Editing Oz (TV series)

{{short description|American prison drama television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Oz titlecard.png
| genre              =  {{Plainlist|
*[[Crime fiction|Crime]]
*[[Serial drama]]
*[[Tragedy]]
*[[Psychological drama]]
*[[Thriller (genre)|Thriller]]
}}
| creator              = [[Tom Fontana]]
| writer               = {{Plainlist|
*[[Tom Fontana]]
}}
| director             = 
| starring             = {{unbulleted list|[[Ernie Hudson]]|[[Terry Kinney]]|[[Harold Perrineau]]|[[Eamonn Walker]]|[[Kirk Acevedo]]|[[Rita Moreno]]|[[J. K. Simmons]]|[[Lee Tergesen]]|[[Dean Winters]]|[[Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje]]}}
| music                = {{unbulleted list|Steve Rosen|Dave Darlington}}
| country              = United States
| num_seasons          = 6
| num_episodes         = 56
| list_episodes        = List of Oz episodes
| executive_producer   = {{unbulleted list|Tom Fontana|[[Barry Levinson]]|[[Jim Finnerty]]}}
| producer             = {{unbulleted list|Debbie Sarjeant|Mark A. Baker|[[Irene Burns]]|Bridget Potter|[[Jorge Zamacona]]|Greer Yeaton}}
| cinematography       = {{unbulleted list|[[Alex Zakrzewski]]|[[Jean de Segonzac]]|Craig DiBona|[[Glenn Kershaw]]}}
| editor               = {{unbulleted list|Sue Blainey|Cindy Mollo|Vanessa Procopio|Jay Pires|James Y. Kwei|Ken Eluto|Deborah Moran}}
| runtime              = 55–60 minutes<br />100 minutes (series finale)
| company              = {{unbulleted list|The [[Barry Levinson|Levinson]]/[[Tom Fontana|Fontana]] Company|[[HBO Original Programming]]|[[Viacom Productions]] (seasons 4–5)|[[Rysher Entertainment]] (seasons 1–5)}}
| network              = [[HBO]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|1997|7|12}}
| last_aired           = {{End date|2003|2|23}}
}}
'''''Oz''''' is an American [[Prison film|prison]] [[Drama (film and television)|drama]] television series set at a fictional men's prison created and principally written by [[Tom Fontana]].<ref name="dunncnn">{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/21/oz.end/index.html |title=The end of 'Oz' |author=Adam Dunn |date=21 February 2003 |publisher=CNN |access-date=2009-10-21 |archive-date=2010-01-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117033852/http://www.cnn.com/2003/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/21/oz.end/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="tattoo">{{Cite web |url=http://www.levinson.com/lf/oz/prod.htm |title=Oz Production Notes |access-date=2010-08-05 |archive-date=2011-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110101223917/http://www.levinson.com/lf/oz/prod.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was the first one-hour dramatic television series to be produced by the [[premium television|premium]] [[cable television|cable network]] [[HBO]].<ref name=frettsew/> ''Oz'' premiered on July 12, 1997, and ran for six seasons. The series finale aired on February 23, 2003.

==Overview==
"Oz" is the nickname for the Oswald State Correctional Facility, formerly Oswald State Penitentiary, a fictional [[Incarceration in the United States#Security levels|level 4]] [[prison#Security levels|maximum-security]] [[state prison]] in an unspecified east coast state, although references throughout the series point to New York as its location.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bish |first=Joe |date=2017-06-06 |title=20 Years of 'OZ': The Show That Changed TV Forever |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/20-years-of-oz-the-show-that-changed-tv-forever/ |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=Vice |language=en}}</ref> The nickname "Oz" is also a reference to the classic film ''[[The Wizard of Oz (1939 film)|The Wizard of Oz]]'' (1939), which popularized the phrase, "There's no place like home." A poster for the series uses the tagline: "It's no place like home".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Beeler|first1=Karin|title=Tattoos, Desire and Violence: Marks of Resistance in Literature, Film|date=Nov 7, 2005|isbn=978-0786423897|page=120|publisher=McFarland }}</ref> Most of the series' story arcs are set in "[[Emerald City]]", a wing named after a setting from the fictional [[Land of Oz]] in [[L. Frank Baum]]'s [[List of Oz books|''Oz'' books]], first described in ''[[The Wonderful Wizard of Oz]]'' (1900).

==Plot==
In an experimental unit of the prison, unit manager [[Tim McManus]] emphasizes rehabilitation and learning responsibility during incarceration, rather than carrying out purely punitive measures. Emerald City is an extremely controlled environment, with a carefully managed balance of members from each racial and social group, intended to ease tensions among these various factions. However, almost all of these factions are constantly at war with one another which often results in many prisoners being beaten, raped, or murdered.

Under McManus and Warden [[Leo Glynn]], all inmates in "Em City" struggle to fulfill their own needs. Some fight for power&nbsp;– either over the drug trade or over other inmate factions and individuals. Others, [[corrections officer]]s and inmates alike, simply want to survive, some long enough to make parole and others just to see the next day. The show's narrator, inmate [[Augustus Hill]], explains the show, and provides context, thematic analysis, and a sense of humor.

''Oz'' chronicles McManus' attempts to keep control over the inmates of Em City. There are many groups of inmates throughout the show, and not everyone within each group survives the show's events. There are the African-American [[Homeboys of Oz|Homeboys]] (Wangler, Redding, Poet, Keane, Adebisi) and [[Muslims of Oz|Muslims]] (Said, Arif, Khan), the [[Made man|Wiseguys]] (Pancamo, Nappa, Schibetta, Zanghi, Urbano), the [[The Aryan Brotherhood in Oz|Aryan Brotherhood]] (Schillinger, Robson, Mack), the Latinos of El Norte (Alvarez, Morales, Guerra, Hernandez), the Irish (The O'Reilly brothers, Kirk, Keenan), the Gays (Hanlon, Cramer, Ginzburg), the Bikers (Hoyt, Sands, Burns), the Christians (Cloutier, Coushaine, Cudney) and many other individuals not completely affiliated with one particular group (Rebadow, Busmalis, Keller, Stanislofsky). In contrast to the dangerous criminals, central character [[Tobias Beecher]] gives a look at a usually law-abiding albeit alcoholic man who made one fatal drunk-driving mistake.

==Main cast==
[[File:ozposter.jpg|225px|thumb|right|From left to right: Ryan O'Reily, Vernon Schillinger, Miguel Alvarez, Tobias Beecher, Kareem Saïd, In the front sits Augustus Hill (this photo was also used as the cover for Hill's book)]]
{{Main|List of Oz (TV series) characters}}

: <small>{{Color box|#ddffdd|border=darkgray}} [[Main character|Main cast]] ("Starring" in opening credits) </small>
: <small>{{Color box|#FFD|border=darkgray}} [[Main character|Secondary cast]] ("Also starring" in opening credits) </small>
: <small>{{Color box|#ffe3e3|border=darkgray}} [[Recurring character|Recurring guest star]] (Guest starring for 3+ episodes)</small>

<!-- PLEASE READ BEFORE EDITING
This section includes ONLY main cast characters who have been listed as "starring" in title sequence. --> 
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" | Actor
! rowspan="2" | Character
! colspan="6" | Seasons
|-
! 1
! 2
! 3
! 4
! 5
! 6
|-
| [[Ernie Hudson]]
| Warden Leo Glynn
| colspan="6" {{cMain}}
|-
| [[Terry Kinney]]
| [[Tim McManus]]
| colspan="6" {{cMain|Main}}
|-
| [[Harold Perrineau]]
| [[Augustus Hill]]
| colspan="6" {{cMain|Main}}
|-
| [[Eamonn Walker]]
| [[Kareem Saïd]]
| colspan="6" {{cMain|Main}}{{efn|Walker departs in "Sonata da Oz" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 6.3).}}
|-
| [[Kirk Acevedo]]
| Miguel Alvarez
| {{cAlso starring|Starring}}
| colspan="5" {{cMain|Main}}{{efn|In season four, Acevedo departs in "The Bill of Wrongs" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 4.3). He returns from "Conversions" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 4.10) to "Cuts Like a Knife" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 4.12).}}
|-
| [[Rita Moreno]]
| Sister Peter Marie Reimondo
| {{cAlso starring|Starring}}
| colspan="5" {{cMain|Main}}
|-
| [[J. K. Simmons]]
| [[Vernon Schillinger]]
| {{cAlso starring|Starring}}
| colspan="5" {{cMain|Main}}
|-
| [[Lee Tergesen]]
| [[Tobias Beecher]]
| {{cAlso starring|Starring}}
| colspan="5" {{cMain|Main}}
|-
| [[Dean Winters]]
| [[Ryan O'Reily]]
| {{cAlso starring|Starring}}
| colspan="5" {{cMain|Main}}
|-
| [[Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje]]
| [[Simon Adebisi]]
| {{cRecurring}}
| colspan="1" {{cAlso starring|Starring}}
| colspan="2" {{cMain|Main}}{{efn|Akinnuoye-Agbaje departs in "You Bet Your Life" ({{Abbr|ep.|episode}} 4.8).}}
| colspan="2" {{n/a|}}
|}

;Cast notes
{{notelist}}

==Episodes==
{{Main|List of Oz episodes}}
{{:List of Oz episodes}}
''Oz'' took advantage of the freedoms of [[premium television|premium cable]] to show elements of coarse language, drug use, violence, [[frontal nudity]], homosexuality, and [[rape of males]], as well as ethnic and religious conflicts that would have been unacceptable to traditional advertiser-supported American broadcast television.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dilday |first1=K. A. |title=In the Brutal World of 'Oz,' A Rare Place for Women |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/05/arts/television-radio-in-the-brutal-world-of-oz-a-rare-place-for-women.html |access-date=17 June 2022 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=5 January 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304154850/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/01/05/arts/television-radio-in-the-brutal-world-of-oz-a-rare-place-for-women.html |archive-date=4 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Klemm |first1=Michael D. |title=Jailhouse Rock |url=https://www.cinemaqueer.com/review%20pages/oz.html |website=Outcome |publisher=via cinemaqueer.com |access-date=17 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081121225156/https://www.cinemaqueer.com/review%20pages/oz.html |archive-date=21 November 2008 |format=Reprint |date=July 2003}}</ref><ref name=frettsew>{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/1997/07/11/behind-scenes-oz |title=Nasty As He Wanna Be |author=Bruce Fretts |date=11 July 1997 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=2009-10-21 }}</ref>

On an episode of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' that [[Jerry Seinfeld]] hosted on October 2, 1999, a sketch was produced that showed what life was like for his [[Jerry Seinfeld (character)|character of the same name]] behind bars after being transferred to the Oswald State Correctional Facility sometime after the events of ''[[Seinfeld]]'' (1989–1998).<ref>[[Saturday Night Live season 25]]</ref>

==Broadcast==
===Syndication===
On April 21, 2009, [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']] announced that starting May 31, [[DirecTV]] will broadcast all 56 episodes in their original form without commercials and in up-scaled "high definition" on [[Audience Network|The 101 Network]] available to all subscribers. The episodes will also be available through DirecTV's On Demand service.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://variety.com/2009/scene/markets-festivals/oz-deadwood-join-directv-1118002639/ |title='Oz,' 'Deadwood' join DirecTV |author=MICHAEL SCHNEIDER |date=20 April 2009 |work=Variety |publisher=Reed Business Information |access-date=2009-10-21 |archive-date=2010-03-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100309211452/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002639.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===International broadcast history===
In Australia, ''Oz'' was screened uncensored on Channel "OH" on Optus TV, then free-to-air channel, [[SBS (Australia)|SBS]]. This was also the case in Brazil, where it was aired by the [[Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão|SBT]] Network Corporation, late at night; in Ireland, where the series aired on free-to-air channel [[TG4]] at 11 p.m.; in Israel, where ''Oz'' was displayed on the free-to-air commercial [[Channel 2 (Israel)|Channel 2]]; in Italy, where it was aired on the free-to-air [[Italia 1]]; and in the United Kingdom, where [[Channel 4]] aired the show in a late-night time slot.

In [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], it was aired on the federal TV station called [[Federalna televizija|FTV]].
In Canada, ''Oz'' aired on the [[Showcase (Canadian TV channel)|Showcase Channel]] at Friday 10 p.m. EST.
In [[Croatia]], [[Estonia]], and [[Slovenia]], the show was aired late at night on public, non-commercial, state-owned channels [[Croatian Radiotelevision|HRT]], [[ETV (Estonia)|ETV]], and [[Slovenian Radiotelevision|RTV SLO]], respectively.
In [[Denmark]], it appeared late at night on the non-commercial public service channel DR1.
In [[Finland]], it broadcast on the free-to-air channel [[Nelonen (television)|Nelonen]] (TV4).
In France, the show aired on commercial cable channel 'Serie Club,' also late at night.
In [[Malaysia]], full episodes of ''Oz'' aired late at night on [[ntv7]], while the censored version aired during the day.
In the [[Netherlands]], ''Oz'' aired on the commercial channel [[RTL 5]].
In New Zealand ''Oz'' aired on [[The Box (New Zealand TV channel)|The Box]] at 9.30pm on Wednesdays in the early 2000s (decade).
In [[Norway]] and Sweden, it aired on the commercial channels [[ZTV (Sweden)|ZTV]] and [[TV3 (Viasat)|TV3]] late at night.
In [[Panama]], ''Oz'' aired on [[RPC-TV]] Channel 4 in a late-night hour.
In [[Portugal]], ''Oz'' aired late at night on [[SIC Radical]], one of the [[SIC (Portugal)|SIC]] channels in the cable network.
In [[Serbia]], ''Oz'' aired on [[RTV BK Telecom]].
In Spain, the show aired on premium channel [[Canal+ (Spanish TV channel)|Canal+]].
In [[Turkey]], ''Oz'' was aired on [[Cine5]]; [[DiziMax]] also aired the re-runs.
In Japan, it aired on SuperChannel (now, Super! Drama TV) from 29 December 2001 to 22 July 2005.

==Rights==
The series was co-produced by HBO and [[Rysher Entertainment]] (who owns the copyright), and the underlying U.S. rights lie with HBO Entertainment and Warner Bros. Entertainment, which has released the entire series on DVD in North America. The international rights were owned originally by Rysher, then [[Paramount Pictures]]/[[Paramount Domestic Television|Domestic Television]] after that company acquired Rysher. [[CBS Studios International]] currently owns the international TV rights, and [[Paramount Pictures#Paramount Home Entertainment|Paramount Home Entertainment]]/[[CBS Home Entertainment|CBS DVD]] owns the international DVD rights.

==Reception==
{{Television critical response
| hide_metacritic  = y

| rotten_tomatoes1 = 80% (25 reviews)<ref>{{cite web| title=OZ: SEASON 1 (1997)| url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/oz/s01| website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508054621/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/oz/s01| url-status=live}}</ref>

| rotten_tomatoes2 = 100% (6 reviews)<ref>{{cite web| title=OZ: SEASON 2 (1998)| url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/oz/s02| website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508054617/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/oz/s02| url-status=live}}</ref>

| rotten_tomatoes3 = 100% (6 reviews)<ref>{{cite web| title=OZ: SEASON 3 (1999)| url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/oz/s03| website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508054616/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/oz/s03| url-status=live}}</ref>

| rotten_tomatoes6 = 92% (12 reviews)<ref>{{cite web| title=OZ: SEASON 6 (2003)| url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/oz/s06| website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]| access-date=March 24, 2024| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508054620/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/oz/s06| url-status=live}}</ref>
}}

===Critical reception===

Critical reception of ''Oz'' was mostly positive. The first season of ''Oz'' has been ranked a 70 based on the rating aggregator website [[Metacritic]], indicating generally favorable reviews by critics.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oz Season 1|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/oz | oclc = 911795326|work =Metacritic|access-date=2020-04-20|archive-date=2020-11-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115015057/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/oz|url-status=live}}</ref> Caryn James from ''[[The New York Times]]'' stated: "Set almost entirely in the prison, a high-tech horror with glass-walled cells, ''Oz'' can also be unpleasant to watch, it is so gruesome and claustrophobic. Yet... as the series moves beyond its introductory shock value, it becomes more serious, disturbing and gripping.... The point of ''Oz'', with its depiction of guilty men in torturous circumstances, is never subtle, but it is complicated and strong."<ref>{{cite news|last=James |first=Caryn|title=High Tech Prison and the Face of Horrors|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/12/arts/high-tech-prison-and-the-face-of-horror.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=12 July 1997 |access-date=2017-02-18|issn= 0362-4331 |oclc =1645522|archive-date=2020-11-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115015152/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/12/arts/high-tech-prison-and-the-face-of-horror.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Steve Johnson of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' wrote: "Engaging, often Brutal."<ref>{{cite web|title=Oz Season 1|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/oz/critic-reviews|work=Metacritic|access-date=2020-04-20|archive-date=2020-11-15|  oclc = 911795326|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115015052/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/oz/critic-reviews|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other reviews were more critical of the series. Frederic Biddle of the ''[[Boston Globe]]'' said: "A pretentious exercise in cheap thrills, by great talents allowed to run amok."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Biddle |first1=Frederic M. |title=Prison Drama 'Oz' Locked in Bad Concept 'Homicide' Creators Fail Inside |work=The Boston Globe |publisher=The New York Times Company |location=ProQuest document ID 403849210, Accession number 04647083  |issn  =0743-1791  | oclc  = 66652431 |date =  1997-07-11 | page=D, 1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Biddle|first=Frederick| title=Metacritic|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/oz/critic-reviews|agency =Boston Globe|access-date=2020-04-20|  oclc = 911795326 |archive-date=2020-11-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115015152/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/oz/critic-reviews|url-status=live}}</ref> Howard Rosenberg of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' reported: "Its uniqueness and arresting style don't earn it an unqualified endorsement here, for its first two Fontana-written episodes are absolute downers--there's no light at the end of a tunnel, nor even a tunnel--that offer no central characters to like or pull for...Be forewarned, too, that Oz is flat-out the most violent and graphically sexual series on TV."<ref>{{cite web|last=Rosenberg|first=Howard|title=Metacritic|url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/oz/critic-reviews|agency =Los Angeles Times |access-date=2020-04-20|archive-date=2020-11-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115015053/https://www.metacritic.com/tv/oz/critic-reviews|  oclc = 911795326 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Awards and nominations===
{{Main|List of awards and nominations received by Oz}}

''Oz'' has had a successful run at many award associations,<ref>{{cite web| title=Oz (1997–2003) Awards| url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0118421/awards/?ref_=tt_awd| website=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb]]| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508014220/https://m.imdb.com/title/tt0118421/awards/?ref_=tt_awd| url-status=live}}</ref> including, four wins out of sixteen nominations at the [[ALMA Awards]], three wins out of six nominations at the [[Casting Society of America|Artios Awards]],<ref>{{cite web| title=1998 Artios Awards| url=https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1998| website=castingsociety.com| date=November 4, 1998| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 1, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501015836/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1998| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=1999 Artios Awards| url=https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1999| website=castingsociety.com| date=September 22, 1999| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=June 21, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621164815/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/1999| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=2000 Artios Awards| url=https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2000| website=castingsociety.com| date=November 1, 2000| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=March 26, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326175423/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2000| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=2001 Artios Awards| url=https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2001| website=castingsociety.com| date=October 4, 2001| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=April 8, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408180143/https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2001| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=2002 Artios Awards| url=https://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2002| website=castingsociety.com| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=July 11, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711004940/http://www.castingsociety.com/awards/artios/2002| url-status=live}}</ref> three wins out of seven nominations at the [[CableACE Awards]],<ref>{{cite web| title=CableAce Nominations| url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/news/cableace-nominations-111662390/| website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| date=September 24, 1997| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=December 24, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224101811/https://variety.com/1997/tv/news/cableace-nominations-111662390/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=CableAce Awards| url=https://variety.com/1997/tv/news/cableace-awards-111661098/| website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]| date=November 16, 1997| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 3, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503190542/https://variety.com/1997/tv/news/cableace-awards-111661098/amp/| url-status=live}}</ref> one win out of twenty-two nominations at the Online Film & Television Association Awards,<ref>{{cite web| title=2nd Annual TV Awards (1997-98)| url=http://www.oftaawards.com/television-awards/2nd-annual-tv-awards-1997-98/| website=oftaawards.com| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=June 30, 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180630185842/http://www.oftaawards.com/television-awards/2nd-annual-tv-awards-1997-98/| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title=3rd Annual TV Awards (1998-99)| url=http://www.oftaawards.com/television-awards/3rd-annual-tv-awards-1998-99/| website=oftaawards.com| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 5, 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170505183406/http://www.oftaawards.com/television-awards/3rd-annual-tv-awards-1998-99/| url-status=live}}</ref> and two wins out of five nomination at the [[Satellite Awards]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards1999.shtml |title=1999 3rd Annual SATELLITE™ Awards| website=pressacademy.com| access-date=May 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201175700/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards1999.shtml| archive-date=February 1, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2000.shtml |title=2000 4th Annual SATELLITE™ Awards| website=pressacademy.com| access-date=May 8, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203041942/http://www.pressacademy.com/satawards/awards2000.shtml |archive-date=December 3, 2007}}</ref> It has also received awards at Il Festival Nazionale del Doppiaggio Voci nell'Ombra and the [[Edgar Awards]].<ref>{{cite web| title=Category List – Special Edgars| url=https://edgarawards.com/category-list-special-edgars/| website=edgarawards.com| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=July 5, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705184608/https://edgarawards.com/category-list-special-edgars/| url-status=live}}</ref>

Additional nominations consist of the [[NAACP Image Awards]] (seven), a [[GLAAD Media Award]],<ref>{{cite web |title=GLAAD announces nominees |url=http://www.advocate.com/html/news/011900/011900ent01.html |website=[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]] |publisher=Pride Media |access-date=May 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001025071933/http://www.advocate.com/html/news/011900/011900ent01.html |archive-date=October 25, 2000 |date=January 19, 2020 |url-status=dead |issn=0001-8996}}</ref> a [[Producers Guild of America|Producers Guild of America Award]],<ref>{{cite web |title=12th Annual Golden Laurel Awards are announced |url=http://www.producersguild.com/special_bulletin/goldenlaurel.html |publisher=Producers Guild of America |accessdate=May 8, 2022 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20010211184946/http://www.producersguild.com/special_bulletin/goldenlaurel.html |archivedate=February 11, 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="awards1">{{cite web| title=Oz (TV Series) (1997)| url=https://m.filmaffinity.com/uk/movie.php?id=324141| website=filmaffinity.com| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=April 17, 2023| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417084834/https://m.filmaffinity.com/uk/movie.php?id=324141| url-status=live}}</ref> a [[Writers Guild of America Awards|Writers Guild of America Award]],<ref name="awards1" /> and although the series has not been the recipient of any major awards, it was however nominated for two [[Primetime Emmy Awards]], for [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series]] ([[Charles S. Dutton]]),<ref>{{cite web| title=Charles S. Dutton| url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/charles-s-dutton| website=emmys.com| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 3, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503190547/https://www.emmys.com/bios/charles-s-dutton| url-status=live}}</ref> and Outstanding Casting for a Series (Alexa L. Fogel).<ref>{{cite web| title=Alexa L. Fogel| url=https://www.emmys.com/bios/alexa-l-fogel| website=emmys.com| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 3, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503190553/https://www.emmys.com/bios/alexa-l-fogel| url-status=live}}</ref>

==Home media==
===VHS & DVD===
The first two seasons of ''Oz'' were released on [[VHS]] in box sets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://store.hbo.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1888717&cp=1885654&view=all&parentPage=family|title=HBO Store - Other HBO Shows: OZ: The Complete First Season VHS|date=February 7, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050207212129/http://store.hbo.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1888717&cp=1885654&view=all&parentPage=family|archive-date=2005-02-07}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://store.hbo.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1888706&cp=1885654|title=HBO Store - Other HBO Shows: OZ: The Complete Second Season VHS|date=February 5, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205200030/http://store.hbo.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1888706&cp=1885654|archive-date=2005-02-05}}</ref> [[HBO Home Video]] has released all six seasons of ''Oz'' on [[DVD]] in Region 1 and Region 2. The Region 1 releases contain numerous special features including commentaries, deleted scenes and featurettes. The Region 2 releases do not contain any special features.

{| class="wikitable"  style="width:99%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Season
! colspan="3"|Release date
! rowspan="2"|Additional
|-
! [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]]
! [[DVD region code#2|Region 2]]
! [[DVD region code#4|Region 4]]
|-
| ''The Complete First Season''
| March 19, 2002
| February 5, 2007<ref>{{cite web| title=Oz : Complete Season 1 [DVD]| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Complete-Season-1-DVD/dp/B000JU7LXU| website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508060447/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Complete-Season-1-DVD/dp/B000JU7LXU| url-status=live}}</ref>
| February 15, 2007<ref>{{cite book| title=OZ Season 1| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915057494.html| via=[[Booktopia]]| access-date=May 3, 2022| archive-date=May 3, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503162823/https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915057494.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

* Released on VHS & DVD in U.S.
* 8 episodes 
* [[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] rating: 15
* [[Australian Classification Board|ACB]] rating: MA15+
}}
|-
| ''The Complete Second Season''
| January 7, 2003 
| August 6, 2007<ref>{{cite web| title=Oz : Season 2 [DVD]| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Season-DVD-Dean-Winters/dp/B000RHOJXA| website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508060514/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Season-DVD-Dean-Winters/dp/B000RHOJXA| url-status=live}}</ref>
| August 16, 2007<ref>{{cite book| title=OZ Season 2| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915057500.html| via=[[Booktopia]]| access-date=May 3, 2022| archive-date=May 3, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503162815/https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915057500.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

* Released on VHS & DVD in U.S.
* 8 episodes 
* [[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] rating: 18
* [[Australian Classification Board|ACB]] rating: MA15+
}}
|-
| ''The Complete Third Season''
| February 24, 2004
| October 29, 2007<ref>{{cite web| title=Oz : Season 3 [DVD]| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Season-DVD-Dean-Winters/dp/B000UG4L7W| website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508060454/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Season-DVD-Dean-Winters/dp/B000UG4L7W| url-status=live}}</ref>
| November 8, 2007<ref>{{cite book| title=OZ Season 3| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915069664.html| via=[[Booktopia]]| access-date=May 3, 2022| archive-date=May 3, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503162818/https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915069664.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

* 8 episodes 
* [[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] rating: 18
* [[Australian Classification Board|ACB]] rating: MA15+
}}
|-
| ''The Complete Fourth Season''
| February 1, 2005
| March 3, 2008<ref>{{cite web| title=Oz : Season 4 [DVD]| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Season-DVD-Christopher-Farmer/dp/B00106K5IA| website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508060452/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Season-DVD-Christopher-Farmer/dp/B00106K5IA| url-status=live}}</ref>
| March 20, 2008<ref>{{cite book| title=OZ Season 4| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915073531.html| via=[[Booktopia]]| access-date=May 3, 2022| archive-date=May 3, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503162821/https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915073531.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

* 16 episodes 
* [[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] rating: 18
* [[Australian Classification Board|ACB]] rating: MA15+
}}
|-
| ''The Complete Fifth Season''
| June 21, 2005
| June 30, 2008<ref>{{cite web| title=Oz : Season 5 [DVD]| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Season-5-DVD/dp/B0014E919M| website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508060448/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Season-5-DVD/dp/B0014E919M| url-status=live}}</ref>
| June 19, 2008<ref>{{cite book| title=OZ Season 5| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915074002.html| via=[[Booktopia]]| access-date=May 3, 2022| archive-date=May 3, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503163409/https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915074002.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

* 8 episodes 
* [[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] rating: 18
* [[Australian Classification Board|ACB]] rating: MA15+
}}
|-
| ''The Complete Sixth Season''
| September 5, 2006
| September 22, 2008<ref>{{cite web| title=Oz - Season 6 [DVD]| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Season-Harold-Perrineau-Jr/dp/B001AHKH1O| website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508060451/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Season-Harold-Perrineau-Jr/dp/B001AHKH1O| url-status=live}}</ref>
| September 18, 2008<ref>{{cite book| title=OZ Season 6| url=https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915074248.html| via=[[Booktopia]]| access-date=May 3, 2022| archive-date=May 3, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220503162812/https://www.booktopia.com.au/oz/dvd/9324915074248.html| url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|
* 8 episodes 
* [[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] rating: 18
* [[Australian Classification Board|ACB]] rating: MA15+
}}
|-
| The Complete Series {{small|(Seasons 1–6)}}
| September 5, 2006
| September 7, 2009<ref>{{cite web| title=Oz - Complete Season 1-6 [DVD]| url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Complete-Season-1-6-DVD/dp/B002D3ZJCG| website=amazon.co.uk| access-date=May 8, 2022| archive-date=May 8, 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220508060445/https://www.amazon.co.uk/Oz-Complete-Season-1-6-DVD/dp/B002D3ZJCG| url-status=live}}</ref>
| {{TBA}}
| {{Hidden|{{align|left|}}|

* Released as '''Special Edition''' (U.S.)
* Released as '''The Emerald City Collection''' (UK)
* 56 episodes 
* [[British Board of Film Classification|BBFC]] rating: 18
* Re-released in UK on February 3, 2014
}}
|}

===Soundtrack===
{{Main|Oz (soundtrack)}}
[[Avatar Records]] released a soundtrack containing East Coast, West Coast, and Southern [[hip hop]] on January 9, 2001. It peaked at #1 on the ''Billboard'' Soundtrack Charts, #42 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], and #8 on the [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.billboard.com/#/album/original-soundtrack/oz/457653 |title=Oz&nbsp;– Original Soundtrack (2001) |author=Steve Rosen <br /> Dave Darlington |publisher=Billboard |access-date=2009-10-21 |archive-date=2012-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710030942/http://www.billboard.com/#/album/original-soundtrack/oz/457653 |url-status=live }}</ref> The soundtrack featured the song "Behind the Walls" recorded by [[Kurupt]] & [[Nate Dogg]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
* Season 1, Episode 2, DVD Commentary on "Oz: The Complete First Season."
* Season 2, Episode 5, "Oz: The Complete Second Season."

==Further reading==

* {{cite web |last1=Chavez |first1=Dannette |title=20 years ago, Oz locked down the prestige-drama formula |url=https://www.avclub.com/20-years-ago-oz-locked-down-the-prestige-drama-formula-1798263937 |access-date=17 June 2022|website = AVClub |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204224010/https://tv.avclub.com/20-years-ago-oz-locked-down-the-prestige-drama-formula-1798263937 |archive-date=4 December 2017 |url-status=live |date=12 July 2017}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Jarvis |first1=Brian |title=The Violence of Images: inside the prison TV drama Oz |journal=ResearchGate |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/28576477 |access-date=22 June 2022}}
* {{Cite book |title=Oz: behind these walls: the journal of Augustus Hill |publisher=HarperEntertainment |location=New York |year=2003 |isbn=0-06-052133-3 |oclc=51241977}}
* {{cite news |last1=Peden |first1=Laura David |title=The Inmates of 'Oz' move Into a new Emerald City |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/15/arts/television-radio-the-inmates-of-oz-move-into-a-new-emerald-city.html |access-date=21 June 2022 |newspaper =The New York Times |date=15 July 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527161921/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/07/15/arts/television-radio-the-inmates-of-oz-move-into-a-new-emerald-city.html |archive-date=27 May 2015 |page=2:24 |issn= 0362-4331 |oclc =1645522}}
* {{Cite book|first=Lara |last=Stemple |chapter=HBO's OZ and the Fight against Prisoner Rape: Chronicles from the Front Line |editor= Johnson, Merri Lisa |year=2007 |title=Third Wave Feminism and Television: Jane Puts it in a Box |chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/thirdwavefeminis0000unse/page/166/mode/2up?q=166 |publisher=[[I.B. Tauris]] |location=London |pages=166–188 |isbn=978-1-84511-245-5 |oclc=72151012}}
* {{cite journal |last1=Van Elteren |first1=Mel |editor1-last=Hart |editor1-first=Kylo-Patrick |title=Mediated deviance and social otherness: Interrogating influential representations |journal=Journal of American Culture |doi=10.1111/j.1542-734X.2008.00674_33.x |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |location=Michigan State University East Lansing |issn=1540-5931 |oclc=1754751}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{IMDb title|0118421|Oz}}

{{Oz (TV series)}}
{{Satellite Award Best Drama Television Series}}
{{HBONetwork Shows}}
{{Portal bar|Television|United States|1990s|2000s|LGBTQ}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oz (Tv Series)}}
[[Category:Oz (TV series)| ]]
[[Category:1990s American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:1997 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1990s American LGBTQ-related drama television series]]
[[Category:2000s American crime drama television series]]
[[Category:2003 American television series endings]]
[[Category:2000s American LGBTQ-related drama television series]]
[[Category:2000s prison television series]]
[[Category:American prison television series]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:HBO television dramas]]
[[Category:Television shows about rape]]
[[Category:Serial drama television series]]
[[Category:Existentialist television series]]
[[Category:Television series about organized crime]]
[[Category:Television series by CBS Studios]]
[[Category:Television series by Home Box Office]]
[[Category:Television series created by Tom Fontana]]
[[Category:Television shows filmed in New York (state)]]
[[Category:Television shows set in New York City]]
[[Category:1990s prison television series]]
[[Category:Works featuring villain protagonists]]