# 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:** 13\ **Page:** 6
**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 17, 2019, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/101 "2019-05-17T22:54:50Z")
Just occurred to me that no one’s mentioned the classic Existential Blues by Tom “T-Bone” Stankus. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/102 "2019-05-19T00:34:52Z")
> [@cmkeller](#): > > Ooh…can’t believe we haven’t yet mentioned Lost - two biggies from there are that Ben Linus originally used the alias “Henry Gale”, and the episode in which Locke meets Jacob is titled “The Man Behind the Curtain.” And IIRC “Henry Gale’s” story was that he wound up on the island when his hot air balloon went off course and crashed. ---
**Author:** ![BeardOfBees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@BeardOfBees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeardOfBees)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/103 "2019-05-19T01:02:30Z")
The first part of Tarkovsky’s Stalker, that takes place in the “real world,” is shot in sepia. It changes to color when the characters enter The Zone. ---
**Author:** ![drmark7](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ba8739/32.png) [@drmark7](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drmark7)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/104 "2019-05-19T05:48:25Z")
You find that most movies TV shows (and life) are based on something from before. As a kid, I never caught the WIZARD OF OZ connections in the c.1969 tv series H.R. PUFNSTUF (later a movie) until MANY years after the fact. There is an evil witch in a castle, talking trees, the jeweled flute that the witch wants. (aka “the Ruby Slippers") and character JUDY Frog, who sounds just like Judy Garland! ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2019, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/105 "2019-05-19T08:29:54Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > A “friend of Dorothy” is a euphemism for a gay man. Cris Williamson (a gay woman) did a song titled “[Surrender Dorothy](https://youtu.be/E2j7ropljZ8),” whose lyrics were almost entirely _TWoO_ references. > [@](#): > > And “Oz” is Australia. Speaking of which, though no one now will admit to having seen the film _Australia_, it was set in 1939 and made extensive, explicit references to _TWoO_ and “Over the Rainbow.” ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/106 "2019-05-20T03:27:11Z")
A great funk song from 1980. “Bring Auntie Em and Toto too.”😃 [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-1YjmXSyHa8/hqdefault.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEmCOADEOgC8quKqQMa8AEB-AH-BIAC4AOKAgwIABABGGUgWChEMA8=&rs=AOn4CLDONA9txpnpglOdxDSq-QBITR4-2Q "Lakeside - Fantastic Voyage (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1YjmXSyHa8) Bonus: They’re dressed as pirates. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/107 "2019-05-20T15:03:54Z")
[The COZI TV promo spot](http://www.cozitv.com/), shown on their website, is a bunch of references taken from different tv shows. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/108 "2019-05-20T19:18:02Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > Probably the second most referenced movie these days, _A Christmas Story_, has the Scarecrow, Tin Man, and Cowardly Lion in the Christmas parade scene. And the wicked witch “harasses” the kids standing in line to see Santa. “Don’t bother me, I’m… uh… I’m thinking” “I like the Wizard of Oz. I like the Tin Man.” ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/109 "2019-05-21T14:21:58Z")
[Ahem.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21643677&postcount=76) ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/110 "2019-05-21T14:36:56Z")
“We’re not in Kansas, anymore.” “Nosiree, we’re in Texas…” (Local radio ad this morning.) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/111 "2019-05-21T15:36:19Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > Later on, when Ralphie is waiting in line for Santa, WWoW tries to engage with him but is rebuffed with an, “I’m busy.” It’s “I’m…thinking.” Which is even funnier, IMO. ---
**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 22, 2019, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/112 "2019-05-22T13:36:44Z")
I just made this one up: The first and (so far) last time a city won three sports championships in one year was Detroit in 1935: Lions and Tigers and Red Wings, oh my! ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2020, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951/113 "2020-03-23T01:14:44Z")
Bumped. This guy takes the movie _'way_ too seriously: [THE WICKED WITCH OF THE EAST, BRO! - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uznUlgpKBzE&feature=youtu.be) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wizard-of-oz-references-in-pop-culture/833951.md?page=5)