Pushing Daisies

Ned: Candy might be sweet, but it’s a traveling carnival blowing through town. Pie is home. People always come home.

Emerson: Oh no, see, this is how it all ends. Some weird guy comes in saying stuff that don’t make no sense. And by the time your head realizes “Hey, this weird guy makes no sense,” your guts are all over the window.

Emerson: The truth ain’t like puppies, a bunch of them running around, you pick your favorite. One truth… and it has come a knockin’.

Emerson: You ain’t lying. The only way you’re lying is if she asks the question, (in a girl voice like Chuck) “Hey, did you kill my father when you brought your mother back, which I didn’t know about because you never told me?”…. Don’t tell her.

Alfredo: As any non-traditional remedy salesman knows; resistance to the novel and the unconventional is marbled through this country like gristle. If I’m not cutting that gristle, I’m not doing my job.

Olive: It’s from the Pie Hole from across the street, as in “Shut your.” But one sweet whiff and people usually want to “Open their.”

Olive: Can I ask you a question? If you loved me….
Alfredo: Yes?
Olive: And we could never, ever, ever touch. Wouldn’t you eventually get over it and move on letting someone else have the slightest hope that you might move on to them?
Alfredo: If I loved you?
Olive: Yeah.
Alfredo: Then I would love you in any way I could. And if we could not touch, then I would draw strength from your beauty. And if I went blind, then I would fill my soul with the sound of your voice and the contents of your thoughts until the last spark of my love for you lit the shabby darkness of my dying mind.
Olive: Eh, forget it.

Olive: Wouldn’t it just rock and roll if liking someone meant they had to like you back? Of course that’d be a different universe and something else would probably suck.

Olive: There’s no alarm system. Got a credit card?
Chuck: Why? You know how to pick locks?
Olive: No. You’re gonna need to pay for the damages.

Narrator: The expression “Like a rat in a candy store,” though slightly less popular, is equally true.

Emerson: I mean it’s a broad generalization, but my guess is that an attractive man who makes pies for a living shouldn’t even spend a short amount of time in prison.

Emerson: So whoever killed Billy is walking around with nine fingers thinking they got away with murder.
Chuck: Mm-hmmm. Footloose and finger-free.

Ned: Chuck, I killed your father.

For a recap to this episode, check this entry.
For quotes from previous episode check our Quotable Quotes section.

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I’ll start this entry with a personal note by saying that there’s a lot of craziness going on here, so even if I try and write a proper recap or review of last night’s Pushing Daisies, I think it may end up less cohesive. My mind is somewhere else… peace is disrupted where I reside and I pray things will simmer down soon. For the curious, this is what I’m talking about.

Anyway, I’ll do my best by posting a brief recap in bullet points:

• The murderer of the week  had some similarities with that movie, Lars and The Real Girl… had Lars been an actual killer.
• Solution to this case was pretty fast and not inventive. The whole case took 15 minutes to be resolved.
• Of course, this was necessary since the main story of Bitter Sweets was supposed to center on Dilly Balsam (guest star Molly Shannon), her taffy store and the rivalry with Ned’s Pie Hole.

Briefly…

When Ned and crew warmly welcomed Dilly to the area, Dilly didn’t immediately warm up to them. She is a tough businesswoman and it was evident that competition drives her. As a welcome gift, Chuck brings for her pie inside Dilly’s store, and the aroma of it didn’t escape her customers so they decide to change places and be in the Pie Hole. Dilly thought that this was Ned’s tactic or that he meant to drive away her customers. So in retaliation, Dilly bribes a health inspector to conduct a surprise inspection of the Pie Hole, leading to its temporary closure. The girls, Chuck and Olive, didn’t like how Dilly played.  They cooked up plans of their own in order to fight back at Dilly. But Ned, forever the peacemaker, wasn’t about to retaliate…it just wasn’t his style.

In a surprise twist, there was a second murder in this episode….it was that of Dilly’s brother, Billy, whose body Ned discovers while cleaning up the mess Chuck and Olive left at the taffy store. And by some unfortunate fate, the police caught Ned red-handed, holding Billy’s dead body. He was brought to jail.

• Emerson and Chuck try to find the real killer of Dilly’s brother and ends up face to face with Dilly, whom they suspected to be the one who did it.
• But the real killer is in fact the Health Inspector who also bribed Dilly and Billy Balsam, so that he won’t squeal on what the Balsam’s made him to the Pie Hole.

Also, in this story: Chuck tells Ned the happy news at the beginning of the episode — that day was her father’s 60th birthday and it all brought forth the guilt Ned was feeling over the loss. When Ned could not contain it any longer, despite telling Emerson he need not let Chuck know, he told her that it was he killed her father.

Other things to note:

• Digby crying with Olive while visiting Ned in jail was, as usual, adorable.
• Chuck confirms to Ned that yes, she is his girlfriend.
• I love the dynamics of Chuck and Olive’s relationship.
• Double hugs from Olive — cute!
• Dilly’s store reminds me of the candy store in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

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I keep another blog here in the 451 Press Network and I had just written an entry on Amy Adams, who was once a guest star on The Office. Reading up on her profile, I learned that she’s starring in a movie called, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, which I have never heard they were filming (or have already finished production) until I checked her IMDb.

Lee Pace, who sports a mustache for this movie and talks in a a crisp English accent, plays Michael, one of Amy Adam’s character’s her love interest.

The movie, which is a movie adaptation of of the book written by Winifred Watson actually stars Academy Award Winner Frances McDormand, as Miss Pettigrew. The story is described as a “Cinderella fairy tale set in the 1930’s”….and if you’re like me who loves any good Cinderella story, I am already anticipating this movie a whole lot. But it won’t be in theaters until Spring of 2008.

Here’s the synopsis of the story:

A sophisticated and heartfelt comedy…. In the 1939-set romantic tale, Miss Guinevere Pettigrew (Academy Award winner Frances McDormand), a middle-aged London governess, finds herself unfairly dismissed from her job. An attempt to gain new employment catapults her into the glamorous world and dizzying social whirl of an American actress and singer, Delysia Lafosse (Academy Award nominee Amy Adams). Within minutes, Miss Pettigrew finds herself swept into a heady high-society milieu – and, by the end of the day, discovers her own romantic destiny.

Watch the trailer below:

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Just some scheduling reminder for this Wednesday’s episode of Pushing Daisies — Bitter Sweets will be delayed by at least an hour this week, following two holiday specials that will air on its regular time slot. And then for next week, the show will be pre-empted by another Christmas Special. I have yet to confirm if all of December’s schedules are repeats or pre-empted.

So, this week’s episode would have to be one we should all embrace and savor like a very special tasty piece of pie…because we might see the final episode during this self-imposed strike hiatus by January next year.

Anyway, Bitter Sweets will feature special guest star, Molly Shannon, who, like Paul Reubens, is someone I have been waiting to see in this series. I happen to have caught an appearance of hers on Saturday Night Live the other day (thank god for reruns!) and I’m thrilled no less about her three episode arc for Pushing Daisies.

They do cast some amazingly talented people in this series, don’t they? (props to the casting director!).

Molly Shannon will play Dilly Balsam, a business owner that will rival Ned’s Pie Hole. In one scene, we should expect her character to supposedly be defacing The Pie Hole’s signage, knocking down the L and E from it (so that it reads Pie Ho, ha-ha!).

Episode Summary: A vindictive taffy shop owner (guest star Molly Shannon as Dilly Balsam) sets up shop down the street from The Pie Hole, determined to drive Ned out of business by any means necessary.

Here’s the preview as shown on TV:

Also in this episode is Mike White, who will play Dilly’s brother Billy. (How charming is that — Dilly and Billy!!!)

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Last week, Pushing Daisies maintained its dominace with the 18-49 demographics in the 8 PM to 9 PM time slot. However, total ratings has been expectedly down, because of the festivities and celebrations last week. With the exception of CBS shows, many actually did poorly in terms of ratings. The rankings below:

1. “Criminal Minds” (CBS) 15.82m
2. “CSI: NY” (CBS) 14.36m
3. “Deal or No Deal” (9-11) (NBC) 10.15m
4. “Private Practice” (ABC) 8.45m
5. “Pushing Daisies” (ABC) 7.52m
6. “Kid Nation” (CBS) 7.29m
7. “Dirty Sexy Money” (ABC) 6.52m
8. “Phenomenon” (NBC) 6.17m
9. “Back to You” (R) (FOX) 5.35m
10. “Kitchen Nightmares” (FOX) 5.34m
11. “Til Death” (R) (FOX) 4.67m
12. “America’s Next Top Model” (CW) 3.62m
13. “Gossip Girl” (R) (CW) 1.26m

By the way, did you notice the new opening last week? You can view the changes here.

Ned & Chuck in the Media: Finally after several weeks, I found a fresh interview of Anna Friel and Lee Pace, courtesy of USA Today. The pair talked about how they get along in real life, their take on what it is like to kiss through plastic, the physical limitations between the characters, their sentiments about the strike or the fact that the show will end in a cliffhanger because of it…and of course, pies. Here’s an excerpt:

Q: What do you know about baking pies?
Pace: I’ve learned more than I ever thought I would about pies.
Friel: He can’t believe that in England we have fish pie.
Pace: They will make a pie out of anything.
Friel: You know why, though, Lee, because pies were invented for miners. When you were a miner, it was a pastry that kept it in a casing so the food wouldn’t get dirty.
Pace: Coal pie.
Friel: Yeah, coal pie. I’ll bring you some of that when I go to England.
Pace: Pies are very hard to make. I’m still on graham-cracker crust, filling it with whipped cream and Butterfingers. It’s very hard, but it’s not as difficult as touching something back to life.
— From USA TODAY

Finally, over at the ABC site… guess who could have drawn out this SWF ad?

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Olive: This is what it is, isn’t it? …Unless that isn’t a rolling pin under your apron.
Ned: Sorry…[shows rolling pin in the apron]
Olive: Oh, isn’t it great we can joke? Now that we that we know that there’s nothing going on between us and never was. It can be funny. I bet this sort of thing happens all the time between adults. Mixed romantic messages. In no time we’ll be looking back and laugh until we wet the rug. Which we’ll then want to shampoo. Couple times. Possibly three, depending on what we were drinking.

Olive: Look carefully, ladies: this is your future.
Lily: Is it vodka?
Olive: Water.
Lily: As in Russian for vodka?
Olive: As in English. For H20.
Vivian: Lily doesn’t believe in water anymore. She thinks it’s a waste of a perfectly good tumbler.

Chuck [on the stages of grief]: Something, something, something, something, acceptance.

Chuck: Am I the seriously the first person to question your aversion to change? What about your ex-girlfriends?
Ned: I’ve had girlfriends. But there were always extraneous factors…You know, we, um, grew apart and lost interest. Had intimate relations on a bearskin rug …
Chuck: Oh, no. Did it [clawing her hand]?
Ned: It did enough to be upsetting.

Emerson: Death by scratch and sniff. What the hell happened to people shooting each other with guns?

Emerson: And if the sacred cash cow I worship is mooing down on us…

Narrator: Anxious to sniff out more information, our heroes sought out Napoleon LeNez, scratch and sniff author, in his suite above the city and immediately found themselves in an alarming situation.
Napoleon LeNez: Do not be alarmed by the situation.

Emerson: Your book was a bomb.
Napoleon: Who are you to criticize my life’s work?!
Emerson: Your book was a bomb. It exploded.

Olive: [looking at the TV] Look there’s the killer.
[Someone walks inside Pie Hole]
Chuck: Look, there’s the killer.
Olive: Oh, lord.

Chuck: Oh! Then I’ll be polite and say, “Oh, I’m sorry I forgot my purse and I’ve got no pockets”.
Emerson: Uh huh…well, hey somebody see, now I’m gonna need to see some ID on the account that you look just like that dead girl that got herself killed on that tropical cruise.
Ned: I’ll say something like “What is this? A police state?!”…If I ever say that it means I’m having a panic attack.

Chuck: Ned!
Ned: Chuck!
Napoleon: Oscar!
Oscar: Napoleon!
….
Olive: … Hi, Emerson!
Emerson: Hey, Olive.

For a recap to this episode, check this entry.
For quotes from previous episode check our Quotable Quotes section.

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From previous episodes, it was quite evident that Ned became obsessed with pies because of his mother. And as last night’s show puts it, pies made Ned remember her. Its smell was his safe sanctuary. So, when Chuck suggested that they make additions to his traditional menu for the Pie Hole, it became an issue with Ned. It was a big step — to moving on. Anyway, more on that later….The episode Smell of Success had two storylines this week.

The Olfactory Experts

Story A is about Napoleon LeNey (French for “the nose”), an olfactory expert who’s had near brushes with death. There were a couple of attempts on his life and all of it suspiciously taking place at a time when he was about to relase a book on scents that was supposed to be his money machine.

LeNey thinks its his nemesis Oscar Vibenius (Paul Reubens) is behind all the attempts to murder him, citing that Oscar was jealous of his work and that their views often collided. But as Emerson and Ned dug deeper, they have learned that the victim was in fact the suspect.

The facts are these: The release of LeNey’s book was bumped to a different release date. This was not in his favor because the week his book was supposed to come out was not a “prime holiday spot” where sales are sure to rise. Learning that his publisher was gonna bury his work, he decided to create buzz around it. LeNey thought it would help sales if there was controversy behind the release of his new book. When the first attempt resulted in an accident, with one of his students dying, instead of feeling remorseful, LeNey wanted more because news of the first accident caused pre-orders of his book to increase. So he sets another plan, another attempt on his life, by framing his enemy, Oscar Vibenius, and capitalized on the publicity the book was generating.

The outcome of this was attempted murder case was actually predictable. With LeNey’s plans discovered, the case was easily solved.

The Darling Mermaids

The other running storyline this week involved Chuck, Olive and her Aunts.

Olive has become better friends with Chuck and for this week, they sought to move to phase 2 of Chuck’s plan to help her aunts move on. The plan was to have them back in the water, with Olive trying her best to make the aunts enthusiastic of the idea. Except Aunt Lily was harder to convince. Not even the smell of chlorine, which she calls a “bottle of sunshine”, could bring her back to the to swimming. But then, it was Vivian who eventually motivated her sister. And on cue, Vivian lets out a sweet, beautiful and moving rendition of Cat Steven’s “Morning Has Broken” (watch video), as they swam and did their routines as the Darling Mermaid Darlings in the pool. And with that, Chuck’s Phase 2 was complete.

And then there is Oscar…

Oscar Vibenius returns for one last scene towards the end of the episode. Meeting Chuck earlier, he smelled something very peculiar about her and it intrigued him enough to steal Chuck’s sweaters. This, of course, will not be the last we’ll see of him. Could he one day discover Chuck’s secret?

Other things to note:

• Emerson is consistently funny and consistently in pink shirt! We learn that aside from knitting, Emerson is very fond of pop-up books.
• Olive looks smashing in a Darling Mermaid Darling outfit that it was almost too sexy for this show. And I had a child watching with me!
• As for Chuck convincing Ned to add a new menu, her cup-pie idea, with its honeybaked crust is actually a good one. And Ned relented in the end. Would you like to see the new menu of The Pie Hole?

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I have just finished watching this week’s episode, Smell of Success. In a word, I’d have to describe it as peachy. Although, it wasn’t the strongest episode to date, it’s delightful, nonetheless. Parts of it were also tugging my heart, especially some of Chuck and the aunt’s scenes (not together). I’ll provide a more detailed recap of this by tomorrow.

Also in this episode is another anticipated musical number, a Cat Stevens number. Composer James Dooley, who creates the music for Pushing Daisies, mentions this in an interview a while back. He said, “I did an arrangement of Hopelessly Devoted for Kristin and Ellen sings Birdhouse In Your Soul by They Might Be Giants. I’ve already done a Cat Stevens song and there are rumors about doing more. We have so much musical talent on this show!”

So what was that big Cat Stevens song Aunt Vivian was supposed to have sang in this episode? I don’t wanna say it yet, since the actual episode runs tonight in the US. But let me just say that Vivian absolutely sang it with gusto and heart. It was like listening to a lullaby, an ode, and a lovesong combined. I was in tears listening to her rendition.

And while the song was playing, visuals like this played on TV, making the moment more magical:

I’ve spoiled you just a little bit, sorry about that.

So, what was this song again? I’m not saying anything more except that it was originally a children’s hymn Cat Stevens adapted from and today you would often hear this being sang in Unitarian Churches.

Don’t forget to watch Smell of Success tonight!

———

Update: Now that the episode has been shown on TV, here is the video of Vivian singing Cat Steven’s Morning Has Broken:

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Wednesday’s episode marks the anticipated guest appearance of Paul Ruebens, who was earlier invited to portray the role of a traveling salesman but was eventually re-cast in the episode Smell of Success. His new character Oscar Vibenius is an olfactory expert who sniffs something very peculiar with our favorite girl, Chuck.

In an interview with Journal News, Paul Ruebens was said to have been given a hand at developing his character. So, he fashioned his hairstyle after Tim Burton. Fans of the show note that much of Pushing Daisies has this certain Burtonesque charm to it.

Of the re-cast in the show Ruebens says this: “I don’t think there’s some big ultra-secret behind it or anything. I think they just wanted to go a different way once they had already discussed it with me. And for me, the good news was there was another part that has turned out to be better.”

Oscar Vibenius will appear on a few more episodes.

Smell of Success is written by Scott Nimerfro with Lawrence Trilling as director. Guest stars include, Christopher Sieber as Napoleon LeNez, Tim Conlon as Chas Spielman and Sarah Jayne Jensen as Juanita Gray.

Episode Summary: When the assistant to renowned scent expert Napoleon LeNez (guest star Christopher Sieber) is found dead after a scratch ‘n’ sniff book explodes, Ned, Chuck and Emerson investigate whom the deadly missive was intended for. Meanwhile, Olive continues her campaign to get Aunts Lily and Vivian back in the swim of things.

And the preview promo below….

Hearing Chuck say the last line in the end is making me wish I can watch the episode already! It looks like another good one.

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Ratings Update: It has been a good week. Pushing Daisies wins some viewers around its time-slot with the episode, Bitches. It still remains in top fighting form for Wednesday nights! Below is the show ranking from last week’s offerings:

1. “Criminal Minds” (CBS) 15.71m
2. “CSI: NY” (CBS) 13.04m
3. “Private Practice” (ABC) 11.45m
4. “Pushing Daisies” (ABC) 8.88m
5. “Dirty Sexy Money” (ABC) 8.10m
6. “Kid Nation” (CBS) 7.53m
7. “Til Death” (FOX) 7.36m
8. “Back to You” (FOX) 7.30m
9. “Kitchen Nightmares” (FOX) 6.98m
10. “Life” (NBC) 6.94m
11. “Bionic Woman” (NBC) 6.30m
12. “Phenomenon” (NBC) 6.16m
13. “America’s Next Top Model” (CW) 5.34m
14. “Gossip Girl” (CW) 2.90m

Characters in the Media: What’s up with our favorite characters of late? I’ve rounded up a few media mentions, the most notable and interesting of which was Ellen Greene’s interview:

• Aunt Vivian (Ellen Greene) was recently talks with Playbill and says this is the very first series she’s done for television. Why has it taken her this long to be on TV? Greene says, “I’ve never done one because if you want [the show] to live a long time, you have to love your character. . . It’s such a wonderful, multi-layered [character], and I fell in love with Vivian.” There are some very exciting spoiler alert in that article and it’s about the episode for this week…so thread lightly when reading it. Needless to say, I’m already looking forward to this Wednesday!
• Star Pulse has recognized Ned and Chuck as one of TV’s Top 10 Couples, saying the actors have some great chemistry.
• Here’s a brief mention of Emerson (Chi McBride) on the Faye Observer
• Guest star Molly Shannon, who will appear on the show as Ned’s business competitior, talks with Cleveland’s The Plain Dealer . She mentions having done two episodes, out of the intended six, for the show already. The set back has something to do with the ongoing strike, of course.

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Narrator: Harold Hundin was, indeed, a damn polygamist.

Emerson: No wonder the guy can handle four wives..the dude’s caffinated.

Hundin: My wife did it, she had murder in her eyes and that murder was couture.

Olive: That’s the most tragic story I’ve ever heard, notwithstanding the big-ticket items like genocide and famine, but tragic nonetheless.

Emerson: That girl dropped a bomb in your subconscious with her saliva. (referring to Olive)

Ned: I’m easily distracted; I wouldn’t know where to focus.

Emerson: Some people like chocolate, some people like vanilla, and some people like their neapolitan
Ned: I like neapolitan
Emerson: Then you’d do well as a polygamist.

Emerson: Someone in love is like a gangsta. They be like, ‘Oh baby, you bleeding. How did that happen?’ while they’re hiding the razor in their weave.

Olive: You’re taking money from blind children?
Emerson: I suppose I could pay my bills with blind kids’ smiles, but their money is a lot easier.

Ned (to the dog psychiatrist, and pretending to be Mr. Digby): Ned’s been having strange dreams lately. His paws twitch and he whimpers. It’d be cute if it weren’t so sad. He may be experiencing stress-related anxiety due to, uh, mating issues.
Psychiatrist: You’re deflecting. You’re avoiding a deeper discussion of Ned’s mating issues.
Ned: Can’t you see this is making Ned uncomfortable?
Heather: Mr. Digby, Ned’s merely wrestling with the natural anxieties of an inexperienced stud.
Ned: He’s had experience! Some.

Emerson: Will you prop him up? He looks like a wino on New Years Eve.

Chuck: I love a good although!

Chuck: I know your not blind!
Hallie (One of the wives): Oh, thanks I felt awful doing that.
Chuck: It was humiliating for the both of us.

Olive: I was in shock when I lost my pie, the horse not the food, and one day I was walking along and saw a bakery in the shape of a giant pie, the food not the horse, and it was a sign.
Hillary (one of the wives): Are you suggesting that I’ll find the answers to life and death in a bubblegum machine?”

Ned: Everyone wants stuff, we wake up everyday with a list of wishes a mile long and maybe we spend our lives trying to make those wishes come true but just because we want them doesn’t mean we need them to be happy
Chuck: What do you need to be happy?
Ned: You.

For a recap to this episode, check this entry.
For quotes from previous episode check our Quotable Quotes section.

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So these are the facts from the episode of Pushing Daisies this week:

• Kissing and touching between Ned and Chuck can happen in every episode! Do your count and double check. They have had contact one way or another since the first show.
• Digby is perhaps the front runner for Best Actor on TV today!
• Olive is now part of the Scooby Gang….and it’s good that she’s sleuthing with them. I’ve always felt she was an outcast when they begin talking about their cases.
• Knit-loving Emerson is also a romantic Emerson, if the right type of woman comes along. Dare I say, Simone was exactly the kind of woman I imagined Emerson would go for.

(more…)

I got home rather exhausted last night and thankfully I found Bitches waiting for me. And by bitches, I mean the episode of Pushing Daisies airing tonight. (USA Audience)

Watching it was the perfect way to unwind, after a rather very busy schedule. Because two minutes into the episode and guess what? Something very unexpected happens between Ned and Chuck! And I wish to contain my excitement so as not to spoil those who will still be viewing it later, but can I just tease you with it a bit?

What the producers were telling us viewers earlier, about Ned and Chuck finding ways to kiss and touch each other? Well, it’s true. And they did:

Ta-dah!!!! This scene will also explain what we’ve seen from the teasers with Ned and Olive.

There were wet kisses and dry kisses and kisses with little moisture.

And the episode as a whole, is as usual, on top form. Better not miss it! I’ll provide the full recaps tomorrow.

Meantime, here’s a spoiler alert from the guy who, I think, coined the phase “spoiler alert!” — TV Guide’s Ausiello. He writes that Bryan Fuller has promised the remaining episodes left to air are “amped with many balls in the air as possible” (Whoohee, great!) and that a secret Ned has been keeping from Chuck will most likely be the cliffhanger to the “finale”. So, this could be finally the time Chuck learns the event of her father’s death, right? In addition to that is another shattering revelation that will link Chuck and one other character. Whatever that is, Ausiello hints it’s jaw-dropping.

And then we’d have to wait months for it to be resolved! Ahh, the agony!

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Well, the show must go on….at least for three more episodes.

This week, Pushing Daisies is airing their sixth episode, and a highly anticipated one, if I may add. Bitch is written Chad Gomez Creasey & Dara Resnik Creasey and carries an interesting story line concerning dog breeders.

Episode summary: Ned, Chuck, Emerson, and Olive team up to solve a case in the murder of Harold Hundin (played by guest star Joel McHale), a well respected dog breeder whose prized dog, a bitch named Bubblegum, becomes the worlds first Coll-A-Dor-Russell-A-Poo. They learn from the momentarily revived Harold that his wife killed him. It’s only later they find that prime suspect Hallie (played by Jenny Wade) was not his only wife; Harold was a polygamist with four wives! Ned finds himself in an uncomfortable situation after his kiss with Olive is revealed to Chuck.

The promo video released last week sparked controversy since there is a scene with Olive and Ned naked (gasped!) together:

If this was one ploy to keep viewers anticipating with excitement, especially at a time when the show was on its one week break, then it worked. I, myself would like to know what that’s about!

And then here’s a minute’s worth of sneak peek, where everyone uses good old Digby as a way to get to the four wives and solve the mystery to this story:

Over the last few episodes, I’ve come to the realization that Pushing Daisies is sort of like the live-action version of the Hanna-Barbera cartoons, Scooby Doo, don’t you think so, too?

Digby is gonna win Best Dog Actor Award, with this episode, if there exist such one award giving body for pets!

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Strike Updates: A week without Pushing Daisies and I’m already feeling the loss. With the strike looming, the loss could translate to complete devastation. It’s not that I am being overly dramatic. But I’ve been looking forward to this show since July and learning that the strike could possibly affect its longevity? It saddens me.

TV Guide recently talked to show runner Bryan Fuller and confirms that should the strike extend for months, the final episode to be tentatively shown in January (Episode 9), would serve as the season finale.

“As we were scrambling to rewrite [Episode 9],” he reveals, “we added several elements that will put many balls into the air and hopefully encourage the audience to come back and see how they land.”

So what would have been 22 episodes will just be down to that — nine short ones. And a possibly a two-disc DVD set in the future?

The show is currently still in production and there are still no word of it shutting down yet. In the meantime, late this week, ABC Network has sent all striking writers a memo reminding them to go back to work.

People’s Choice Awards: On the brighter side of things, People’s Choice Awards lists Pushing Daisies as one of the nominees under the category Favorite New TV Drama, going against: Big Shots; Bionic Woman; Cane; Dirty Sexy Money; Gossip Girl; Journeyman; K-Ville; Life; Life Is Wild; Moonlight; Private Practice; Women’s Murder Club. But wasn’t this show categorized as a Comedy early this season? Anyhow, this piece of news is still something to smile about. Vote for your choice here.

Young Ned and Chuck: Seen at the Bee Movie premiere are actors Sammi Hanratty and Field Cate (photo is from WireImage). You can also watch these two kids at the TDink Fashion Magazine walk-off. The young boy is quite an articulate one and the girl is just adorable.

Pushing Daisies, Bryan Fuller, People’s Choice Awards, Sammi Hanratty, Field Cate