The Star Wars Holiday Special is one of the most infamous, cursed television programs ever produced. Airing during the 1978 holiday season, more than a year after Star Wars premiered in theaters and became a sensation, it was created as a quick cash-in between films—a fact that was obvious to anyone who watched it (which was nearly impossible for a long time; thank the maker for YouTube).
From the weird storyline (involving a Wookie celebration known as “Life Day”), to the horrific songs, to the decidedly budget look, to the grudging participation of “special guests” the likes of Bea Arthur and Jefferson Starship, to the fact that Carrie Fisher (RIP) clearly only made it through filming with, er, pharmaceutical help, it would have been thrown straight into the garbage smasher were it about anything other than the biggest movie ever made.
