May the 4th Be With You as Donny & Marie Do Star Wars!

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If you go back 35 years to the late 70’s, it seemed that everyone had a variety show – and one of the best things was that they were all live. I loved watching the Carol Burnett show, and one of the best parts was that Harvey Korman could never keep a straight face once Burnett and Tim Conway got going.

Donny & Marie had an enormously popular variety show in the late 70’s based around their singing, dancing, charming personalities and wholesome images. They brought in a younger crowd than other shows and also provided an alternative to the growing seediness of the punk and disco era.

From Neatorama we get a look at their 1978 take on Star Wars. It features Redd Foxx in the Obiwan role (with references to Sanford & Son), Kris Kristofferson as a singing Han Solo, Chewbacca, C3PO and R2D2, Paul Lynde as an Imperial Officer (ala Grand Moff Tarkin), and what sounds like James Earl Jones as Darth Vader.

There are adaptations of popular songs (like a direct copy of The Temptation’s ‘Get Ready’ and John Denver’s ‘Leavin’ On a Jet Plane’), and some of the most cheesy song and dance numbers you are likely to see any time soon!

It is awesome, check it out!

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About the Author

Michael Anderson
I have loved technology for as long as I can remember - and have been a computer gamer since the PDP-10! Mobile Technology has played a major role in my life - I have used an electronic companion since the HP95LX more than 20 years ago, and have been a 'Laptop First' person since my Compaq LTE Lite 3/20 and Powerbook 170 back in 1991! As an avid gamer and gadget-junkie I was constantly asked for my opinions on new technology, which led to writing small blurbs ... and eventually becoming a reviewer many years ago. My family is my biggest priority in life, and they alternate between loving and tolerating my gaming and gadget hobbies ... but ultimately benefits from the addition of technology to our lives!