‘Emerald City’ Canceled at NBC After One Season It’s the end of the yellow brick road for NBC’s “Emerald City.” The fantasy series, inspired by L. Frank Baum’s “Wizard of Oz” tales, has been canceled after one season, Variety has confirmed. Debuting in January, “Emerald City” never found an audience over its 10 episodes. Opening to 4.5 million viewers, the drama dipped week-to-week to a season low of 2.3 million viewers, slightly ticking up for its finale with an audience of just under 2.9 million. In Variety‘s review, critic Maureen Ryan said the unavoidable comparison to “Wizard of Oz” was the series’ problem from the start. “In look and tone, it does not imitate the classic 1939 film starring Judy Garland, but this darker take on the story remains so familiar that, although it’s gorgeous, there’s too little tension and suspense driving it,” she wrote.

Oz actor turns 100 Ambrose Schindler, one of few remaining ‘Wizard of Oz’ actors, turns 100 in Petaluma: Ambrose — known in his youth as “Amblin’ Amby” — and currently a resident of Petaluma’s Adobe House, marked his 100th birthday on April 22. He is, indeed, one of only nine surviving cast-members of the 1938 classic “The Wizard of Oz,” in which he served as Jack Haley’s Tin Man stunt double, and also appeared as one of the Wicked Witch’s marching Winkies (“Oh-Oh Oh-eeee-Oh!”). His proudest claim to fame, though, is playing quarterback for the USC Trojans, and being named MVP of the 1940 Rose Bowl. A happy birthday to you, Mr. Schindler.