The successful film adaptation of Wicked has reignited discussions about The Wizard of Oz, prompting comparisons to Ted Lasso. Brett Goldstein, writer and star of the series, has clarified the significant connections between the Apple TV+ show and the beloved film and book.
The Wizard of Oz greatly influenced Lasso’s creative team
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Brett Goldstein was directly asked whether Ted Lasso was intentionally crafted as a reinterpretation of The Wizard of Oz.
Goldstein, who portrays Roy Kent and also contributes as a writer, offered a refreshingly honest reply.
Absolutely, there’s a ton of The Wizard of Oz in Ted Lasso… The pinball machine symbolizes ‘Ted has to go home. There’s no place like home.’ And indeed, there’s no place like Richmond F.C. Yes, it’s all connected to Wizard of Oz.
Things took an intriguing turn when Goldstein elaborated on the character connections. As Maureen Lee Lenker notes:
Goldstein expanded further, revealing who each character in Ted Lasso mirrors in the story. “I’m the Tin Man,” he explains regarding his character, Roy Kent. “Ted is Dorothy, Rebecca is the Lion, and Jamie represents the Scarecrow.”
This revelation is quite revealing. Assuming Goldstein wasn’t merely being humorous, the character associations are actually quite logical.
- Ted Lasso—Dorothy—is the protagonist, hailing from Kansas and longing for home
- Rebecca, embodying the Lion, initially acts out of fear but evolves into a strong and assertive business leader
- Roy, as the Tin Man, embarks on a journey that reveals his capacity for emotion
- Jamie, the Scarecrow, appears lacking in intellect at first but ultimately demonstrates his depth by the finale
I’d love to hear more from Goldstein and the rest of the creative team on how The Wizard of Oz informed the series. Particularly if there are additional character inspirations drawn from the iconic film.
Are Goldstein’s observations a surprise to you? What other characters do you see reflecting themes from The Wizard of Oz? We invite your thoughts in the comments.
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