Book · 2006 · Fantasy fiction
Wicked
The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West
- mentions
- 8
- people
- 6
- podcasts
- 5
- episodes
- 5
- recommendations
- 0
You know Gregory's novel is is very political it is about the um a fistic leader a a a person who had has conned the country into believing certain things about them that aren't true in order to stay in power he has uh othered you might say to use the Contemporary language he has othered the animals of Oz.
What they say about it
- Based on the novel“based on the”2
The best things said about it
And by the way, we did look up that book, the book Wicked, you know, which is based on the the alternate look at the Wizard of Oz from the position of the Wicked Witch of the West.
Megyn Kelly The Megyn Kelly Show · May 2026 Wicked the musical is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire book of the same name which was based on the elf Frank balm novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz which is a book that formed the basis for the 1939 film Wiz of mov exactly one of the most beloved American movies of all time.
Where and when it comes up
Mentions per year
How it comes up
6 people who brought it up
Why people recommend it
Wicked by Gregory Maguire is a celebrated 1995 revisionist fantasy novel that reimagines the Land of Oz from the perspective of the Wicked Witch of the West, serving as the foundational source for the hit musical and subsequent film adaptations. The book recently gained renewed attention across podcasts due to cultural debates and creative retrospectives. On The Megyn Kelly Show and Las Culturistas, Megyn Kelly and Jenna Bush Hager discussed the work while criticizing ongoing book bans in school districts, questioning why authorities would restrict access to the novel. In a completely different context, The Book Review featured an interview with screenwriter Winnie Holzman, who spoke with Gilbert Cruz about adapting the material. Holzman emphasized the deeply political nature of Gregory Maguire's original novel, noting how it addresses demagogues who manipulate public belief to maintain power and how those in authority use othering tactics against animals to suppress dissent. Additionally, Cynthia Erivo shared on On Purpose with Jay Shetty how she and a fellow drama school classmate memorized the musical adaptation's score from front to back, illustrating the profound cultural footprint left by the story across multiple entertainment mediums.
Every mention
Gilbert Cruz Gregory Maguire's book uh first came out in 1995 when did you read it for the first time 2
“Wicked the musical is based on the 1995 Gregory Maguire book of the same name which was based on the elf Frank balm novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz which is a book that formed the basis for the 1939 film Wiz of mov exactly one of the most beloved American movies of all time”
“Gregory Maguire's book uh first came out in 1995 when did you read it for the first time”
Cynthia Erivo one of them happens to be Wicked and we learn that school back to front 1
“one of them happens to be Wicked and we learn that school back to front”
Jenna Bush Hager Why are we banning all these books, y'all? INCLUDING THE WICKED BOOK. WHY ARE WE BANNING the wicked book? 1
“Why are we banning all these books, y'all? INCLUDING THE WICKED BOOK. WHY ARE WE BANNING the wicked book?”
Josh Clark uh I heard a story one day about a new musical based on a book uh Wicked and I know we all know this musica… 1
“uh I heard a story one day about a new musical based on a book uh Wicked and I know we all know this musical now about The Wizard of Oz”
Megyn Kelly And by the way, we did look up that book, the book Wicked, you know, which is based on the the alternate lo… 1
“And by the way, we did look up that book, the book Wicked, you know, which is based on the the alternate look at the Wizard of Oz from the position of the Wicked Witch of the West.”
Winnie Holtzman you know Gregory's novel is is very political it is about the um a fistic leader a a a person who had has c… 1
“you know Gregory's novel is is very political it is about the um a fistic leader a a a person who had has conned the country into believing certain things about them that aren't true in order to stay in power he has uh othered you might say to use the Contemporary language he has othered the animals of Oz”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker1
“INCLUDING THE WICKED BOOK. WHY ARE WE BANNING The Wicked Book?”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“and ran and got the little wicked book and had him sign it.”
“Red shoes Leroy, or uh what's the what's the Witch and uh Wicked?”