The Muppets' Wizard of Oz (2005) (TV)

Director:

Kirk R. Thatcher

Writers (WGA):

Debra Frank (teleplay) &
Steve L. Hayes (teleplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

20 May 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Fantasy | Music

Tagline:

Hit the Bricks this May!

Plot:

This version of The Wizard of Oz is played by the Muppets!

Plot Keywords:

The Muppets | Witch | Scarecrow | Lion | Puppet

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy.

Cast

Ashanti	...	Dorothy Gale
Jeffrey Tambor	...	Wizard
Quentin Tarantino	...	Himself
David Alan Grier	...	Uncle Henry
Queen Latifah	...	Aunt Em
Steve Whitmire	...	Kermit the Frog / Scarecrow / Beaker / Bean Bunny / Rizzo the Rat / Statler (voice)
Dave Goelz	...	The Great Gonzo / Tin Thing / Dr. Bunsen Honeydew / Zoot / Waldorf (voice)
Bill Barretta	...	Pepe the Prawn / Toto / Dr. Teeth / Johnny Fiama / Lew Zealand / Rowlf / Swedish Chef (voice)
Eric Jacobson	...	Miss Piggy / Fozzie Bear / Lion / Witches / Animal / Sam the Eagle (voice)
Brian Henson	...	Crazy Harry / Sal Manilla (voice)
Kevin Clash	...	Clifford (voice)
John Kennedy	...	Angel Marie / Floyd (voice)
Rickey Boyd	...	Scooter / Very Old Tom (voice)
Tyler Bunch	...	Janice / Old Tom (voice)
Julianne Buescher	...	Muppet Performer (voice) (as Julianne Buscher)
John Henson	...	Sweetums (voice)
Drew Massey	...	Clifford / Sal Manilla / Spotted Dick / Additional Muppets (voice)
Allan Trautman	...	Crow (voice)
Alice Dinnean	...	Camila / Foo-Foo (voice) (as Alice Dinnean Vernon)
Mike Quinn	...	Muppet Performer (as Michael Quinn)
Gordon Robertson	...	Muppet Performer
Adam Behr	...	Muppet Performer
Jeny Cassady	...	Muppet Performer (as Jeny Cassidy)
Geoff Redknap	...	Muppet Performer
James Rowley	...	Muppet Performer
Dan Payne	...	Weatherman
C. Ernst Harth	...	Earl
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Fozzie Bear	...	Himself / Cowardly Lion (uncredited)
Edward Hibbert	...	Stage Manager (uncredited)
Ken Jones	...	Earl's Buddy (uncredited)
Kelly Osbourne	...	Herself (uncredited)
Miss Piggy	...	Herself (uncredited)
Randy Thompson	...	Earl's Buddy (uncredited)

Directed by
Kirk R. Thatcher

Writing credits (WGA)
Debra Frank		(teleplay) &
Steve L. Hayes		(teleplay) and
Tom Martin		(teleplay) &
Adam F. Goldberg		(teleplay) (as Adam Goldberg)
Debra Frank		(television story) &
Steve L. Hayes		(television story)
L. Frank Baum		(novel "The Wizard of Oz")

Produced by
Martin G. Baker	....	producer
Bill Barretta	....	co-producer
Kristine Belson	....	co-producer
Warren Carr	....	producer
Brian Henson	....	executive producer
Lisa Henson	....	executive producer
Eric Poticha	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Michael Giacchino

Cinematography by
Tony Westman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Gregg Featherman

Casting by
Allyson Bosch
Susan Taylor Brouse		(as Susan Brouse)
Lynne Carrow
Donna Rosenstein

Production Design by
Michael S. Bolton

Art Direction by
Roxanne Methot

Set Decoration by
Cynthia T. Lewis		(as Cindy Lewis)

Costume Design by
Polly Smith

Makeup Department
Julie Baker	....	hair stylist: Queen Latifah
Cleve Gunderman	....	special makeup effects artist
Sarah Koppes	....	hair department head (as Sarah MacDonald)
Zabrina Matiru	....	key makeup artist
Eric Spearman	....	makeup artist: Queen Latifah
Nikki Wright	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Warren Carr	....	unit production manager
Annie Court	....	post-production supervisor
Drew Locke	....	unit manager: second unit

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Larissa Ballstadt	....	trainee assistant director
Mindy Heslin	....	second assistant director
Ella Kutschera	....	first assistant director
Janine Law	....	second assistant director: second unit
Kevin Leeson	....	third assistant director
Crispin Reece	....	second unit director
Jody Ryan	....	third assistant director: second unit
Ken Shane	....	first assistant director: second unit

Art Department
Dominique Baker	....	paint lead hand
David Beetham	....	paint lead hand
Rob Boulet	....	scenic artist
Karen Brooks	....	assistant set decorator
Trevor Cole	....	set dresser
Dave Conway	....	construction coordinator
Bradley Howard Cotterall	....	lead carpenter
Ricardo F. Delgado	....	conceptual artist (as Ricardo Delgado)
Richard Dobbin	....	construction foreman
Shelley Dowson	....	scenic artist
Brad Elliott	....	props supervisor: muppet workshop
Brian Epp	....	assistant property master
Terry Ewasiuk	....	set decoration buyer
Brian Fitzpatrick	....	tool maintenance
Leah Gejdos	....	set dresser
Brent Gloeckler	....	lead sculptor
Phil Gough	....	property master: second unit
Frank Haddad	....	head greens person
Lori Hagan	....	scenic artist
Mark Howes	....	lead dresser
Tara Ireland	....	scenic artist
Nicola Irwin	....	set designer
Justin King	....	scenic carpenter
John Lavoie	....	paint lead hand (as John Levoie)
Scott R. Lee	....	set dresser (as Scott Lee)
Vladimir Lushnikov	....	sculptor
John Marcynuk	....	set designer: prep
Jaydene Maryk	....	art department assistant
Wendy McAllister	....	storyboard artist
Jerry McLaughlin	....	scenic artist
Dean Rossmo	....	construction buyer
Daniel Scarcello	....	sculptor
Kristin Shanski	....	prop buyer (as Kristin Beaudin)
Dean Sherriff	....	illustrator
Clark Simcoe	....	lead carpenter
Macleod Sinclaire	....	on-set dresser
Claes St. Cyr	....	autospray painter
William Stout	....	conceptual design
Grant Swain	....	property master
Robin Thomas	....	paint coordinator
Joel Turner	....	greens best boy
Anneke Van Oort	....	assistant art director
Judi Varga	....	scenic artist
Larry Walske	....	lead laborer
David Weber	....	construction lead
Gary Young	....	sculptor
Patrick Zahorodniuk	....	graphic designer

Sound Department
John Benson	....	sound supervisor
Darren Brisker	....	sound mixer
Mark Cookson	....	sound effects editor
Russell DeWolf	....	dialogue editor
André Dias	....	dubbing editor
André Dias	....	dubbing mixer
Matt Dubin	....	mixing recordist
Gary Gegan	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bob Holbrook	....	boom operator: second unit
Ruth Huddleston	....	sound mixer: second unit
Matthew Iadarola	....	sound re-recording mixer
Steve Lee	....	sound effects editor
Mark McBryde	....	foley mixer
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist
Kevin Newson	....	foley recordist
Alexander Schwartz	....	foley artist
Richard Taylor	....	sound supervisor
Carmen Verin	....	sound assistant
Steve Walter	....	foley artist
Rich Walters	....	ProTools playback
Tony Wyman	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Adam Behr	....	puppeteer
Chris Flemington	....	special effects assistant
Gary Heidrick	....	special effects technician
Tony Lazarowich	....	special effects supervisor
John Sleep	....	special effects: second unit
Scott R. Treliving	....	first special effects assistant (as Scott Treliving)

Visual Effects by
Blake Anderson	....	3D animator
Blake Anderson	....	3D modeller
Michael Babcock	....	lead programmer: Henson Digital Performance Studio
Melissa Best	....	2D compositor: Technicolor
Ann-Marie Blommaert	....	visual effects coordinator
Cassia Buss	....	on-set visual effects coordinator
John Cairns	....	compositor
Aurelio Camps	....	head of systems: Henson Digital Performance Studio (as Aurelio Campa)
Jeff Christie	....	performance animation supervisor: Henson Digital Performance Studio
Derek Crosby	....	motion capture technician (as Derek N. Crosby)
Sid Deb	....	tools developer: Henson Digital Performance Studio
Pete Dionne	....	3D artist: ToyBox
Nick Drew	....	visual effects producer: Henson Digital Performance Studio
Jeff Forbes	....	director of technology: Henson Digital Performance Studio
John Fukushima	....	compositor
Ben George	....	tools developer: Henson Digital Performance Studio
Ted Gervan	....	lead visual effects designer
Michelle Grady	....	operations manager
Mark Greenberg	....	motion capture supervisor
Paul Hill	....	visual effects compositor
Gerald J. Lauze	....	3D animator (as Gerald Lauze)
Brenda Levert	....	senior visual effects producer
Ralph Maiers	....	visual effects supervisor
Arnaud Mayet	....	lead texture artist
Arnaud Mayet	....	matte painter
Glenn Muravsky	....	electronics engineer: Henson Digital Performance Studio
Bret Nelson	....	visual effects producer: Henson Digital Performance Studio
Erik Nordby	....	digital compositor
Janet O'Gorman	....	visual effects production manager
Sherri Potter	....	visual effects producer
Jeremy Price	....	compositor
Michael S. Pryor	....	head of digital production: Henson Digital Performance Studio
Sam Remfry	....	modeller: Henson Digital Performance Studio
Tania Richard	....	matte painter
Michael Shapcotte	....	system administrator
Dan Sheerin	....	rigging: Henson Digital Performance Studio
Richard Smith	....	modeller: Henson Digital Performance Studio
Markus Tessmann	....	lead 3D animator
Joel Tong	....	compositor
Derek Wolfe	....	3D animator
Noel Wright	....	compositor
Benjamin J. Wylie	....	senior 3D animator (as B. Joseph Wylie)
Matt Yeoman	....	I/O administrator
John Hirota	....	visual effects compositor assistant (uncredited)

Stunts
Marny Eng	....	stunt coordinator
Lani Gelera	....	stunt double
Alana Husband	....	stunt double: Dorothy

Camera and Electrical Department
John Adams	....	gaffer: second unit
Trevor Butt	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Robin Forst	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Niall Fraser	....	best boy electric
Rob Graham	....	video coordinator
David Gray	....	still photographer
Ross Green	....	rigging best boy
Pat Harris	....	generator operator
Lionel Hebert	....	best boy grip
Chris Helcermanas-Benge	....	still photographer
Tim Heller	....	lamp operator
John Holbrook	....	camera operator: second unit
John Holbrook	....	director of photography: second unit
Pierre Hubert	....	dolly grip: "a" camera (as Pierre 'Pepe' Hubert)
Simon Hunt	....	gaffer
John-David Hutchison	....	rigging best boy (as J.D. Hutchison)
David Hutton	....	dolly grip: "b" camera (as Dave Hutton)
Tony Hyland	....	key grip: second unit
Joshua Kjorven	....	camera trainee
Phil Klapwyk	....	rigging gaffer
Scott Kozak	....	lead man setup grip
John Le Roy	....	rigging key grip
Derek Leblanc	....	rigging best boy
Armin Matter	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Chris Oben	....	video engineer
Robert Redford	....	generator operator: second unit
Corey Robson	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
John Seale Jr.	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Paul Sheridan	....	dolly grip: second unit
Tracy Sim	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jamie Smith	....	best boy grip: second unit
Richard Spooner	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Michael Taschereau	....	key grip (as Michael 'Spike' Taschereau)
Marie Trembley	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Brendan Wilson	....	best boy lighting: second unit
Richard Win	....	digital imaging technician
James Wong	....	video assist
David Kohler	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Ed 'Animal' Schulz	....	rigging grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Andrea Brown	....	extras casting director
Jerry Gelb	....	adr group voice casting
Mara Kelly	....	casting assistant
Larkin MacKenzie-Ast	....	casting assistant: Canada

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Petra Bergholz	....	costumer
Sandra J. Blackie	....	costume supervisor (as Sandie Blackie)
Scott Blackie	....	costumer
Allison Chretien	....	costume set supervisor
Koreen Heaver	....	costumer: preparation
Katie Irish	....	costume assistant
Kurtis Reeves	....	costume set supervisor: second unit
Ali Willdey	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Scottee Angel	....	post-production production assistant
Scott Cooper	....	on-line editor
Taylor Dorris	....	post-production coordinator
Mark L. Levine	....	assistant editor (as Mark Levine)
Michael R. Taylor	....	post-production assistant
Tony Teresi	....	on-line editor
Ed Twiford	....	colorist

Music Department
Adam Cohen	....	composer: additional music
Stephen M. Davis	....	music editor
Ian Herzon	....	assistant music editor
Frank Macchia	....	music preparation
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer

Transportation Department
Dave Ash	....	motorhome driver
Scott Carpenter	....	driver: hair/makeup trailer
Wayne Desrochers	....	driver: construction department
Steve Ellis	....	driver: second unit
George Fennell	....	driver: set decoration
Greg Hamilton	....	transportation captain
Russell Hardy	....	driver: honeywagon
John Hardyono	....	driver: construction department
Diana Kilmury	....	driver
Red Murphy	....	transportation coordinator
Sylvia Nablo	....	driver: cast
Rick Tait	....	driver: electrics truck
Wyley Vlahovic	....	driver: effects trailer
Wally Watson	....	transportation co-captain

Other crew
Neil Allan	....	key production assistant
Gigi Bebawi	....	assistant: Brian Henson
Paul Becker	....	choreographer
Karen Bergen	....	assistant accountant
Mary Brehmer	....	puppet workshop artist: Muppet Workshop
Tamara Carlson	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop (as Tamara Carlson-Woodard)
Tom Chen	....	assistant video technician
Joe Colwell	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop
Randy Cooper	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop (as Randall Cooper)
Susan Cox	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop
John Criswell	....	animatronic supervisor
John Criswell	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop
Andrzej Dec-Williams	....	trainee assistant location manager (as Andrzej Dec)
Kelly Denismore	....	assistant chef: Edible Planet Catering
Annette DeCaire Fakaro	....	assistant: Warren Carr and Martin Baker
Annette DeCaire Fakaro	....	scripts/clearance coordinator
Trish Fell	....	craft service: second unit
Trish Fell	....	first aid: second unit
David S. Fullerton	....	assistant location manager (as David Fullerton)
Tanya Gibson	....	assistant chef: Edible Planet Catering
Joshua Gollish	....	HDTV technician: second unit
Jane Gootnick	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop (as Jane A. Gootnick)
Jane Gootnick	....	project supervisor: Muppet Workshop (as Jane A. Gootnick)
BJ Guyer	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop
Eric Hayden	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop
Jared Howitt	....	second assistant production coordinator
Sharre Jacoby	....	producer: main and end titles
Scott Johnson	....	floor work: Muppet Workshop
Vanessa Jorgeson	....	assistant chef: Edible Planet Catering
Marian Keating	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop
Suzanne Koenig	....	assistant: Lisa Henson
Lana Krotenko	....	script supervisor: second unit
Vicky Lambert	....	choreographer
Tom Lenoci	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop
Todd Lester	....	security captain
Laura Livingstone	....	production coordinator
Melissa Lynch	....	assistant: Kristine Belson
Roberta Mayer	....	production accountant
Robin McCarthy	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop
Morag McLean	....	senior sculptor
Andrew Meyers	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop
Tana Lynn Moldovanos	....	personal nail technician: Ashanti
Kelly Moon	....	script supervisor
Georgia Morley	....	chef: Edible Planet Catering
Tom Newby	....	electromechanical supervisor: Muppet Workshop
Rick Nicholson	....	security co-captain
Michael Oosterom	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop
Joan Parkinson	....	puppet workshop artist: Muppet Workshop
Dennis Rawe	....	payroll accountant
Jennifer Roe Emery	....	production coordinator
Shea Swinburne	....	craft service (as Shea Swinburn)
Rhonda Taylor	....	assistant to director
Keith Towstego	....	video coordinator: second unit
Erin Unrau	....	accounting clerk
Kendrie Upton	....	location manager
Jeremy Van Newinkirk	....	location production assistant: second unit
Kristen Willett	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop (as Kristan Willet)
Neil Williams	....	office production assistant
Julie Zobel	....	design and build: Muppet Workshop
David Isetta	....	intern (uncredited)
Shea Swinburne	....	first aid (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Jim Henson Company, The
• Jim Henson Productions (as The Jim Henson Company)
• Fox Television Studios
• Touchstone Television
• Muppets Holding Company, The
• Muppet Movie Productions Ltd.

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (2005) (USA) (TV)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Channel 5 Television (2005) (UK) (TV)
• Disney Channel (2005) (Japan) (TV)
• Walt Disney Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2006) (Finland) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Nelonen (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• Net5 (2007) (Netherlands) (TV)

Special Effects

• Jim Henson's Creature Shop (Muppets & puppet effects)
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop (digital performance by)
• Jim Henson's Creature Shop (visual effects)
• Technicolor Creative Services VFX Vancouver (visual effects)
• XtrackrZ (motion capture)

Other Companies

• Canada Film Capital  tax incentive consulting services
• DGC  acknowledgment
• Ear Whacks!  loop group casting
• Edible Planet Catering  catering
• Flashpoint Studios  project consulting
• Panavision  camera equipment
• Studio at NWE, The  title design
• Technicolor Creative Services  dailies by
• Technicolor Creative Services  post-production video
• Technicolor Sound Services  post-production sound
• Union of B.C. Performers  acknowledgment
• William F. White International  lighting equipment

Also Known As:

Runtime:

USA:120 min (including commercials) | Finland:88 min (DVD) | USA:100 min (dvd version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:G | USA:TV-PG | Finland:K-3 | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Cloverdale, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Jim Henson Company, The

Trivia:

Kermit the Frog asks if the Wizard of Oz has met Frank Oz, one of the main Muppet filmmakers. This was one of very few Muppet productions not to involve Oz, who was busy with other projects at the time.

Goofs:

Continuity: Dorothy's apron appears between shots an the beginning of the movie when Dorothy is trying to convince Aunt Em to let her off work so she can go to her audition.

Quotes:

Dorothy:[to the Muppet Munchkins] I know a rat when I see one.

Movie Connections:

References Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Soundtrack:

The Witch Is In The House

I'll Get You My Pretty - And Your Little Prawn Too!

I'm a fan of the Muppets from way back - the Muppet Show was campy and entertaining, and the Muppet Movie is a classic. The Muppet "movies" have ranged from the delightful (Muppet Treasure Island) to the bizarre (Muppets From Space). But "The Muppet's Wizard of Oz" is easily the worst of the bunch:

• While "The Muppet Movie" had more cameos than my Aunt Tilly's jewelry box, this movie features David Alan Grier, Queen Latifah (in what must have been a contractual necessary role), Jeffrey Tambor, and Quentin Tarentino. It's sad, really.

• The humor is, for the most part, forced from the characters, as formulaic as anything I've ever seen. There is just the slightest resemblance to the early work of Jim Henson and Frank Oz. One must wonder why Frank Oz was not a part of the ensemble; the script, perhaps?

• The decision to use Pepe the King Prawn as Toto aside (the most redeeming production decision made), the pillars of the Muppet domain - Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, and Gonzo - are relegated to secondary roles that could easily have been any other characters.

• The Muppet performers, even the veteran Dave Goelz, seemed to be giving poor imitations of their own creations.

• A movie works best when it isn't aware of itself, but this one plays like a tacky road show of a vintage Broadway play. In fact, the whole movie seems to echo Norma Desmond's desperation to be a star again.

If "The Muppet's Wizard of Oz" is any indication, the Muppets are done.