Back in 1978, the excitement for Star Wars was at an all-time high. The original movie had premiered just a year earlier, and it dominated our toys, playtime, and imaginations. So when The Star Wars Holiday Special was announced, we were beyond thrilled.
On November 17, 1978, we gathered around our TVs, not knowing what to expect. What we got was… well, not what anyone imagined. Instead of an epic Star Wars adventure, it turned out to be a 1970s-style Christmas variety show with a thin Star Wars theme and an extremely loose plot.
The special featured Harvey Korman in multiple comedic roles (including a Julia Child-like character), a performance by Jefferson Starship, Bea Arthur as a singing bartender on Tatooine, and even a grandpa Wookie named Itchy watching a very suggestive Diahann Carroll hologram. It was bizarre, to say the least.
The highlight? An animated segment introducing Boba Fett—a rare gem in an otherwise confusing spectacle.
The special was such a disappointment that George Lucas never released it officially. This turned it into a cult “Holy Grail” for collectors, with bootleg copies circulating at comic conventions throughout the ’90s and 2000s.
Today, you can find the full Star Wars Holiday Special on YouTube. Check it out below—and don’t miss next week’s Geeky Cinephiles episode, where Joe and I will review this infamous piece of Star Wars history!
Stay Geeky!
