The first of today's two columns reviews "Pushing Daisies" on ABC:
Most TV shows, good and bad, are easy to describe in a sentence: Jersey mob boss in therapy! Superheroes without costumes! The Geico cavemen for 30 whole minutes!
Bryan Fuller makes shows that defy easy description (and exclamation points). His previous creations, Showtime's "Dead Like Me" and Fox's short-lived "Wonderfalls," practically require flowcharts, and to fully explain all the details of his new work, "Pushing Daisies," would require far more space than this column provides.
I'll do my best with the plot shortly, but there's a more important thing you have to understand about Fuller's writing: The man loves the whimsy.
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The first of today's two columns reviews "Pushing Daisies" on ABC:
I'm looking forward to this one, but won't be able to watch it until tomorrow. 8 Eastern = 7 Central = spend time with the kid, not watch a TV show that kid can't watch too. (Which is why I hope the LOST at 8pm Mondays rumor is wrong.)
ReplyDeleteSigh. I was excited about this show until I read that it was by the Wonderfalls guys. Does this mean we have to suffer through a vocal minority of fans coming up with a name for themselves and whining when it is canceled before a full season?
ReplyDelete^ What you have got against the Daisies' Dandies? ;-)
ReplyDeleteMcBride in The UnHoly Trilogy? I can get behind that.
ReplyDeleteMcBride in The UnHoly Trilogy? I can get behind that.
ReplyDeleteI meant that those movies needed a Han Solo type to crack wise whenever Annakin or Mace or somebody was droning on too long about midichlorians, not McBride specifically. But he would've done a great job.
I love Chi McBride. Even if he did play Desmond Pfeiffer.
I am looking forward to this, but naming the girl "Chuck" just gives me a bad feeling. "Look how quirky and twee and cool we are! Our female lead is named 'Chuck'! Isn't that just krazy?"
ReplyDeleteI hope to be wrong. Like the idea of Kurtz and Greene as crazy aunts.
Tuck:
ReplyDeleteThe entire show is written at that level of "aren't we adorable" tweeness. If memory serves the main character's pie shop is called "The Pie Hole." The first episode has been titled "Pie-lette." Chuck's kooky aunts are half-blind former syncornized swimmers. Kristin Chenoweth plays a prominent role in the show. Etc...
This show should come with a complimentary barf bag it's so sugary. Fans should really get a head start on their "save our show" campaign now.
This is the ne plus ultra of twee. I loved it, but I can see it having a short shelf-life. But until then, I'll be watching.
ReplyDeleteUnless the Sonnenfeld-less episodes suck.
I really enjoyed it. Left me with a pleasant, magical feeling when the show ended. That said, I think the narration could be toned down a bit (e.g. didn't need to know how old everyone was so precisely). I'll definitely keep watching, but I'm nervous about the ratings...
ReplyDeleteI'll try to be vague so as not to spoil the pie-lette for anyone who has not yet seen it. That being said...avoid this if you haven't watched the first episode. I'm guessing the squirrel was a replacement for Digby, but that is something only the audience was privy to. My question: Did we see a replacement for the housefly that was granted eternal life? Ned claims to have intimacy issues and massive guilt because of what happened to Chuck's Dad. If the replacement for the housefly was who I think it was, Ned should be feeling even more guilt.
ReplyDelete