On the Falcon, as C-3PO is caring for Han and Luke, R2-D2 intercepts the transmission between Vader and Fett. Once they get into the Imperial-occupied city, Fett instructs Chewie to stay behind-so he can contact Darth Vader. Fett and Chewie go into Panna City to get the cure. They all board the Falcon, where Han has been infected by a mysterious sleeping virus caused by the talisman. They run into Boba Fett, who saves Luke from a giant monster and claims to want to help the Rebels. The head officer tells Malla to keep Lumpy busy while they search his room, so Lumpy (and the viewing audience) uses a viewscreen to watch a cartoon of his father's many adventures:Дuring a search for a talisman, the Millennium Falcon crashes on the water moon of Panna with the main characters onboard. When the music finishes, the head officer orders the search to continue. As they search, Saun and the others attempt to distract them with food and Malla's music video box (which features a video by Jefferson Starship). An officer orders a search for Chewbacca. The Imperials force their way into the house. Believing Han and Chewie might be arriving, Malla opens the door, but instead finds two stormtroopers and officers. As they enter the atmosphere, Lumpy hears the roaring of the ship. Han notices an increased Imperial presence, so they decide to land in an unguarded area to the north. Back on the Falcon, Chewbacca and Han have just come out of hyperspace not far from Kashyyyk. Saun arrives with Life Day gifts for everyone, including a virtual reality fantasy program (featuring Diahann Carroll) for Itchy. Malla then attempts (unsuccessfully) to prepare a meal, the instructions of which are being aired via a local cooking show by an eccentric four-armed alien cook, Chef Gormaanda ( Harvey Korman). He tells her through a carefully worded message that Han and Chewbacca are on their way and should be arriving soon. Malla contacts Saun Dann, a local trader. Luke tells her that he does not know what happened. Malla contacts Luke Skywalker, who, along with R2-D2, is working on his X-wing fighter. Hoping to find the Millennium Falcon, his wife, Malla, runs a computer scan for starships in the area but is unsuccessful. Meanwhile, on Kashyyyk, Chewbacca's family is preparing for his return. Along the way, the duo is chased by two Star Destroyers, but they escape into hyperspace. On Life Day, Chewbacca, accompanied by Han Solo, is headed home to see his family. In contrast, the animated segment that introduced Boba Fett was positively received and, in 2021, was released on Disney+. It has been viewed and distributed in off-air recordings made from its original telecast by fans as bootleg copies, and it has also been uploaded to content-sharing websites. It has become somewhat of a cultural legend due to the underground quality of its existence. The special is notorious for its extremely negative reception and has never been rebroadcast nor officially released on home video.

Scenes take place in space and in spacecraft including the Millennium Falcon and a Star Destroyer segments also take place in a few other locales, such as the Mos Eisley cantina from the original film. The program includes footage from the 1977 film and a cartoon produced by Toronto-based Nelvana featuring the bounty hunter Boba Fett.

The program also features the rest of the main Star Wars characters, including Luke Skywalker, C-3PO, R2-D2, Darth Vader and Princess Leia, all portrayed by the original cast (except R2-D2, who is simply billed as 'himself'). The special introduces three members of Chewbacca's family: his father Itchy, his wife Malla, and his son Lumpy. They are pursued by agents of the Galactic Empire, who are searching for members of the Rebel Alliance on the planet.

In the storyline that ties the special together, following the events of the original film, Chewbacca and Han Solo attempt to visit the Wookiee home planet of Kashyyyk to celebrate 'Life Day'. It stars the main cast of the original Star Wars and introduces the character of Boba Fett, who appeared in later films. Directed by Steve Binder, it was the first Star Wars spin-off film, set between the events of the original film and The Empire Strikes Back (1980). The Star Wars Holiday Special is a 1978 American television special set in the universe of the Star Wars science-fiction media franchise.

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