George Lucas talks about the Special's release - in 1987!

We've added a new old quote from George Lucas given during the 10th Anniversary Star Wars Convention in 1987, as printed in Starlog magazine. See the Text/Quotes section here for details.

November 17, 2007

Happy 29th Anniversary of the Star Wars Holiday Special!

It's been a long time since the last update here, and we apologize for the 9-month break... but there has definitely not been a lack of interesting news this year, and we'll be filling you in on all of that very soon. Watch this space for updates.

It may be the 30th anniversary of Star Wars this year, but 29 years ago today the Star Wars Holiday Special aired on TV in the US for the first and last time ever, bringing eager young viewers a mixture of joy and confusion as the spectacle unfolded itself on their screens. I can still remember my younger brother and I sitting on my grandparents' floor in front of the television that night, and the excitement I felt when it all came to life before me. It may have been a strange take on Star Wars, but it was Star Wars nonetheless. And that toy commercial! Boy did I want all those toys.

Tonight may just be the right night to sit back and watch that thing again, whether it be with a bag of popcorn or a bag of tomatoes at your side!

February 11, 2007

Big news here, folks...

Hasbro to release the first official Holiday Special figure

Yes, you heard that right, and Rebelscum.com has the photos to prove it here (second and third rows from the bottom). This upcoming figure is part of the Star Wars 30th Anniversary collection, and it's Boba Fett from his debut appearance in the Holiday Special cartoon, complete with his twin-pronged weapon. Here's what the Character Profile text says on the back of the Animated Debut: Boba Fett package:

The first appearance of Boba Fett was in an animation short in the Star Wars Holiday Special, whose first and only airing was on November 17, 1978. In the cartoon, Fett's clothing and armor are brighter, more colorful, and much less battle-worn than how they will appear in The Empire Strikes Back. While he still wears his jet backpack, he carries a twin-pronged weapon instead of his now-trademark blaster.

There have been other figures released that were unofficially right out of the Holiday Special (the red Snaggletooth, for instance), but this time it's official and stated right on the package. Let's hope 2007 and the 30th anniversary of Star Wars bring us some more such surprises.