# I just watched THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL again **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2001, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929 "2001-11-17T10:02:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bossk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@Bossk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bossk)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 10:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/1 "2001-11-17T10:02:08Z")
Oh. My. God. No matter how many times I watch it, I still credit it to a nasty hallucination. My thoughts: Gee, Carrie sure looks stoned. She comes off as pretty stuck-up and bitchy through the entired movie, too. Why would a grizzled old Wookiee fantasize about a nubile black human female in his virtual porn machine? Why didn’t Boba Fett kill Luke and Han when he had the chance? Walrus Man sure grew his arm back quickly. A giant rat? A giant rat? Harvey Korman as a four-armed Julia Child wannabe? ooookay Bea Arthur singing cabaret songs does not make me hard. Art Carney gives the best performance in the show. Where was George Lucas when network execs said, “Yeah, Bruce Vilanch is writing part of it. You’ll love it.”? Was the incredibly badly-dubbed outtake with Darth Vader intentional? Or was this an outtake of an outtake that had to put in the show because they were short for time? Luke seemed to be very heavily made-up. Of couse, Mark was in a car accident previously, but still, does he have to look like a Geisha? What’s with that Imperial dude’s finger snapping? Is this suddenly a WWII-propaganda film? Jefferson Starship? Chewbacca’s wife just doesn’t seem feminine to me. Chewbacca’s kid sure needs a beating. Banthas are eaten like beef, but also immortalized as a Teddy Bear-type plaything. ??? Greedo has become Ludlow. If you watch closely, I make an appearance. Hmmm, the Falcon’s cannon can be operated by remote now. Wookiees can safely walk directly into a star. Physics tells me there may be faulty logic here. Oh dear. My eyes and ears are bleeding. Make it stop. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/2 "2001-11-17T10:11:40Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bossk \* > \*\*Oh. My. God. > > No matter how many times I watch it, I still credit it to a nasty hallucination. > \*\* I’ve only seen part of it and it was an incredibly bad copy. Well I guess they’re all incredibly bad so I should be more clear. The quality of the tape made the show more difficult to watch then it normally would be. It would be nice if this show could be released in the Star Wars Trilogy DVD set I’m sure they’ll be coming out with. Lucas wants to forget this ever existed and I can understand why. But it is a piece of the Star Wars francise and it shouldn’t be hidden for all of eternity. Suck it up, Lucas, and release this monstrosity. Marc ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/3 "2001-11-17T17:34:20Z")
It burnsss… it burnsss… gollum gollum. I’m serious, here. Oh dear lord, and it just never ENDS! ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/4 "2001-11-17T18:02:45Z")
While we’re at it: “Itchy” and “Lumpy” for his kid and grandfather? And the electronics dodad that the kid had? It was simply a fancy version of the Radio-Shack 150-in-One project kit. I had one about the same time, and I was pretty disgusted that they didn’t at least do a better job of disguising the toy. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/5 "2001-11-17T18:11:00Z")
It is just so awful, what made you do it? Sometimes, when people who haven’t seen it, or haven’t seen it since they were kids, see my video, they think “oh, how fun it would be to watch this, in a campy, freaky sort of way.” It’s not even fun! It’s not even amusing to laugh at it! **Marc** , I see your point about the poor quality of the tapes, but believe me, it wouldn’t be any easier to watch on _any_ format. Although I agree that Lucas should stop whining about it, it’s his own fault. No one mentioned the horror of Leia singing the words to the Star Wars song, which is your “reward” if you make it to the end of the show. Does your copy have the commercials? That’s the one thing I do like, seeing the commercials that originally aired with it. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/6 "2001-11-17T20:43:53Z")
Bossk wrote: > [@](#): > > Harvey Korman as a four-armed Julia Child wannabe? ooookay “Stir, whip, stir, whip, whip, whip, stir, **beat!** ” ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/7 "2001-11-17T20:56:40Z")
MGibson wrote: > [@](#): > > But it is a piece of the Star Wars francise and it shouldn’t be hidden for all of eternity. Worse than that. Lucasfilm has this rule that **anything** and **everything** published under the _Star Wars_ title must be consistent with all other published works. There can be **no** contradictions. The “extented” _Star Wars_ universe is **required** to be internally consistent. Therefore, anything published or legally broadcast under the _Star Wars_ title must be considered canon. **Including _The Star Wars Holiday Special!!_** Yes! That’s right! _The Star Wars Holiday Special_ is **official _Star Wars_ universe canon!!!** :eek: ---
**Author:** ![ignatzmouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b2d939/32.png) [@ignatzmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ignatzmouse)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/8 "2001-11-17T21:01:33Z")
What the Deuce? I thought this was some kind of hoax thread. You know, add your own completely implausible aspect to the show. The only thing that tipped me off was that the OP went too far and made it just ridiculous. Then I checked IMDB. What gets me is that I must have actually seen this. I was eleven and gaga over Star Wars. I would never have missed something like this, but I don’t remember a bit of it. How in the world did they get the rights to do this? ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/9 "2001-11-17T21:04:27Z")
What on earth are you people talking about? What Star Wars Holiday Special? I’ve never heard of such a thing 😕 ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/10 "2001-11-17T21:07:19Z")
There, there, **Neurotik**. I know, I know. And there’s never been a _Highlander II_, either. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/11 "2001-11-17T21:12:49Z")
No, **tracer** you don’t understand. I _really_ have no clue what you people are talking about. Although, maybe I should leave you all thinking I’m witty… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/12 "2001-11-17T21:21:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Neurotik \* > \*\*No, **tracer** you don’t understand. I _really_ have no clue what you people are talking about. > > Although, maybe I should leave you all thinking I’m witty… \*\* Go to Google and type “star wars holiday special” and choose the “Stomp Tokyo” link. I would, but there’s a pop-up when you click on it and, as I read somewhere, pop-up infested links are a no-no. Prepare to be hurt mentally. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/13 "2001-11-17T22:28:13Z")
I saw this thing when it was first aired (and I guess the only time it was aired) and hardly anyone these days believe the thing I describe existed. Sure, when I’m at work I can prove it that it wasn’t a drug-fever my going to one of the several points of proof mentioned in this thread, but I would really like to get a copy of this somehow. Do I have to sci-fi conventions looking for Comic Book Guy mumbling “Worst Holiday Special Ever!” with a stash of crappy VHS tapes, or is there another way? ---
**Author:** ![Bossk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@Bossk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bossk)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/14 "2001-11-17T23:09:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Revtim \* > \*\*Sure, when I’m at work I can prove it that it wasn’t a drug-fever my going to one of the several points of proof mentioned in this thread, but I would really like to get a copy of this somehow. Do I have to sci-fi conventions looking for Comic Book Guy mumbling “Worst Holiday Special Ever!” with a stash of crappy VHS tapes, or is there another way? \*\* Ebay is your friend. Of course, the people buying (and selling) it are probably breaking the law, but some people just have to have it. ---
**Author:** ![pesch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pesch/32/4925_2.png) [@pesch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pesch)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/15 "2001-11-17T23:59:39Z")
Here’s a safer link, from [salon.com](http://salon.com). They should get some credit, because their article probably fired up the SW market into seeing this atrocity: [http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2000/12/05/star\_wars\_tv/index.html](http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/feature/2000/12/05/star_wars_tv/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/16 "2001-11-18T00:23:51Z")
Well, I found it on a file-sharing network, and I’m downloading it now. I’d love to mention the network, but that seems to be greatly frowned upon by the moderators. All I’m saying is that there’s a file sharing network out there, and it can be accessed with client that is named after the Greek god of sleep. There may or may not be users of this network sharing the Star Wars Holiday Special. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Fool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Green\_Fool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Fool)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/17 "2001-11-18T00:24:56Z")
Tracer, unfortunately you are wrong on just about all counts. Lucasfilm oversees all things Star Wars and has final say so on all items but Lucas himself very rarely gets involved. He does however dictate what is Canon and what is not. Lucas says, anything that is actually in the movie is canon. Anything not literally in the movie is not. This includes the novelizations of the films as not being canon, video games, comics, books, the Christmas Special, The Muppet Show, also: Not canon. For awhile the Novel/Video Game/Comic Book “Shadows of the Empire” was considered canon but apparently some things that are established in that book are going to be contradicted in the remaining prequels. The interal consistency idea was decided on as a way to increase fan appreciation for the EXPANDED Universe. (like it did with Star Trek) ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/18 "2001-11-18T01:26:07Z")
I know of a Canadian online site that sells videos of the holiday special as well as all sorts of out-of-print and foreign cult/horror movies. I ordered some Jorodowsky videos from them a couple of years ago and found them to be quite reliable. Since this is grey-market merchandise, I won’t post a link but if anyone is interested they can email me and I’ll send them the link. ---
**Author:** ![tracer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tracer/32/20578_2.png) [@tracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tracer)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/19 "2001-11-18T01:54:45Z")
Green Fool wrote: > [@](#): > > The interal consistency idea was decided on as a way to increase fan appreciation for the EXPANDED Universe. (like it did with Star Trek) \ Um … You **do** realize that internal consistency is practically **non-existent** with in the _Star Trek_ universe, right? ---
**Author:** ![mblackwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5fc32e/32.png) [@mblackwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mblackwell)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929/20 "2001-11-18T05:56:19Z")
I just watched it for the first time. Yikes. It was worse than I thought was possible. Some parts were worth it for the comedy value, though. The cartoon version of Han was hilarious. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-watched-the-star-wars-holiday-christmas-special-again/93929.md?page=2)