BLOGS

Pushing Daisies: How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Ways

I adored Pushing Daisies last season, it was just so cute and clever and charming, but I worried, because I also adored the first season of Ugly Betty and season two got a little dicey and season three's been hit or miss. I'm just delighted that Pushing Daisies (which no one is watching for whatever reason) is still as perfectly precious and adorable as it was and now even more so because the characters have just really come in to their own. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to burst with absolute love for it. I need a hug machine to give me a comforting squeeze after each episode! I was feeling inspired to write poetry about how I adore this show, but I'm really terrible at writing poetry. Instead, I'm just borrowing my title from the Elizabeth Barret Browning sonnet and counting the multiple ways that I am absolutely smitten with this show.

I love thee for your heartwrenching star-crossed lovers storyline
Ned brought the love of his life back to life, and now can't touch her. It's just so tragically romantic. And finding ways to keep them questioning their relationship is breaking my heart, but makes total sense and Ned's forlorn looks are just the sweetest thing I've ever seen.

I love thee for the creative use of guest stars
A show that can bring in Paul "Pee-Wee Herman" Reubens, David Arquette, Autumn Reaser, French Stewart and Molly Shannon (all of whom usually annoy me) and make them interesting and not totally irritating, is genius in my book. And extra points for bringing on my Broadway fave Raul Esparza, the adorable Everwood alum Debra Mooney and narrator Jim Dale.

I love thee for your brilliant use of set design
Ugly Betty used to be the most vivid show on TV, but Pushing Daisies' oversaturated colors are just infectiously eye-catching. Even my toddler is transfixed. Or maybe it is because I watch so much kiddie programming that I'm subliminally attracted to the brightness, but whatever. I loved Big Fish and The Wizard of Oz before I had a kid and they were all about colors, so there. Keep up the pretty. It's a refreshing change.

I love thee of the occasional bursts of song
Not much makes me happier than Kristin Chenoweth singing (I know this doesn't have the same effect on everyone). Sound of Music references, Grease songs, whatever, even Ellen Greene's gorgeous "Morning Has Broken," they are like the cream-filling in an already delicious treat.

I love thee for the doubling up of names for comic effect
From the Darling Mermaid Darlings, Couer d'Couers, uberlife life insurance, etc. That combined with clever things like corpsicles and frescorts, just make this dialogue distinct from the rest of the TV landscape.

I love thee for the visual gags
Multiple murdered clowns coming out of one teeny car, the crazy ways that Ned revives people and their initial reactions to being offed and then un-offed, having umbrellas or eye patches conveniently block out information, tossing in ruby slippers and striped tights on a dead clown, having a bee company be set in a hive-shaped building and a pie shop look like a pie crust. Genius.

I love thee for Emerson's odd hobbies.
He's big and gruff and in the PI business just for the cold hard cash, but it is such a sweet juxtaposition to see him crafting a pop-up book for his daughter or knitting. You never see the guys on CSI knitting.

I love thee for finding ways to put Kristin Chenoweth and Swoosie Kurtz together
Love these two actresses, they steal every scene they are in, and when they are paired up, it is like lighting in a bottle. I almost wish that Olive Snook had stayed at the nunnery longer. Though I am glad that she brought Pigby back with her.

I love the for the double entendres
Coming up with ways for Ned to express his feelings about Chuck, or talk about how they can be together with some clever devices. There're always sneaky things slipped in, just to remind you that this is a show for grown-ups... in case you'd forgotten because of all the pretty colors and whatnot.

I love thee just because...
When you put all these things together, it just adds up to happy. And with all of the other crime shows on television, its just nice to have one that has a happily ever after... at least most of the time.

Love this show too? Got other reasons I left off? Just don't get why anyone would watch? Let us know.

57 Comments

October 23, 2008 6:21 PM
MaggiSaar
Reply

Oh, I'm with you. I love this show for every second that it just is. The music, the acting, the silliness. It leaves me all a-flutter when it's over.

And I love hearing Jim Dale say "badass". That might be my new ringtone.

October 23, 2008 6:33 PM
Brittney
Reply

I am in the "Just don't get why anyone would NOT watch" camp. I didn't realize it was doing so badly in ratings...mostly because I love it so much I thought everyone else did. Is there a good chance of cancellation? If so, my nights will be getting a litter duller…

October 23, 2008 7:25 PM
Kat
Reply

Angel, you've captured perfectly all of the things that I love about this show. Except that I would heap even more praise on Chi McBride and his portrayal of the freakin' awesome Emerson Cod! Emerson just might be in my top 5 fave TV characters ever. You mentioned the great on-screen chemistry between Chenoweth and Kurtz, and while I agree, I think that Chenoweth is even better when paired with McBride.
I seriously could watch an entire show about Emerson and Olive. If "Daisies" fails I'm pushing for the "Olive & Cod" spinoff.

October 23, 2008 11:25 PM
wavyfrog6
Reply

I love it for all the reasons listed above and at least one more:

I love thee for thy creative bleeping: The bells last week and the fire breather the week before, and we can even count the "duvet you" comment from this week. Cursing is funny (it's a rule, dontcha know), but almost cursing is funnier.

October 24, 2008 12:10 AM
Heather
Reply

Second your loves.

I hate though how no one watches it and it's dangerously close to cancellation. Lee Pace should go to every house in America and look at the people with a sad face and then leave. That would get them watching.

October 24, 2008 2:40 AM
furrylump
Reply

I love thee for thy strange whimsy.

October 24, 2008 8:41 AM
Kaitlin
Reply

I love thee for Lee Pace's eyebrows. Oh come on, you know you were all thinking it.

October 24, 2008 10:49 AM
patty
Reply

i love thee for your quick witted lines with under the radar cultural references that I sometimes have to read up on but are so funny and interesting.

WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT WATCHING!!! this is one of the smartest shows and prettiest (love the colors and sets) and yet people aren't tuning in!!! WHYYYYYY?!?!

October 24, 2008 11:01 AM
cloverdew
Reply

This is my absolute favourite show ever for all of the reasons above and more. The subtlety and the humour, the music (Jim Dooley!) and the tongue-twister lines well-delivered by the cast. Everything about this show makes me completely content and happy.

October 24, 2008 8:12 PM
ThigpensRevenge
Reply

This is really the only show on TV right now that actually makes me FEEL happy when I'm watching it. What is wrong with people that they don't want to feel happy?

October 24, 2008 8:52 PM
nojarama
Reply

I love thee for being the best show on TV!

October 24, 2008 11:29 PM
Tamara
Reply

I love thee for the creative way you kill people off .

After all where else would you have someone killed by a scratch and sniff bomb?

It would be absolutely criminal to cancel this show. It's not that there are many people watching it, it's the people watching it don't have Neilsen boxes.

October 24, 2008 11:52 PM
dsbs
Reply

This show is pure joy from minute 1 to minute 44. Nothing makes me smile like Pushing Daisies.

I apologize to everyone who's a fan of this show, because any show I adore is bound to be canceled prematurely (yes, I do believe the entire universe revolves around my likes and dislikes :P)

October 28, 2008 12:08 AM
Chiara
Reply

Amen and amen! The show is eyecandy and pure romance every week.

October 30, 2008 10:18 AM
JessGH
Reply

I love thee for the magic you bring to my TV. You can count me as one of the few new people catching onto this show! Jewel-toned scenery, witty repartee, Kristin-freakin-Chenowith, Chi McBride grumping around, and Lee Pace's eyebrows? Sigh. A perfect antidote to the 318 procedural crime shows on right now. It's like a perfect little cup-pie in a shiny box with a sparkly bow on the top every week.

October 30, 2008 10:25 AM
Aurorajaye
Reply

This show is such an exquisite mix of fairytale, and modern life (Not to mention those procedural shows people like so much). I love, love, love this show, and if it is canceled I will be profoundly sad.

October 30, 2008 12:35 PM
ReallyTired
Reply

I love the coroner guy, who we haven't seen lately, unfortunately. And I love the physical comedy - last night was a perfect example - the way Bao was turning his head back and forth while the pole narrowly missed Ned & Emerson - hilarious.
I'll be inconsolable if this is cancelled. It's the highlight of my week.

October 30, 2008 1:21 PM
Christine
Reply

I love thee Pushing Daisies for your amazing dialogue, so much so I watch you with the CC on, so I don't miss a single word!

October 30, 2008 1:56 PM
Brian
Reply

This is the best show on Wednesday night, hands down. As "Bones" gets dumber and dumber, this show is coming into its own only to get cancelled?!? Say it isn't so.....

Best cast in any comedy on television. Highlight of my viewing week.

October 30, 2008 2:31 PM
Duessa
Reply

I love thee for thy bang on costume design and cute details (Ned's subtle matching of Chuck's clothes). Ah, love this show!

October 30, 2008 6:32 PM
The Ridger
Reply

The facts are these: I love this show for everything it does.

October 31, 2008 4:37 AM
Deepy
Reply

I love thee for providing my TV with delicious looking pies every single week and inspiring me to make pies. From the luscious looking fruit to Ned looking all yummy baking, to passionfruit pies, cup pies, and pears with a gruyere crust, every week is like pie porn for my television.

Pushing Daisies is like a ray of weekly sunshine in the dull, asinine, world of TV that's obsessed with cheap reality shows and sex-based entertainment (I'm looking at you "Grey's Anatomy," my former love).

October 31, 2008 10:06 AM
Allie
Reply

"The Pie Show," as we call it in my house, makes me happy. I mean, that's just kind of it, isn't it? It makes me happy. Other shows can make me laugh, but this show charms me. I carry my happiness through the rest of the day. When was the last time a TV show did that?

October 31, 2008 11:11 PM
Tkangaroo
Reply

I love thee for the all the genius dialogue/narration, especially the tongue twisting delight-filled snarkiness of one Emerson Cod.

I love thee for putting Lee Pace on my TV weekly.

I love thee for the most creattive backdrops of every mouthwatering moment.

I love thee Pushing Daisies.

November 5, 2008 3:10 PM
Fraulein N
Reply

I really don't get why more people aren't watching this clever, beautiful, wonderful show. Maybe they're dismissive because it's so pretty it can't possibly be any good? People have no idea what they're missing. The romance, the dialogue, the set design, Anna Friel's delicious wardrobe, the PIES ... I could go on and on.

November 5, 2008 3:11 PM
Fraulein N
Reply

I really don't get why more people aren't watching this clever, beautiful, wonderful show. Maybe they're dismissive because it's so pretty it can't possibly be any good? People have no idea what they're missing. The romance, the dialogue, the set design, Anna Friel's delicious wardrobe, the PIES ... I could go on and on.

November 10, 2008 2:55 AM
Flypusher
Reply

How I love thee for all the wonderful characters and their interactions. This is one of the more original shows ever, and I will be soooo bummmed out if ABC cancels. Why must networks be so hasty? Truly good shows need time to develop!

November 10, 2008 5:42 AM
moxie
Reply

you said it. this show is happy. When you take all those components and add them together, it equals happy.

For a show about murders and dead people (which i usually hate) I am always smiling at the end of the show cuz it is sooo good!

Pushing Daisies = happy

December 3, 2008 10:17 PM
Carpedi7
Reply

There is nothing I don't love about this show except for the network that hasn't realized how wonderful it is. Every reason you listed is good enough to love this show but throw them all together and it's genius.

December 3, 2008 10:19 PM
Carpedi7
Reply

There is nothing I don't love about this show except for the network that hasn't realized how wonderful it is. Every reason you listed is good enough to love this show but throw them all together and it's genius.

December 3, 2008 11:55 PM
DayDreamin76
Reply

Angel you've summed up the reasons we all love Pushing Daisies wonderfully.

The facts are these: I'm going to be heartbroken once the final episode airs and all these wonderful character will be no more.

Thank goodness for dvds.....

December 4, 2008 12:15 AM
ThigpensRevenge
Reply

Tonight's episode was frickin' brilliant. How many do we have left? I feel a little bit like I've been punched in the stomach with the cancellation. . .

December 4, 2008 2:01 AM
Jason (Lantern7)
Reply

What about Digby? I figured dog cuteness ended with Mr. Muggles, but then we get this undead Goldie that's Lassie-smart, has no problems with Ned not touching him, yet loves the guy anyway. I'm hoping there's a Digby/Pigby-themed episode before the final curtain falls.

Who's worse: the people who don't watch the show, or ABC for pulling the plug. It was one thing to screw over The Mole, but the cancelation of Pushing Daisies shows that these people would als cancel warm pie, rainbows and puppies. Seeing an ad for the next edition of The Bachelor this evening did not make me happier.

December 4, 2008 2:23 AM
Jason (Lantern7)
Reply

Apologies for the HTML screw-up. Also: next week's variation of the Bat-Signal, prompting a double barreled "HAYLL, NO!!!" from Olive and Emerson? Awesome. Why is this show getting canned, again?

December 4, 2008 7:40 AM
Ana
Reply

I'm with all of you in love with Pushing Daisies and dying because is getting canceled. I hope they can get to do a TV movie or maybe a big screen one I could take a webcomic as well but as much as I love comic books they won't have the wonderful music and fastpaced dialogue that I adore.

December 4, 2008 10:01 AM
Kimmyesque
Reply

All of Angel's reasons, plus:

I love the creative use of plastic wrap.

I love Lee Pace's sweet, slow smile. It absolutely enraptures me.

I love the aunts' fascination with cheese.

I love the quirks--and what's more, the consistency in the quality of quirk.

December 4, 2008 4:40 PM
Cathy
Reply

Love. This. Show. It appeals to me on so many levels, just a true gem. Am as sad about its cancellation as I was when ABC cancelled Once and Again, another high quality show.

December 4, 2008 4:41 PM
Donna
Reply

Is there some "powers that be" to whom we can let our dismay over this wonderful whimsical show being cancelled?
Unlike most shows I could watch the episodes of Pushing Daisies over and over. I see something new with every viewing.

December 5, 2008 8:33 AM
Anne
Reply

I love thee for assuming your audience will appreciate an intelligent, funny show instead of the paplum that generally exists.

To the ABC suits: an idea. Starting in January, replay all the episodes of PD starting with last season. Give it a good time slot (before "Lost?") and some advertising such as "it's time to fall in love again". We PD maniacs will get the word out. Please! It's Christmas.

Otherwise I hope you get coal in your stocking.

December 5, 2008 6:12 PM
shayla
Reply

I love thee for unforgettable lines like "follow the yellow big hose"

December 5, 2008 6:21 PM
rustafado
Reply

I love thee for Emerson's crazy shirt every week!!! Love it Love love it!!!

I love thee for the wat the show makes me feel EVERY time I watch it!

December 6, 2008 6:45 AM
MelbourneMaddog
Reply

Smart - check. Visually stunning - check. Great cast - check. Fantastic writing - check. Me falling for this show - check. It was doomed from the start. (Most) American audiences just aren't smart enough to see brilliance right under their noses. It's Firefly all over again.

December 6, 2008 2:40 PM
MyraAO
Reply

I love thee for the smile you put on my face every week. I love thee for the fast paced dialogue. I love thee for the out of the box plots and scenery. I love thee for all the reasons Angel mentions. I am so sad you will only be around a little longer.

December 6, 2008 3:23 PM
MBlack
Reply

I love thee for making me cry and laugh. I love thee of Emerson's snarkiness. I love thee for Jim Dooley's amazing score. I love thee for having flawed, interesting characters. Even the minor ones. And the fact that it is probably the best thing on American TV.

December 7, 2008 6:35 PM
paul
Reply

i miss this show so much. it was and possibly is still my favorite show on television even if it was cancelled.

December 8, 2008 12:14 PM
kim
Reply

I agree with all of the reasons on this list. I just started getting into Pushing Daisies last week and I only wish I had known about this awesome show before now.

December 8, 2008 4:19 PM
sarah daisy
Reply

I love the name doubling! One of my favorites has always been Boutique Travel Travel Boutique.

December 10, 2008 11:08 PM
simon
Reply

Watching, as I do,from over the atlantic, I ask why oh why?
Maybe as MelbourneMaddog said it's
just a bit too much for the average
sad people of the U.S.A. to appreciate.

December 10, 2008 11:09 PM
simon
Reply

Watching, as I do,from over the atlantic, I ask why oh why?
Maybe as MelbourneMaddog said it's
just a bit too much for the average
sad people of the U.S.A. to appreciate.

December 10, 2008 11:09 PM
simon
Reply

Watching, as I do,from over the atlantic, I ask why oh why?
Maybe as MelbourneMaddog said it's
just a bit too much for the average
sad people of the U.S.A. to appreciate.

December 18, 2008 8:25 PM
Leah
Reply

I love thee for phrases like "Where'd I put that rat's ass I could give", "Piss-shivers" and "she gives him the stink-eye with the only eye she has". I love thee for your costume choices (Lily's decorated eye patches, olives on Olive's raincoat, Emerson's shirts). I love thee for the level of whimsy, attention to detail and color of each and every set (and the fact that they mocked their own choices when a historical society personage berates Ned for having a pie crust awning on a fabulous art deco building). My sorrow at the demise of this show is endless.

December 20, 2008 9:17 AM
ivygreene
Reply

This is the best show on television and it's getting pulled. There is no justice in the world.

December 20, 2008 10:27 AM
Josh
Reply

"I love thee for the doubling up of names for comic effect
From the Darling Mermaid Darlings, Couer d'Couers, uberlife life insurance, etc. That combined with clever things like corpsicles and frescorts, just make this dialogue distinct from the rest of the TV landscape."

And of course, Charles Charles!

I will so miss this show when it's gone. Truly the best show on television.

December 20, 2008 10:28 AM
Josh
Reply

"I love thee for the doubling up of names for comic effect
From the Darling Mermaid Darlings, Couer d'Couers, uberlife life insurance, etc. That combined with clever things like corpsicles and frescorts, just make this dialogue distinct from the rest of the TV landscape."

And of course, Charles Charles!

I will so miss this show when it's gone. Truly the best show on television.

December 24, 2008 2:01 PM
natalie
Reply

much like my one true love, arrested development, this show is truly original. I love the fast-paced dialogue, the multi-layered themes, and the fantastically flawed characters who are somehow even more realistic and relatable than any other cast of characters. why must the network cancel a visually stunning gem like this just as both the writers and the cast hit their strides? i have tried my darndest to hook all my friends on this show and have been successful with several of them. but it seems that it will be to no avail. maybe the problem lies in the fact that so many people are watching the episodes online. my newly addicted friends have spent hours in front of their laptops catching up on both seasons but this goes unnoticed by the higher ups. thus we are left to mourn this lovely, wonderful, intelligent show that will be gone all too soon.

December 25, 2008 9:21 PM
J.
Reply

Second 'truly the best show on television'. And yet, something like 'Momma's Boys' will probably last FOREVER! There truly is no justice...

January 2, 2009 11:42 PM
Susannah
Reply

I love this show! I looked forward to it every Wednesday. My friend and I are both huge fans and hate that its been cancelled. I have to agree that there is no justice in this world.

And I'm practically in love with Lee Pace. I hope we see him somewhere else!

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