Star Wars Anti-Smoking PSA

The title of this article is conjectural. Although this article is based on official information from the Star Wars Legends continuity, the actual name of this subject is pure conjecture.

A Star Wars–themed public service announcement (PSA) produced by the United States Department of Health and Human Services began airing in 1980 and starred the droids C-3PO and R2-D2, who warned children about the dangers of smoking. The television spot consisted of a skit in which C-3PO finds R2-D2 smoking a cigarette, prompting C-3PO to explain the negative physical effects of smoking and how the two of them should set a good example for Humans.

Plot summary

In the 60-second version of the PSA, the droid C-3PO is using an electronic device when he begins searching for the droid R2-D2 and sees a puff of smoke behind an aisle. At first he thinks his counterpart is on fire, but then notices the droid smoking a cigarette. C-3PO chastises his friend, telling him that smoking does not make him grown-up and is harmful to the lungs and heart. When R2-D2 beeps a reply, C-3PO says that although R2-D2 doesn't have a heart, Humans do and the droids should set a good example for them. R2-D2 drops the cigarette and C-3PO praises him. He then directly addresses audience and reiterates the points he made to R2-D2, telling them not to smoke. While the words "A message from a distant galaxay [sic] far, far away" appear, C-3PO asks if R2-D2 believes that he really doesn't have a heart.^[2]

In the 30-second version of the PSA, C-3PO finds R2-D2 with a cigarette and orders him to put it down because it is dangerous. He explains that it doesn't make him grown-up and is harmful to the lungs and heart. When R2-D2 beeps a reply, C-3PO says that although R2-D2 doesn't have a heart, Humans do and the droids should set a good example for them. R2-D2 drops the cigarette and C-3PO praises him. While the words "A message from a distant galaxy far, far away" appear, C-3PO directly tells the audience: "Please, don't smoke."^[2]

Release and reception

The PSA was distributed by the US Department of Health and Human Services in 1980.^[2] According to C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels, he wrote the commercial himself during a hospital stay that forced him to miss the 1980 premiere of The Empire Strikes Back.^[1] Daniels said the PSA was intended to be aired again in 1997, but it was deemed to be promoting the Star Wars Special Edition Trilogy, which disqualified it as a PSA.^[3]

Appearances

Sources

• "Anthony Daniels: Remembering That Galaxy Far, Far Away" — The Lucasfilm Fan Club Magazine 1
• "Caravan of Courage: Star Wars on Television" — Star Wars Insider 32

Notes and references

External links

• PSA Transcript on Everything2.com (backup link archived on October 26, 2020)
• Anti-Smoking PSA on The World of Star Wars (original site is defunct)
• Star Wars Anti-Smoking Campaign R2-D2 C3PO PSA Commercial on the Retro Toys and Cartoons YouTube channel (backup link)