Rumors that 'Pushing Daisies' has been axed are untrue

Apparently rumors have been swirling last night about the fate of one of the most beloved shows on television right now, "Pushing Daisies." However, what was rumored to be true has been proven to be just a small fib - for the time being.

We know that "Daisies" has been struggling ratings-wise to match up to its first season. But, if Wednesday's ratings (which jumped up close to a million viewers and was a season high) is any indication of good things to come, then our favorite piemaker is bound for greatness and well, baking those delicious-looking pies every week.

That's not to say those rumors weren't unfounded. As we all know, there is always an ounce of truth that fuels the fire and that's the case here. The current rumor was, according to E!'s Watch with Kristin, that episode 13 was to be treated as a series finale. Now here's where things get fishy. Since "Daisies" hasn't yet received a back-nine pick-up, production is essentially finished ... for the time being. The truth of the matter is, episodes 13 and 14 supposed to be a two-parter, but with the possibility that the show might not return after this season's 13th, the network wanted to make sure they covered all their bases (aka playing it safe).

So as of right now, "Daisies" is almost done with production (if not done), and all they're waiting for is the network to decide if they want to tack on the last nine episodes of the season. No decision will be made until after November 4 as the network wants to see how the show does post-election. Kristin Dos Santos found out that if episode 13 was the last episode of the series, much of the storylines would still be left hanging and as we all know, that's not the best way to please the 6 million loyal viewers each week.

Here's the motto for the day: Please watch next week's episode and the one after that, and the one after that. "Pushing Daisies" needs your help and it might not survive its sophomore season if ratings keep tumbling.

One of TV's beloved shows might be inching closer to closing the book

According to some fast overnight ratings for last night's primetime schedule, ABC's "Pushing Daisies" is in danger of not returning after this season (if it even lasts that long).

The show has been on a consistent decline ever since it came back earlier this month after a nine-month break. The decision made by the network to push back "Daisies," along with "Dirty Sexy Money" and "Private Practice" might have been one major factor to low returns this season. Though "Practice" is safe for the season, "Money" is not. The 10 p.m. show has also been steadily declining in viewership and has lost its hold on its audience from the previous year.

It is common knowledge that ABC loves "Daisies," but having the network behind you 100% doesn't necessarily justify a show scraping by and consistently placing in last place (among the major broadcast networks) in its timeslot. There's only so much you can say week in and week out when NBC's "Knight Rider" (what?!) gets more viewers than a unique and original show like "Daisies."

So please be sure to watch "Daisies" when it airs next Wednesday. Although Nielsen ratings don't necessarily tell the full story and its numbers might not reflect who actually watches these shows, it's the only measuring tool we have for TV viewership - an unfortunate truth for an inconsistent TV landscape.

'Pushing Daisies' gains half a million viewers

A little late, I know, but I am happy to announce that Wednesday's episode of "Pushing Daisies" gained 500,000 viewers from last week to push its rating up 12%. And, according to EW's PopWatch, it barely lost any viewers during the whole hour!

Let's keep this up guys!

'Daisies,' 'Practice,' 'Money' losing viewers

According to The Hollywood Reporter's Live Feed, the Wednesday ABC 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. hours are steadily decreasing, and it was no different last night.

While I loyally stayed put at 8 p.m. to watch "Pushing Daisies," I must admit that it was difficult for me to want to watch the "Grey's Anatomy" spin-off or "Dirty Sexy Money" right after.

Even though "Daisies" reached a series low last night with only 5.6 million viewers, it was only down a tenth, while "Private Practice" (7.3 million, also a series low; down 24% from the previous week) and "Money" (5.9 million, series low; down 17%) were down a lot more. So maybe that's the only good news that can be gathered from the bad.

Please get your friends and family to start watching "Pushing Daisies" next week at the very least!

Reminder to tune in to 'Pushing Daisies' at 8 p.m.

"Pushing Daisies," a critical darling, needs all the help it can get. If you haven't been watching, please tune in tonight at 8 p.m.!

ABC's Wednesday premiere night returns with dramatic declines

This is not a good sign.

According to The Hollywood Reporter's Live Feed, last night's premieres of "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" were down substantially from last year.

"Daisies" was down a whopping 55% with 6.3 million viewers, "Practice" was down 38% with 8 million viewers and "Money" was down 31% with 7.1 million viewers.

Despite great reviews, "Daisies" - which was arguably the breakout hit of last year - suffered the most, placing fourth in the 8 p.m. time slot for the night.

If this is a sign of coming times, I urge you to please start watching these shows (if anything, at least "Daisies") live.

'Pushing Daisies' buzzes with a Bee Man, Lil' Gum Shoe and lots of mite(s)

Wasn't tonight's season premiere of "Pushing Daisies" just fantastic? I forgot how much I missed this show. Even the guest stars ("Wonderfalls'" Diana Scarwid and "The O.C.'s" Autumn Reeser) were magnificent in their minor supporting roles. Since I have to get up early (in less than eight hours), I'll post up a formal review some time on Thursday. I might also do some mad YouTube searching for some of the episode's highlights.

Have a good night!

Hear what the stars of 'Pushing Daisies' have to say about the show

As promised, interviews with Lee Pace, Ellen Greene and Swoozie Kurtz! Don't forget to tune in on Wednesday at 8 p.m. on ABC for the season premiere of "Pushing Daisies."


Also, starting on Monday night, pivotal moments in "Grey's Anatomy" history will be up, just in time for Thursday's new episode!

Another sneak peek into 'Pushing Daisies' season premiere on Wednesday

As promised, here is the second sneak peek into the season premiere of "Pushing Daisies"! Don't forget to tune in Wednesday, Oct. 1 on ABC at 8 p.m.

'Pushing Daisies' season 2 sneak peek adds bees to the mix

Mark your calendars for Wednesday, October 1 because it's going to be a great night of television, beginning at 8 p.m. with ABC's cinematic masterpiece "Pushing Daisies."

To tie you all over until then, I have been fortunate enough to have some special videos teasing the season premiere as well as an interview with some of the cast members, including Lee Pace, Swoosie Kurtz and Ellen Greene.

Disclaimer: If you don't want to be spoiled with crucial story elements, I advise you to skip over the videos.


Check out the blog on Friday night for another sneak peek video of the upcoming season premiere. Check back on Saturday afternoon for a behind-the-scenes interview with the cast.

FALL '08 PREVIEW: WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

Wednesdays feature a good mixture of the old and the new. ABC's three-hour slate is perhaps the strongest of all the networks. Several new shows ("Gary Unmarried," "Knight Rider" and "Do Not Disturb") aren't nearly as strong and it would be of no surprise if they were all cancelled before December.

"Pushing Daisies" (8 p.m., ABC)
Season 2 premieres Oct. 1

Starring: Lee Pace, Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Kristin Chenoweth
Synopsis: Ned the Piemaker (Pace) can bring people and animals back from the dead, but only for a minute, otherwise someone or something else in its vicinity will take its place. That's pretty much the broad overview of the show. But things are made more complicated when Ned brings back his childhood sweetheart and neighbor, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Friel).
My Prediction: This has to be my favorite television series currently on, aside from "The Office." Death is treated with goodnatured humor even though death is, well, a pretty damn depressing thing to think about. The colors of the Coeur d'Coeur world are magnificent and rich, and totally made for Blu-ray. It was the breakout hit of last season and it will definitely create even more ridiculously enriching storylines this year.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Private Practice" (9 p.m., ABC)
Season 2 premieres Oct. 1

Starring: Kate Walsh, Tim Daly, Audra McDonald, Taye Diggs, Amy Brenneman
Synopsis: (From TV.com) "Private Practice" is a spin-off of the highly popular ABC series, "Grey's Anatomy" starring Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery, a renowned neonatal surgeon. After realizing that her life isn't advancing at Seattle Grace, Addison packs her bags and heads off to Santa Monica to start a new life. She reunites with her newly divorced med school friends, Naomi (McDonald) and Sam (Diggs), and joins them in their chic private practice.
My Prediction: It'll do just fine. In many ways, I prefer this world over "Grey's Anatomy." I think I've outgrown the latter; I haven't watched it in two seasons.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"Dirty Sexy Money" (10 p.m., ABC)
Season 2 premieres Oct. 1

Starring: Peter Krause, Donald Sutherland, Blair Underwood, William Baldwin, Zoe McLellan
Synopsis: (From TV.com) In the season premiere, Juliet's (Samaire Armstrong) new boyfriend Kai tries to adjust to her lifestyle and is asked to appear in Natalie Kimpton's upcoming music video. Tripp (Sutherland) asks for assistance from the Governor to get around the subpoena issued by his son Patrick (Baldwin) for him to appear before the Fantini case. The Governor refuses to get in the way as he is a friend of Simon Elder (Underwood). Nick (Krause) and Brian (Glenn Fitzgerald) try to help Tripp avoid the subpoena instead. Meanwhile, Nick is instructed to hire a private investigator to locate Carmelita. Jeremy (Seth Gabel) and Lisa (McLellan) put up an art dealership, but Lisa initially faces difficulties with running the business.
My Prediction: I have to be honest and say that I haven't caught up on this show at all, however, my friend who regularly tuned in last year said it was fantastic so I'll have to take her word for it.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Catch Later

"Gary Unmarried" (8:30 p.m., CBS) NEW
Series premieres Sept. 24

Starring: Jay Mohr, Jaime King, Paula Marshall, Kathryn Newton
Synopsis: (From TV.com) A newly divorced father of two (Mohr) balances life with his new girlfriend and his ex-wife to whom he was married for fifteen years. In the pilot, Gary's ex-wife has got engaged and he finds himself trying to navigate fatherhood and his own new love interest.
My Prediction: Been there, done that.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass

"Lipstick Jungle" (10 p.m., NBC)
Season 2 premieres Sept. 24

Starring: Brooke Shields, Kim Raver, Lindsay Price
Synopsis: (From TV.com) In the premiere, Nico's (Raver) guilt over her affair leads her to decide to do anything to save her marriage. Wendy (Shields) decides to spend more time at home with her family, but things aren't easy when her mother decides to come for a visit. Victory (Price) is having trouble keeping her distance from Joe (Andrew McCarthy) who is trying to get her back. .
My Prediction: The perfect guilty pleasure show that's ten times better than watching "The Hills" or "90210."
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Knight Rider" (8 p.m., NBC) NEW
Series premieres Sept. 24

I will be previewing this show when it premieres in two weeks, so until then, enjoy the photo above!

"Bones" (8 p.m., FOX)
Episode 3 of season 2 airs tonight

Starring: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, Michaela Conlin, T.J. Thyne, Tamara Taylor, John Francis Daley
Synopsis: (From TV.com) In tonight's episode, the body of the host of a popular reality TV show is found partially decomposed in an outhouse, and Booth (Boreanaz) and Brennan (Deschanel) must find out who the killer is. Meanwhile, Booth learns that Brennan is juggling two relationships.
My Prediction: Last week's two-hour premiere was fantastic. I expect nothing less than that all season long.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Appointment TV

"Do Not Disturb" (9:30 p.m., FOX) NEW
Series premiere airs tonight

Starring: Jerry O'Connell, Niecy Nash, David Franco, Molly Stanton
Synopsis: (From TV.com) Tonight's premiere focuses on an article about the sexual exploits of the staff of The Inn while on the job, which is run at a local New York magazine, causing Rhonda (Nash) to take action and Neal (O'Connell) to try to act on his best behavior. Meanwhile, Molly (Jolene Purdy) helps Nicole (Stanton) with her modeling career, and Gus (Franco) helps Larry (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) with his love life. .
My Prediction: How did this get greenlit? Oh wait ... it's FOX.
Pass, Catch Later or Appointment TV: Pass; don't even attempt to watch it, brain cells will evaporate.

"Sons of Anarchy" (10 p.m., FX) NEW
Episode 2 of season 1 airs tonight

Go here for a review of last week's premiere.

'Daisies' follows suit and adds guest stars

Better late than never, multiple sources have stated that "Pushing Daisies" has added some notable names for its upcoming sophomore season.


Stephen Root (from "Office Space") will be joining the cast for a one-episode stint as a character that will link Ned the Piemaker's father and Chuck's father.

Comedian Fred Willard will also be appearing in a November episode (for sweeps). The episode will center on a murder of a well-known illusionist Great Hermann, played by Willard.

Also, in related "Pushing Daisies" news (sort of), the lovely Jayma Mays (Charlie on "Ugly Betty" and Elsa on "Daisies") has just been cast in her own hourlong FOX comedy, "Glee," according to The Hollywood Reporter. So it looks like she won't be coming back to the Piemaker's world anytime soon. But best of luck to the new series; she totally deserves it!