Google News suggested that I read today's The Hollywood Reporter article reprinting their original review from 1978:
If the prospect of a two-hour Star Wars Holiday Special conjured up visions of "May the force be with you" repeated ad nauseam in your head, this show on CBS was a welcome surprise.
Note those words: "welcome surprise".
The article itself is at:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/star-wars-holiday-special-read-749584