Last week, the News Journal in Delaware ran an obituary on 70-year-old Johanna R. Scarpitti, the opening line of which read, "Ding dong the witch is dead." While at first glance it does seem a bit crude, but it was all Scarpitti's idea.

When it comes to adapting the wonderful world of Oz, Hollywood is, admittedly and regrettably, in a bit of a bind. All things Yellow Brick Road and Emerald City are so tightly linked to the 1939 "The Wizard of Oz" that trying to venture back into L. Frank Baum's mythology is treading on the memories of millions of…

No, not anything Bea Arthur wore, Dorothy Zbornak didn't own any damn dresses! Now, if I'd said "white pant suit," then maybe. We're talking about Dorothy from Wizard of Oz! I know, less exciting, but that blue gingham tablecloth-dress fetched a cool $480,000 at Julien's Auctions in Los Angeles. Oppan Gingham Style!…

L. Frank Baum wrote over a dozen books about Oz, including The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which became a musical film starring Judy Garland. But Oz The Great and Powerful, directed by Sam Raimi and starring James Franco, is a horse of a different color. No Munchkins, no tin man, no Lullaby League. This trailer — which…

Nancy Pelosi's Republican challenger is sick of the pussies who simply compare her to the Wicked Witch Of The West. Only he's man enough to shoot an entire Wizard of Oz reenactment with "Pelosi" cast in that role.

• Sometimes you hear news and you don't know whether to laugh or cry. For instance: Glee's fantastic Lea Michele will play Dorothy in the upcoming musical film Dorothy Of Oz, which will, of course, be in 3D.

Take a deep breath and get ready for an ovary-explosion, because the folks at J. Crew's Crewcuts have cast some adorable little whippersnappers. Free shipping!

Meinhardt Raabe, who played the coroner in The Wizard of Oz, has died at 94. In addition to starring in Oz, Raabe held an M.B.A from Drexel and spent 30 years traveling in the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile. [NYTimes]

Remakes and reimaginings and retellings? Oh, my. As I have mentioned once or twice, The Wizard Of Oz is one of my favorite films. But I'm worried for the Oz projects in the works.

[London, December 1. Image via Getty]

The annual 'Pet-a-Porter' pet fashion show at London's Harrods found many miserable dogs dressed as Wizard of Oz characters and obviously wishing they could click their heels and be somewhere - anywhere - else.

• Marc Jacobs is rumored to have signed on to appear on Kept, Logo's gay version of The Real Housewives. An open casting call will be held soon in New York to find other "high-powered (openly gay) playboys." [N.Y. Daily News]

Put on your ruby slippers; a high-definition version of The Wizard of Oz will be hitting 400 theaters on September 23. Rumor has it that the fancy-schmancy high-def version can even dye your eyes to match your gown. Marvelous! [LATimes]

One lawyer is urging other women to use the Wizard of Oz's Dorothy as both example and cautionary tale. "Dorothy was a true leader...She identified the tasks at hand, formulated a plan, and overcame obstacles to reach her goals." [ABAJournal]

Mickey Carroll, one of the last surviving Munchkins from The Wizard Of Oz, died Thursday; the New York Times obit features a great quote from the late actor:

Anyone from the illustrious village of Hastings-on-Hudson can only be thrilled to see that famed former resident, Ziegfeld Follies beauty and Glinda the Good Witch player Billie Burke is getting the biographical treatment:

After 27 years, Indiana's annual Wizard of Oz Festival is no more. The tough economy and aging Munchkins are to blame. [AP]