Holiday
Special > Text > Quotes
Quotes
Here are some retrospective comments and reminiscences about
the Holiday Special from various people who were involved in it,
from various sources over time.
Paul Kantner, Jefferson Starship, "Holographic Band"
(from an interview with Eurodisc Agenda magazine conducted in
1984)
EA: Speaking of TV specials, the Jefferson Starship did
a TV appearance on a "Star
Wars Christmas Special" back when "Light the Sky On
Fire" was released. How did that
come about?
Paul: That was a long time ago. Well, they were just interested
in us, and... well, it wasn't very successful, I don't think.
It had some good special effects but, it was just... more TV.
They opened up a phonograph and there we were. It was supposed
to be like a laserdisc.
George Lucas, original concept
(from Starlog #127, February 1988 - taken from the 10th Anniversary
Star Wars Convention at the L.A. Concourse Hotel, Memorial Day
1987)
STARLOG: Will we ever see the Wookie TV special again (STARLOG
#19)?
LUCAS: I believe it will be released on videotape. I'm not sure
if they're going to rerun it on television or not.
Lenny Ripps, co-author of the original script
(from Filmfax magazine #69/70, October 1998/January 1999)
FAX: [The Star Wars Holiday Special] was an eclectic combination
of elements: drama, space fantasy, and musical variety.
Ripps: To me, it didn't come together. The ideas were
all right but I'm not sure they belonged in the same room.
Bruce Vilanch, co-writer
(from the Combustible
Celluloid website, September 10, 1999)
On the 1978 "Star Wars Holiday Special" (Bruce co-wrote
the movie):
Bruce: It was hilarious. It was between "Star Wars"
and "The Empire Strikes Back" and George Lucas wanted
to keep the flame alive. It's hysterically bad. I just saw it.
I got it from a collector. I didn't realize how poor. I worked
on it with George. That's how I got to know him. And he pulled
the story out of the vault. It was like "Episode 32"
of the saga, and it was the one that was set on the planet of
the Wookiees, and the Wookiees were the central characters. Unfortunately
all the Wookiees look like me and sound like fat people having
orgasms. So, they're tough to write for. Every line of dialogue
is 'oh, ee, ahh'. How do you write that? The Wookiees can't speak,
but the Wookiees were the central characters. So I said, 'well
we have to load this up with stars who sing and dance and do schtick
to cover up that the story is about these walking carpets. It
was one nightmare after another, but it's a very funny show. At
the Cantina on Tatooine, Bea Arthur is the bargirl. To give you
some idea what the show is like. Jefferson Starship is on it.
Carrie Fisher sings something. It was Thanksgiving.
Ben Burtt, special dialogue and sound effects
(from SFX magazine #67, August 2000)
Ben: It was a fun thing to work on but it needs re-editing.
It could be re-cut and re-released. If you tightened up the story,
I think you could have another little episode.
Peter Mayhew, "Chewbacca"
(from SFX magazine #67, August 2000)
Peter: It was a wonderful surprise. At that time, there
wasn't that much publicity around [Wookiees]. To suddenly get
an invitation to become part of a show that benefited the Wookiee
families and showed where they lived was marvellous. What I can't
understand is why hasn't it been released more? It was aired once
and never put out on video. At practically every convention I
go to I get inquiries about the Holiday Special from friends who
would love to see it. It's one of those things that Chewie and
Star Wars fans would adore.
George Lucas, original concept
(from an interview with Maxim magazine, May 2002)
MAXIM: Any plans for a Special Edition of the Holiday
Special?
George: [hangs head] Right. That's one of those things
that happened, and I just have to live with it.
Anthony Daniels, "C-3PO"
(from the Star Wars Insider #71, November 2003)
From a 'previous chat' (July 30, 2003): Thinking about doing
another Holiday Special?
Anthony: You could be terminated for even suggesting such
a thing. Mind you, I had fun working on the original, but as a
safety measure I didn't actually watch it.
Steve Schuster, Jefferson Starship, "Holographic Band"
(from an interview by SKot Kirkwood, July 2004)
SKot: Were the band happy with how the "Light the
Sky On Fire" video came out? Can you remember problems occurring
with the direction of the video?
Steve: I don't think there was great joy, but I doubt
anyone thought as badly of it as I did. It made the Carol Burnett
Show look like high art.
Bea Arthur, "Ackmena"
(from an interview with The
Portland Mercury, Oct 13 - Oct 19, 2005)
MERCURY: How about your role in The Star Wars Holiday
Special [also a television special, aired November 17, 1978, where
Bea played a barmaid in an intergalactic tavern]?
Bea: You know something... I didn't know what that was
about at all. I was asked to be in it by the composer of that
song I sang"Goodnight, But Not Goodbye." It was
a wonderful time, but I had no idea it was even a part of the
whole Star Wars thing.
MERCURY: Well, that song was great.
Bea: Well, thanks. It's odd. I've gotten so many letters
and requests for autographed photos from that thing. I just remember
singing to a bunch of people with funny heads.
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