Trivia

References to the poor quality of this film became a running joke in Whose Line Is It Anyway? (1998), the comedy improvisation show hosted by title role player Drew Carey.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus had dreamed of playing the Blue Fairy when she was 6 years old.

Steve Martin and Robin Williams both turned down the title role. The pair turning down the title role lead Disney to decide this will be a TV movie and not released theatrically.

References to the 1940 "Pinocchio" movie:

• "When You Wish Upon a Star" in the introductory narration.
• The boy with the violin playing "When You Wish Upon a Star" in the perfect town.
• Pinocchio sings "I've Got No Strings" in Stromboli's act.
• Professor Buonragazzo promises Geppetto a new son "Faster than you can say 'Jimminy Cricket.'"
• The cat is named Figaro.

The Magician is played by Wayne Brady, who is a regular on the American version of "Whose Line is it Anyway" previously hosted by Drew Carey.