Next Rifftrax: Star Wars Holiday Spec- THE HELL?!

In a move that is equal parts benevolent and malevolent, the folks at Rifftrax are finally giving fans a Rifftrax that they’ve long been asking for – and one that will surely scar them irreparably. 1978′s Star Wars Holiday Special will be the next Rifftrax, just in time for the Christmas season. It releases on December 10th (the same day as a certain other project) and will feature our usual trio of riffers.

Now, if you know anything about this disgusting piece of sci-fi history, you know that it is not currently available on DVD. Despite the fact that George Lucas is the man who made the Star Wars prequels happen and he, thus, has no shame, he refuses to let this special see the light of day. So that makes one smart decision, for George. Mike, Bill, and Kevin apparently used the only widely available copy of the special – the one on Google Video. Seeing as though that idea is fraught with disasterous potential, you might want to go download it off of Google’s page ASAP (it’s easy; you’ll only need Quicktime to play it), lest it be removed by LucasFilm’s attack monkeys.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the Holiday Special, it was made the year after the first Star Wars’ release, likely to cash in on the film’s popularity. The two-hour special features numerous guest stars, including a frightening-looking Mark Hamill, a Harrison Ford-looking Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher looking hot as usual. There’s also Bea Arthur and Art Carney, but they just make me scared and sad, respectively. I won’t tell you anything else about it, because that would require that I remember it.

Rifftrax: Recent News and Releases

Since my disappearance from the interwebs, much has been happening in the kingdom of Rifftrax. The fall season – if you can really call it that, with Al Gore and all his damn global warming – has seen four brand spanking new releases, so far.

• First, Star Wars Episode III was finally released, completing the trilogy. (Also, if you’re a slowpoke like me and don’t own any of the Star Wars Rifftrax, they’ve got a sweet money-saving deal for the whole trilogy. Limited time offer, though.) If you like your Sith crispy and honey-roasted, check it out. Mike, Bill, and Kevin are the riffers.

• Raiders of the Lost Ark is the second of the four, starring Harrison Ford before he developed a thick layer of crust over his soul. This one also features our beloved trinity of riffers.

• Ah, another comic book movie. Spiderman. Mike, Bill, and Kevin once again.

• And lastly, Next. If that descriptive title doesn’t ring a bell, it’s a film starring Nicholas Cage (-2) and a moderately-clothed Jessica Biel (+2), so depending on your sexual preference, you may wish to stay away from this movie. Mrs. Nelson, Bridget Jones, is onboard for this Rifftrax, so that’s a big plus.

Some poopie also hit the fan recently, as YouTube suspended Rifftrax’s account on their site. (YouTube? Suspending an account? Shocking!) The idiots – YouTube or the movie studios, take your pick – evidently believe that two-minute clips of movies with humorous commentary overtop of them constitute a legitimate threat to their legal rights. I’m pretty positive that their samples fall under “fair use”. Oh well. It’s not like I expect anything else from the big companies. You can still view the samples on the Rifftrax site.