io9: star wars holiday special

Bea Arthur Shot First (A Tribute)

Meredith Woerner — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:30:00 PDT

In honor of the great Bea Arthur, who passed this weekend, we thought it only right to post a Star Wars Cantina singalong from the Star Wars Holiday Special. You will be missed, Bea.

Best Unsung Filk Ever, in Honor of Star Wars Holiday Special

Annalee Newitz — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 18:05:52 PST

Today is the 30th anniversary of the ill-fated TV experience known as the Star Wars Holiday Special. Featuring a group of Wookiees trying to celebrate the holidays while being hassled by Imperial troops - along with song-and-dance numbers and comedy bits in a variety show format - the two-hour special was deemed so hideous that it was never aired again. Luckily you can celebrate this day of infamy with a little help from Shawn Moynihan, managing editor of Editor & Publisher, who has sent us a little song . . .

Here is Shawn's original musical tribute, intended to be sung to the tune of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band":

It was 30 years ago today
We didn't have a VCR to play
George had given in to CBS
Who tried to do Star Wars with less

But it didn't take too long to see
What a horror it would come to be
Holiday Special, aww, you were so bad

Wookiees talking with a Shriiwook* sound
No subtitles to be found
Everything was going awfully wrong
Bea Arthur singing cantina songs

But that night they introduced you to
A bounty hunter in green and blue
Holiday Special, aww, you were so bad

Malla cooking with a Bantha stew
Art Carney brought a gift or two
Itchy fantasies to kids' dismay
Diahann Carroll where are you today

Lumpy watching animated Fett
Harvey Korman took one in the head
Holiday Special, aww, you were so bad

Now Chewie made it home in time
For a Life Day chorus line
And people, if we've learned a thing,
Don't let Carrie Fisher sing
Thank the Force that you will never see
Lucasfilm release a DVD
Holiday Special, aww, you were so bad

(* Shriiwook being the language of the Wookiees.)

We just don't know what to say, Shawn. It's . . . beautiful! And it even has a footnote!

Star Wars Holiday Special [via Wikipedia, source of all information about fiction]

Get Out The Vote. Again

Graeme McMillan — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:30:19 PST

The holidays are a stressful time for everyone, so why not do the fine people of New York and Los Angeles a favor and give them the gift of fine SF entertainment in the month of December? The Paley Center is holding a poll to find the five most popular holiday television specials, which they'll then screen at their NY and LA locations between December 10th and 24th, and one of the possible festive treats is the little-seen, much-bootlegged Star Wars Holiday Special. Even if you're not in one of the two metropolises in question, give a little bit of hope this holiday season - and let people see Lumpy, Space Bea Arthur and the first appearance of Boba Fett the way that George Lucas intended- On a big screen, surrounded by lots of other people stunned by how bad it really is. Go and vote here, and celebrate Life Day in your heart as you do so. Yes, we can. (Thanks, Sean.)