'THE HOLIDAY SPECIAL': THE BEST OF 'LIFE DAY' FRIENDS!

Humans and Wookiees have always seemed to get on well with each other, as exemplified by Chewbacca's special and enduring relationship with Han Solo, but such general closeness runs deep in the Wookiee icon's family generally, as notably seen with young Lumpy (Patty Maloney) seeking sage advice from the Kashyyyk-based human trader Saun Dann (played by respected actor Art Carney) in a memorable posed publicity image from the still-infamous The Star Wars Holiday Special, celebrating its 47th Birthday today.

'HAPPY LIFE DAY!' - 2022

Sending their message of peace, hope and goodwill across the universe, the Wookiee nation gathers for their annual Life Day on Kashyyyk, as exemplified in this great art linked to Chewbacca's quirky family in the infamous The Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978, a production which still wields its televisual charms, for good and bad, across the saga nearly forty-five years on. 

If anyone knows the name of the great artist behind this piece, please get in touch.

THE 'HOLIDAY SPECIAL' AT 40: MAKING WOOKIEE!

Soon special effects and make-up legend Stan Winston has fun with Patty Maloney, trying out her Wookiee costume and mask creation for the sweet Lumpy, in another great behind the scenes shot from The Star Wars Holiday Special, which would film in Hollywood by late Summer 1978.

http://www.tomspinadesigns.com/restoration/star-wars-props/star-wars-chewbacca-malla-mask-restoration/

More behind the scenes info:
http://mentalfloss.com/article/72863/dark-side-oral-history-star-wars-holiday-special

THE 'HOLIDAY SPECIAL' AT 40: A WOOKIEE FAMILY PORTRAIT!

Celebrating the Fortieth Anniversary milestone of the much-maligned but enjoyably kooky The Star Wars Holiday Special, AFICIONADO kicks off its seven-day coverage with this lovely art. It's time for our Wookiee legend Chewbacca to gather with his memorable family for their planet's ecological and spiritual Life Day on Kashyyyk, in this warm-hearted composition by Jeff Carlisle.

Happy Fortieth Birthday, and Happy Life Day!

CLASSIC IMAGE: ENDURING WOOKIEES...

So, this weekend's US CARTOON NETWORK adventure of THE CLONE WARS, Episode Six: The Gathering, the tester pilot for a younger audience STAR WARS animated series, starring Ahsoka Tano, will be featuring the first on-screen Wookiee youngling Jedi, but the like it or hate it STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL way back in 1978 had them down pat with the first Wookiee child ever seen, Chewbacca's enthusiastic son, Lumpy, as played by Patty Maloney.

Check out the latest clip from The Gathering here: Clone Wars Season 5 Episode 6 "The Gathering" Preview #2 - YouTube

Will we possibly see more of the Wookiees and Kashyyyk in the next STAR WARS movie trilogy? Let's hope so...

HAPPY LIFE DAY!!

Yes, you know what that means...and we're never going to let George forget it!

NEVER FORGET....

A happy Wookiee family reunited for LIFE DAY! Ahhhh!

THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL aired on CBS this very date way back in 1978. Despite its faults- and there are many!- AFICIONADO still hopes that it will one day get an official release of some kind!