# Wizard of Oz references in pop culture **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 14, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951 "2019-05-14T15:47:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/21 "2019-05-14T16:32:31Z")
There are tons of these. I don’t think we really could list all of them. One that sticks in my head is an atrocious pun from one of Jack Chalker’s novels. His heroes are following someone, and their way is made easier because that person is traveling in an aircraft that is also doing a sort of crop-dusting, only it’s really putting down an insecticide, made of _woad_, and meant to kill ticks. Only this woad isn’t blue, like the stuff the ancient Britons daubed on themselves. It’s yellow. So all they have to do is… [spoiler] **Follow the Yellow Tick Woad** Not worth the setup, I know. And you probably saw it coming a mile away.[/spoiler] I also like that in the Disney movie **Wreck-it Ralph** the guards in the _Sugar Rush_ video game are Oreo cookies, and as they maneuver they chant: O-RE-oh!, Yo-ho! O-RE-oh! Yo-ho! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/22 "2019-05-14T16:36:36Z")
From my copy of _ **Outrageously Offensive Jokes** _: “It wasn’t a yellow brick road until I finished with it!” — _Toto_ ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/23 "2019-05-14T16:38:38Z")
“Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas any more.” — said by one member of the group pretty much every time we dropped acid in college ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/24 "2019-05-14T16:45:35Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I also like that in the Disney movie **Wreck-it Ralph** the guards in the _Sugar Rush_ video game are Oreo cookies, and as they maneuver they chant: > > O-RE-oh!, Yo-ho! > O-RE-oh! Yo-ho! When I worked as a reenactor at a historic site, Company A would sometimes march off the parade field to _“Yo-DE-oh, de-OH-do!”_ at the end of the day (after the tourists had left, of course). Either that, or we would whistle the _ **Hogan’s Heroes** _ theme. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/25 "2019-05-14T16:49:43Z")
_[Zardoz](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbGVIdA3dx0)_ Is a spoiler needed? The movie was released in 1974. If you haven’t seen it yet, that’s on you. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/26 "2019-05-14T16:53:20Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > “Munchkins” has often been used to refer to children (Robin Williams used it for sure). Not to mention [donut holes](https://banner2.kisspng.com/20180526/rru/kisspng-dunkin-donuts-munchkin-cat-coffee-munchkin-s-donu-5b091ce8625a17.2667934815273238804029.jpg). In gaming, “munchkin” became a slang word for “[powergamer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powergaming)” (someone who focuses on optimizing their character’s statistical performance, with no interest in other aspects of the game). Steve Jackson Games borrowed that term for their very successful line of [Munchkin games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munchkin_(card_game)). ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/27 "2019-05-14T16:54:24Z")
One of the coolest references is Frank Richard Oznowicz’s stage name: Frank Oz. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/28 "2019-05-14T16:56:55Z")
My favorite references were in the Dr. Phibes movies, especially Rises Again when Vincent Price sings it at the end. ETA: It being Over the Rainbow, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/29 "2019-05-14T17:02:07Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > There are tons of these. I don’t think we really could list all of them. > > One that sticks in my head is an atrocious pun from one of Jack Chalker’s novels. His heroes are following someone, and their way is made easier because that person is traveling in an aircraft that is also doing a sort of crop-dusting, only it’s really putting down an insecticide, made of _woad_, and meant to kill ticks. Only this woad isn’t blue, like the stuff the ancient Britons daubed on themselves. It’s yellow. So all they have to do is… > > [spoiler] **Follow the Yellow Tick Woad** > Not worth the setup, I know. > > And you probably saw it coming a mile away.[/spoiler] > I also like that in the Disney movie **Wreck-it Ralph** the guards in the _Sugar Rush_ video game are Oreo cookies, and as they maneuver they chant: > > O-RE-oh!, Yo-ho! > O-RE-oh! Yo-ho! And in _O Brother, Where Art Thou?_ the Klansmen chant it as well. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/30 "2019-05-14T17:06:12Z")
There was an episode of _Two and a Half Men_ titled “Did You Check with the Captain of the Flying Monkeys?” > **["Two and a Half Men" Did You Check with the Captain of the Flying Monkeys?...](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0735151/)** > > Did You Check with the Captain of the Flying Monkeys?: Directed by Andy Ackerman. With Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, Holland Taylor. Charlie and Evelyn date members of the same family. Check out this cover of _ **Rolling Stone** _: [![](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/61/6f/12/616f123c08736911be0e0632ece09628--music-pictures-rolling-stones.jpg) ](https://i.pinimg.com/236x/61/6f/12/616f123c08736911be0e0632ece09628--music-pictures-rolling-stones.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/31 "2019-05-14T17:08:48Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > One of the coolest references is Frank Richard Oznowicz’s stage name: Frank Oz. I’m not sure that’s an intentional reference to the movie/book; it’s just truncating his last name. The similarity to the Land of Oz is surely coincidental. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/32 "2019-05-14T17:17:54Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > In gaming, “munchkin” became a slang word for “[powergamer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powergaming)” (someone who focuses on optimizing their character’s statistical performance, with no interest in other aspects of the game). Steve Jackson Games borrowed that term for their very successful line of [Munchkin games](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munchkin_(card_game)). “Munchkin” is also used to describe an employee who ranks near the bottom of an organized hierarchy (usually combined with the adjective, “low-level”). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/33 "2019-05-14T17:22:55Z")
A two-fer, referencing the Wizard of Oz and the Monkees: On an episode of Modern Family, Mitchell is throwing Cam a birthday party with a Wizard of Oz theme. As the various workers arrive, two men show up and say: Man 1: Hey. Man 2: Hey. Man 1: We’re the Monkees. Makes me laugh every time. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/34 "2019-05-14T17:25:38Z")
Whenever I need cash, I go visit my Auntie 'Em. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/35 "2019-05-14T17:36:56Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Whenever I need cash, I go visit my Auntie 'Em. Check out the 20th cartoon along on Craig Swanson’s _Perspicuity_ site [https://www.perspicuity.com/](https://www.perspicuity.com/) [https://www.google.com/search?biw=1440&bih=680&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=jfzaXMfTOMz2-gSAn5PQCg&q=Craig+Swanson+ATM+Perspicuity+T-shirt&oq=Craig+Swanson+ATM+Perspicuity+T-shirt&gs\_l=img.3...17245.20250..20513...0.0..0.164.1356.5j7......0....1..gws-wiz-img.xbBQKqXuZpY#imgrc=xhoPOF4Qx5VRpM:&spf=1557855396944](https://www.google.com/search?biw=1440&bih=680&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=jfzaXMfTOMz2-gSAn5PQCg&q=Craig+Swanson+ATM+Perspicuity+T-shirt&oq=Craig+Swanson+ATM+Perspicuity+T-shirt&gs_l=img.3...17245.20250..20513...0.0..0.164.1356.5j7......0....1..gws-wiz-img.xbBQKqXuZpY#imgrc=xhoPOF4Qx5VRpM:&spf=1557855396944) He had this image printed on a T-shirt, too ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/36 "2019-05-14T17:40:50Z")
In the Simpsons, as Homer’s sugar melts in the rain, [he exclaims](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=426koApsy8I) “Melting…,Melting!..Oh what a world!” ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/37 "2019-05-14T17:41:54Z")
Probably the second most referenced movie these days, _A Christmas Story_, has the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion in the Christmas parade scene. _Picket Fences_ had the Dancing Bandit go into the school dressed as Dorothy, with henchmen as the other characters. The costumes had been shownin a previous episode. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/38 "2019-05-14T17:59:38Z")
For awhile it seemed like every sitcom had either a WOO dream sequence or a WOO stage production. If you’re interested _Lost in Oz_ on Amazon Prime is surprisingly good. All fourteen of Baum’s Oz books are finally available on Kindle! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/39 "2019-05-14T17:59:46Z")
Robin Williams did the _“I’m melting!”_ bit once on _ **Mork and Mindy** _. It got a huge laugh from the studio audience. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2019, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/40 "2019-05-14T18:05:58Z")
Wiki on [Adaptations of The Wizard of Oz](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adaptations_of_The_Wizard_of_Oz) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951.md?page=3)