Believe it or not, there was a time when the Star Wars franchise wasn't the meticulously managed, multimedia entertainment juggernaut that it is today. 

The original Star Wars took the world by storm in 1977, and people couldn't get enough of it. At the same time, the Star Wars cosmos was still just a rough sketch compared to the intricately detailed and layered fictional universe it is now. That left the door open until The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 for fans and the public at large—especially those looking to hitch their TIE fighters to the film's rapidly rising Death Star—to flesh out the Star Wars experience with their own interpretations. Occasionally, the results were fun and entertaining—like Mark Hammil's guest spot on The Muppet Show and the Boba Fett cartoon from The Star Wars Holiday Special—but mostly they were excrutiatingly bad and embarrassing for everyone involved—like an ill-advised Star Wars-themed episode of Donny & Marie that even Red Foxx and Paul Lynde couldn't save, as well as the aforementioned The Star Wars Holiday Special.

(From top left) Mark Hammil on "The Muppet Show" in 1980; Nelvana's Boba Fett cartoon from the 1978 "Star Wars Holiday Special"; Chewbacca with the stars of "Donny & Marie" in 1977; and the original film's core cast in the CBS-produced "Star Wars Holiday Special." (Disney)

The most fascinating early takes on Star Wars, however, come from TV programs produced in lands far, far away from the United States. Looking at this thoroughly American sci-fi film through the lens of how other countries processed the phenomenon in the late 1970s offers some unique cultural and historical perspectives. Or in other words: That overseas-produced Darth Vader shit from the '70s be cray.   

In honor of Star Wars Day (May 4, May the Fourth, May the Force be With You … get it?), we present the following late 1970s TV clips from around the globe, and you can judge for yourself how crazy they are. Remember, we're not responsible for the nightmares you have after watching them.

France

This clip, circa 1977, from an unspecified French Christmas broadcast features one of the strangest byproducts of the early Star Wars craze: Meco's disco version of the film's theme that also incorporated the song from the Cantina scene. Meco actually used this single to create a cottage industry based on the disco-fication of blockbuster movie themes that lasted through the early '80s.   

Netherlands

Another TV variety show, another Meco-fueled dance number. What makes this 1977 performance from the Dutch show TopPop so unique is its blatant disregard for anything Star Wars-related. Instead, the producers decided to take the creative road less traveled, evoking cowboys, 1920s flappers and a pair ghostly motorcyclists to convey their vision. 

Japan

As Japanese commercials go, this one isn't all that strange. It's not even in the top 10. But this 1978 tuna commercial does make you wonder if Chewbacca would've been a better character if he sounded and acted more like a monkey.

Germany

Who knew Mark Hammil could sing in German? Give this 1980 variety show credit for having production values when it came to costumes and props. Then toss all that credit out the window when you realize most of those aforementioned production values were used on an extended dance number set to—do you need me to spell it out? That's right, Meco's Star Wars disco track.

United States

The final entry might be of domestic origin, but that doesn't make it any less strange. Le Disco was a 1978 NBC broadcast that featured a segment titled "Disco Star Wars Magic." Its connection to the movie, however, is pretty loose. In fact, the dance number only has a few performers sporting C3-PO masks mixed in with every other piece of outer space imagery the producers could think of, including flying saucers and NASA. And don't feel obligated to hang around for the Village People performance after the Star Wars segment. Just tell them you're meeting friends for drinks and you're running late. 

BONUS: 3 Classic 'Star Wars' PSAs

In the United States throughout the late '70s and early '80s, Star Wars characters weren't just guest stars on TV variety shows, they also were regulars in public service announcements. C3-PO and R2-D2, in fact, were spokes-droids for issues you wouldn't expect mechanical residents of a galaxy far, far away would have to deal with. Who knew R2 was a problem chain-smoker? 

Childhood Immunization (1978)

Drinking and Driving (1979)

Anti-Smoking (1983)