Pushing Daisies

The title of this week's new Pushing Daisies episode is "Smell of Success." Here's the official preview for it:

When the assistant to renowned scent expert Napoleon LeNez is found dead after a scratch 'n' sniff book explodes, Ned and team investigate whom it was intended for. While Olive continues her campaign to get the Aunts back in the swim of things.

Talk about the series now on our Pushing Daisies forum!

As if you needed a reason to get excited for this Wednesday's Pushing Daisies episode, check out this mini-spoiler:

In an interview with Playbill, Ellen Greene said that the song she performs in the "Smell of Success" is by Cat Stevens, but she wasn't too keen on revealing which song it would be. But the actress did say the episode dives deeper into the backstory of her character and Lily Charles (Swoosie Kurtz).

"[Swoosie and I] are such a good matching. It's just a yin and yang," Greene said in the interview. "Our story is funny on one level, and another [level] is the sisters' relationship — our story that you don't know yet... So it's a complicated, wonderful relationship. We were so delighted and surprised when we read the script [for the Nov. 21 broadcast, which features direction by Lawrence Trilling]."

Greene also had good things to say about her other Pushing Daisies costars.

"Kristin Chenoweth — unbelievable! I mean, she's so magical… She's gorgeous. She's got a body of life," Greene said. "Lee Pace… is so dear. When I first saw him, I said he's like a Gary Cooper. He's bashful, he's shy, he's sensitive, he's a great actor, he's beautiful, he's delicious.

Then there's Anna. To me, she lights up the screen… She's also very funny... And she has the obligation, of course, of being the heroine. She's just such a smart girl, and she's such a kind-hearted woman… I'm wild for her. And, Chi McBride is the funniest, tenderest, kindest [man]. He's also really good."

As previously reported, the writers' strike may cause the ninth episode of Pushing Daisies to serve as this season's finale.

We've wiped our tears away long enough to check out TV Guide and report on Bryan Fuller's preview of that episode. He recently told TV critic Michael Ausiello:

Realizing that our ninth episode may be our last for a while if the strike goes on, we amped up the story to have as many balls in the air as possible."

One of those balls will involve that wee little secret Ned's been keeping from Chuck, which comes out later this month and causes "things to go haywire" in the finale, according to Fuller.

In that same episode, a surprising link between Chuck and another character will be revealed. And how it's revealed is as much of a jaw-dropper as the secret itself. (Hint: Think *a**l *a*n** circa 19*4.)

Here's the preview for tonight's new episode of Pushing Daisies.

Don't get too excited: there's no new Pushing Daisies episode tomorrow night.

But here's a look at episode six, entitled "Bitches" and airing on Wednesday, November 14:

When a dog breeder who may have bred the world's most perfect pooch is found dead, Ned and company try to figure out who exactly did the deed, especially after they learn the deceased was a polygamist who left four grieving widows.

Meanwhile, take a look at this promotional picture from the episode. Emerson (Chi McBride) may need a hand:

Tonight, on Pushing Daisies...

When jockeys start turning up trampled to death, Olive - a jockey in her life before the Pie Hole - hires Ned and the team to investigate. Meanwhile, Ned finds himself haunted by the ghosts of his own past as Halloween nears.

We can only imagine what sort of fun this show will scare up on Halloween. Talk about it now in our Pushing Daisies forum.

Many, many thanks to Kristin from E! Online for the following coup: she tracked down Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller and asked him to personally answer a few questions from fans.

Here are a few samples, full of helpful Pushing Daisies spoilers from the man behind our favorite new show...

Q: Will Paul Reubens be back on Pushing Daisies? I know they recast his original role, but I'm hoping he will show up on the series later on. He's great.
Bryan Fuller: Paul is back on the set this week, and he's fantastic. The crew loves him, and he keeps everything light and easy. We introduce Paul's character in the seventh episode to air, and you'll see a lot more of him in the back nine episodes.

Q: Kristin Chenoweth and Ellen Greene singing "Birdhouse in Your Soul" was my favorite part of this week's Pushing Daisies. Any chance we'll get some more singing in upcoming episodes?
B.F.: I'm so glad you like our minimusical numbers. The next time we have singing will be in an episode called "Smell of Success" that I believe airs in November and features Ellen Greene covering Cat Stevens.

Q: I love, love, love Lee Pace and Pushing Daisies. But I am a teensy bit confused. Does the show take place back in the day or is it just quirky like that? I adore this show and am sooo glad it got picked up for a whole season!
B.F.: We exist in Pushing Daisies time, which is essentially now with a caveat or two. We want the show to have a timeless quality to maintain the fairy-tale feel, which is why you'll see cars from the '60s and '70s mixed in with modern-day jobbies like the Prius.

Q: Does Chuck's touch not count when she touches Ned's clothes? My heart just about stopped when I saw her touching his clothes.
B.F.: The touch thing has to be flesh to flesh. So, Chuck can hold Ned's hand or dance with him or even kiss him as long as there is some kind of barrier preventing their skin from connecting.

Pushing Daisies is a show about a man who can bring people back to life.

So it's hard to imagine the series getting more creative than that - but it's sure gonna try!

The latest issues of TV Guide Magazine provides a fun look into a couple future episode. For example, the Halloween episode ("Girth") delves into the backstory of Kristin Chenoweth' Olive and her previous incarnation as, naturally, a horse jockey.

"Someone's killing people from her past," says creator Bryan Fuller,"and she's on the list."

In another episode, Ned (Lee Pace) discovers that one of the dead guys he wakes up was killed by on of his four wives; and they were are all dog breeders. Teases Fuller, "Will they be forced to be polygamous because of the circumstances in their relationship?"

From there, a pair of fun guest stars will show up:

• Paul Reubens comes aboard November 14 as "an olfactory expert who smells something very different about Chuck," Fuller says. "He'll be our version of the nosy reporter."

• Molly Shannon appears in a later episode as a woman who opens a saltwater taffy store across from Ned's pie shop. A rivalry will develop between the two as they try to put each other out of business. A fun, hilarious rivalry, we're sure.

Here's what we can look forward to on this week's episode of Pushing Daisies, "Pigeon."

A plane crash into an apartment building leaves the trio with a case, while Chuck (Anna Friel) finds herself drawn to the man who appears to be the sole survivor, much to Ned's distress.

Meanwhile, Olive takes a wounded messenger pigeon to the Aunts for help and Jayma Mays guest stars.

Check out our Pushing Daisies photo gallery, too, for pictures from this episode.

In earlier Pushing Daisies spoilers, we showed you images and gave you a brief summary of "The Fun in Funeral."

Now, here's a quick look at the upcoming, third episode of our new favorite show: