How Star Wars Saved NPR: The Untold Story of the Star Wars Radio Dramas

In 1977, NPR was on the brink of losing its audience and its funding. Then came an unlikely lifeline: Star Wars. In this episode of Father Son Galaxy, we sit down with Maria Jose Tenuto and John Tenuto, authors of The Star Wars Radio Dramas: Brian Daley and the Serialization That Saved NPR, to unpack how a scrappy radio adaptation, turned a galaxy far, far away into a ratings phenomenon and helped rescue public radio in America. We dig into the USC connection that started it all, George Lucas's surprisingly modest asking price, standout performances from the new cast (including Brock Peters), and the emotional, 13-year road to Return of the Jedi's radio premiere.