The Pop-Up Book of Sports Deaths

I'll take a break from the Packers game to recap the funniest "Daisies" of the season.

You know, it wasn't immediately clear whether this series would go for the straight-up humor, or stick with the fairy tale whimsy that flowed from its premise. Well, in this episode, it went whole hog for both.

My favorite was Emerson reading Knit Wit magazine, "his literary outlet for knitting humor."

But "Death by scratch 'n sniff? What the hell happened to people shooting each other with guns?"

And "Cigars, aftershave, antacids, cash and yarn. You're a knitting detective."

And "Follow the yellow, thick hose."

And "When did they bump up your smell?"

And, of course, "The Pop-up Book of Sports Deaths."

Just frickin' hilarious from start to finish. If you've been avoiding this show because of the twee-overload factor, it's time to reconsider.

Pushing Daisies

Man, I can't believe they did it again. I was expecting at least one stinker of an episode sometime in the first batch, but last night's was another very sharp, very funny installment.

Best line - "You wouldn't need all that bait if your belly was full of fish." That had me howling.

The special effects have gotten cheesier with the budget cuts, but I think they're cheesy in a way that works with the show's feel. I don't feel cheated seeing Olive jockeying against a green screen. It's just funny.

Also:

No word yet this morning on the writer's strike, BTW. This was the last word from Variety: "Strike in limbo as contract expires."

I explain a little more about the strike in today's column. The issue is money - DVD residuals, stuff like that. It's going to be fascinating to see how it plays out, though. If it lasts awhile and the networks go all-reality, it could be the nail in the coffin of the writer's guild. Or, just as likely, the nail in the coffin of reality television. Whichever, it's likely to make for a bleak Christmas for TV fans.

"Pushing Daisies" will keep pushing them out

This is one of the most unexpected pickups of the season: ABC gave a full-season order to "Pushing Daisies."

Its ratings have fallen off since the premiere, but it still attracts about 10 million viewers and wins its timeslot. I'm pretty well astounded: I was sure "Daisies" was headed to the pile of killer, never-seen TV shows. Things like "Action!" and "Profit" and "Cupid" and "Firefly." Somehow, it broke through - at least for a season.

I wonder if that says something about TV viewers' evolving tastes, or is it just an aberration?

Pushing Daisies still pushing out good stuff

Last night was the episode I was worried about.

The first two shows had been directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, who got the heave-ho from the studio in a budget dispute.

So the third episode was new director/lower budget, which sounds like a troubling combination.

However, I liked it a lot. Yeah, there was nothing as obviously expensive and ridiculous as a car that ran on dandelions, but the writing was still sharp, it still made me laugh and it had plenty of the absurd dark humor that leavens out the preciousness.

Favorite bit? When the coffin closed with the undertaker still alive inside and Chi Rodriguez ran for his life as the minute ran out. Good stuff.

So, I'm a lot more confident now that they'll be able to keep this up. I will be interested to see the ratings come in. The first two episodes were way more popular than I expected - this thing had quickly canceled cult hit stamped on it like a tattoo. But will they stick around?

That's two

I wasn't sure if "Pushing Daisies" could pull off anything to match it's charming, funny, gorgeous premiere. But the second episode was, to my eyes, every bit as good.

Will this twee-ness wear out its welcome? I'd have to think so.

And word on the street is that ABC slashed the budget after the second episode. So that's worrying.

But still, it's just so... gosh darned good. Maybe even great. Definitely unique. I was going to write down some of the jokes ("I don't know anything about you." "There's not much to tell, I bake pies and wake the dead") just aren't as funny without the primary hues and the fairy tale settings. But the little stuff, it's good.