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The Best of Classic Star Wars Variety & Sketch TV Virtual Watch Party
March 6 @ 7:30 pm - March 7 @ 7:00 am
Join us Wednesday, March 6, 2024 for The Best of Classic Star Wars Variety & Sketch TV virtual watch party. The program features the entire 1980 episode of The Muppet Show with The Stars of Star Wars featuring Mark Hamill. It also includes other classic 70s and early 80s variety and sketch comedy segments about Star Wars.
Segments include Donny & Marie, The Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special, The Richard Pryor Show, Saturday Night Live, and SCTV. There are also commercials from the period that relate to Star Wars or are particularly funny or cringeworthy in retrospect.
We will go live at 7:00 PM Eastern with a 30-minute preshow. The live stream starts at 7:30 PM Eastern and will loop every 90 minutes to accommodate as many time zones as possible.
The 90-minute loop includes:
- The Muppet Show – Season 4, Episode 17 (February 29, 1980)
- SCTV – Great White North – Star Wars (December 12, 1980)
- The Richard Pryor Show – Star Wars Bar (September 13, 1977)
- SCTV – Guy Caballero – Star Wars Return to the Planet of Empires (December 12, 1980)
- Donny & Marie – Star Wars Parody (September 23, 1977)
- Bob Hope All Star Christmas Comedy Special – Star Wars Parody (December 19, 1977)
- SCTV – Sneak Previews – Star Wars: Empire’s are a Girl’s Best Friends (December 19, 1980)
- Saturday Night Live – Nick Winters at the Powder Room (January 28, 1978)
- Period relevant commercials in between each segment
Join us in Meetup Room 1 on the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Discord server to watch the video stream and text chat with other Star Wars fans. This watch party is free but is only available on our Discord server. Join for free now at discord.gg/galaxysedge.
About The Muppet Show
The Muppet Show was a popular variety television program that aired from 1976 to 1981. Created by Jim Henson, the show featured popular Muppet characters like Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, Scooter, the Swedish Chef, and the Electric Mayhem, among others.
It was a vaudeville-style variety show, combining sketch comedy, musical performances, and guest appearances. The show was set in a fictional theater where Kermit the Frog served as the host and the Muppets worked together to put on a weekly production. Each episode featured a celebrity guest star or stars, ranging from actors and musicians to comedians and other public figures.
The Muppets engaged in humorous and often chaotic backstage antics, and the sketches were interspersed with musical numbers and comedy routines. The show’s unique blend of puppetry, humor, and celebrity guests contributed to its widespread appeal and success.
The series was produced in the United Kingdom and aired on the ATV network. In the United States, The Muppet Show was distributed as a syndicated show. As such, it appeared on different channels and times depending on where you lived.
About the Star Wars Episode of The Muppet Show
The Star Wars episode of The Muppet Show originally aired on February 29, 1980 in the UK. It was one of several The Empire Strikes Back promotional appearances, coming out three months ahead of the movie.
The show featured guest stars Mark Hamill, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels, and R2-D2. As with many productions at this time, the show used a remote control R2-D2.
The episode features Muppet News Flash and Pigs In Space, two classic skits that appear throughout the series. The Star Wars characters play a prominent role in the Pigs In Space skit.
What Is the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Discord?
The Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Discord is a fan-run group celebrating all things Star Wars and Disney parks. Perhaps best known for hosting lightsaber meetups at Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland and Disney World, the SWGEDiscord is a family-friendly and inclusive space where fans can discuss all aspects of Star Wars and Galaxy’s Edge safely.
In addition to our saber meetups, we host in-person and virtual events, including a book club, watch and listening parties, trivia nights, and more. Our Discord server has channels dedicated to planning your visit to Galaxy’s Edge on either coast, the latest stock updates, and talking about your favorite Star Wars shows, movies, books, and comics.