Friday, October 5, 2007 | by nathan

“Pushing Daisies”

So I caught the premiere of "Pushing Daisies" the other night on ABC. It was created by Bryan Fuller, the genius behind "Wonderfalls," "Dead Like Me" and "Heroes," which are three of the best hours of television that have ever existed.

Okay, first, let’s talk cinematic beauty: it’s probably the most visually appealing show I’ve ever seen. This might have something to do with the fact that I watched in HD, but setting that aside for a moment, the cinematography and the look of the show is really stunning. The pilot episode opens with a helicopter shot of a vast field covered in yellow flowers, through which a young boy runs with his dog. It was gorgeous.

The cast is amazing. Lee Pace - who also was in "Wonderfalls" - plays the "Pie Maker," a man named Ned who can bring the dead back to life with a single touch, though after one minute he must either touch them so they return to death, or someone else near him will die. Chi McBride is a private investigator who finds out about what Ned can do and together they solve crimes by touching murder victims to ask them who killed them. Anna Friel - who looks exactly like a young Faye Dunaway - is Ned’s childhood sweetheart, Chuck, who is murdered. When Ned revives her to ask her who killed her, he can’t bring himself to touch her again; thus, she lives, but they can never touch.

The supporting cast is excellent. Kristen Chenoweth is charming as Ned’s assistant at his restaurant, brilliantly called "The Pie Hole." Ellen Greene and Swoozie Kurtz are at their daffy best as Chuck’s shut-in aunts; Kurtz even sports an eye patch and gets off a brilliant round with a shotgun in the first episode. Oh, and narrating it all? Jim Dale, who is the voice on the American editions of the Harry Potter audiobooks.

The show was #1 in its time slot this week, but I’m really begging you guys - fans of good storytelling, charming yet deeply flawed characters, and stunning visuals, catch this show. I was in love after five minutes, which usually means a show is going to get canceled after four weeks. It happened to "Wonderfalls," to "Veronica Mars," "Dead Like Me," "Firefly," "Greg the Bunny" (oh sure, you all LOOOOVE Sarah Silverman NOW), "Commander in Chief" and "Carnivale." All were canceled far, far before they’d had a chance to really shine. But the thing is? I like this show more than I did any of those on first viewing. You won’t be disappointed.

You may ask, if I’ve let myself get so invested in so many stories that were cut short, why am I willing to get my hopes up about "Pushing Daisies?" Fact is, when a story’s good, it’s good; I get sucked in. Same with books. Only thing is, with a book you don’t get halfway through - or worse, 13 pages through - only to have it taken away. So here’s hoping this one’s a success. The critics like it, but they liked a lot of things that got the bag. 

Unfortunately the pilot’s not on iTunes, but hopefully that will change soon. Oh, and if even after all my harping you still haven’t seen "Wonderfalls," do yourself a favor and get the box set. For my money it’s the best 13 episodes of television you’ll ever watch. Especially if, like me and so many people I know, you were once (or still are) a disaffected 20-something who ended up "overeducated and unemployable."