November 17, 1978. A day which will live in infamy.
That’s the day the Star Wars Holiday Special aired on CBS.
Those of us that went to see the original Star Wars movie many times in the theaters just a year earlier were eagerly anticipating this special. What we got was a grand awakening of things to come.
The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 was great. Return of the Jedi in 1983 was good. Yes, despite the Ewoks. Those of us who saw the Holiday Special were not shocked by the Ewoks. Nor were we shocked by the Prequels that came years later. We all realize just how bad Star Wars could be.
And, in case you were (or still are) a Star Wars fan, and in case you missed the Holiday Special, well, here you go.
Remember, this was followed up by The Empire Strikes Back. No matter how bad things seem during the moment, things will can get better.
You’re welcome.
When this was scarce on the internet I dug up a digitized vhs of the broadcast of this from some station in Baltimore, I think. The commercials were very entertaining.
I know I’d seen it before so it must’ve been when it first aired. My memory wants to tell me it was at a friend’s house. It was a family with six kids and as the show went on fewer and fewer of them were still in the room. But wasn’t Luke’s feathered hair DREAMY!