Star Wars x Variety TV Appearances (1977-1978)
Star Wars topped the box office charts months after its May 1977 release. To make sure it stayed on top, Charles Lippincott, advertising publicity supervisor on Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, conceptualized a strong TV campaign. This included appearances of the stars of Star Wars into the ever-popular variety shows of the day as well as the hour-long documentary The Making of Star Wars as told by C-3PO and R2-D2 that aired on ABC.
Charles Lippincott said on his personal Facebook account in 2015, “I made a conscious decision to reach different audiences with these different vehicles”. This campaign outline began with The Richard Pryor Show, Donny and Marie, The Star Wars Holiday Special, and The Making of Star Wars.
Below is a list of the earliest TV shows featuring Star Wars characters as early as 1977 through 1978. Big thanks to Kermit Bryce Eller who took time to speak to me about his numerous appearances as Darth Vader. He even told me about some I didn’t see in my extensive research. I also give a short synopsis of each of the shows in case you aren’t familiar with them. Read on for the details, then listen to Bryce Eller discuss his first-hand perspective.
Here’s where the fun begins:
The Midnight Special
Season 5, Episode 37
AIR DATE: August 5, 1977
NETWORK: NBC
Darth Vader appeared alongside famed disc jockey Wolfman Jack in the late-night musical variety series. In the very short segment, Wolfman Jack pokes at Vader’s chest box and asks, “If I touch this, what happens?” Vader replies, “You die”. Kermit Bryce Eller, who performed Darth Vader, commented that this odd pairing came about because Wolfman Jack had a small part in George Lucas’s 1973 film American Graffiti.
The Midnight Special was a late-night musical variety series that ran from 1972 to 1981. Wolfman Jack (AKA Robert Weston Smith) served as the announcer and frequent guest host.
The Wacko Saturday Morning Preview and Other Good Stuff Special
AIR DATE: September 8, 1977
NETWORK: CBS
Darth Vader (Kermit Bryce Eller) “the villainous character in the hit film, is more friend than foe” in this “comedy carnival with music and variety combined in a wacky welcome” of returning Saturday morning shows. These shows include The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour, In the News, The Batman/Tarzan Adventure Hour, Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids, The Secrets of Isis, and The CBS Saturday Film Festival. The one-hour prime-time special also features appearances by Soupy Sales, Marty Allen, Jim “Mister Magoo” Backus, Carol Burnett, Jonathan Harris, and Harry Nilsson. Unfortunately this aired once and there is no archived video footage of this broadcast.
Wacko only ran for 10 episodes from September to November 1977. The variety show combined live action skits and musical numbers. The cast included future Roger Rabbit star Charles Fleischer.
Kaptain Kool and the Kongs Present ABC All-Star Saturday
AIR DATE: September 9, 1977
NETWORK: ABC
Like Wacko Saturday Morning Preview and Other Good Stuff Special, this was also a prime-time preview of ABC’s Saturday morning schedule. The special included skits and musical performances by Kaptain Kool and the Kongs (The Krofft Supershow), Hardy Boys stars Shaun Cassidy and Parker Stevenson, and an appearance by Darth Vader (Kermit Bryce Eller). Unfortunately this too aired only once and there is no footage of this broadcast.
The Krofft Supershow was a Sid and Marty Krofft Saturday morning children’s variety show which aired from 1976-1978. The show was made up of live-action segments, hosted by rock band Kaptain Kool and the Kongs. Segments included Dr. Shrinker, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Wonderbug, and The Lost Saucer. Kaptain Kool was played by Michael Lembeck, future Emmy Award winning director of Friends.
The Richard Pryor Show
Season 1, Episode 1
AIR DATE: September 13, 1977
Network: NBC
Several screen-used Cantina creatures were featured on the debut episode of The Richard Pryor Show. Although the series only lasted four episodes, it made its mark with its “Star Wars Bar” sketch. Pryor was the bartender who had comedic encounters with several familiar faces from the Mos Eisley Cantina. Some Cantina patrons include Pons Limbic (Brainiac), Momaw Nadon (Hammerhead), Muftak (wearing pants and suspenders), Lak Sivrak (wearing Dr. Zaius’s orange jacket) Bom Vimdin (also wearing a Dr. Zaius jacket) and Greedo. A stumbling drunk Bith bumps into Pryor who snaps, “Why don’t you watch where you’re going, you got the biggest eyes in the place”. A new large tentacled crab creature is seen playing a tabletop game.
Although The Richard Pryor Show was critically acclaimed, many believed it was cut short since it was scheduled opposite of ABC’s mega hit shows, Happy Days and Laverne & Shirley. Also it was an odd decision to put Pryor, who was considered one of America’s most controversial and profanity-laced artists, in the middle of “family hour”.
The Making of Star Wars as told by C-3PO and R2-D2
AIR DATE: September 16, 1977
SHOW: NETWORK: ABC.
The hour-long special is hosted by C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2. Behind-the-scenes footage is intercut with the droids as they go through different scenes in the making of Star Wars. They begin by watching the ceremony at Grauman’s Chinese Theater as they, along with Darth Vader (Kermit Bryce Eller), put their footprints in cement.
The special also features interviews with George Lucas, Producer Gary Kurtz, and cast members Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Alec Guinness, and Carrie Fisher. She reveals that the sequel is still being written but hears that it may include an ice planet and a tropical planet.
Donny and Marie
Season 3, Episode 1
AIR DATE: September 23, 1977
NETWORK: ABC
Key characters from Star Wars including Darth Vader, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, and dancing Stormtroopers appear on this variety show. Peter Mayhew and Anthony Daniels reprise their roles of Chewbacca and C-3PO respectively. Kermit Bryce Eller dons the Darth Vader costume (Thurl Ravenscroft provides the voice). Donny (Luke Skywalker), Marie (Princess Leia), and Kris Kristopherson (Han Solo) sing and dance, along with a squad of Stormtroopers, to the big ‘explosive’ finale where Darth Vader threatens that he shall return!
Donny and Marie featured the brother-and-sister pop duo and ran for 3 years between 1976-1979. The show consisted of comedy sketches and musical numbers including one of their biggest hits, “I’m a Little Bit Country, I’m a Little Bit Rock and Roll”.
The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special
AIR DATE: December 19, 1977
NETWORK: NBC
Mark Hamill guest stars as Luke Skywalker in the sketch ‘Scar Wars,’ Santa Claus is kidnapped by Barf Vader (Bob Hope) on Christmas Eve. When Princess Olivia (Olivia Newton John) agrees to go with the Dark Lord of the Pith to save Christmas for the kids, she is saved by Luke Skywalker. Barf Vader asks if he brought the Force, Luke replies “You better believe it, the Los Angeles police force!” He then places Barf Vader under arrest for the “malicious mutilation of a marvelous movie.”
Along with his many variety specials, Bob Hope hosted a Christmas special sporadically from 1953-1994. Hope hosted 272 variety specials from 1950 to 1996.
50th Academy Awards
AIR DATE: April 3, 1978
NETWORK: ABC
R2-D2 and C-3PO join Mark Hamill as they present Special Sound Achievement Awards to Star Wars and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Ben Burtt accepts for Star Wars. Frank Warner takes the award for Close Encounters. Stormtroopers assist Bryce Eller as he models the Darth Vader costume during the ‘Best Costume’ category. John Mollo received the award.
Star Wars won the Academy Award for ‘Best Art Direction’, ‘Best Costume Design’, ‘Best Sound’, ‘Best Visual Effects’, ‘Best Original Score’, and ‘Best Editing’.
The Star Wars Holiday Special
AIR DATE: November 17, 1978
NETWORK: CBS
The TV Guide ad read, “Luke Skywalker and Han Solo battle Imperial forces to help Chewbacca reach his imperiled family on the Wookiee planet—in time for Life Day—their most important day of the year.” The Special sees the return of the original cast (this is the first time James Earl Jones is credited as the voice of Darth Vader), a new Cantina scene featuring original and new creatures, and the onscreen debut of Boba Fett in the animated short “The Faithful Wookiee”.
The Star Wars Holiday Special’s legacy lives on with the inclusion of certain elements in official canon. Life Day is acknowledged in books, comics, The Mandalorian, and a fan-run celebration at Galaxy’s Edge. In 2023, the documentary A Disturbance in the Force pulls back the curtain to reveal behind the scenes stories from actors, crew, and fans of the classic
Saturday Night Live
Season 4, Episode 6
AIR DATE: November 18, 1978
NETWORK: NBC
Carrie Fisher appears as Princess Leia on the late night variety show. Fisher wears the iconic Princess Leia costume in the opening monologue. She is advised by the voice of Obi-Wan to tell a joke which completely bombs.
In the primary sketch, “Beach Blanket Bimbo From Outer Space” Leia arrives on Earth as an “exchange student from outer space.” She joins a beach party in a gold bikini with Frankie Avalon (Bill Murray) and Annette Funicello (Gilda Radner). The other girls don’t take too kindly to her since they think she’s there to steal their guys. Leia just wants to be accepted and belts into a song about fitting in as the new kid on Earth. And they all become friends.
You can watch this episode on Peacock streaming service.
The Wonderful World of Disney: Mickey’s 50
Season 25, Episode 9
AIR DATE: November 19, 1978
NETWORK: NBC
Chewbacca, R2-D2, and future Star Wars villain Christopher Lee (Count Dooku) are featured on this special presentation that celebrates Mickey Mouse’s 50th Birthday.
The 90-minute special highlights Mickey Mouse’s 50-year career from his creation, his numerous films and shorts, to the advent of The Mickey Mouse Club TV show. Dozens of celebrity guest stars including R2-D2 (wearing a birthday hat), Chewbacca, and Christopher Lee take part in wishing Mickey a Happy Birthday.
Special Mention:
The Muppet Show
Season 4, Episode 17
AIR DATE: February 23, 1980
NETWORK: Syndication
To promote the upcoming release of The Empire Strikes Back, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), R2-D2, C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), and Mark Hamill (as “Luke’s cousin”) appear in the fourth season of The Muppet Show.
In the “Pigs in Space” segment Luke, R2-D2, and C-3PO hijack the spaceship Swinetrek to rescue Chewbacca from Dearth Nadir on the planet Koozebane (this planet is included in the 2009 reference book, Star Wars: The Essential Atlas). At the conclusion Chewbacca is rescued, C-3PO tap dances, and the Muppet Show and Star Wars cast sings, “When You Wish Upon a Star.”
How many of these shows did you see? Did I forget any? If so, please let me know in the comments.
When was the first mention of Star Wars as a TV series?
Star Wars on TV goes back further than The Mandalorian and even The Star Wars Holiday Special. Talk of televised Star Wars can be traced to a 1977 ‘Rambling Reporter’ column of the Hollywood Reporter. It reported that three television networks have made an “unprecedented offer to 20th-Fox of well over $10 million for airing rights’ to Star Wars. The report continued by saying that ‘The offer includes guaranteed backing for a projected “Star Wars” hour-long teleseries”.
