I’ve known about this show since before ABC started promoting it. Len Wein gave me a blow by blow of the pilot at San Diego since he’d been sent an advance screener. At the time I was impressed at how effusive Len was about the show. But then when the network started promoting it harder than I’ve ever seen it push ANY show, I had to think he was on to something.
He was.
Spoilers follow
The producers of “Pushing Daisies” come justthisclose to coming up with a premise that strains credulity to the breaking point. Ned is a humble piemaker who has an unexplained resurrection power with about half a dozen caveats. He has a girlfriend he can’t touch, a would-be girlfriend that he keeps at a distance, and a detective with whom he works solving murders (much easier to do when he can bring the corpses back to life.) But what makes the whole thing work is not the plot, contrived beyond belief, but the confident style and panache with which it’s pulled off. Despite the absurdities, it’s so sweet and genuine that you’ll be pulled in in spite of yourself.
Just like “Wonderfalls,” a previous work by the show’s creators.
Which, of course, makes me concerned about its future. Still, ABC is getting behind this in a way that no one ever got behind “Wonderfalls,” so fingers crossed.
PAD
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I was busy about the house when it was on, so I only saw it with half an eye, as it were.
fun, interesting – a kind of Tim Burton-y feel to it. Not sold on the narrator but it was interesting.
I’ll catch another ep.
I was busy about the house when it was on, so I only saw it with half an eye, as it were.
fun, interesting – a kind of Tim Burton-y feel to it. Not sold on the narrator but it was interesting.
I’ll catch another ep.
I was busy about the house when it was on, so I only saw it with half an eye, as it were.
fun, interesting – a kind of Tim Burton-y feel to it. Not sold on the narrator but it was interesting.
I’ll catch another ep.
I was busy about the house when it was on, so I only saw it with half an eye, as it were.
fun, interesting – a kind of Tim Burton-y feel to it. Not sold on the narrator but it was interesting.
I’ll catch another ep.
I really enjoyed the pilot, but I’m concerned about whether they can pull it off every week. The idea probably lends itself more to a movie than to a TV show.
Here’s hoping though.
I really enjoyed the pilot, but I’m concerned about whether they can pull it off every week. The idea probably lends itself more to a movie than to a TV show.
Here’s hoping though.
I really enjoyed the pilot, but I’m concerned about whether they can pull it off every week. The idea probably lends itself more to a movie than to a TV show.
Here’s hoping though.
I really enjoyed the pilot, but I’m concerned about whether they can pull it off every week. The idea probably lends itself more to a movie than to a TV show.
Here’s hoping though.
My work schedule hasn’t allowed me to catch many new shows (yes, I have a DVR but one thing it doesn’t do is add hours to my day so I can watch the stuff I’ve recorded). “Pushing Daisies” is the only new show I’ve seen so far that was worth a second look. I really enjoyed it. Hope it lasts as long as it needs too.
-Chris
I believe they are showing the Pilot again on Friday night. So set your DVRs if you want to see it and didn’t catch it.
JR
Also liked the LOOK of the show, it exists in this colorful pop art world of it’s own, the colors are all bright even the TV set in Olive’s apartment is out of time, some 50s vintage thing with a huge case and heavily rounded corners on the screen. I like the fairy tale vibe, too, and hope the narrator sticks around.
I have no idea what they’re gonna do for an entire season, I’m willing to hang out, but the show has a real…it coulda been a great movie quality. I don’t see a way for it to stretch the romantic tension that long AND the murder cases could become routine and bland. But it has a decent cast.
But WonderFalls was great, so I guess maybe they have something planned I’m not expecting(which would be refreshing) but I saw huge story potential in WonderFalls. This felt like a great one off story that doesn’t seem to fit it’s episodic nature.
Last night was a good night for TV, this, Bionic Woman and Life(with Christina Hendricks from Firefly making an appearance) all tickled my fancy.
Quirky, charming, light-hearted, Unlike anything else on network TV. I give it 6 weeks.
C-B Pete,
I was reserving judgement as well, as the last show that I had high hopes for that had an interesting premise was “Studio 60”. So while I looked forward to seeing it, I was skeptical that anyone could bring a sense of humor to such a dark topic, particularly at an 8:00 pm time slot.
NOW i’m gonna have to go out and buy a TIVO too, because I’ve got to see ABC at 8:00, switchover to Jaime on NBC at nine, and back over to ABC to catch Donald Sutherland on DSM (which also features a great cast). Wednesday looks booked…
I love all the Sonnenfeld touches… pulling back from the background in the sitting room, between Swoosie Kurtz and Ellen Greene (more great casting), thru the front of the house to the front yard in time to see the killer step onto the grass. So much “Addams Family” with “MIB” thrown in for good measure.
I’m “dyin'” for more.
Bob
PS— Didn’t Barry Sonnenfeld do some network TV way back when?
I kept thinking it’s this season’s new quirky show that I’m going to love but the network will cancell after a few episodes ala Wonderfalls (and I didn’t even know about the Wonderfalls connections). But I’ll watch for as long as it’s on the air.
The strangest thing is I’m in the middle of listening to the audiobook of the last Harry Potter book so I kept expecting Jim Dale’s narration to mention him 🙂
So far my favorites of the new shows are this, Chuck, Reaper, and Dirty Sexy Money.
David
PS— Didn’t Barry Sonnenfeld do some network TV way back when?
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He did the Fantasy Island revival a few years back.
He did “Maximum Bob”, based on the Elmore Leonard book of the same name. I believe he was also behind the “Fantasy Island” revival with Malcolm MacDowell playing Mr. Rourke. They were both on ABC and both lasted less than a season.
I liked it quite a bit. This and Journeyman are the only good new shows this season.
Definately worth a second look. Did anyone see Moonlight? If so, what did you think?
>>The strangest thing is I’m in the middle of listening to the audiobook of the last Harry Potter book so I kept expecting Jim Dale’s narration to mention him 🙂
Also, Anna Friel — “CHUCK” — is seeing David Thewlis, and was actually hoping to play “Tonks” in HP…. I could see that….
After I watched last night and saw how wonderful it was, about 30 seconds after the show ended I found myself feeling terrified that it was going to be cancelled.
This show is so good that it would’ve been cancelled by Fox before it even started.
Great show. I’ve seen a lot of folks wonder how they will be able to keep it interesting week in week out but I think they are (wrongly, I hope) assuming that this will just be a quirky detective show with just a more supernatural premise than CSI.
Usually we are given the plot and then get to know the characters as the series goes on. This and LOST do the opposite; after just 1 episode I have a pretty good idea of who these people are (subject to revision as time goes on, of course) and am eagerly awaiting the revelations to come–why does he have this power? Who gave it to him? Who made the rules? Are the resurrected immortal, save for his touch? Are there others?
Will there be a Dead Like Me crossover? (please oh please)
Loved the first episode, although I was pretty sure I would. Both Dead Like Me and Wonderfalls were great shows. Bryan Fuller is a great writer. Lots of quirky humor!
I definitly can’t wait to see episode 2. So far out of the new shows: Journeyman, Life, Pushing Daises, and Reaper are the best IMO!
DF2506
James is correct. The show will reair Friday @ 8pm Eastern Time.
Good news from AICN:
Ratings in 18-49 for 8 p.m. Wednesday:
4.2 “Pushing Daisies”
2.8 “Deal Or No Deal”
2.5 “‘Til Death”
2.4 “Back To You”
2.4 “Kid Nation”
2.2 “America’s Next Top Model”
“Did anyone see Moonlight? If so, what did you think?”
It was pretty bad. It was basically just a generic detective show whose main character happens to be a vampire.
PAD
Any chance you’ll “review” Bionic Woman? Am curious what you think.
I was very, very impressed with PUSHING DAISIES. It reminded me a lot of EDWARD SCISSORHANDS in that you have very bright, clear colors wrapped around a fairly macabre concept. And while a lot of the show falls apart if you think about it too much (Why not ask if there’s a heaven or afterlife? And anyone who’s seen SIX FEET UNDER knows a person prepared for an open casket had far too much stuff done to them to just get up right as rain), it works as a quirly fairy tale.
BTW, Barry Sonnenfeld worked on the live-action THE TICK (a fun show, even if animation suited it a lot more) and directed the premiere episode, with the robot designed to kill Jimmy Carter.
And anyone who’s seen SIX FEET UNDER knows a person prepared for an open casket had far too much stuff done to them to just get up right as rain), it works as a quirly fairy tale.
Well, having half your head eaten by a hungry dog is bad too but…I’m thinking that the resurrected are, for all his protests, zombies. Chuck may be hollow as a gourd and it won’t affect her. She also won’t age (his dog is looking good for what must be a pretty advanced age).
BTW, for Bionic Woman fans, the show took a serious hit in its second outing, ratings down big time. Likewise, the real story will be how Pushing Daisies does next week. I’m hoping for good word of mouth.
“BTW, for Bionic Woman fans, the show took a serious hit in its second outing, ratings down big time.”
Bionic Woman has fans? There’s a reason why the ratings went down for the second episode.
I just watched this and… whoa. I turned to a friend and said “who took a hit off the Tim Burton bong?” (And followed with a chaser of Danny Elfman…)
Beautiful. Lovely – I especially like the Rogue/Gambit touches.
I hope Tim Minear’s curse isn’t contagious.
Tangentially, OK We’ve had:
A woman who sees ghosts and helps them finish business.
A detective who hallucinates ghosts of the victims whose deathes he’s investigating.
And now a guy who brings dead people back to life so they can help with the investigation.
Note to H-wood get a new meme.
Speaking of:
An immortal detective.
and a vampire detective.
(As if I had never heard of ‘Forever Knight’.)
Not that TV is the only medium that falls into weird ruts, remember Generation X? Skin, Husk, and Chamber? Followed shortly by lame new X-villians Marrow and Conduit?
“Did anyone see Moonlight?”
Yes, and it’s such a ripoff of Forever Knight, I’m surprised there isn’t a lawsuit in the works.
Anyway, Pushing Daisies was such a fun, silly, light hearted show. The actress who plays “Chuck” is my favorite of an already fantastic cast. I hope this is one series Chi McBride is in that doesn’t get canceled. It’s so bizarre and I love it.
ABC is replaying it tonight at 8PM Eastern time.
“Did anyone see Moonlight?”
Yes, and it’s such a ripoff of Forever Knight, I’m surprised there isn’t a lawsuit in the works.
Anyway, Pushing Daisies was such a fun, silly, light hearted show. The actress who plays “Chuck” is my favorite of an already fantastic cast. I hope this is one series Chi McBride is in that doesn’t get canceled. It’s so bizarre and I love it.
ABC is replaying it tonight at 8PM Eastern time.
“Did anyone see Moonlight?”
Yes, and it’s such a ripoff of Forever Knight, I’m surprised there isn’t a lawsuit in the works.
Anyway, Pushing Daisies was such a fun, silly, light hearted show. The actress who plays “Chuck” is my favorite of an already fantastic cast. I hope this is one series Chi McBride is in that doesn’t get canceled. It’s so bizarre and I love it.
ABC is replaying it tonight at 8PM Eastern time.
“Did anyone see Moonlight?”
Yes, and it’s such a ripoff of Forever Knight, I’m surprised there isn’t a lawsuit in the works.
Anyway, Pushing Daisies was such a fun, silly, light hearted show. The actress who plays “Chuck” is my favorite of an already fantastic cast. I hope this is one series Chi McBride is in that doesn’t get canceled. It’s so bizarre and I love it.
ABC is replaying it tonight at 8PM Eastern time.
This is going to sound absurd, but there’s a crucial element missing from the pilot I saw (no idea if it’s anything like what was on last night) that made me just not enjoy the show. Now, before I tell you, I have to say that Wonderfalls is one of my favorite shows ever, but the reason is…
…I just couldn’t believe the premise. I know it’s a fantasy, but there was no logic to it. Let me explain:
In Wonderfalls, we can assume that Jaye got her abilities to see these totem creatures and follow their advice from the Maiden of the Mist… was it a gift? Or a curse? Could be either, but at least there was something there we could say “aha, caught you, Mildred.”
With Pushing Daisies there is no explanation for his abilities. They just appear one day. Poof, you can resurrect people, with these guidelines… it just is missing something for me. And see, I don’t even need it right out explained… with Wonderfalls, I’m *assuming* the Maiden was the one giving Jaye the visions. It was never actually stated that was such, but you could infer it.
Also, I got the feeling that they weren’t actually going to ever examine his abilities and where they came from. That kind of rubs me wrong.
That said, I enjoyed the quirkiness and the feel of the show, and I will give it a few more viewings. It’s definitely better than Bionic Woman has been so far.
Did anyone see Moonlight?”
Yes, and it’s such a ripoff of Forever Knight, I’m surprised there isn’t a lawsuit in the works.
—
Other than the “crime-solving vampire” element, what makes else it an FK rip-off? It’s not original, but it’s different enough. If anyone should have a problem it’s Hannibel King creators Marv Wolfman and Gene Colan.
David
“Also, I got the feeling that they weren’t actually going to ever examine his abilities and where they came from. That kind of rubs me wrong.”
Never assume. This is the description of the very next episode:
“Ned suspects foul play when an automotive expert dies in a mysterious traffic accident. Meanwhile, Chuck presses Ned about how he revived her.”
My understanding is that Chuck is going to become determined to figure out how and why Ned has this ability. It’s not simply an accepted given and never addressed.
PAD
Peter,
Oh, I’m not assuming such. It just… the way the premise was presented, with absolutely no possible explanation of the abilities, and Ned not even really questioning them much (although of course we jump way through the years and could miss much of that type of stuff in his adolescence), it was as if they were just asking me to accept it.
Now there’s a LOT of times I can do that. Like Starbuck’s return in BSG. Really, you’ve been where and we’re going to do what??? No problem. Just in this case, I really felt the need to have some kind of thread to hold on to, even if it was small.
Still, it was charming enough, and I’ve got the Season Pass set up. We’ll see. (if only ABC had bought Wonderfalls instead of Fox… sigh…)
Posted by Bill Mulligan
Hill Street Blues was like that – by the end of the fiorst episode, even if i didn’t know all of thgeir names, i knew whoall of the characters were.
This is by the Wonderfalls people? Amazing how I like it, since I hated Wonderfalls immeasurably.
As to Moonlight as an FK ripoff: We have the hero’s coroner best friend, a hero who drinks animal blood to avoid problems, about the same level of vampire ability (these days giving someone the full Dracula level of power would be a lot more novel), and a network of cynical vampire associates who keep a low profile, don’t go around killing humans and sneer at the hero’s compassionate side. Plus his crazy ex in the first episode seems a hybrid of LaCroix and Jeannette (though I admit she could just as easily be Angel’s Darla).
In Wonderfalls, we can assume that Jaye got her abilities to see these totem creatures and follow their advice from the Maiden of the Mist… was it a gift? Or a curse? Could be either, but at least there was something there we could say “aha, caught you, Mildred.”
According to the Wonderfalls DVD commentary, the whole bit in the pilot with Jaye getting hit in the head, and then hearing voices, was included at the insistence of the network. The creators of the show originally intended to just have the animals start talking to Jaye one day. The network insisted on something that could be interpreted as a catalyzing event.
I must admit that I am not familar with Forever Knight. I feel that Moonlight hits a kind of interesting, and smokey tone that I enjoy. The first two episodes have had an interesting storyline and I will be back for more. Angel started out good, but rapidly got foolish with Angel turning nasty, the addition of Conner, and the idiotic evolution of Cordelia. If anything, Moonlight reminds me of the first season when Angel was actually a good show.
I must admit that I am not familar with Forever Knight. I feel that Moonlight hits a kind of interesting, and smokey tone that I enjoy. The first two episodes have had an interesting storyline and I will be back for more. Angel started out good, but rapidly got foolish with Angel turning nasty, the addition of Conner, and the idiotic evolution of Cordelia. If anything, Moonlight reminds me of the first season when Angel was actually a good show.
According to the Wonderfalls DVD commentary, the whole bit in the pilot with Jaye getting hit in the head, and then hearing voices, was included at the insistence of the network. The creators of the show originally intended to just have the animals start talking to Jaye one day. The network insisted on something that could be interpreted as a catalyzing event.
If it hadn’t been included, in Wonderfalls, it wouldn’t have been as polarizing for me, because… well, hallucinating animal toys talking to you is a little easier to accept than Pushing Dasies’ premise. But for me, it did help swallow the bait. It helped the viewer to tie Jaye’s abilities to something supernatural, rather than it all just being in her head.
Right now it’s not a dealbreaker for me, because Daisies is so very charming.
The whole narration / Victorian architecture thing reminded me of “A Series of Unfortunate Events”. Nevertheless, it was one of the best new shows I’ve seen this season. I’m keeping my fingers crossed as offbeat high-concept shows usually don’t last very long. 🙁
After a few days vacation, I finally got a chance to watch Pushing Daisies.
It’s nice, but a little off. The narration feels overdone. Novels sometimes have that much narration, like the the Diskworld books. Comic books have had lots of narration through caption boxes in the last few years. But very few movies and TV shows have this much narration. Most of the ones that do are based on novels (Trainspotting, the BBC version of Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, etc). Scrubs does it quite well, but it felt a little intrusive in this show. Maybe I accept it more in Scrubs because it doesn’t feel like a seperate narrator, but like JD’s thoughts. This felt like a Brad Meltzer comic, and I’ve started skipping the caption boxes in Brad Meltzer comics.
But there was still a lot I liked. If the show has a chance to continue, it could grow into a show I really enjoy.