Most TV suffers from being numbingly predictable.
That’s why, even though it took me a while to discover it, I’m so appreciative of ABC’s spunky dramady, Pushing Daisies. It rarely bores because it is rarely predictable. In the second episode, for example, Olive broke into song, offering a sparkly rendition of the Grease number, Hopelessly Devoted To You, made famous by Olivia Newton-John. Since that episode, no other characters - including Olive, have turned to song to express their inmost desires. This is not Cop Rock, and thank Adonai for that!
After the nine episodes that aired this season, it appears the whole musical thing was a one-off, an example of the carefree approach creators take to the show. Next thing you know, the Pie Man might decide to bake a cake instead, or even sell auto insurance for one episode. Who knows?
That’s only part of what makes Pushing Daisies such a great show; but unpredictability is certainly a charge no one will ever level against Boston Legal, Desperate Housewives or Ugly Betty. I’d trade an entire season of all those shows for another six episodes of Pushing Daisies before next fall. That’s why I think it’d be a blast to be on the show’s writing staff. Not that that’s likely to happen any time soon.
