What better way to celebrate the holidays than to watch the worst Star Wars-related piece of entertainment ever created, and I don’t mean the prequels.
The Star Wars Holiday Special was broadcast in its entirety only once on November 17, 1978. It is generally regarded as one of the worst moments in television history, and was a disappointment to Star Wars fans everywhere. George Lucas has been reported to say that, “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track down every copy of that show and smash it.” The special follows the story of Chewbacca as he tries to make it back to his home planet of Kashyyyk to celebrate Life Day with his Wookiee family, complete with grunty dialogue that is never translated. So many of the segments are inexplicably awful, like Bea Arthur in the Mos Eisley cantina and Art Carney as a comedic shop owner fighting for the Rebellion. But the worst is a possibly drugged-up Carrie Fisher singing the Life Day song set to the tune of John Williams’ Star Wars Theme.
In all honesty, the special is so bad that it’s almost good. It’s definitely worth watching for the novelty value alone and many believe that the 10 minute animated introduction of Boba Fett to the universe was pretty good. Considering that Lucas screwed with his universe so much more by simply making the prequel movies, the special isn’t so bad by comparison.
If you don’t agree with me, there’s a 70-minute review of The Phantom Menace being talked about on the interwebs that basically points out everything that I hate about those films. The reviewer has some personality problems of his own which seem rather forced, but everything he says about the Qui-gon Jinn being the most morally corrupt Jedi ever, or how lightsaber duels are more interesting without ridiculously acrobatic fight choreography, is spot on.
I actually put in the non-special edition Star Wars this weekend and was pleasantly surprised. The movie is still good. It’s still got it. I was happy again like I was when I first saw it, and I was able to fight through all of the negative feelings that the prequels have given me when I consider anything Star Wars. I mean, I used to be a big time Star Wars nerd and was excited for any kind of related merchandise. Websites like this Star Wars weather are awesome and should be lauded, instead of being associated with all of the crap that was the prequels.
Which reminds me, the worst piece of Star Wars-related entertainment is the Donny & Marie “revue” and not any of these other things. Hands down.
