The 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special will forever live in infamy. Cheap sets, terrible acting, and truly horrific musical numbers paved the way for one of the most cringeworthy movie tie-ins of all time. But how did it ever get made?
A new documentary, A Disturbance in the Force, goes behind the scenes on the world's most intriguing franchise malady and uncovers how that dumpster fire from a galaxy far, far away made it to our screens.
“In 1977, Star Wars became a cultural phenomenon that single-handedly revitalized a stagnant film industry, and forever changed how films were sold, made, and marketed,” reads its official synopsis. “In 1978, filmmaker George Lucas was talked into cashing in on the Star Wars craze by producing a holiday variety TV special. What could possibly go wrong? ANSWER: Everything…”
The Star Wars Holiday Special debuted on Thanksgiving 1978 and was watched by 13 million utterly baffled people. Bringing season whimsy to the Star Wars universe, the Holiday Special tells the story of Life Day, a Wookiee tradition that sees Chewbacca and his family celebrate family, joy, and harmony alongside Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, and Princess Leia.
Yes, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher were dragged into it. And Bea Arthur, too, because why not. Oh, and Diahann Carroll, as a sentient VR image, hits on Chewbacca’s father. The result is a mishmash of bizarre skits that has never since been re-broadcast.
In fact, George Lucas himself once said: “That's one of those things that happened, and I just have to live with it.” Harrison Ford has even denied any memory of the show.
Most fans will agree the only semi-decent thing to come out of the holiday special was Boba Fett, who appeared for the first time ever as part of an animated segment before eventually appearing in Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.
The new documentary from Jeremy Coon and Steve Kozak explores how any of this was allowed to happen.
“While some fans of the franchise are aware of this dark secret, this bizarre two hours of television still remains relatively unknown among the general public. Simply put, the documentary will answer how and why the Holiday Special got made.”
A Disturbance in the Force debuts online on December 5.
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Ryan Leston is an entertainment journalist and film critic for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter.
