Stan Winston, rest in peace...

This year we've seen a number of losses of folks who were involved with the Holiday Special. Most recently Stan Winston, creature and makeup effects master extraordinaire is no longer with us. Stan died on June 15th, 2008 at the age of 62 after battling multiple myeloma for 7 years. You can find more details at an L.A. Times article here.

Stan Winston and his studio have been responsible for some of the most amazing and memorable robotics and alien effects over the last couple decades, including work on milestone films like Aliens, Jurassic Park, and the Terminator series. But where did it all begin? Way back in 1978, on a certain TV movie called The Star Wars Holiday Special--this was where Stan first got started (see our interview about this with Tom Burman, Stan's partner on the project at the time). Stan created the animatronic Wookiee masks, which were very impressive, but often glossed over or forgotten by negative reviews of the show itself. Above you can see a photo of Stan combing out the fur on the Lumpy mask.

It was hoped previously that we would have been able to bring you an exclusive interview with Stan Winston regarding his work on the Holiday Special, but unfortunately it is not to be. Once again, our condolences go out to Stan's friends and loved ones. His handiwork will be seen and remembered for countless generations to come.

May 29, 2008

Harvey Korman (aka Gormaanda, Krelman, and Dromboid) dies at 81

Well, it's time for sad news again...Harvey Korman, the most versatile actor in the Holiday Special (he played 3 different parts), died today at age 81 of complications from an aortic aneurysm he suffered 4 months earlier. MSNBC has a detailed news article here.

In the Star Wars Holiday Special, Harvey played the part of Gormaanda, the four-armed feminine chef on an intergalactic cooking show who teaches Chewbacca's wife Malla how frustrating cooking with only two arms can be. He also played Krelman, the nervous humanoid at bartender Ackmena's cantina who drinks from the top of his head and tries unsuccessfully to hit on her. Lastly, Korman played the glitch-prone android called Dromboid, an Amorphiian Being who teaches Chewbacca's son Lumpy how to assemble a mini-transmitter kit...while breaking down continually in the process during the instructional video.

Harvey Korman's portrayal of Gormaanda was the most memorable and funny part of the Special for me from the first time I saw it in 1978, and Gormaanda wound up being my favorite character from the show to this day.

Our condolences go out to Harvey's family and friends.

May 19, 2008

We've been quiet for a while here, but there are plenty of things brewing! This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Star Wars Holiday Special, and we plan to celebrate with all-new articles, photos, interviews, and more. Keep your eyes open for updates.

Sadly, we missed posting a very significant news update back in January, and so here is our long overdue announcement...

Holiday Special producer Dwight Hemion passses away

Dwight Hemion, one half of the Smith-Hemion production group that produced the Star Wars Holiday Special (as well and many more fondly-remembered TV specials and musical specials) died January 28th at age 81.

Dwight was definitely one of the major forces behind the Holiday Special turning out the way it did, for better or for worse. We'd like to remember him for giving Star Wars its first shot at television, and for giving us something so bizarrely amusing to talk about all these years.

You can find a Washington Post article about it here, which mentions the Holiday Special as a not-so-crowning achievement, but also goes into more detail about all the other shows that he worked on throughout his life.

November 29, 2007

George Lucas talks about the Special's release - in 1987!

We've added a new old quote from George Lucas given during the 10th Anniversary Star Wars Convention in 1987, as printed in Starlog magazine. See the Text/Quotes section here for details.

November 17, 2007

Happy 29th Anniversary of the Star Wars Holiday Special!

It's been a long time since the last update here, and we apologize for the 9-month break... but there has definitely not been a lack of interesting news this year, and we'll be filling you in on all of that very soon. Watch this space for updates.

It may be the 30th anniversary of Star Wars this year, but 29 years ago today the Star Wars Holiday Special aired on TV in the US for the first and last time ever, bringing eager young viewers a mixture of joy and confusion as the spectacle unfolded itself on their screens. I can still remember my younger brother and I sitting on my grandparents' floor in front of the television that night, and the excitement I felt when it all came to life before me. It may have been a strange take on Star Wars, but it was Star Wars nonetheless. And that toy commercial! Boy did I want all those toys.

Tonight may just be the right night to sit back and watch that thing again, whether it be with a bag of popcorn or a bag of tomatoes at your side!

February 11, 2007

Big news here, folks...

Hasbro to release the first official Holiday Special figure

Yes, you heard that right, and Rebelscum.com has the photos to prove it here (second and third rows from the bottom). This upcoming figure is part of the Star Wars 30th Anniversary collection, and it's Boba Fett from his debut appearance in the Holiday Special cartoon, complete with his twin-pronged weapon. Here's what the Character Profile text says on the back of the Animated Debut: Boba Fett package:

The first appearance of Boba Fett was in an animation short in the Star Wars Holiday Special, whose first and only airing was on November 17, 1978. In the cartoon, Fett's clothing and armor are brighter, more colorful, and much less battle-worn than how they will appear in The Empire Strikes Back. While he still wears his jet backpack, he carries a twin-pronged weapon instead of his now-trademark blaster.