After several disappointing Wednesday nights of watching Bionic Woman I decided it was time to try something new. Looking across the evening schedule I saw something new that I knew nothing about, Pushing Daisies. That turned out to be the best TV decision I’ve made all Fall. Despite coming in on the third episode of the series I was immediately greeted by a short background synopsis that brought me right up to speed and from there I never looked back. Pushing Daisies comes across as Tim Burton meets Roald Dahl with its poetic narration, larger than life characters, elaborate and colorful settings, and it’s all topped off with a lovable but distinctly burdened main character, Ned. Here’s all the important details, straight from the source (ABC.com):

Grown up Ned (Lee Pace) puts his talent to good use by touching dead fruit and making it ripe with everlasting flavor. He opens a pie shop. But his gift leaves him wary of becoming close to anyone, as beautiful waitress Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth) finds out. His life as a pie maker gets more complicated when private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) finds out about Ned’s secret. Emerson convinces the cash-strapped Ned to help him solve murder cases (and collect the hefty reward fees) by raising the dead and getting them to name their killers.

Then Ned is handed the case that changes his life forever. His childhood sweetheart, Charlotte “Chuck” Charles (Anna Friel), is murdered on a cruise ship under strange circumstances. Her death brings him back to his hometown of Coeur d’ Coeurs to bring Chuck back to life, albeit briefly, and solve the crime. But once reunited with Chuck, Ned can’t bring himself to send her back. He helps her escape after her grieving aunts, Lily and Vivian (Swoosie Kurtz, Ellen Greene), former synchronized swimmers Darling Mermaid Darlings, think they’ve buried her forever.

Chuck becomes the third partner in Ned and Emerson’s PI enterprise, but she encourages them to use their skills for good, not just for profit. Ned is overjoyed to be reunited with Chuck, the only girl he’s ever loved. Life would be perfect, except for one cruel twist — if he ever touches her again, she’ll go back to being dead, this time for good.

I can’t strongly enough recommend you tune into Pushing Daisies on ABC this Wednesday at 8pm. Despite being centered around the morbid topic of life and death the stories are soft and sweet with fantastic casting and wonderful writing. I’ve already gone back and watched the two missed episodes online (watch Pushing Daisies online at ABC.com) and it was well worth it. I’ve definitely found a new series to fill my now emptied Wednesday TV schedule. The irony isn’t lost on me that one show would have to die so I could give life (my attentive viewing) to another. Au revoir, Bionic Woman. You’ve been replaced by a much more entertaining and attractive television show. Watch out Chuck, it’s looking likely that you’re going to lose your spot as my favorite new series. Already watching Pushing Daisies? Share your thoughts below.

Pushing Daisies Trailer:

Feed Readers: click here to view the video