"Yeah, well, luck pushed me first."
Ned (Pace), the Pie-maker, has a special gift: with one touch he can bring something or someone back to life, and a second touch causes the person or thing to die forever. But keeping a person alive for more than 60 seconds causes something or someone else to die instead.
Ned uses his gift to help PI Emerson Cod (McBride) solve unsolved murders by touching the victims so they can ask questions for 60 seconds to solve the crime. He is joined by his recently restored childhood sweetheart, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles," who vows to use her second chance at life to make a difference. In between solving crimes Emerson, Ned, and Chuck try to keep Ned's secret from Ned's feisty waitress Olive (Chenoweth) and Chuck's agoraphobic aunts, naive Vivian (Greene) and abrasive Lily (Kurtz).
The only show on my Top Cancelled TV Shows list that I actually watched from start to finish when it was on network television, this show captured my interest from the beginning. A unique visual style, filled with bright colors and a bit of whimsy, and interesting characters kept me coming back every week. Every scene was bright and mesmerizing, with a slew of fascinating guest stars that delivered memorable characters.
Every episode includes narration, with a unique style. Lee Pace is a great leading man... Anna Friel's Chuck is adventurous, and mildly grating in the first season. Chi McBride makes Emerson a loveable, crocheting, cranky PI... he has a rough exterior, but actually does care. Kristin Chenoweth's Olive is adorably clueless and hopelessly in love with Ned (and she sings)... and is the main reason I started watching this show. But the funniest characters are the Charles sisters: Broadway star Ellen Greene and well-known actress Swoosie Kurtz. Greene and Kurtz have believable chemistry as sisters and best friends, synchronized in life (and in their former profession as synchronized swimmers) despite seeing the world differently.
Creator Bryan Fuller has had two other successful quirky shows: Wonderfalls and Dead Like Me. I am half-way through the first season of Dead Like Me, which has a much darker outlook / comedy style than Pushing Daisies, and focuses on Grim Reapers. I have yet to see Wonderfalls, but plan to add it to my Netflix queue sometime soon.
A delightful, eccentric show... it broke my heart that it was canceled (after only 2 seasons). BUT, Fuller plans to make a 3rd season available as a comic strip.
Pushing Daisies (2007-2009)
Created by: Bryan Fuller
Starring: Lee Pace as Ned
Anna Friel as Charlotte "Chuck" Charles
Chi McBride as Emerson Cod
Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook
Ellen Greene as Vivian Charles
Swoosie Kurtz as Lily Charles
Jim Dale as Narrator
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