How did the Star Wars Holiday Special ever happen?

George Lucas was trying to keep Star Wars on peoples’ minds by producing a holiday variety TV special. As the filmmakers ask, what could possibly go wrong?

Everything.

Directors Jeremy Koon (Raiders!: The Story of the Greatest Fan Film Ever Made) and Steve Kozak have assembled the people who were there when it was made, the folks who watched it when it was first on TV and those who have been influenced by it. You’ll hear from writer Bruce Villanch, director Steve Binder, superfans like Paul Scheer and Taran Killam, and those who have been close to the Forece like Seth Green and Donny Osmond. Donny Osmond? Yes.

I watched the special live when it aired — the only time it ever played — on November 17, 1978. Even at six years of age, I wondered why Harvey Korman, Bea Arthur, Diahann Carroll, Starship and Art Carney were in a special that should have been about the Rebellion fighting the Empire.

What cultural force can unite Bob Mackie — who designed the dresses — and Weird Al, Kevin Smith, Mick Garris and the Wookies?

Only the Star Wars Holiday Special. 

This film does a great job of explaining why this happened without just making fun of it. It would have been so easy to just laugh at it, but I love that this takes a balanced — yet still fun — look at something many have heard of and few have seen.

You can watch this movie on demand, on blu ray and DVD and in select theaters. For more information, visit the official site.