Couch Potato: ‘Pushing Daisies’ wilting away

By Casey Gillis

Published: November 19, 2008

On ABC’s “Pushing Daisies,” Ned the pie maker can bring dead things back to life with a single touch.

If only he could do the same for his struggling show, now in its second season and on the verge of cancellation.

The cast and crew just finished filming the season’s 13th episode last week and, as of press time, ABC hadn’t ordered any more.

What are they thinking, you ask?

The ratings just aren’t there, despite “Daisies” critical acclaim — and this channel surfer’s frequent pleas for more of you to watch.

There’s not much to say that I haven’t said about this show already. It’s charming, whimsical and just so much fun to watch.

In case you’ve never seen it before (and, really, shame on you!), here’s the deal: Ned (the handsome, impossibly tall Lee Pace) can bring dead things back to life with one touch, but he can only leave them alive for one minute or something else nearby will die. And once he touches the revived person, animal or plant a second time, it’s dead for good.

He uses this gift to help private investigator Emerson Cod (a perfectly grumpy Chi McBride) solve often-bizarre crimes, and in the series’ first episode, he also used it to revive his dead childhood sweetheart, Charlotte “Chuck” Charles (Anna Friel).

They’ve since sparked up one of TV’s best romances, and even though their characters cannot physically touch, Friel and Pace have incredible chemistry.

Rounding out the cast are Kristin Chenoweth as unlucky-in-love waitress Olive Snook, and Swoosie Kurtz and Ellen Greene as Chuck’s kooky aunts, who used to be a renowned synchronized swimming duo.

“Daisies” never fails to put a smile on my face. It’s basically an adult fairy tale, with clever narration, brightly colored sets, silly storylines and lots of heart.

The show has been preempted for the past two weeks, but returns with a new episode tonight. According to reports, the big wigs at ABC will be watching to see how the show does after its break.

So even if you’ve never tuned in before, give “Daisies” a chance. It airs at 8 p.m.