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WONDERFUL WORLD OF DISNEY, THE: THE MUPPETS' WIZARD OF OZ (TV)

Summary

One of this series of Disney movies presented under the umbrella title "The Wonderful World of Disney." This made-for-television production presents Jim Henson's Muppets in their own version of L. Frank Baum's "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." The program begins with Dorothy Gale daydreaming about singing "Gotta Get Out of Kansas" in a video. Back in reality, Aunt Em orders the diner waitress to refill some ketchup bottles. Dorothy is preparing for an audition but Aunt Em and Uncle Henry think her outfit looks like she's dressed "for a rap video." Then, Dorothy arrives late at her audition for the Muppets Star Hunt. Kermit is intrigued by Dorothy's demo but Miss Piggy forces their bus to depart. Dorothy rushes to her trailer park home just as severe weather looms on the horizon. She holes herself in her room, lamenting the fact that she may never get out of Kansas. After Dorothy spouts off at Aunt Em, the tornado sirens ring and Dorothy, Aunt Em, and Uncle Henry rush toward their storm cellar. However, Dorothy forgets Toto, the prawn she keeps as a pet in a goldfish ball, and runs back. Then, the tornado sweeps her and Toto across a vast distance in the trailer home. Upon crashing, Dorothy realizes that she is not in Kansas anymore. For starters, Toto is now a full-grown prawn that can walk and talk. They soon discover that they are in Munchkinland, meeting some Munchkins that look suspiciously like rats. Dorothy then finds that her house has crushed the Wicked Witch of the East and her sister, Tattypoo, the Good Witch of the North, appears. Tattypoo tells Dorothy that, if she wants to be a famous singer, than she needs to put on the Witch of the East's magic slippers and go meet the Wizard. The Munchkins thank Dorothy for saving them from the Wicked Witch, singing "Calling All Munchkins" and noting that they will always be ready to return the favor. Meanwhile, Tattypoo tells Dorothy to avoid the Wicked Witch of the West. Following the Yellow Brick Road, Toto informs Dorothy that he wishes to be her singing agent. Then, Toto goes to eat some fresh corn, running into a feeble Scarecrow on the way. Scarecrow explains to Dorothy that he has no brain and Dorothy invites him along to the Emerald City to see the Wizard.

The three keep walking, running into a mysterious building labeled "Tin." Inside, they find that they're in the Total Intelligence Network and come upon the Tin Thing, a robotic gathering device for the Wicked Witch of the West. Tin Thing claims he's nothing but brains, lacking a heart and the ability to love. He recalls how the witch made him into a robot to take him away from his girlfriend, Camila the chicken. Dorothy, Toto, and Scarecrow encourage Tin Thing to join them en route to see the Wizard. The four continue walking, going through a creepy forest. There, the four meet a Cowardly Lion that is scared of all of them, especially Toto. Dorothy convinces the Lion to join the group on their journey to Emerald City where he could ask the Wizard for some courage in his quest to become a standup comic. Then, the group sings "When I'm With You." Afterward, the group marches on, the sky getting darker. They reach a gorge where critics that appear similar to Statler and Waldorf taunt them as they cross. From there, the group reaches Poppyfields, "the coolest club in Oz." They enter to find poppy plants on the table which make Dorothy, Lion, and Toto struggle to stay awake. Toto tries to alert the Munchkins for help. Soon enough, the Munchkins arrive to combat the "poppy exposure" as Dr. Teeth sings "Nap Time" inside the club. After leaving, Dorothy and her troop finally come upon Emerald City. There, Dorothy tries to get a meeting with the Wizard. Once inside, she meets with Scooter, the Wizard's first assistant. Scooter leads Dorothy and the group to Beaker and Dr. Bunsen, who make them sport green spectacles and then show them the Magical Makeover Machine. They make Dorothy enter the machine and, upon coming out, she is glammed up and dressed in green. Then, the everchanging and imposing Wizard begins seeing members of the group, first ordering in the Lion. The Lion tells the Wizard, who's in the form of a dragon, that he wants to be brave enought to become a standup comedian. Next, the Scarecrow enters, asking the Wizard, who this time appears as a fiery ball, for a brain. Then, the Tin Thing comes in, discussing how he's looking for a heart. The wizard, garbed as a seductress, dispatches of the Tin Thing like the others before him.

Finally, Dorothy enters, wondering what the Wizard, manifesting himself as a tough-talking ogre, has been doing to her friends. She tells him she wants to be a big star and the Wizard says he can give her all she wishes if she brings him the Wicked Witch of the West's magic eye. Dorothy and the others regroup, with Toto explaining the laborious journey they have to go on to retrieve the magic eye. During "intermission," Disney president Michael Eisner talks with Muppet cast members in the balcony. As the tale resumes, the quintet heads up a freezing mountain, with the group wondering if maybe they don't really need to achieve their dreams. Dorothy begins missing home, wondering if she even wants to be a singing star. Meanwhile, the Wicked Witch sees through her magic eye that the group is pursuing her and that Dorothy has the magic slippers. The Wicked Witch decides to round up her Flying Monkeys motorcycle gang and put an end to another "diva" in Oz. The Wicked Witch wants Dorothy caught and returned to her castle. The Flying Monkeys surround Dorothy and the others as the Wicked Witch arrives. She sings "The Witch is in the House," dismantling Scarecrow and Tin Thing. Now, the Wicked Witch decides to pursue a career in reality television, with Dorothy and Toto tied to a board and a blade nearing their bodies as a means of securing the magic slippers. The caged Lion is thus forced to use his comedy chops to stave off his captors. Escaping via a bit of trickery, the Lion is able to save Dorothy and Toto from imminent death. With Toto again signaling for the Munchkins, the creatures appear and help free Dorothy. Dorothy and the Wicked Witch then square off in battle. Meanwhile, back in the studio office, "noted action director" Quentin Tarantino pitches a violent battle scene to Kermit, based on the pending fight between Dorothy and the Wicked Witch. Back in Oz, the director's suggestion is incorporated as Dorothy ultimately kicks the Wicked Witch in the face and knocks her into a tub of water, which causes her to melt.

After she has melted, Dorothy is able to secure her magic eye. Even the Wicked Witch's "vile henchmen" are excited about her death. Dorothy later reunites with the reassembled Tin Thing and Scarecrow. Then, along with Toto, the Lion, and the former henchmen, the group heads back to the Wizard. There, without green spectacles, the group finds Emerald City to be quite different than what they'd earlier experienced. Likewise, the group soon learns that the Wizard is simply a meager bespectacled man behind a control deck. The Wizard comes out from his booth, trying to explain what he is and how he became the leader of Oz. Later, the Wonderful Wizard of Oz goes on television to reveal the truth, stating that he's just "an ordinary guy from Hollywood." Nevertheless, the former Wizard still grants everyone's wishes. In addition, Tin Thing is reunited with Camila. Afterward, Dorothy, finally a successful performer, sings "Good Life." However, Dorothy has to admit that everything is a lie, believing that all her friends already possessed what they thought they lacked. Dorothy now wants to go home to Kansas and the Wizard tells her she must see Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, in order to accomplish the task. The large group heads away yet again, ultimately ending up back in Munchkinland. Dorothy meets with Glinda, wondering how she can get back to Kansas. Dorothy says goodbye to her new friends before Glinda tells her how to get home. With Toto opting to stay behind, Dorothy clicks her heels together three times before being sent back to Kansas. Aunt Em and Uncle Henry are stunned to see her, thinking she was gone forever. Dorothy is surprised to see Kermit waiting at the diner. Having been impressed by her demo, he wonders if she wants to join the Muppets tour. With Aunt Em and Uncle Henry's blessing, Dorothy departs and performs "Good Life" on television with the Muppets. Includes commercials.

(Network varies; this series was also telecast on NBC from 1961 to 1981 and on CBS from 1981 to 1983.)

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: May 20, 2005 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:55:13
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: T:86273
  • GENRE: Musicals
  • SUBJECT HEADING: Musicals; Comedy; Films - Parody; Children's programs
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1997-2008
  • COMMERCIALS:
    • TV - Commercials - "Are We There Yet?" home video
    • TV - Commercials - "Pooh's Heffalump Movie" home video
    • TV - Commercials - "The Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girl" motion picture
    • TV - Commercials - "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz" home video, soundtrack
    • TV - Commercials - Aflac insurance
    • TV - Commercials - Alavert allergy relief
    • TV - Commercials - Aveeno skin cleanser
    • TV - Commercials - Cingular wireless
    • TV - Commercials - Cingular wireless
    • TV - Commercials - Claritin allergy relief
    • TV - Commercials - Cortaid anti-itch lotion
    • TV - Commercials - Cottonelle toilet tissue
    • TV - Commercials - Crestor cholesterol medication
    • TV - Commercials - Denny's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Diet Pepsi soft drinks
    • TV - Commercials - Doritos chips
    • TV - Commercials - Hillshire Farm deli meats
    • TV - Commercials - Honda automobiles
    • TV - Commercials - JC Penney stores
    • TV - Commercials - Juicy Juice juice
    • TV - Commercials - K-Mart stores
    • TV - Commercials - Kodak cameras
    • TV - Commercials - LensCrafters eyewear
    • TV - Commercials - M&M candies
    • TV - Commercials - Maybelline makeup
    • TV - Commercials - McDonald's restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - NFL flag football program
    • TV - Commercials - Olive Garden restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - PediaSure nutritional drinks
    • TV - Commercials - Pizza Hut restaurants
    • TV - Commercials - Pledge dust wipes
    • TV - Commercials - Serta mattresses
    • TV - Commercials - Tostitos chips
    • TV - Commercials - Wal-Mart stores
    • TV - Commercials - Walt Disney World theme parks
    • TV - Promos - "20/20: Resurrection"
    • TV - Promos - "Dancing With the Stars"
    • TV - Promos - "Desperate Housewives"
    • TV - Promos - "Extreme Makeover: How'd They Do That?"
    • TV - Promos - "Extreme Makeover Home Edition"
    • TV - Promos - "Grey's Anatomy"
    • TV - Promos - "Lost"
    • TV - Promos - "Nick & Jessica's Tour of Duty"
    • TV - Promos - "That's So Raven"
    • TV - Promos - "The Scholar"
    • TV - Promos - "The Suite Life of Zach & Cody"
    • TV - Promos - The NBA Finals
    • TV - Promos - The NBA Playoffs

CREDITS

  • Lisa Henson … Executive Producer
  • Brian Henson … Executive Producer
  • Martin G. Baker … Producer
  • Warren Carr … Producer
  • Bill Barretta … Co-Producer
  • Kristine Belson … Co-Producer
  • Eric Poticha … Co-Producer
  • Kirk R. Thatcher … Director
  • Debra Frank … Writer, Music by
  • Steve L. Hayes … Writer, Music by
  • Tom Martin … Writer
  • Adam Goldberg … Writer
  • L. Frank Baum … Based on the novel "The Wizard of Oz" by
  • Michael Giacchino … Music by
  • Adam Cohen … Music by
  • Brandon Christy … Music by
  • Jeannie Lurie … Music by
  • Ashanti … Cast, Dorothy Gale
  • Jeffrey Tambor … Cast, Wizard
  • Quentin Tarantino … Cast, Himself
  • David Alan Grier … Cast, Uncle Henry
  • Queen Latifah … Cast, Aunt Em
  • Dan Payne … Cast, Weatherman
  • C. Ernst Harth … Cast, Earl
  • Michael Eisner … Cast, Himself
  • Steve Whitmire … Cast, Voice, Scarecrow/Kermit the Frog/Beaker/Bean Bunny/Rizzo the Rat/Statler
  • Dave Goelz … Cast, Voice, Tin Thing/The Great Gonzo/Dr. Bunsen/Honeydew/Zoot/Waldorf
  • Bill Barretta … Cast, Voice, Toto/Pepe the Prawn/Dr. Teeth/Johnny Fiama/Lew Zealand/Rowlf/Swedish Chef
  • Eric Jacobson … Cast, Voice, Lions/Witches/Miss Piggy/Fozzie Bear/Animal/Sam the Eagle
  • Brian Henson … Cast, Voice, Crazy Harry/Sal Manilla
  • John Kennedy … Cast, Voice, Angel Marie
  • Tyler Bunch … Cast, Voice, Janice/Old Tom
  • Kevin Clash … Cast, Voice, Clifford
  • Rickey Boyd … Cast, Voice, Scooter/Very Old Tom
  • Drew Massey … Cast, Voice, Clifford/Sal Manilla/Spotted Dick
  • John Henson … Cast, Voice, Sweetums
  • Alice Dinnean … Cast, Voice, Camila, Foo-Foo
  • Allan Trautman … Cast, Voice, Crow
  • Michael Quinn … Cast, Voice
  • Vernon … Cast, Voice
  • Gordon Robertson … Cast, Voice