip from the Special where Han is talking to Chewie about his son Lumpy, and delivering painfully embarrassing dialogue. Ford obviously did not like what O'Brien had done, and his displeasure was clearly evident on his face. Oh well, thems the breaks, Ford is worth like, a hundred million dollars or so? He's living a charmed life, he can handle a little ribbing and roasting!
A website called Wrestlecrap.com chronicles the very worst of pro wrestling, and sometimes, they also induct into their Hall Of Shame non-wrestling entries. So I read what they had to say about the Special, and it was basically all I needed to know. This is what was said of it on that site: "You think the Phantom Menace sucked? This thing made that look like Empire! Princess Leia and Bea Arthur sing Life Day carols as Chewbacca's pappy watches porn! No, I'm NOT joking!"
Also, there is a book I have spoken about on the Kitchen Sink called "What Were They Thinking: The 100 Dumbest Events In TV History" which came out in 2004. And this, the SWHS which George Lucas himself is embarrassed about and refuses to acknowledge even exists, is rated number one in that book. And with very good reason. Because like I said, it is not as if the Special is offensive or anything like that, it is mind-numbingly boring, and when it isnt a total snorefest, it is extremely ludicrous. Frankly, I'm surprised that I was able to get past the Wookie-speak in the first half-hour (that didn't even have subtitles!) to see Art Carney try to hock useless trinkets to a huge-helmeted Imperial guy, as well as see Harvey Korman as a Julia Child impersonater with four arms or as a bizarre Cantina patron who drank beer by pouring it into a hole in his head!
Some people apparently own bootleg copies of this stange snoozefest, and I say, more power to them if they can stomach seeing this more than once. Like I said, I didnt even finish the whole thing!
Sigh...Anyway, life does go on. Right?
Also, the "100 Dumbest Events In TV History" book had this to say about the special in general: "Worse than Jar Jar. Worse than Leia's English accent in A New Hope. Worse even than the Special Edition of A New Hope where Greedo shoots first!"
And the author also mentions how Carrie Fisher appeared to have just returned from a three-day bender on Planet Happy Dust. It was true, too. Wrestlecrap's review of this mentioned that Fisher "looked to be absolutely coked right out of her mind" in the few scenes that she actually appeared in. And the Nostalgia Critic lamented in his 2009 review of this that the Star Wars stars "appeared only in cameos" and that when Fisher started to sing the ending Life Day song, he remarked "Did I mention that Fisher started doing drugs around the time she filmed this?"
Well, all of that is the honest-to-god truth, as unfortunate as it is. And another humorous thing that the author of "100 Dumbest Things" said in reference to this, "the worst two hours of television ever" was when he wondered what non-fans of the franchise would ask while viewing this, such as "Tell me, just how does Harvey Korman fit in with the Empire's plans to crush the Rebel forces?" They were right, dammit!
I also ask why Art Carney had to be in this, he was really quite superfluous, IMO. But as to the presence of "Cantina Barmaid Bea Arthur, the Nostalgia Critic praised her performance and her song "It's Not The End, Friend" when the Empire closed down the Mos Eisley cantina (for what reason that would actually benefit them, I have no idea) and speculated that the entire special should just have been about her! For no other reason than she wasn't a Wookie and that she had real actual theatrical and singing experience, I suppose.
BTW, Harry Ford is worth more like 350 million at least, not only 100 million like I had previously speculated. And he was the only one who emerged from this depressing debacle relatively unscathed, such as the original Indiana Jones trilogy as well as other great films like Blade Runner and Air Force One. Mark Hamill was very nearly typecast for life as a result of portraying the most powerful Jedi in the universe, but he would also do good work in the Wing Commander series of FMV games as well as voiceover work in shows like Batman: The Animated Series.
And Carrie? She still got work all right, usually in mediocre comedic movies and went on to write two self-serving autobiographies that she would then turn into a one woman show. And lets just say that the years have definetly not been kind to her, her appearance has considerably declined in quality, up to the point where I could not believe it was actually here when she responded to Shatner's claim that Trek was better than Wars. Fisher pretended to be either drunk or wasted and apparently knew nothing at all about what happened in Trek. And she of course defended the franchise that made her weathly in a slurred, mind-addled way. And George "Ohhh Myyyyy" Takei called for a truce between them and asked for peace throughout the galaxies, whichever one you chose to exist in, Trek or Wars. Good for him, I say!
That's about it from me about all this. I say George should stay true to his word and NEVER release this on ANY format, DVD, Blu-Ray, or otherwise. That would show that he does actually have some self-awareness and sanity!
Sorry. That should be "APPEARED to be either drunk or wasted". At least that's what it seemed like to me!
Any chance of a thread for the LEGO Holiday Special?
Despite all the negative feelings about the Holiday Special over the past four-and-a-half decades, the show's director, Steve Binder, fondly remembers its production. More on that here.
And, according to the article, the main goal of the program was (guess what) to sell Star Wars toys.