To little surprise, ABC has decided to pass on ordering additional episodes of Pushing Daisies. After a critically-acclaimed and ratings-challenged run, will faithful viewers get some closure?
Pushing Daisies follows the story of an unusual pie-maker (Lee Pace) who can bring people back from the dead. With the help of his previously-deceased girlfriend (Anna Friel) and his detective partner (Chi McBride), the trio solve mysteries by briefly reanimating corpses and asking them questions. Other characters are played by Kristin Chenoweth, Swoosie Kurtz, Ellen Greene, and Jim Dale (the show’s unseen narrator).
Daisies debuted in October 2007 and, though the ratings weren’t good by the end of the first season, ABC renewed the show for a second year. The network execs hoped the show would catch on with a larger audience in season two. It didn’t and has only averaged six million viewers each week. Last night’s episode marked a series low in the ratings.
As a result, ABC has opted not to order any additional episodes. The network has avoided saying that it’s actually cancelled the show. The series could possibly return at a later date but, considering Daisies’ ratings track record, that is highly unlikely. More likely, the network is trying to avoid backlash from devoted and disappointed fans.
The network hasn’t announced plans to pull Daisies from the schedule thus far so hopefully ABC will finish airing season two. Though the series finale will give some closure, it’s been reported that it will leave devoted viewers screaming for more. Chenoweth recently said, “[There’s] not really resolution, which bums me out, but what you’re left with is hope.”
The reason for leaving viewers without a conclusion is somewhat of a mystery since producers were told in advance that this would likely be the final installment. For whatever reason, season creator Bryan Fuller decided to go the way he did. Filming an alternate ending was considered too expensive a proposition considering the show’s extremely tight budget.
If the network does pull Daisies before all of the episodes have aired, they’ll certainly be released on DVD at some point. Fuller has also said that he has plans to continue the tale of Ned the piemaker and friends in comic book form, likely with DC Comics. Fuller says he’s already in talks with the publisher and has a movie idea ready to pitch as well.
Though there won’t be any new episodes, it doesn’t look like these characters will be going six feet under any time soon. Stay tuned!
Image courtesy ABC.
we are very sad that this show is being cancelled. 6 million viewers a week isn’t enough to keep it going? bah! Pushing Daisies is the best tv show on and when its done there is NOTHING that can replace it!
Every sign the online petition to bring it back!
I personally don’t see the point of them pulling this show off the air, I’m still shocked about hearing that Dirty Sexy Money is going as well, I mean really? What are you going to do with Wednesday night exactly? I suppose it’s a good thing they moved Private Practice to Thursday’s so it wouldn’t suffer being with some new or repeated “nobody” shows. However they only did that to save Grey’s Anatomy…which would take a grand miracle of resuscitation in my book. Anyway I know the ratings are a major issue here and I hate to say it, but… Read more »
This is sad. Very good show. They have also put in talk about a movie… and since ABC never officially “cancelled” the show, if they actually do make a movie and it is successful, the show could come back… it has a base of devoted fans certainly.
ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE AND INNOVATIVE SHOWS ON TELEVISION. PLEASE KEEP THIS SHOW!!
It is obvious ABC is incapable of supporting any new shows that are fresh and unique. I don’t see any reason to continue bothering to watch this channel in the future. No matter how good future shows on ABC might look, don’t bother watching them, they won’t last 2 full seasons, and ABC is incapable of doing anything to improve ratings (additional commercials Where there any anymore?,) commercials during highly watched shows, moving the show o a different time slot, moving the show to a different network. Honestly, in this day and age you could put it on t 2… Read more »
Personally, I love how this show has dark comedy delivered in a light handed manner… the writing and acting of this show walks that line wonderfully. It’s one of the best shows on the air and one I always watch as a devoted fan.
However, if they cancel this show, the only one I really watch on ABC, then in my opinion, this network’s initials will just stand for “Another Bad Channel”.
This show is awesome. It is so original and has an almost “pure” sense about it. My 15-year-old son and I watch it together. This is the second show in a week that ABC has decided to cancel and if this continues, there won’t be anything on worth watching!
I’m so dissapointed to think that ABC would be willing to cancel such an original show! A friend got me hooked on the show, and I’m in love with amazing cinimetography, storyline, and characters…. PLEASE don’t cancel the show!
I love this show! It’s unique and interesting. Not just the same stuff that is on every other station. I started back watching ABC because of Eli Stone and Pushing Daisies. Guess I’ll have to go back to CBS.
I can’t believe you’re cancelling another good show! Again, you want to put on the same shows as everyone else. I like your network because it came out with unusual shows like Eli Stone and Pushing Daisies. I’m tired of the same old crap shows.
This is really too bad, I had heard that it wasn’t doing too hot.
I can’t wait to see what Kristin Chenoweth does, now! I love her. 🙂
I miss Dead Like Me. 🙁
It’s too bad shows like this have such a narrow demographic.
• Allison Says: November 30th, 2008 at 2:33 am ~ Was the best show…I raved about the concept, the cinematography, the beautiful conceptualization of ideas, the genius of the dialogue. • john w Says: November 30th, 2008 at 2:50 am ~ This show has a talented cast, and it’s a nice break from all the other “formula” shows out there. • Ron Klopfanstein Says: November 30th, 2008 at 12:07 pm ~ Pushing Daisies is a brilliant and unique gem of a TV show. If shows like this can’t succeed there is something wrong…. In an era where there are so… Read more »
This is one of the most original shows I have ever seen. I love this show. I am not able to watch it every Wednesday at 8:00 exactly, but I always tivo it and watch it. Maybe there are much more people who watch this show, but just tivo it because they are busy. Why ABC? Grey’s Anatomy has become absolutely terrible and unbearable, cancel that show, not Pushing Daisies. This is one of the greatest shows of all time, and your just gonna give up? Advertise it more or something, there are always ways to bring viewers up. Try… Read more »
Pushing Daisies is a brilliant and unique gem of a TV show. If shows like this can’t succeed there is something wrong with the network’s expectations, or promotion or scheduling or something. Future fans will undoubtedly discover this show on DVD and will be terribly disappointed that ABC didn’t nurture this wonderful series into more than two (abbreviated seasons).
At the very least we deserve a decent finale to this beloved show.