The Star Wars Holiday Special was first broadcast on American TV on November 17, 1978. It was a variety show set in the Star Wars universe, known for its unusual content and generally negative reception.
The special was produced and filmed during 1978, following the success of the original Star Wars film (released in 1977). It featured many of the original cast members and was intended to expand the Star Wars universe on television.
George Lucas, creator of Star Wars, publicly disavowed the Holiday Special shortly after its release, expressing dissatisfaction with the project's quality and deviation from his vision.
Despite the special never receiving an official home video release, it gained a cult following through bootleg copies and underground distribution, increasing its notoriety among Star Wars fans.