Pushing Daisies

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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Tonight, you will all notice the absence of Pushing Daisies on television, as it is pre-empted by the annual Country Music Awards night on ABC.  And if that, as well as the news regarding the strike, is not enough to dampen your Pushing Daisies fix, I just learned that there are only three more episodes to look forward to for the remainder of the year. Yep, that’s right… just three!

First, Season 1 Episode 6 entitled Bitches, will air November 14th. It will followed by the 7th episode, Smell of Success, on November 21st.  There will be another break on the last week of November and after which, Episode 8, Bitter Sweet, will air on December 5th.  What happens after this? Well, the show will go on its Christmas hiatus, like many other series. And the last of the scripts for the episode, Corpsicle, penned before the strike took place is eyed for airing in January.  Incidentally, you can check the script for Corpsicle on this site.  (Thanks to SpoilerTV!)

While the show goes on hiatus, I’ve got a few suggestions of other productions you can watch, featuring our favorite cast. Rent or buy this on DVD, do whatever you can to get hold of copies. (And here’s wishing the strike should be over when the show returns for Episode 9 in January, too!)

• Lee Pace was part of the supporting cast on Wonderfalls. He wasn’t in on a lot of the episodes, which, by the way, rounds up to only about a dozen or so. If you’re looking for a show that has the same whimsy as Pushing Daisies, this one’s it. Lee was also in the film The Good Shepherd. I fell asleep watching this movie, so I probably won’t recommend it on a holiday break…it’s easier to fall asleep from all that celebration and eating, that’s why!
• This might be a good time to catch up on The Nine, which stars Chi McBride. Like Wonderfalls, The Nine also had a short-lived season but it will be perfect for a three-week-hiatus viewing. Or you could watch Season 2 of House, since he had about 5-6 guest appearances in it, playing House’s nemesis.
• The character of Harriet Hayes on Studio 60 was said to be inspired by Kristin Chenowith, so you might want to watch that, too. But if you want the actual actress, rent Stranger Than Fiction DVD and enjoy the extras with Kristin.
• Me Without You is a movie about bestfriends starring Anna Friel. It’s a pretty obscure find so start looking for a copy now. While you’re at it, try looking for a copy of Watermelon, too. I hear it’s a pretty good film.

Would that be enough to fill up the three week break? Do you have any other suggestions? Chime-in!

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Tomorrow night is Pushing Daisies’ Halloween special, as Emerson partners with Olive to track down a ghost in a horse race arena. It used to be a place familiar to Olive, as she was once a jockey.

The episode is written by Bryan Fuller and directed by Peter O’Fallon who has also directed episodes of Ghost Whisperer, Prison Break and House.

Below are a few previews for the episode, Girth. By this account, Emerson is really getting funnier! Watch for his reaction when Olive reveals a past career. I’m actually beginning to appreciate Emerson and Olive more than Ned and Chuck. And while the two (Ned and Chuck) have amazing chemistry, the supporting cast in this show is equally amazing. I find myself looking forward to more of Emerson and Olive than any other character in the series.

Girth kind of reminds you of Sleepy Hollow, doesn’t it? And if you head to the the official site, other scenes from this episode may be previewed, as well.  Plus if you are looking for some promo photos for this episode, you can head to this site where there is almost a dozen of those.

Episode Title: Girth
Episode Summary: When jockeys start turning up trampled to death, supposedly by the ghost of a long dead rider (guest star Hamish Linklater, “The New Adventures of Old Christine”) and his spooky horse. Olive — a jockey in her life before the Pie Hole — hires Ned and the team to investigate. Meanwhile, Ned finds himself haunted by the ghosts of his own past as Halloween nears.

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Jayma Mays appears in tomorrow’s episode of Pushing Daisies, playing the character Elsa or Elsita, who lives in a windmill…which I’m guessing is located somewhere in Ned’s hometown, gathering from the photo previews. The actress is, of course, more familiar to TV viewers as “Charlie” in both the first seasons of Heroes and Ugly Betty (same name, different characters).

Based on her previous work and having seen her charm and charisma on TV myself, I would have to say that Jayma is, once again, another perfect choice for this show, along with an already amazing cast and guest appearances by Ruebens and  Esperza.

The people behind Pushing Daisies absolutely know how to make it work!

Tomorrow’s episode synopsis is as follows —
Episode Title: Pigeon
Episode Summary: A plane crash into an apartment building leaves the trio with a case - did the pilot commit suicide? - while Chuck finds herself drawn to the man who appears to be the sole survivor (guest star Dash Mihok), much to Ned’s distress. Meanwhile, Olive takes a wounded messenger pigeon to the Aunts for help.

Pigeon will be directed by Adam Kane, who has worked as cinematographer for Grey’s Anatomy.  (Source IMDb)

And here’s the preview of the Pigeons, as aired on ABC Television:

Close call for Chuck and Ned! Nyiikes!

Is it just me or do you also happen to hold your breath when you watch them in a scene together, for fear that they might accidentally brush each other? And that’s partly of the experience with watching this show….you almost feel the tension yourself. It sometimes kills me!

And here’s another preview, a scene from the cemetery and it’s amazing how this show has managed to make the place less scary:

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Tomorrow’s third episode is written by Bryan Fuller and has a special guest star — it’s Kristin Dos Santos of Watch with Kristin, from E! She is, of course, a big, big fan of the show.

Episode Title: The Fun In The Funeral
Episode Summary: Another strange death at the Schatz Funeral Home leads Ned back to the scene where he brought Chuck back to life. Meanwhile, Olive unwittingly becomes the messenger in Chuck’s plan to bring a little sunshine into the lives of Aunts Lily and Vivian via some anti-depressant laced pies, on Pushing Daisies.

It would appear that Chuck still doesn’t know about the third rule to Ned’s powers, in that, when he fails to bring the dead person back to, well, being dead…another life is claimed to replace it. There goes the secret Ned is so afraid Chuck might find out. Eventually, Chuck could learn the truth about her father.

Here’s the video teaser for tomorrow night’s show:

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Tonigh’s episode of Pushing Daisies is entitled Dummy. I have posted the synopsis of this earlier.

A teaser of Dummy is already up and the moment I saw it, I could not help but laugh at one of Chi McBride’s reaction (he plays Lee’s partner, private investigator, Emerson), I screen captured it:

Mwaahaha! If only that had a better screen resolution, it would make for a really funny wall paper! Anyway, if you missed the previews on television (ABC has been airing it in between shows), here is the video:

There was just something that confused me about the teasers though, when it was said “27 Million” watched it. Pushing Daisies’ actual ratings last Wednesday was somewhere around 12 Million.

Anyway, regardless…the fact of the matter is the premiere was strong and successful and it has beaten the competiting show. And the encore last Friday also garnered a very decent 4.26 million viewers.

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The magical forensic fairy tale has began…

Once upon a time, in a quaint little town called Couer de Couer, we see a young man named Ned (9 Years, 27 weeks, 6 days and 3 minutes old) come running down a field of daisies with Digby, his dog of 3 years, 2 weeks, 6 days and 5 hours when suddenly, a truck runs over the dog.

It is this very incident that Ned discovers his extra-ordinary ability, when, crushed at the sight of his canine best friend lying dead by the road, Ned touched Digby and Digby comes to back to life!

Back home… while Ned explored his new ability, not the least bit concerned of its origin or to what extent is its use, we find his mother in the kitchen baking pies, when she suddenly drops dead. Ned uses his powers on her and she is alive again. She goes back to baking pies, as if nothing happened. And while Ned looks out the window, observing his neighbor, best friend and the eternal love of his life, Chuck (who was 8 years, 42 weeks, 3 hours and 2 minutes old) her father, who was watering the garden while Chuck played, drops dead on the ground.

There came the second realization — that he can only bring the dead back to life for one minute. “Any longer and someone else has to die,” so says the Narrator. In effect, it was as if Ned has traded the life of his Mom with Chuck’s dad.

That night, when it was time for bed, Ned’s mom kissed him in the forehead, as usual. But this turned out to be her last. For at that instant, his mother died (again).

This was Ned’s third realization — that those he touches to bring back from the dead will return to their dying state if they are touched by Ned again.

Narrator: First touch life, second touch dead. Again. Forever.

(more…)

The accuracy of these episode titles may have yet to be verified, but thanks to The Pie Hole for posting this in their community.

The episode titles are as follows:

Season 1 Episode 1 Pie-lette
Season 1 Episode 2 Dummy
Season 1 Episode 3 The Fun in Funeral
Season 1 Episode 4 Pigeon
Season 1 Episode 5 Girth
Season 1 Episode 6 Bitches
Season 1 Episode 7 Bitter Sweets
Season 1 Episode 8 Smell of Success
Season 1 Episode 9 Rival Darlings
Season 1 Episode 10 Twelve Corpses
Season 1 Episode 11 Fruity Buddha

I’ve linked the first three episodes to their synopsis, if you’d like to know what it’s about…athough some of it may contain spoilers. I will be posting the rest of the episode details as soon as information is released.

The cast and crew are currently filming more scenes in a sound stage where other fantastic favorites like “A Star is Born” and “Wonder Woman” used to be done. This, according to a recent article in the Seattle Times.

We’ve got less than seven days to go before the big premiere (October 3rd 8 PM, lest you haven’t jotted down the date yet).

Who is excited?

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I know, I know….the show doesn’t even come on until October 3 and most people have not even seen it yet but we are already feeding spoilers. Maybe that tells you how much this show is highly anticipated.

Airing on October 17th, the third episode for Pushing Daisies is entitled “The Fun in Funeral” and carries the following description below. I’m putting this under spoiler for the meantime, since the official episode description has not been out yet:

Ned and Chuck speak to a dead man named Donald Funk, who worked at the same funeral home as Lawrence Schatz, who they find out died 1 minute after Ned brought Chuck back to life. Donald and Lawrence were partners in stealing flowers from graves and jewelry from bodies of clients of the funeral home. — Source: SpoilerFix

So they are going back to the funeral home from the very first episode!

There are no photos or stills to match the episode yet, unlike what we have gathered for the second one. So check back in a couple of weeks because we’re putting them up once the stills are out!

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Synopsis for Pushing Daisies second episode has been officially released and details are as follows:

The episode titles is: Dummy
The plot: When an automotive expert is found dead (ironically enough) after a strange hit-and-run accident, Ned suspects there’s more to the story, especially when he finds out the deceased worked for a company about to launch an experimental car. Meanwhile, Chuck wants some answers about how Ned brought her back to life. Jonathan Mangum and Riki Lindhome guest star.

Episode dos will air on October 10th, 2007. If you won’t be able to see the episode unfold that night, you can still catch it online since ABC.com is streaming the episodes the day after they air.

Below are some of the photos for EP 2:

I don’t know what this is, but the look has intrigued me.
And I’ve found plenty more of these photos in this gallery!

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Press release from ABC TV, regarding Pushing Daisies “Pie-lette” which is the title of the very first episode :

“PUSHING DAISIES,” A FORENSIC FAIRYTALE ABOUT A YOUNG MAN WITH A VERY SPECIAL GIFT, PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3 ON ABC
From Bryan Fuller (”Heroes,” “Wonderfalls”) and Barry Sonnenfeld (”Men in Black”) comes a new series with an unprecedented blend of romance, fantasy and mystery, “Pushing Daisies,” a forensic fairytale about Ned, a young man with a very special gift. “Pushing Daisies” premieres WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.Golden Globe nominee Lee Pace (”The Good Shepherd,” “Soldier’s Girl”), Anna Friel (”Goal” film series, “Rogue Trader”), Chi McBride (”The Nine,” “Boston Public”), Tony nominee Ellen Greene (”Little Shop of Horrors”), Emmy and Tony winner Swoosie Kurtz (”Huff,” “Sisters”) and Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth (”The West Wing”) star in the visually stunning series from the Jinks/Cohen Company, in association with Warner Bros. Television. Tony winner Jim Dale, reader of the “Harry Potter” series of audio books, is the narrator.

As a young boy Ned discovers that he can return the dead briefly back to life with just one touch. But his random gift isn’t without deadly consequences . . . as he soon finds out. Grown up Ned (Lee Pace) puts his talent to good use by touching dead fruit and making it ripe with everlasting flavor. He opens a pie shop. But his gift leaves him wary of becoming close to anyone, as beautiful waitress Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth) finds out. His life as a pie maker gets more complicated when private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) finds out about Ned’s secret. Emerson convinces the cash-strapped Ned to help him solve murder cases (and collect a hefty reward fee) by raising the dead and getting them to name their killers.

In the premiere episode, “Pie-lette,” Ned is handed the case that changes his life forever. His childhood sweetheart, Charlotte “Chuck” Charles (Anna Friel), is murdered on a cruise ship under strange circumstances. Her death sends him back to his hometown of Coeur d’ Coeurs to bring Chuck back to life, albeit briefly, and solve the crime. But once reunited with Chuck, Ned can’t send her back. He helps her escape after her grieving aunts, Lily and Vivian (Swoosie Kurtz, Ellen Greene), former synchronized swimmers Darling Mermaid Darlings, think they’ve buried their niece forever.

Chuck becomes the third partner in Ned and Emerson’s PI enterprise, but she encourages them to use their skills for good, not just for profit. Ned is overjoyed to be reunited with Chuck, the only girl he’s ever loved. Life would be perfect, except for one cruel twist: If Ned ever touches her again, she’ll go back to being dead, this time for good.

Guest starring in “Pie-lette” are Field Cate as young Ned, Tina Gloss as Ned’s mother, Sammi Hanratty as young Chuck, Patrick Breen as Leo Gaswint, Brad Grunberg as the funeral director, Sy Richardson as the coroner, Julie Wittner as Deedee, Greg Suddeth as gravedigger 1, Ted Garcia as newscaster 1, Leyna Nguyen as newscaster 2, Terry Anzur as newscaster 3, Geraud Moncure as newscaster 4, David Trice as Martin Miltenberger, Ed Brigadier as minister 1 and Murray Gershenz as the rabbi.

“Pie-lette” was written by Bryan Fuller and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. In addition to Fuller and Sonnenfeld, Dan Jinks & Bruce Cohen (Academy Award winning producers of “American Beauty”) and Brooke Kennedy (”Numb3rs”) serve as executive producers.

This program will repeat Friday, Oct. 5 from 8:00-9:00 p.m., ET.

Photo credits: Pushing-Daisies.com