If you need some cheer...

[elisi]

Russell Howard is here:

Why 2017 has actually been amazing...

(Mind you, I am also not quite sure about what is real anymore, as tonight we watched the Star Wars Holiday Special, which aired in 1978 and is described on wiki as 'The special is notorious for its extremely negative reception and has never been rebroadcast or officially released on home video. It has therefore become something of a cultural legend, because of the "underground" quality of its existence.' If you're curious, you can find it here: The Star Wars spinoff George Lucas wants to destroy. I cannot describe it, except that it's like bad fanfic that somehow ended up on screen with the actual actors acting in it.)

Comments

[orangerful]

I still remember trading a VHS tape with someone to get a copy of that and watching it alone in my room and going "WOW...this is epically bad." I've never watched it again LOL

[elisi]

Epically bad and then some... It was an experience and a half. Or maybe just a half. ;)

[shadowkat]

I actually saw it when it premiered. It’s weird blend of animation and live action. Horrible in places, weirdly innovative in others for that time period. Focused almost entirely on the Wookiee’s. And i’d Never seen anything remotely like it before. I remember being disappointed at the time though.

[elisi]

An original viewer, wow. And I can imagine the disappointment, it really is the weirdest thing. (Apparently the Wookies were supposed to have subtitles, but they decided against it in the end...)

[shadowkat]

Yep, it was basically Wookie fanfic but by Lucas. Read recently that Lucas intended the original three films to be a parable of sorts or analogy to the US and Vietnam Cong with the US in the role of the Empire. ( never saw that connection myself but it does explain the prequels and the Christmas special.)

[shadowkat]

ETA - apparently Lucas felt that democratic systems would become corrupt eventually. I think he didn’t feel he got that across with first three films so tried to do it with the latter?

[elisi]

The Prequels you mean? Well he write them first (as you may know), but the studios decided to film books 4 - 6 first, deciding the earlier ones were a bit too dry. (They were not wrong, although in other hands the stories might have fared better.)

[shadowkat]

Yeah, the prequels. (Sigh, I've seen the prequels, the holiday special, and all the films. The only things I haven't been able to watch more than once were the prequels and the holiday special. Because once was really more than enough. I also saw the animated series - The Clone Wars - which was actually better than prequels. Although not sure how canonical it truly was.)

[elisi]

I've not watched The Clone Wars, but am not surprised they were better than the prequels. Like, that's not hard. ;) But I have heard good things otherwise.

[elisi]

Surely he didn't write it? The Christmas Special, I mean. Just gave it the green light...

And I can see the analogy - it's certainly not gotten any less.

[shadowkat]

No, he didn't.

Go here. It had a lot of writers...which may have been the problem. Also that it was a musical variety special, which, uhm...

[elisi]

Thank you - found that already, didn't look at the writers. Your line just threw me!

And oh, the musical numbers! I can't even. Grandpa Chewie basically watched porn...

[sea_thoughts]

I cannot describe it, except that it's like bad fanfic that somehow ended up on screen with the actual actors acting in it.

So there's no fourth wall whatsoever?

[elisi]

Oh yes. But most of it centers on Chewie's family waiting for him to come home. bb!Chewie (Lumpy) plays with his toys & takes the rubbish out, Chewie's wife (Malla) makes dinner (complete with apron & watching a cooking channel, his elderly father is nice, but growly. There are also stormstroppers, an old family friend who brings presents/helps out, random musical numbers, a cartoon, quick chats with Luke (SO MUCH FOUNDATION! SUCH EYELINER!), Leia etc. I can't describe it. Mostly VERY AMERICAN HOLIDAY SPECIAL.

[sea_thoughts]

That sounds... so surreal. Like they were trying to recreate Leave it to Beaver with Star Wars characters.

[elisi]

YES! That's it exactly. Plus Storm Troopers and all the rest. The juxtaposition is mindblowing.

[eaweek.livejournal.com]

LOL, I remember that special! Even as a very un-cynical kid, I remember thinking it was a bit twee (thought I wouldn't have used that word at the time).

[elisi]

Twee is a good word. That, and weird. :D

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

OMG...so 'What can you get a Wookie for Christmas (if he already owns a comb)' has a Holiday Special to go with it?? That's priceless!! *CACKLES*

[elisi]

It's... priceless indeed. :D