When CBS brought the plan to George Lucas, he had agreed to sign off on the idea, but couldn’t oversee the project as he was busy with The Empire Strikes Back. Instead, the special was ultimately directed by Steve Binder.

However, Lucas did suggest the special's narrative, which centers around Chewbacca trying to get home to the Wookie planet of Kashyyyk in time to celebrate Life Day—the Wookie equivalent to Christmas—with his family.

From the start, the project was plagued with difficulties. Multiple directors were brought in as were a revolving door of writers, singers, and other artists.

Ultimately, this team created one of the strangest, most embarrassing chapters in the history of of Star Wars; the kind of production so confusing and surreal that it's literally incredible. The special aired only once, on November 17th, 1978, and was panned by fans and critics alike.

Below, you can watch seven of the most absurd, over-the-top moments from the infamous Star Wars holiday special—because when something is this weird, it deserves to be remembered.

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Star Wars Holiday Special: the 7 Most Absurd Moments

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