“Pushing Daisies” Season 1 (2007, ABC) – Respected producer Bryan Fuller’s latest effort is as sugary as the pies Ned the Pie Maker (Lee Pace of “Wonderfalls”) specializes in. Ned’s baked goods are extra tasty because he used his super-powered touch to revive rotting fruit before sticking the pies in the oven.
The kitchen of the Pie Hole is equipped with rows of daisies, one of which dies for every strawberry or peach that’s revived. The same principle applies when Ned touches dead humans: one life for another, unless he offs them again within a minute. Narrator Jim Dale reminds us of the rules … in every episode … many, many times.
“Daisies” sometimes feels like too much of a good thing. The producers probably theorized that the “Harry Potter” books-on-tape guy and a “Potter”-esque score would equal magical ratings for this fantasy show. In truth, the murders-of-the-week just aren’t compelling enough to warrant Dale’s play-by-play.
What’s worse, the voice-overs overshadow the strong performances. Pace is endearingly low-key and Anna Friel is cute as Ned’s soul mate Charlotte (“Chuck” for short), whom he brought back to life. Chi McBride shows he can do comedy as wonderfully named detective Emerson Cod. And squeaky-voiced Kristin Chenoweth provides a diversion as Olive Snook, who pines for the Pie Maker.
The fact that Ned and Chuck can’t touch (if they do, she dies) isn’t as annoying for viewers as you’d think, because “Daisies” doesn’t push the sexual-frustration angle – it’s content to be a colorful storybook fantasy.
“Daisies” isn’t as deep as Fuller’s deliciously cynical “Wonderfalls” and “Dead Like Me.” I’m not saying I mind a light, happy fantasy now and then, but Fuller should know his audience is intelligent. He didn’t need a million voice-overs to explain his other shows, and he doesn’t need them here. B
– John Hansen, “Fall TV a matter of ‘Life’ and death,” Brainerd Dispatch, Fall 2007