Pushing Daisies

Those who have been following Pushing Daisies from the beginning know that the show was inspired and created by Bryan Fuller while he was busy with his former series Dead Like Me.

Like Pushing Daisies, Dead Like Me, wasn’t able to stick around after the second season. But a movie was eventually done about a year or so ago. Without further delay, that movie is coming straight to DVD in February. It will also have a rerelease of its complete season, which will already include the movie.

The details of this is outlined in this press release after the cut.

Is this where Pushing Daisies is heading, too?

(more…)

Barry Sonnenfeld, the award-winning director of Pushing Daisies Pie-lette episode, is set to produce and also possibly direct the pilot of a new 30 minute single-camera comedy that CBS and Sony Pictures TV are planning to develop for next year.

The show, tentatively titled “Things a Man Should Never Do Past 30″ is inspired from author David Katz’s humorous book, who also wrote a list of 500 rules for men in Esquire Magazine.

The list is based from Katz’s personal experiences and according to his editor, AJ Jacobs who will be writing the pilot with him —- “The show is about a guy working at men’s magazine who is reluctant to embrace adulthood and his friend who is an immersion journalist”. These writers or print journalists will be supervised by a TV veteran, Al Higgins, who is set to become the project’s showrunner.

Barry Sonnenfeld believes in the idea of this new series — “I thought it was a great idea for a show about modern-day men and women dating and trying to grow up and commit while at the same time surrounded by many reasons why not to grow up.”

Here’s a wishful thinking though — can Lee Pace potentially star in it, if he’s fit for the part? Can you imagine Lee doing a single-camera comedy?

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

Star Trek was last seen on TV with the Enterprise which concluded in 2005. But for its whole run, Star Trek had a solid two decades. JJ Abrams, creator of Lost and Fringe, is reviving the cult series for the big screen and questions about its TV return are inevitable.

Will Star Trek come back to television after the movie is shown?

Bryan Fuller, creator of Pushing Daisies who have actually worked on Star Trek Deep Space Nice and Star Trek Voyager, says he is willing to work on another series, “One where you could go back to the spirit and color of the original ‘Star Trek,’ because somehow, it got cold over the years. I love ‘Next Generation,’ but it’s a little cooler and calmer than the ones from the ‘60s, which were so dynamic and passionate.”

But his idea of a new Star Trek series would have to be big different as he wants a series that’s a bit more fun and one that can test the waters, which is similar to what the upcoming movie is all about. Suffice to say, he is very impressed with what JJ Abrams has done to it.

“’Star Trek’ has to recreate itself,” Fuller said. “Otherwise, all the characters start to feel the same. You always have a captain, a doctor, a security officer, and you have the same arguments based on those perspectives. It starts to feel too familiar. So all those paradigms where it takes place on a starship have to be shaken up.”

I’m hardly a fan of the Star Trek series, though but would you want it back on television? With Bryan Fuller do his magic to it?

You can read the full article of Bryan Fuller’s interview here.

Not likely so, based on this photo and article from Variety. Because it seems the shows are going on.

This is of course, Kristin Chenoweth, doing her scenes as Olive Snook for Pushing Daisies Season 2. It looks to me  like she’s doing some theatrics, some singing. Oh, and I can’t help but notice — her hair is longer now?

Anyway, according to reports, the show has been "in production for weeks" and the cast of Pushing Daisies are scheduled to film their scenes throughout July. 

Any threats of an upcoming strike by the actors is unlikely, according to a high profile sitcom showrunner — "The threat of a thesp work stoppage "is not even in my thought process right now at all. There’s just a general feeling that it’s not going to happen."

So… there’s no reason to panic for now. TV is moving along well for the new season.

Incidentally, there are more spoilers after the cut…

(more…)

It hasn’t been an easy year for showrunners. From the WGA strike to steepening FCC fines to the rise of reality television, scripted comedy and drama have been taking it on the nose.

In the lead-up to one of the most atypical Emmy seasons in recent memory, The Hollywood Reporter’s James Hibberd brought together five of television’s most stalwart showrunners: Bryan Fuller (ABC’s “Pushing Daisies”), David Shore (Fox’s “House”), Damon Lindelof (ABC’s “Lost”), Matthew Weiner (AMC’s “Mad Men”) and Craig Thomas (CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother”).

The Hollywood Reporter: How has your business changed since the writers strike?

Bryan Fuller: I think the studios are feeling that some of the money that they hemorrhaged during the strike has to come out of their shows a little bit. So budgets are definitely tighter.

David Shore: Didn’t, during the strike, they take the position they weren’t losing any money?

Damon Lindelof: Not only that, I think that it was actually a boon for them.

Matthew Weiner: Yeah, they had a cash windfall in the fourth quarter that turned into poison in January.

Lindelof: We spent 100 days basically carrying signs and saying that these people were exploiting us and taking advantage of us. And then you go back to work on Valentine’s Day, and you’re trying to act like none of it ever happened. So there was a period where it was like, “I used to be in love with you, we had a huge fight, we broke up, and now we’ve gotten back together.”

Craig Thomas: I never stopped sleeping with the executives. (Laughter.)

(more…)

The British are going to see Dummies after all!

ITV has bowed to pressure from viewers and decided to show a “missing” episode of Anna Friel’s comedy-drama Pushing Daisies on its website. The episode was not aired on TV because ITV did not have enough Saturday nights to show the full series before the Euro 2008 football tournament started. The instalment in question - the second of nine - will be available on ITV’s website from Saturday for a week.

(more…)

Fans and followers of theater actor Raul Esperza, who plays Alfredo Aldirisio on Pushing Daisies, would be thrilled to know that the DVD of his musical comedy, Company is already out.

Product Description: “Winner of the 2007 Tony Award! Sweeping all the major theater awards for Best Revival of a Musical, a beloved era-defining classic is stunningly reinvented in this powerful Broadway production, featuring an explosive starring performance by Raul Esparza. Set in modern upper-crust Manhattan, Company is a funny, sophisticated exploration of love and commitment as seen through the eyes of a charming perpetual bachelor questioning his single state and his enthusiastically married, slightly envious friends. With a wise and witty Stephen Sondheim score including Another Hundred People, Side by Side by Side, The Ladies Who Lunch and Being Alive. Company offers musical comedy at its finest.”

The DVD is available at Amazon. A Blu Ray release is also coming in mid-May.

Raul Esperza, Company, Alfredo Aldirisio

Those in New York may wanna check out the Philharmonic at the Lincoln Center Plaza before May 20th this year… Kristin Chenoweth and Raul Esperza are performing in one show together.

Broadway’s Greatest Showstoppers, conceived conducted and directed by Marvin Hamlisch, will be playing at 7:30 that evening. And musical fans should expect Kristin and Raul to render songs from “A Chorus Line”, “Les Miserables”, “Carousel”, “My Fair Lady” and many more.

Tickets to this Broadway spectacle may be purchased online. Ticket rates are between $29-$99.

TV viewers and fans of Pushing Daisies should be familiar with Raul Esperza as he played Alfred Aldarisio in the series, a man who is very much in love with Olive Snook, Kristin Chenoweth’s character.

Here’s a scene from the show featuring the two of them, in the episode Bittersweets:

Pushing Daisies, Olive Snook, Alfredo Aldarisio, Raul Esperza, Kristin Chenoweth

For Pushing Daisies cast member Field Cate, who plays young Ned in the series, it isn’t hard to work along side a dog like Digby. He has so much respect for animals. So much so that, when PETA Kids asked him for a videotape interview, he gladly obliged.

At 10 years old, he’s got a stricter diet than most kids, by refusing to eat meat and going vegetarian. His three year old brother is also one. Field Cate has also never been inside a circus and would rather not cut real animals for science lab in school.

“I’m a vegetarian because I think it’s terrible to kill animals for food. If you eat meat, you’re supporting the killing of animals for food. Circuses aren’t fun for animals; they keep animals chained up and tortured. We want to go to Cirque du Soleil because it is an ‘all-people’ circus.”

To support PETA Kids causes, Field has signed 10 T-shirts as give-away prizes. On these shirts are the words: “Circuses Are No Fun for Animals” and ten lucky kids will have a chance at winning them if they register at the PETA Kids website.

Pushing Daisies, Field Cate, Peta Kids

The lead stars of Pushing Daisies, Lee Pace and Anna Friel, are in the UK promoting their program, as it will begin airing on ITV this April.

Over at The Sun, there is a video of Anna and Lee talking to the press. Anna’s distinct British accent was definitely coming out. She pronounced Chuck as “Chock”.

“I liked the idea of playing a character that was absolutely fearless, she’s had a chance to look at life for a second time and she looks at life with big wide eyes and true joy, every single minute – and she completely loves Ned, totally and utterly in love. It’s a good old romantic story.”

Teasers are already running on television in the UK. And we’ve found a clip of it. The voice-over still belongs to Jim Dale but they have also included and made mention of the fact that the program has been nominated for three Golden Globes:

Source:
Anna Friel Org
The Sun UK

Anna Friel, Lee Pace, Pushing Daises in the UK, Pushing Daisies

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day premiered at the Tribeca Grand in New York City over the weekend. The event was well attended, which of course included the stars of the movie — Amy Adams, Frances McDormand, Lee Pace and Tom Payne and Ciaran Hinds.

Photos from Getty Images

(more…)

As speculated and posted earlier, Chenoweth is indeed performing at the Oscars!

Finally, “Enchanted’s” Patrick Dempsey could be introducing the song suite that includes performances by his co-star Amy Adams as well as Kristen Chenoweth, Marlon Saunders and Jon McLaughlin. And Dubliner Colin Farrell could be welcoming “Once” stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova who will perform their nominated song, “Falling Slowly.” | Gold Derby

Saying that Oscar plans are “full speed ahead,” AMPAS prexy Sid Ganis and Oscarcast producer Gil Cates on Thursday unveiled the list of scripters, presenters and performers for the 80th annual Oscars.

Adams will sing “Happy Working Song,” Kristin Chenoweth and Marlon Saunders will warble “That’s How You Know,” and Jon McLaughlin will do “So Close” (all three from “Enchanted”); Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova will perform “Falling Slowly” (from “Once”) and Jamia Simone Nash will perform “Raise It Up” with the Impact Repertory Theatre of Harlem, headed by Jamal Joseph (from “August Rush”). | Variety

Pushing Daisies, Kristin Chenoweth, Oscar Awards

According to the Turkish Daily News, Pushing Daisies will begin airing Feb. 19 on the CNBC-e channel. Check back at this site, we’ll keep you updated on when and where Pushing Daisies is airing next.

Below is their press write-up/review:

Pushing Daisies” aims directly at senses and emotions. With an atmosphere created by Bryan Fuller of “Heroes” and director Barry Sonnefled of “Men In Black” among others, falling “somewhere between “Amelie” and a Tim Burton film – something big, bright and bigger than life, the heart-warming chemistry of the Golden Globe-nominated Lee Pace and Anna Friel, the pies that are the ultimate punishment for the audience in diet, the murders reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel, and with its surreal narrative turning instantly from a mystery to a musical, “Pushing Daisies” only wants you to let your emotions loose.

The city where Ned, Chuck, Emerson (Chi McBride) and waitress Olive, who has a crush on Ned (Kristin Chenoweth), reside in is a place right out of children’s books. The only thing missing from the surreal city with candy-colored morgue, cars working with dandelions and wind mills of all colors is Charlie’s Chocolate Factory. The city is like a children’s book, so are the other resident actors of the murder cases, with names like Deedee Duffield, Wilfred Woodruff, Napoleon LeNex, Dilly and Billy Balsam.

(more…)

Pushing-Daisies.com is reporting that Field Cate, the young boy who plays Ned’s ten year old version, has been nominated for a Young Artist Award. Although  the complete list isn’t found on the site yet, we’d like to wish Field Cate good luck!

Everyone on Pushing Daisies is getting recognized with awards left and right, huh? I’m wondering when Digby’s award is coming up!

Pushing Daisies, Young Artist Award, Field Cate

This just in…

Comingsoon.net reports that Anna Friel will begin filming her movie, Land of the Lost, which she will co-star with Will Ferrell…

“Pushing Daisies” star Anna Friel will play the female lead opposite Will Ferrell in Brad Silberling’s fantasy-adventure Land of the Lost at Universal Pictures.

In the feature adaptation of Sid and Marty Krofft’s 1970s live-action show, Friel will play the love interest of Ferrell, a disgraced paleontologist who finds himself in a strange prehistoric world.

The Kroffts and Jimmy Miller will produce from a pre-strike screenplay by Chris Henchy and Dennis McNicholas. Julie Wixson-Darmody is executive producer.

Principal photography begins next month.

Anna Friel, Land of The Lost, Will Ferrell