Mark Hamill Shocks With His Opinion on the ‘Star Wars Holiday Special’
It’s the red-headed stepchild of the Star Wars universe. George Lucas won’t accept it as canon, and said he would burn all copies of it if he could. It’s The Star Wars Holiday Special, a 1978 CBS TV special so campy, so absolutely terrible, it has never been broadcast again after its premiere.
Luke Skywalker himself, however, has a much different opinion on the infamous Christmas special, and you might be shocked to hear it.
After a Star Wars fan account on Twitter asked for unpopular Star Wars opinions, Hamill decided to chime in on the Star Wars Holiday Special, actually defending it. “The Star Wars Holiday Special was under appreciated,” he tweeted.
Hamill’s take is surprising, considering he and his fellow Star Wars castmates don’t come off very well in the poorly-written special. Among the writers on this atrocity were Bruce Vilanch, a so-so comedian who made many appearances on the game show Hollywood Squares. George Lucas had nothing to do with the writing, and it shows.
Harrison Ford has to interact with Wookiees most of the time, Carrie Fisher has to sing about Life Day, and Hamill is reduced to a short cameo. Hamill was actually in the midst of recovery from an automobile accident, which caused significant facial injuries and required extensive surgery. It’s the reason he looks different in the Holiday Special, and is obviously wearing lots of makeup.
This video features most of Hamill’s Holiday Special cameo. It’s recut to make him look creepy, but honestly, it’s pretty close to how he comes across in the special anyway.
Many fans agreed with Hamill’s take, although there were some who couldn’t bring themselves to praise the special.
We have to show you Carrie Fisher’s “Life Day” song. She’s honestly not a bad singer, but the whole scene is still cringeworthy.
Not everyone shares Hamill’s fond memories of the Holiday Special. Late night talk show host Conan O’Brien once asked Harrison Ford about it, and even dared to show a clip of Ford’s grumpy performance, with a weird look exchanged by Ford and Chewie’s life Nalla. Ford doesn’t seem too proud of the whole affair.
Now, no one is supposed to own The Star Wars Holiday Special. Which means the YouTube video below of the entire special doesn’t actually exist, OK?
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