Star Wars Holiday Special!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into the history and development of one of the weirdest Holiday specials of all time; The Star Wars Holiday Special! I was even lucky enough ask one of it’s screenwriters; Lenny Ripps, a few questions!

The “Star Wars Holiday Special” remains one of the most unusual and infamous chapters in the Star Wars saga. Airing on November 17, 1978, the two-hour television special was conceived as a way to keep the Star Wars brand alive between the release of “A New Hope” (1977) and the upcoming “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980). CBS and Lucasfilm hoped to bring the galaxy far, far away to television audiences during the holiday season, combining science fiction adventure with family-friendly variety-show elements that were popular at the time. The premise centered on Chewbacca’s family on the Wookiee home planet of Kashyyyk, celebrating the “Life Day” holiday as they awaited Chewbacca’s return from a mission with Han Solo.

Behind the scenes, the production was chaotic from the start. The original concept was reportedly approved by George Lucas, but as the project developed, he distanced himself from the process. Television writer Lenny Ripps was brought in to help rework the script, collaborating with Bruce Vilanch, Pat Proft, and other writers who tried to balance musical numbers, comedy sketches, and “Star Wars” storytelling. The combination proved difficult to manage, especially under tight network schedules and budget constraints. The production’s complex Wookiee costumes, elaborate sets, and uneven direction only added to the strain, resulting in a tone that veered wildly between surreal and sincere.

When it finally aired, the reception was overwhelmingly negative. Fans were baffled by its odd pacing and campy tone, while critics called it confusing, overlong, and poorly executed. Even the original cast; Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher; appeared visibly uncomfortable during their brief scenes. The special was never officially rebroadcast or released, though bootleg recordings circulated among fans for decades, helping it achieve a cult status as one of the strangest pop culture relics of the “Star Wars” universe. Despite its flaws, it introduced elements that would later become canon, including the first appearance of bounty hunter Boba Fett in an animated segment created by the Canadian studio Nelvana.

Over time, the “Star Wars Holiday Special” has gained a sort of ironic affection within fandom. It stands as a time capsule of 1970s television excess and a lesson in the challenges of expanding a cinematic universe into other formats. Lenny Ripps’s involvement and the creative risks taken by the writers remain points of fascination for those studying the early evolution of “Star Wars” as a franchise. While George Lucas has long disowned the project, its legacy endures as a peculiar yet vital piece of “Star Wars” history.

Bonus Question:

Giancarlo: What was it like working on the “Star Wars Holiday Special”?

Lenny: Here's a bit of history. My friend Pat Proft, writer of Police Academy, The Naked Gun and many other hits, and I wrote the first draft after meeting with George Lucas.

The original director, David Acomba, was George's choice but after the first week of production the Producers decided to make a change and let him go. George was upset and left the project. A new director was hired and unbeknownst to us, our script was significantly changed by all new writers.

They were all very good people, but their background was in Variety TV and did not share George's vision. Because Pat and I were the original writers, our names had to be on it.

For a much more detailed story, a documentary was made a couple of years ago called, “A DISTURBANCE IN THE FORCE”. It is available on Amazon Prime and probably other places. It is funny, accurate and I'm in it!

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Lenny: The best piece of advice I ever received was from a legendary writer, Harry Crane. He said "If you want to be a writer you have to put your ass in the chair." It was great advice and my ass has been in the chair for over forty years.

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again soon!

-Giancarlo