ABC
When I heard about Pushing Daisies before the start of last season, I was really excited. There was a ton of good buzz about it and it sounded like the type of show that I really love. It sounded quirky, smart, character driven, and all the early reviews were comparing it to a Tim Burton film (and I am a big Tim Burton fan). As it got closer to premiering, my excitement only built as more and more positive things were being said by nearly every critic.
Then something funny happened. I watched the first episode, my hopes high, and… I hated it. I don’t know if my expectations were too high, but it just didn’t connect with me. I thought it was much closer to Moulin Rouge (which I hated) than any Tim Burton film. It was quirky, but not in a good way. I was left overwhelmed by the orgy of color and visuals. People love this aspect of the show; I find it garish. The fast paced dialogue left me turned off, and frankly, I found Chuck to be really annoying. I gave it another chance, but when Olive broke into song in the second episode for no apparent reason, the show lost me for good.
So… If you have read the title of this post, you are probably wondering why I don’t want it canceled. Come find out….
Even though I don’t like Pushing Daisies, it is the type of show that I believe needs to be on television. There are so many carbon-copy crappy shows on TV right now and they drive me nuts. There are too many procedurals on the air, and honestly, they all seem exactly the same to me. Pushing Daisies offers an oasis in the desert of cop shows. It offers something different and unique, and if a show is able to do that, even if I don’t like it, I think it deserves a spot in the lineup. What the networks don’t realize about cult programming (and that is what Pushing Daisies is), is that the audiences for these shows are rabid. The show may not be the breakout hit that everyone was hoping for, but the fans are very loyal.
Usually, I am a spiteful person, and would love to see a show that I hate get canceled. This time, however, I would like to think that a show like Pushing Daisies can find a home on TV.
Anyone out there want to tell me why I’m so wrong about this show? Do you have a show you don’t like, but can appreciate?
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Oct 26, 2008 @ 18:00 EST5EDT
I can’t say you’re wrong. I don’t care for PD but I hope they keep it too because I know a lot of people do watch it and I know what it feels like to have one of my shows cancelled. I hate when the networks win and get to yank a good show that a lot of people watch. They really enjoy doing that to us. The nets must be figuring out that Nielsen is full o’ shit this year or they would have already cancelled PD and about 10 other good shows that are obviously getting screwed by an outdated ratings system and a really pathetic group of Nielsen families.
fyi: “dessert of cop shows” should be “desert of cop shows”.
*POST AUTHOR*
Must have been daydreaming of pudding cups… ;)
The reasons you mention to justify why you hate the show are the reasons why I love it! The Burtonesque look and feel(with a little of Jeunet over here and a bit of Luhrmann over there) is what made the show “unique”, Chuck is the kind of annoying character I usually love to annoy me, and I hope Olive (or any other character) would burst into singing and dancing more often. In fact, i’d like PD had the musical dosage we can find in Eli Stone. But again, Moulin Rouge is one of my favorite movies ever, so you tell me… :P
But… I totally get you. What you say about PD is what happened to me for yeaars with Aaron Sorkin.
A few friends of mine were fans of Sports Night, back then I tried and tried with the show, but it wasn’t for me. I recognized the genius in the man behind it, but I just couldn’t stand the show. Later, happened exactly the same with The West Wing: The show was great, but I totally hated it. Wasn’t until Studio 60’s that I found out the issue: THEME. Of course, I totally hate Sports, and Sport journalism! And the less i’m involved in politics, the better. Then Sorking was writing about something I love: TV, and I loved that show, at least while it was on air.
Then, maybe you hate Pie… :P
I am also a fan of this show and I appreciate your reasoning as to why it deserves to survive (even if you are not a fan).
There is nothing else like this show on TV … the only one that might even begin to approach it is Eli Stone (another favorite of mine) …
To each their own because when Olive started singing in the first season the show won me over for good rather than pushing me away.
it’s so true to itself. and I do thank you for saying that anything uniquely its own deserves a shot. because seriously. i think the entire world (and definitely the creative television community) might be well served by a moratorium on doctor, cop or lawyer shows.
there are other occupations that could be explored by television.
I agree. I watched season 1 in it’s entirety. For me it was enjoyable, but barely. It was something that I might watch if “nothing better” was on.
I recognize that it doesn’t fit into my tastes, but it’s not a “bad” show. I agree that, “it is the type of show that I believe needs to be on television” and for all those reasons.