All good things must come to an end eventually, right? For Pushing Daisies, the quirky and charmingly sweet television series, the time came late on June 13th, 2009. Fans were stunned after hearing the cancellation rumors had finally come true. Still, the contract is one which requires airing every episode through the end of the season.
Ned (Lee Pace) has a secret. He can bring a dead person back to life for one minute. There is, however, a catch. Should the person be kept alive beyond the time limit, someone else nearby is sent to his or her grave. It's not long before a snafu occurs. Ned revives his deceased mother and manages to send the father of his best friend, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Anna Friel), to eternal sleep. Whoops!
Down the road, Ned grows up and becomes owner of The Pie Hole, with Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth) as a waitress. The business pales in comparison to the aid he reluctantly gives to Emerson Cod (Chi McBride), a private detective. The rules are simple. Go question a homicide victim in order to find out what happened and who the killer is. What could possibly go wrong?
One of my favorite portions of this show is the voiceover work by Jim Dale. Wisely, he plays the narrator. Since Dale also does the voices for the Harry Potter books on tape, he's perfect to share life in a world of fantastical kitsch. Most episodes begin with a look back at a younger version of one of the main characters. Dale's gentle singsong starts out by stating the exact moment in time the flashback occurs. It's a clever bit by the writers.
The cast is solid as well. Who could resist the earnestness of Lee Pace when he tells viewers he only wants to be happy? Trying to balance work and a newly brought back to life girlfriend wouldn't be easy for anyone, but keeping the secret hardly helps much. Pace appears to be a relative newcomer to the acting scene, but fans should see him pop up again before too long.
Anna Friel is the British import who takes on an American character with sassy style. Friel does her accent so well that one would never be able to tell she is not a native. She's already landed her next part, Land of the Lost, the movie remake of the television show, starring Will Ferrell.
Article comments
1 - O.mont
What the HECK is wrong with ABC?! this is the best show in years and they cancel it after only two seasons?! Well, at least there's the comic book.
2 - Mark Spencer
Why did they cancel this so quickly? Shame...