UK channel ITV1 took a very large gamble by acquiring ABC’s “Pushing Daisies” for its Saturday night peak-time showcase, an it has paid off. The first episode of the show about about pie maker who can bring the dead back to life with a touch achieved a 35% viewing share against tough competition according to Variety.

The show is the first US series to get a slot on ITV1 in more than a decade after disappointing performances of shows like “Millennium” and “The Practice”.

The import is fairing much better than ITV1’s new original dramas, including the high profile “Rock Rivals”, but it has yet to be seen if the show can maintain or even build its audience.

The show has already been renewed for a second season in the US, and with any luck, those episodes will find a home on ITV1 next year as well.

Amidst all the writers’ strike hubub this week, ABC announced its renewals for the 2008/2009 season.

Besides the obvious Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, Ugly Betty and Brothers and Sisters, the Alphabet gave the greenlight to freshman series’ Dirty Sexy Money, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies and Samantha Who?.

I’d say that this is representative of the very strong season that ABC has put up this year. They’ve offered up some quality programming, and I’m excited to see that these (sometimes) underappreciated programs will be making a return next year.

Unbelievablly, no word on whether Cavemen will return. (Dear Lord, no.)

Season 1, Episode 9 - Corpsicle

This fantastic show just keeps getting better.

I know I may keep sounding like a broken record, but it’s difficult to find new things to say about Daisies. It’s revolutionary entertainment.

A few weeks ago, I talked about how I was getting a bit weary of Ned and Chuck’s constant goo-gooiness. Tonight, said goo-gooiness is on the rocks, as Ned has confessed that Chuck’s father’s death was his fault. So now I have to apologize…Chuck and Ned are so destined to be together, it just feels awkward when they’re fighting.

And, as is usually the case, the secondary characters steal the show. Paul Reubens takes the role of Oscar Vibenius and runs with it. It’s absolutely shocking that the guy who played Pee Wee Herman could do subtle, but he does, and he plays it to perfection. And, as always, Chi McBride brings the best belly-laughs and one-liners of the night.

However, also as always, the murder-mystery is pretty weak, comparatively. It’s still pretty imaginative, but it doesn’t live up to the past creative murders that we’ve seen. I was hoping to have something that would tie the story together a bit more, especially considering that this is the finale.

Since the most important thing to discuss is a pretty major spoiler (sort of…), we’ll put that discussion after the jump for those of you who haven’t gotten to check it out yet.

I really hate that this season had to end so soon. I feel like it was really starting to hit its stride, and to see it cut short just hurts. Of all the shows that have fallen victim to the strike, I think I’ll miss this one the most. In the midst of a lot of shows that seem to be photocopies of each other, Pushing Daisies‘ surreality brings such an amazing breath of fresh air. While all the episodes may not have necessarily been the greatest thing ever, the whole of the season is greater than the sum of its parts, and completely deserves the highest marks available. I can’t wait for next year, when the strike is behind us, and we return to the Pie Hole.

Episode Grade: A-
Season Grade: A+
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Just a quick note…if you’re still using the archaic VCR to record your favorite shows, or if you plan to tune in live, be warned…Pushing Daisies has been pushed back an hour tonight. Normally running at 8/7c, television’s best new show will now be airing at 9/8c, and ABC will run Shrek the Halls and How the Grinch Stole Christmas in Daisies previous slot.

Adjust your viewing schedule accordingly.

Season 1, Episode 7 - Smell of Success

To be completely honest, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find new things to say about Pushing Daisies. It remains far and away the most original show on television today, and it is consistently my most anticipated show of the week.

My main complaint is the same as I had last week…the mystery. Yes, it’s original, and yes, it holds my interest, but it’s not the big draw of the show. I’m far more interested in the development of the relationship between Ned and Chuck, as well as the development of Chuck’s aunts’ storyline. Seeing them come out of their shell to a neat little cover of “Morning Has Broken” was pure bliss, in my opinion. I never expected that they would become regulars way back in the pilot, but they have, and they’re great to watch.

I also enjoyed the bit of apparent foreshadowing that Ned had about Chuck and Olive’s blossoming friendship. Nothing good can come of that, and I expect sparks to fly big time. The only question is…will it happen before the strike?

Also Paul Reubens was a tremendous addition to tonight’s episode. It’s fun to see him in over-the-top Pee Wee mode, but it’s also nice to see him in his more serious moments. He’s great in everything he does, and I hope he sticks around for more than just one more episode. Maybe the mysterious smelly sweater will stick around for a bit longer. Next week, in what I hope is one more of many guest stars, we’ll see Molly Shannon take on the part of a mysterious taffy-shop owner down the road from the Pie Hole.

But, as for this episode, what more is there to say? Just another week of goodness. A

Season 1, Episode 6 - “Bitches”

Has it really only been two weeks since Daisies was on? It feels like sooooo much longer. The last episode was the best episode since the pilot, and, while this week wasn’t as good, it’s definitely still not lacking.

Unfortunately, the mystery is the part that is beginning to show some signs of strain. I remember reading way back that the procedural element of the show was something that was kind of forced by the network. So it doesn’t surprise me that the actual mysteries are becoming my least favorite part of the show. Don’t get me wrong, this week’s mystery is just as inventive as previous episodes, and it gives Olive an excuse to get in on the sleuthing, but I find myself ready to get back into everything that is not the mystery of the week.

I’m really getting to love the developing love triangle between Ned, Chuck and Olive. Even thought we’re supposed to be pulling for Ned and Chuck to end up together, I really appreciate the fact that they are not putting Olive out there as the evil shrew bent on breaking up true love. She genuinely wants Ned to be happy, and, albeit reluctantly, won’t do anything to hurt Chuck. I wouldn’t be heartbroken if they ended up together.

And as always, Emerson ends up with the greatest one-liners of the night. Man, oh man, this is such a tremendous show.

A

According to TVGuide, Pushing Daisies is preparing for the show’s ninth episode to serve as the season finale, much like many of the programs being hit by the strike. “As we were scrambling to re-write [Episode 9],” creator Bryan Fuller said, “we added several elements that will put many balls into the air and hopefully encourage the audience to come back and see how they land.”

This just stinks. This week was lame enough without new Daisies, how bad when it’s gone for good in three weeks?

Just when I wasn’t sure how much farther I could fall for Pushing Daisies, it just continues to pull back the layers. 

Tonight, we were treated with yet another charming story, but, as usual, the true magic comes from the characters.  The tension between Olive and Chuck seems to have eased a bit, as Ned’s admirer-from-afar gets a dose of conscience and realizes that exposing Chuck’s deception may not be the best thing to do.  Otherwise, broken-record time…performances, perfect;  comedy, sharp;  dialogue, witty…not a lot to add that I haven’t already said.  This was my favorite episode thus far.  I loved the noir-ish moments with Olive and Emmerson toward the beginning of the episode, and Ned’s character development continues to amaze me.

I think, however, that I have found the thing that will grate on my nerves with this show.  In the first few episodes, the longing glances that Ned and Chuck exchanged were cute.  But now, it’s starting to get a bit sickening.  We get it, you’re the love of each others’ lives.  Ease up with the goo-goo eyes. 

Despite that, A.

Season 1 Episode 4

Too often, shows find themselves on a roller coaster, with a lot of highs, but just as many lows. This week, Pushing Daisies may have hit a low. Fortunately, though, at its lowest, it is still excellent television.

In “Pigeon”, the pie maker and his gang are investigating an apparent suicide by way of plane crash. Through the course of things, Ned and Chuck’s relationship is taken to the next level: jealosy. Even though the moment was pretty short-lived, I loved that Ned is already having doubts about maintaining Chuck’s affection.

Meanwhile, Olive continues her infatuation with Ned from afar. Now, however, she has a bit of the upper hand. Though she doesn’t yet have all the facts, she knows that he and Chuck are hiding something. I’m ready to see how this plays out over the season.

I’ve gotta say, as much as I love Ned and Chuck’s witty banter, the ones that make it for me are Chi McBride as Emmerson Cod and Kristen Chenowith as Violet. They bring some of the best moments in the series.

Man, I love this show.

A-

 You may remember last week when Private Practice got the full season pickup, I had some confusion and thought that Pushing Daisies had been picked up instead.  Luckily, I was confident enough that Daisies would be picked up, too, so I saved my story in that event.  Today, I am vindicated!

So here’s the story I actually wrote on Thursday, with a bit of information changed.

———-

I feel like it’s pretty safe to say now that Pushing Daisies is my new favorite show on television. I was concerned that it would not be able to maintain the quality of the pilot, but it did. I was concerned that the second episode would be a fluke and that the show would start to show signs of strain with the third episode, but it didn’t. I believe that it’s here to stay.

So great news for fans of the show…eOnline is confirming that ABC has given Daisies a full-season pickup. The show has pulled in some pretty decent ratings in its time on the air so I think the choice is well-founded.

What about you guys…are you glad Pushing Daisies got the first touch of life, or do you wish ABC would give it that second fatal touch?