I saw this special the first time it was broadcast on TNT on Thanksgiving weekend. I was elated to see it because I absolutely loved everything Oz. I had just finished reading the book, and I had just seen the movie for about the millionth time. I was kind of disappointed that there weren't any "big" stars there, though. I had only heard of Natalie Cole, Boys Choir of Harlem, and Nathan Lane (as the voice of Timon in "The Lion King"). I later found out about where the other performers were coming from (Roger Daltrey from the Who, Joel Grey from Broadway, etc.). I was absolutely mesmorized from the start, and I even kept the channel on during commercial breaks, which I don't usually do. My favorite was, of course, Nathan Lane as the Cowardly Lion ("If I were king of the forest/Not queen, not duke, not prince [or the Artist Formerly Known as Prince]"). Anyway, for many Oz-philes, this should prove to be an enjoyable experience, if you don't mind seeing bits and pieces removed or added and the songs done in different styles. I was especially glad that they put in the legendary "Jitterbug" song and sang the extra lyrics to the songs featured in the movie.
Now keep in mind, it is a concert, not a play or movie, so the performers aren't really acting so much as saying lines and using representative rather than literal costumes and sets to hold the songs together. If you see it as that, you can allow the music to take you "over the rainbow" almost as well as the movie itself.
