I am sure that several of you, my readers, are just as excited as I am that ABC's quirky new drama Pushing Daisies, that eagerly anticipated "forensic fairy tale," launches tonight.While I've already seen the pilot (or "Pie-lette") for Pushing Daisies about eight times or so over the last five months or so, I can't wait to hear all of your reactions to what I deem to be one of the more groundbreaking and inventive (not to mention wholly imaginative) series to have come around in many, many years. (I believe I used the words "breathtaking, resplendent, and whimsical" at one point.)
To that end, I've included below a round-up of all the important Pushing Daisies content that has run on Televisionary over the past few months to whet your appetite for tonight's series premiere.
So sit back, snuggle up with your favorite monkey statuette, and prepare to fall in love with Pushing Daisies.
Pilot Inspektor: Pushing Daisies: The first published review of the pilot for Pushing Daisies from May 14th (before the network upfront, in fact), in which I refer to the pilot as a "Burtonesque vision of mortality, morality, and, er, pies that sucks you in from the very opening scene and never lets go." I still stand by those words.
What's Up, Chuck?: A guide to distinguishing between this season's three Chucks: Pushing Daisies' Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (played by the adorable Anna Friel), Gossip Girl's sociopath Chuck, and the titular character of NBC's Chuck. Which Chuck do you like best? Discuss.
Digging Up Dirt: Televisionary Sits Down with the Cast of Pushing Daisies: Exclusive Q&As with each of Pushing Daisies' main cast members, including Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, and Kristin Chenoweth. Learn what's coming up for each of their characters, whether Chenoweth will sing on-screen (quick answer: yes), and how many languages Chuck has learned to speak.
Shut Your Pie Hole: Televisionary Sits Down with Pushing Daisies Creator Bryan Fuller: An exclusive Q&A with the mind behind Pushing Daisies, Bryan Fuller (creator of Wonderfalls and Dead Like Me) as he shares with me why Caroline Dhavernas didn't get cast as Chuck despite being the prototype in Fuller's head when he was writing the script, a few intriguing plot twists for subsequent episodes, his love of monkeys, and the amazing writing staff Fuller has assembled for the series.
Pushing Daisies launches tonight at 8 pm on ABC.
What's On Tonight
8 pm: Kid Nation (CBS); Deal or No Deal (NBC); America's Next Top Model (CW); Dancing with the Stars (ABC); Back to You/'Til Death (FOX)
9 pm: Criminal Minds (CBS); Bionic Woman (NBC); Gossip Girl (CW); Private Practice (ABC); Kitchen Nightmares (FOX)
10 pm: CSI: New York (CBS); Life (NBC); Dirty Sexy Money (ABC)
What I'll Be Watching
8 pm: Pushing Daisies.
On the series premiere of ABC's forensic fairy tale ("Pie-lette"), a man with the ability to bring the dead back to life reconnects with his childhood sweetheart when she's brutally murdered. It all starts here!
8 pm: America's Next Top Model.
On tonight's episode ("The Models Go Green'"), the girls wear straightjackets in order to master the perfect runaway walk and one contestant is flown to Paris after winning a challenge.
8 pm: Back to You.
A former network president I was talking to a few weeks ago called the Kelsey Grammer/Patricia Heaton series "time capsule television," and I'd have to agree. It definitely seems like a throwback to a different time in TV but there's something vaguely comforting about that. On tonight's episode ("The First Supper"), Chuck tries rid himself of his awkwardness around Gracie while Marsh helps Gary with an audition.
9 pm: Gossip Girl.
On tonight's episode ("Poison Ivy"), Dan tries to get a coveted usher position for a Darthmouth rep, Jenny bonds with Eric, Blair discovers a shocking secret, and Rufus turns to Lily for a favor.
9 pm: Bionic Woman.
David Eick's reimagining of classic TV series Bionic Woman, starring Michelle Ryan, continues. On tonight's episode ("Paradise Lost"), Jamie struggles with her new condition while trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy with her sister.
10 pm: Top Chef on Bravo.
On tonight's episode ("Finale, Part Two"), ("Finale, Part Two"), the final three chefs face off in the final elimination challenge, but the producers have arranged a twist or two along the way to throw a snag into their plans. Who will win? Find out tonight.
10 pm: Dirty Sexy Money.
Primetime soap Dirty Sexy Money continues. On tonight's episode ("The Lions"), Nick attempts to find his father's killer while Juliet isn't so sure about doing a photo shoot with actual lions.
Comments
If you were up here (in the Bay Area) we would totally invite you!
If I did live in SF (and wasn't in London at the moment), I totally would have come!
I hope people watch it and, more importantly, come back next week.
Fingers crossed!
Suz
She is a really special girl, please be nice to her! It would only be a minor overstatement to say that much of the UK fell in love with her in her first TV role - which must have been at least 15 years ago now.
From the pilot she seems to have really good chemistry with Lee Pace, it should work well.
Really looking forward to seeing the upcoming episodes. From what Jace has kindly assembled for us by way of previews etc., it sounds like the feelgood quirkiness should be a real winner. Burtonesque was a very good description. For me the feelgood factor in something like Heroes just doesn't work, probably because it isn't out there enough and is too close to reality (but not close enough fr the details to bear up under scrutiny).
The fanciful prospect of a bicycle with flowers for wheels is infinitely more appealing!
And I'm so glad the rest of America seems to agree, as it STOMPED, and I do mean STOMPED the competition (at least in the coveted 18-49 set!
Let's hope the audience keeps up next week.