Some shows just stick you throughout your life and that includes Pushing Daisies. The comedy aired on ABC from October 2007 to June 2009.
Created by Bryan Fuller, Pushing Daisies is a romance and dark comedy series. It follows Ned, portrayed by Lee Pace, a pie-maker with the ability to bring the dead back to life, and Anna Friel as Charlotte “Chuck” Charles, his long-lost love. Their relationship was at the heart of the series, alongside Kristin Chenoweth as the lovable Olive Snook.
Despite its critical acclaim and dedicated fanbase, Pushing Daisies was canceled by ABC in late 2008 after only two seasons. According to online reports, the decision to cancel the show was made after the network cited low viewership.
But even though it ended prematurely, the show remains memorable, Now take a look at these fun facts about the comedy.
What Was Fuller’s Original Vision for the Narrator?
Creator Bryan Fuller had some big plans for the show’s narrator Jim Dale before the comedy was cancelled. Fuller once shared that he wanted to take things a step further by having Jim Dale appear on screen in the future.
He envisioned Jim would break the fourth wall and reveal exactly who was telling the story.
Unfortunately, the show’s cancellation meant the idea wasn’t able to come to fruition.
Anna Friel’s American Accent
Anna Friel kept her American accent on set throughout the series.
And surprisingly, she even used it off-camera while talking with her fellow cast and crew members.
However, there’s one person who was an exception.
Friel couldn’t stand the thought of using her “American voice” while speaking to her mother, so she always reverted back to her natural British accent for their calls.
Pushing Daisies Untimely Cancelation
ABC’s decision to cancel the Pushing Daisies in late November 2008 was a huge disappointment to fans and the cast alike. Sadly, the network announced it would not be ordering any more episodes after the airing of all 13 episodes in season 2.
This decision was a result of declining viewership. Fans were left with an unfinished story, and the show’s cancellation sparked much debate on whether it had been given a fair chance.
The German Premiere of the Final Episodes
Unfortunately, after the show was canceled, the last three episodes of season 2 were left unaired in the United States.
However, Pushing Daisies found a surprising outlet in Germany. German TV channel Pro7 aired these final episodes in March 2009, well before the US broadcast.
These three episodes had their world premiere in Germany, giving German fans the bittersweet closure that American viewers would not experience until May 30, 2009, when the episodes finally aired on ABC.
Kristin Chenoweth’s Broadway Talent
Kristin Chenoweth, who played Olive Snook, wasn’t just an actress on Pushing Daisies.
She is also known for her Broadway career. Chenoweth sang all her own songs on the show and also released several solo albums, earning recognition for her musical talent.
Airdates and Scheduling Struggles in the UK
In the UK, the series aired on ITV1, but the scheduling wasn’t as smooth as in the US.
The channel only had room for eight episodes of season 1, even though the season actually had nine episodes.
As a result, ITV1 skipped episode 2 entirely, leaving fans confused. They didn’t air this episode until after the season 2 finale, airing it on ITV2 instead.
The Show’s Iconic Flashback Narration
As many will know Pushing Daisies used flashbacks that helped tie the present-day narrative to the characters’ pasts.
They included voiceover narration, delivered by Jim Dale. But what made these moments so distinct was the hyper-specific nature of the time references.
For example, in one episode, the narrator might say: “It was now ten years, three months, seven days, five hours, nine minutes, and thirteen seconds later.”
What is Pushing Diasies’ relation to BBC’s Torchwood series?
The idea of reviving someone briefly after death wasn’t unique to the show. It had been explored earlier in BBC’s Torchwood, a spin-off of the iconic Doctor Who series.
In Torchwood, a mysterious alien glove could bring a person back to life for just a minute with a single touch.
Anna Friel’s Double Accent Performance
Another fun behind-the-scenes fact, Anna Friel not only delivered her American accent as Chuck but also her British twang in a surprising moment.
In the episode “Dummy” (Season 1, Episode 2), Friel did the voiceover for a Dandy Lion SX commercial, and for this, she dropped her American accent completely. She used her British accent.
Ned and Chuck’s Converse Shoes
Who can forget the footwear choices in Pushing Daisies, particularly for our two main characters, Ned and Chuck?
Throughout the series, Ned wore a pair of black Converse Chucks. Chuck, on the other hand, wore a variety of brightly colored Converse shoes, including red and green pairs.
