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    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    ‘So bad, it’s bad’: The long-forgotten Star Wars Holiday Special

    “The Star Wars Holiday Special” aired only once in 1978, and has never been officially released. It’s legendarily terrible. A new documentary examines its cult status.

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    By Madeleine Brand • Dec 5, 2023 • 1 min read

    “The Star Wars Holiday Special” aired only once in 1978, and has never been officially released. It’s legendarily terrible. A new documentary examines its cult status.

    The full episode

    3 of 4
    Brenda Lee, Dolly Parton, Cher: What drives their staying power?
    1. 0:00Winter may bring ‘triple-demic’ of respiratory viruses
    2. 10:49Life imitates art: George Santos is ‘The Distinguished Gentleman’
    3. 25:41‘So bad, it’s bad’: The long-forgotten Star Wars Holiday SpecialYou’re reading this
    4. 40:15Billboard chart toppers remind generations of women to never give up
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Angie Perrin

      Producer, Press Play

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Former Producer/Line Editor, Press Play

    • KCRW placeholder

      Jeremy Coon

      director of A Disturbance in The Force: How The Star Wars Holiday Special Happened

      CultureEntertainment

    The full episode

    3 of 4
    Brenda Lee, Dolly Parton, Cher: What drives their staying power?
    1. 0:00Winter may bring ‘triple-demic’ of respiratory viruses
    2. 10:49Life imitates art: George Santos is ‘The Distinguished Gentleman’
    3. 25:41‘So bad, it’s bad’: The long-forgotten Star Wars Holiday SpecialYou’re reading this
    4. 40:15Billboard chart toppers remind generations of women to never give up
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand