Bruce Vilanch Talks The “Star Wars Holiday Special”

swholiday11Bruce Vilanch, known as the man who co-wrote  the “infamous cult classic” Star Wars Holiday Special  shares his thoughts and previously unknown details about the production. Read on for more!

 

 

The ‘Star Wars Holiday Special’ aired only once on television in the US on CBS. The 97-minute musical-variety show for families aired right before Thanksgiving in 1978, and told the story of Han Solo’s original co-pilot Chewbacca and his family on “life day,” a celebration of friendship and happiness.

 

The TV show was designed to keep ‘Star Wars’ on the minds of the thousands of fans who were waiting for the sequel to original ‘Star Wars’ film entitled, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Although Nielsen Media Research reported 13 million households tuned in to watch the show, it’s hard to find anyone who actually seen the show on it’s original (and only) airing. After the show aired on television it was quickly forgotten by ‘Star Wars’ fans and vanished forever. Well, not so fast, super fans with VCRs taped the original airing, copied and distributed to local comic book and toy conventions across the world and the cult following was formed and forever cemented in history.

 

Tv_star_wars_holiday_special_life_day1-300x2191

 

Today, everyone loves to hate on the monstrosity, and for good reason as it’s one of the worst things imaginable for any Star Wars fan (Yes, even Jar-Jar Binks is more popular). For the record, I am probably one of the few that like the ‘Holiday Special’, mostly because I grew up a big Art Carney fan.

 

Anyhow, one man attempted to do his best to bring a family atmosphere to CBS television back on ‘Thanksgiving day’ in 1978. That man is comedy writer, songwriter, actor and two-time Emmy Award-winner, Bruce Vilanch. Vilanch, shares some previously unknown and funny information about shooting his negatively received ‘CBS’ Star Wars Holiday Special, which he co-wrote.

 

You can watch the short clip here. Good Stuff!

 

 

 

If you are one of the very few that hasn’t seen Vilanch’s complete co-written ‘Holiday Special’, you’re in luck… It can be seen here.

Check it out!

 

 

 

Source: TVLEGENDS

 

 

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19 thoughts on “Bruce Vilanch Talks The “Star Wars Holiday Special”

  • August 8, 2016 at 6:32 pm
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    I do like the SWHS, it’s corny, Mark has too much makeup on, but it came in an era where any Star Wars was good Star Wars.

    • August 8, 2016 at 7:49 pm
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      The music too, is SO 70s…cringeworthy stuff! But I’m w/ you: The animated Boba Fett bits are great fun – looks like something out of ‘Heavy Metal’! (which I used to love reading…and still catch up with every now & again)

  • August 8, 2016 at 6:37 pm
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    Funny to hear all of this. From what I’d heard, Lucas had no involvement with the thing. Apparently that’s sort of true, I mean it doesn’t sound like he intended for it to be a variety hour, but he DID supply the story.

  • August 8, 2016 at 11:22 pm
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    Better than Force Awakens……
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    *ducks*

    • August 10, 2016 at 1:50 am
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      Don’t forget the PT…..
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      *lame ducks*

      • August 10, 2016 at 1:53 pm
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        I wondered how long it would be before someone couldn’t take a joke… Lol

        • August 10, 2016 at 2:51 pm
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          Oh for Gods sake it is a joke, I’m responding to a joke with a joke. I dunno, there’s something not right in the heads of you Prequelites.

          • August 10, 2016 at 4:58 pm
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            I’m not a prequelite. 😉

            That’s how I knew you weren’t just joking. You automatically assumed I was a prequel fan and hater of TFA so thought you’d take a swipe. Shame that I’m not. 😉

          • August 10, 2016 at 7:16 pm
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            So you you knew that I wasn’t just joking, because in a comment I hadn’t yet made, I assumed you were a prequel lover. Lol, as I said, they’re not right in the head folks.

  • August 8, 2016 at 11:33 pm
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    I still remember watching it over my aunt’s house in 1978 (I was 6 years old). I have feint memories of it (I still remember meeting Chewbacca’s family part). One thing I’ll never forget is how bad it was as even at 6 years old I found it utterly cheesy.

    • August 9, 2016 at 3:31 am
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      Me too – I was 4, and I do vaguely remember things from seeing it at the time – the cartoon, the Corman stuff, the reused SW footage (hey, ANY SW footage is good SW footage when home video isn’t a thing, kids)…even then though it seemed to drag on all night.

  • August 8, 2016 at 11:37 pm
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    I don’t think it ever aired in the UK so I didn’t see it until I bought DVD bootlegs of the laserdisc versions of the trilogy on eBay and the Holiday Special came as a 4th disc.

  • August 9, 2016 at 4:05 am
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    Star Wars + crappy 70s variety shows + D-list talent + ample amounts of drugs = S.W.H.S.

    • August 9, 2016 at 4:26 am
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      Studio 54 meets a Galaxy Far Far Away….

    • August 10, 2016 at 2:56 am
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      You forgot “senior citizen wookies jacking it to internet porn”.

  • August 10, 2016 at 1:52 am
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    I’ve tried to watch it several times, just can’t get through it though, it’s nearly as bad as AOTC.

  • August 10, 2016 at 3:01 am
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    Fat people having orgasms. 😐

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