My perfect comfort food

I’ll start with the good and then I’m gonna rant.

Last night’s near perfect episode of Pushing Daisies was titled ‘Comfort Food,’ and honestly there is no better way to describe this show for me: it is the absolute best way to lighten my spirits if I’m in a bad mood and even when it almost makes me cry, it still makes me smile. To borrow a phrase from ‘Comfort Food,’ after the series finale of this show, I am going to need an emotional snow day or two.

I have loved this show from the very first episode and I can’t tell you how much I will miss it when it is gone. I know I’ll eventually have all the episodes to rewatch on DVD (and I will), but knowing that we are just over a month away (if the episodes are aired over the next five weeks) from seeing the Piemaker, Lonely Tourist Charlotte Charles, Olive Snook, Emerson Cod, Digby, Pigby and the Darling Mermaid Darlings makes me very, very sad.

Having seen all eight episodes thus far of this fantastic second season, I can already name three of the eight that could vie for the title of my favorite hour of this television season: The one where they all go to the convent to get Olive to return home (Father Dowling and Sister Christian; “we’re motoring”); The one from two weeks ago with Fred Willard and the magic show (especially that scene with Ned and Chuck outside Lily and Vivian’s house); and this week’s installment.

Everything worked for me this week, from Chuck and Emerson trying to cover up her accidental murder to Olive pining after Ned through song (I’ve already watched that scene at least 5 times, much like I did after the season 1 episode when she sang “Hopelessly Devoted to You”). I had heard about Maryann Marie Beetle showing up to reprise her role from Wonderfalls and she was as great as I remembered – everything with her and Olive was fantastic. And seeing Jimmy Barrett pop up as the Waffle Nazi (he speaks English vit a German accent!) was amusing as well. Other highlights: “finger-licking donut holes;” Lily with a gun, and especially her dream; “See, that’s the kind of body language you never hear with pay help.” (Emerson to Chuck); “Are we weird now because I did it with your dad?” (Ned to Chuck); Ned and Olive’s outfits, and every contestant’s wonderfully ornate hats; Ned and Chuck’s creative spooning device; Ned showing up at Lily and Vivian’s without pie and Vivian’s “It comes in a box you know.”

I feel like I could do this with every week of Pushing Daisies and I would still leave things off the list. Even the episodes that are not my favorite, like last week’s, has things like Olive doing a Zsa Zsa Gabor impression with Pigby on a leash. (That’s not to say that I disliked last week, I just think I was mostly preoccupied with the show’s cancellation.)

…which brings me to my childlike rant:

I just don’t understand and it’s not fair. How can people watch absolute drivel like Dancing with the Stars and Deal or No Deal and Criminal Minds and Two and a Half Men and Grey’s Anatomy and fucking Knight Rider for fuck’s sake????? Honestly, America, how can only 5 million people per week watch Pushing Daisies? Why do we need another crime procedural or crappy reality show or idiotic, sophomoric sitcom in the top 20?

I have heard from people that say they’ve tried the show and it wasn’t for them and I appreciate that, but also do not understand. Is Ned bringing people back from the dead any more macabre than the seeing dead bodies on CSI? Is it any different than dying patients expressing their last wishes on Grey’s Anatomy or ER? Early on, I heard complaints about the narration, which to be honest, I don’t even notice, since I didn’t even list the wonderful Jim Dale as one of the things I will miss most about this show (and I will). Is he any different than reading a book with an omniscient narrator? And honestly, what is Daisies if not a colorful pop-up fairy tale book? Is there any love story on TV right now more compelling than Ned and Chuck’s? (NO.) Or an unrequited love story more compelling than Olive and Ned’s? (NO.) The mysteries of the week may sometimes be a little obvious, but watching the characters puzzle them out makes them always worthwhile.

So because America is close-minded and stupid, me and my 5 million Daisies loyalists are screwed out of our weekly comfort food. I know I’m oversimplifying and being immature because I’m losing one of the most innovative shows I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch, but I really don’t care because I’m upset and it isn’t fair.

There are too few unique shows on TV and Pushing Daisies is one of them. And it’s not just unique now; I don’t know of any other show at any other time that was quite like it.

I wish I could blame ABC more, but when all is said and done, I’ll have a full 22 episodes to watch over and over. I blame you, America, and your lack of imagination and willingness to accept something new. A pox on all your houses! (Except those 5 million few.)