Has many direct and indirect references to "The Wizard of Oz". Examples: Darcy is from Kansas City--Dorothy is from Kansas; Gumm Public Relations--Frances Gumm was Judy Garland's real name; Winona West--Wicked Witch of the West; Darcy's father Henry and stepmother Emma--Dorothy's Uncle Henry and Auntie Em; Emerald Education Trust--Emerald City; Dog named Bobo--dog named Toto; Darcy Gale--Dorothy Gale; Darcy's brothers Huck and Zeke--farmworkers Hunk and Zeke; Glen Goodman--Glinda the Good Witch; red shoes--ruby slippers.
In The Wizard of Oz (1939), when the Wizard's secret is revealed, Dorothy calls him a bad man and he responds "I'm a very good man; I'm just a very bad wizard.". William's alias is Goodman.
Other connections to The Wizard of Oz: Jackie Crow (Scarecrow); Dr. Bridget Tinsley (Tin Man); Riley Lyons (Cowardly Lion). In the maze, Glenn says that there are some wild animals out there. Darcy says "Lions and tigers?" Glenn says "Just bears" and Darcy says "Oh my." Jade (which, like emerald, is a shade of green) tells Glenn that he'd better call Winona back or "she'll sic her flying monkeys on me." When the four friends go to Austin's office, they walk arm in arm, there is a gold path (Yellow Brick Road), then Riley Lyons tries to get away (like the Lion did at the Wizard's lair). Jade tells Glenn that Darcy is a "horse of a different color." At the gala, Jackie is lauded for her brilliance, Dr. Tinsley is recognized as the "beating heart" of the foundation and Riley is mentioned for his courage. And, of course, Darcy says "There's no place like home"--twice. When Winona convinces Glenn to go win Darcy back, she tells him to "fly" just like the Wicked Witch told her flying monkeys. Darcy thinks of William as the "Great and Powerful Austin" and he says he's just a "man behind the curtain."
Candace Cameron Bure and Jordana Largy were in a Aurora Teagarden movie in which Jordana played a character named Poppy.
This is one of the super rare modern TV movies from USA or Canada in which not the single member of cast used an iPhone. All cast members which used cell phones used Android smartphones made by LG (they were different models).