STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL, THE (TV)

Summary

This special is a spin-off of George Lucas's science fiction classic "Star Wars" and is an adventure geared around an intergalactic holiday, Life Day, set "a long time ago in a galaxy far far away." The program begins with Han Solo and Chewbacca "Chewie" the Wookiee trying to get back to the Wookiees' home planet of Kashyyyk to celebrate Life Day. Meanwhile, on Kashyyyk, Chewie's family -- wife Malla, father Itchy, and son Lumpy -- anxiously await his return. Malla worries about her husband's safety. Then, a holographic entertainment program is watched on a home viewing device by a fascinated Lumpy. Afterward, Lumpy checks traffic control, seeing if Han's Millennium Falcon is anywhere in the area. Utilizing the family's HoloNet communication system, Malla calls Luke Skywalker -- working with R2-D2 on his starfighter's engine -- to see if he knows Chewie's whereabouts. Luke notes that Han and Chewie left on schedule and should already have arrived on Kashyyyk. However, Luke doesn't think there's any reason for Chewie's family to worry. Next, Malla contacts Saun Dann, a local trader, who tells her via a special code that Chewie is on his way. Meanwhile, Darth Vader's ship orbits Tatooine, searching for the escaped Millennium Falcon. Darth is informed by an Imperial officer that a blockade has been set up around Kashyyyk to catch Han and Chewie. Back on Kashyyyk, Malla works on preparing a meal, watching a cooking show hosted by Chef Gormaanda to aid her. Soon, Malla finds she can't keep up with the four-armed chef. Later, Han and Chewie come out of hyperspace near Kashyyyk and are immediately confronted with Vader's blockade, forced to battle with Twin Ion Engine (TIE) fighters impeding their way. Back at Chewie's house, the family hears an emergency message that suspected rebel activity has led to martial law being declared. Then, Saun Dann arrives at the house, bringing some Life Day gifts, including a music box for Malla, a mini-transmitter for Lumpy, and a memory chip for Itchy. Itchy watches the hologram fantasy of Mermeia Holographic Wow singing "This Minute Now." Meanwhile, Malla contacts Princess Leia and C-3PO to ask if they know where Han and Chewie are. Just then, some stormtroopers and Imperial officers arrive at the Wookiees' home. The officers search the house, realizing that Chewie is missing, as Saun Dann tries to distract them. Saun Dann plays the song "Light the Sky on Fire" on Malla's music box for one of the officers. Then, the head officer wants to search Lumpy's room, so Malla encourages her son to watch a cartoon to keep him occupied. The animated program, "The Faithful Wookiee," recounts Luke, Han, Chewie, and Leia's first encounter with duplicitous bounty hunter Boba Fett while on a mission to acquire a magical talisman on the planet Panna. After watching the cartoon, Lumpy is upset to see that the officers have trashed his bedroom and broken some of his toys. Now Lumpy is determined to enact some revenge, creating a plan to use Saun Dann's Life Day gift to trick the officers into returning to their base. He watches an Amorphian instructor's taped message about the transmitter and how it works. Downstairs, Imperial force members are checking out a live show called "Life on Tatooine." Taking place at the Mos Eisley cantina, the show documents locals that drink the grog served to them by bartender Ackmena. One local, Krelman, flirts with Ackmena. During the live show, an interruption is heard at the cantina -- as well as in Chewie's house -- that a curfew has just been put in place on the entire Tatooine system. Ackmena then informs the aliens at the cantina that they have to go home before she sings "Good Night, But Not Goodbye." At the same time, Lumpy uses the curfew confusion to use his communication device and create a voice ordering the Imperial officers out of his home. However, one stormtrooper remains in the house and figures out his trick, then breaks Lumpy's transmitter. Just then, Han and Chewie arrive home and save the family from the stormtrooper, who falls off a balcony into an abyss. After Han heads back to the Falcon, Chewie has an emotional reunion with his family. Then, Saun Dann returns, assisting Chewie's family yet again when Imperial officers make inquiries into the missing stormtrooper's whereabouts. Following Saun Dann's departure, the four Wookiees hold crystals over their heads and are magically transported to space, where they walk toward a bright white star. Eventually, the Wookiees end up at the tree of life. There, Chewie reunites with R2-D2 and C-3PO as the three take the stage to offer holiday wishes. Then, Luke, Han, and Leia arrive to offer wishes of their own and hope for joy and triumph over the forces of evil in the galaxy. Next, Leia sings "A Day to Celebrate." At the end of the song, Chewie remembers his previous "Star Wars" adventures. Finally, the Wookiee family sits down for a Life Day meal together. The program also includes a CBS Newsbreak with Marlene Sanders. Includes commercials.

Details

• NETWORK: CBS
• DATE: November 17, 1978 Friday 8:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:56:47
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:87211
• GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
• SERIES RUN: CBS - TV, 1978
• COMMERCIALS:
  • TV - Commercials - Anacin headache medication
  • TV - Commercials - Bell telephones, calling plans
  • TV - Commercials - California First Bank
  • TV - Commercials - Chevrolet automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Coca-Cola soft drinks
  • TV - Commercials - Colony wine
  • TV - Commercials - Comtrex cold medicine
  • TV - Commercials - Contac cold medicine
  • TV - Commercials - FTD flourists
  • TV - Commercials - FedMart stores
  • TV - Commercials - Ford automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Fruit of the Loom briefs
  • TV - Commercials - General Motors automobiles
  • TV - Commercials - Hungry Jack biscuits
  • TV - Commercials - International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU)
  • TV - Commercials - Kenner "Star Wars" toys
  • TV - Commercials - Kenner Trailtracker toy
  • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
  • TV - Commercials - No Nonsense panty hose
  • TV - Commercials - Pillsbury cake mix
  • TV - Commercials - Revlon blush
  • TV - Commercials - Sheer Indulgence panty hose
  • TV - Commercials - Shopper's Tobor toy robot
  • TV - Commercials - Twice as Fresh air freshener
  • TV - Commercials - Whirlpool appliances
  • TV - Commercials - Woolite fabric wash
  • TV - Promos - "60 Minutes"
  • TV - Promos - "Alice"
  • TV - Promos - "All in the Family"
  • TV - Promos - "Bobby Vinton's Rock 'n Rollers"
  • TV - Promos - "Dallas"
  • TV - Promos - "Disco Magic"
  • TV - Promos - "Flying High"
  • TV - Promos - "Lucy Comes to Nashville"
  • TV - Promos - "The Bible"
  • TV - Promos - "The Incredible Hulk"
  • TV - Promos - KNXT News

CREDITS

• Gary Smith … Executive Producer
• Dwight Hemion … Executive Producer
• Ken Welch … Producer, Music by
• Joe Layton … Producer
• Mitzie Welch … Producer, Writer, Music by
• Rita Scott … Associate Producer
• Monroe E. Carol … Associate Producer
• Steve Binder … Director
• Rod Warren … Writer
• Bruce Vilanch … Writer
• Pat Proft … Writer
• Leonard Ripps … Writer
• George Lucas … Based on "Star Wars" created by
• Ian Fraser … Music by
• John Williams … Theme Music by
• David Winters … Choreographer
• Mark Hamill … Cast, Luke Skywalker
• Harrison Ford … Cast, Han Solo
• Carrie Fisher … Cast, Princess Leia
• Anthony Daniels … Cast, C-3PO
• Kenny Baker … Cast, R2-D2
• Peter Mayhew … Cast, Chewbacca
• James Earl Jones … Cast, Darth Vader, Voice
• Beatrice Arthur … Cast, Ackmena
• Art Carney … Cast, Saun Dann
• Diahann Carroll … Cast, Mermeia Holographic Wow
• Jefferson Starship … Cast, Holographic Band
• Harvey Korman … Cast, Krelman, Chef Gormaanda, Amorphian Instructor
• Mickey Morton … Cast, Malla
• Paul Gale … Cast, Itchy
• Patty Maloney … Cast, Lumpy
• Jack Rader … Cast, Imperial Guard Officer
• Stephanie Stromer … Cast, The Great Zorbak
• Michael Potter … Cast, Imperial Guard Officer
• Wazzan Troupe, The … Cast, Holographic Tumblers
• Yuichi Sugiyama … Cast, Ringleader
• Mum Brothers, The … Cast, Reeko Brothers, The
• Claude Woolman … Cast, Imperial Officer
• Lev Mailer … Cast, Imperial Guard #1
• John McLaughlin … Cast, Imperial Stormtrooper
• for "CBS Newsbreak"
• Marlene Sanders … Anchor