Pushing Daisies (ABC)

common sense media says

Quirky drama mixes murder, fantasy, romance.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this highly stylized murder mystery series is lighter than most. You'll see people get strangled, shot, and rise from the dead, but the tone is more campy than creepy. Even with occasional blood and gory wounds, chances are most viewers won't be left cringing. Other intense moments are abrupt surprises, like when a kid's dog is hit by a truck. But relief -- in the form of comedy or happier type of surprise -- tends to follow quickly, negating the initial shock. A chaste romance is central to the show; though there's some sexual innuendo and tension, the pair literally can't touch each other, so they can't get up to too many shenanigans.

Positive messages: The main characters are well-intentioned, ethical people, but the central story/concept (i.e. Ned's ability to revive -- and re-kill -- the dead) brings up moral questions. Some peripheral characters are bad (like the murderers).
Violence: Strong violence is mitigated by tone/comedy -- such as strangulations with plastic bags bearing a smiley face. Death and interactions with corpses are standard features, but the show isn't primarily a graphic crime procedural. Some moments are abrupt and shocking, as when a child's dog is hit by a truck.
Sex: One character comes on strong to another. Chaste romance is central to the story.
Language: Occasional use of words like "bitch" and "hell."
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Some social drinking.

More on Pushing Daisies

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about what type of show this is. Is it a crime drama? A fantasy? A romance? Can you think of other TV shows and movies that mix genres to create a unique style? How does the show's humor impact the effect of the murders and other violent acts? Does it make them seem less serious? Is that good or bad? Why? Families can also discuss Ned's dilemma. Is he doing the right thing by briefly reviving dead people to solve their murders (and profit himself)? What about his decision to keep Chuck alive -- was that the right thing to do? What would you do with Ned's powers?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Fun, fanciful murder mystery series PUSHING DAISIES has a unique premise. The protagonist, mild-mannered Ned (Lee Pace), has the ability to bring dead things back to life. He uses his talent to his benefit as a pie maker; his fruit is always at the peak of its life and flavor. And he also uses it to solve murders, bringing victims back to life momentarily so that they can say who killed them. Along with business partner/private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride), Ned is assisted by his first love, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Anna Friel). Chuck is alive, thanks to Ned, despite being murdered on a cruise ship while smuggling sculpted monkeys -- he brought her back to life, and now he can't touch her again or she'll be dead for good.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

If it all sounds a little strange, it is. But strange in a wonderful, playful, circus-like way that involves lots of primary colors, dancing clay figurines, and a shop in the middle of the city that's shaped like a pastry and called The Pie Hole. With quick, witty writing and spry comedic acting, this unconventional blend of crime show, romance, and fantasy takes viewers for a whirl.

Violent scenes in Pushing Daisies can be extreme, but they're played for laughs in high-camp style: A murderer suffocates his victims with plastic bags bearing a big yellow happy face, for example, or a shotgun blast blows a man straight through the circular window in the upstairs of a quaint Victorian. With both romance and dead bodies flying around, this isn't the best choice for kids, but teens should fare fine, especially given the lighthearted tone that informs both the good and the bad.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: ABC
Cast: Anna Friel, Chi McBride, Lee Pace
Genre: Drama
Where to watch: ABC

This review was written by Sierra Filucci
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12

Most useful reviews by all members

x3panda
teen, 15 years old
 
Love it!
This is a great show! I think it was cancelled, though? But its fine for ages 12+.

SuperIceS8r
teen, 14 years old
 
Totally R$O$C$K$S!!!!!
This show is like the best!!! EVER!!! i love it. I think that besides kissing this show has no bad content (except for Emerson saying Oh H**l no. Lots of kids nowadays hear that. I basically know every single cuss word from the rents) It is a unique show that finally isn't about rich kids and vampires. It is perfectly fine for almost anyone.

Nerdy_Mamma
parent of and 5 , 7 , 11 , 11 , 14 , 16 year old
 

♪♫music♪♫
teen, 15 years old
 
Awesome family show!
L. O. V. E. I. T. S. O. O. V. E. R. Y. M. U. C. H. I adore this show. It's like nothing else on tv. I love the characters and the cast. The writing is brilliant and the sets are so vivid. This isn't a gory murder show it also includes humor and crazy sweet lines used especially by Ned and Chuck. There isn't alot of touching obviously because they can't although Olive does come on to Ned. Emerson is more serious but it shows his light side. The main characters aren't mean and they try to help. It's unrealistic the way Ned can bring people back to life but it's tv!! Chucks aunts are hilarious also. Another amazing reason to watch this show is Kristin Chenoweth singing (must I say anything else?)!!! It's imaginative and fun for young kids and a mystery / relationship story for everyone! I'd say watch it at least once because there's nothing else like it and the show should not have been cancelled!!

melia1998
teen, 16 years old
 
if you love mystery with a spice of love check out pushing dasies

Christopher K
teen, 16 years old
 
A Language Show for 12+
This show is quirky, humorous, and engaging. But it's hard to keep up with. The fast-paced storyline and humor was a pressing reason that the show didn't make it past two seasons. But if you're willing to buy the DVDs and watch every episode, this is a fabulous series.

MississippiQueen
parent of and 2 , 2 , 5 , 7 year old
 

JamesRobertson
parent of and 7 , 11 , 14 , 17 year old
 

Da Nerd
parent of and 3 , 9 , 12 year old
 
My son who is 12 watches it and the first episode there was a son (about 6) running in daises all happy then in a shocking moment the dog is hit by a truck. The boy (Ned) touches the dog and it goes back to live. Ned has the talent of turning the dead back to life for only one minute or something else dies. Also another part has Ned as an adult stripped down in his underwear and his girlfriend (Chuck) in undergarments. Many uses of people "wanting to touch". Emmerson uses "Hell" and "a--" alot and other characters use "danm". They have bad role models because when they were at a nunnery, the nuns started killing eachother. While they were there, a nun started drinking some type of whiskey hidden in their bible. One person smokes and many people drinking beer and whiskey. Bad role models because people steel and kill eachother.

 
Fun And Imaginative
I picked up this show hoping for another great light-hearted mystery TV show, like "Monk" (love it) or "Columbo" (LOVE IT). Pushing Daisies is very strange and humorous, not focusing on crime so much as relationships. The characters may be flawed, but show good heartedness and inner strength. Another reason that I had for deciding to watch this show also mainly had to do with Kristin Chenoweth (Olive). I loved her on Broadway as Galinda/Glinda in "Wicked", and I love her in this show. Olive's random musical outbursts usually end up being one of my highlights of the episode. Although there's the life-or-death-no-touching-rule, the characters still have sexual fantasies and also the women on the show wear a lot of clothing that reveals cleavage. It's probably a better show for teenagers and people who won't find the makeup on the actors who play dead too scary. The show is well casted, and I especially enjoyed seeing Ellen Greene as Chuck's (Anna Friel) aunt Vivienne. All in all, it's a fun show to watch, with pretty much everything in it being either red or green, and it's very imaginative. Maybe not my favorite show, but I found it really good.

 
Bring on the pie maker
This is one of the most original shows I've ever seen. I own both seasons and wish it haddn't been cancelled. There are some seens that might be too gruesome for young viewers, but overall not a bad show. The writing is excellent, the dialogue great, the acting spot on, and it even has a humorous narrator. What else could you ask for?

YBNormal
parent of 8 and 10 year old
 

coolgrl5
parent of and 14 , 16 , 18 year old
 
Adults only
The show was very interesting. My husband loved it. But, there was a scene on one of the 1st couple of shows that to me was not family friendly. I don't want my kids to view shows that promote sex outside of marriage. There was no nudity but the message is still there...

 
LOOOOOVE
Really awesome show. Very fairytale-ish and fun. Funny too.

tjmorris
teen, 18 years old
 
A MUST-SEE SHOW!!!
Pushing Daisies is very funny, although sometimes it can a little too 'fantastical'. The plots are well thought out and the characters are well-developped. Overall, a great show!

hannahvee
teen, 16 years old
 
Pushing Daiseies
I think this show has a very sick sense of humor...and i love it its just wut the entertainment industry needs its got a really cool story line and the show just keeps getting better and better i have not missed one show for all of the seasons!!

 
One of the best shows out there!
I LOVE Pushing Daisies!! The sets and props and costumes are so imaginative and colorful. The story lines are so funny and incorporate some of the most creative and smart tv I've seen in a long time. Ned is endearing. Some of the culture references may go over the heads of younger viewers, and there is occasionally some very brief language, but otherwise this is quite a good family program, especially in comparison with everything else ABC has. The show is carried by Olive and Emerson, as well as other supporting characters. One of the best shows in a long time!!

zipzipzap
teen, 15 years old
 
i think this show is really cool! it isnt super scary and has a funny twist. I dont think it is for really young kids though

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