Something to celebrate
鈥淐andy might be sweet, but it鈥檚 a traveling carnival blowing through town. Pie is home. People always come home.鈥�
Pie maker Ned (Lee Pace) from the forensic fairy tale 鈥淧ushing Daisies鈥� offered up quite a few pie-centered gems on the short-lived show.
For two seasons, the quirky show chronicled the strange, loving relationship between Ned and his childhood crush Charlotte Charles (Anna Friel), who along with private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) solved murder mysteries.
The premise was quirky: Ned, owner of The Pie Hole, has the ability to bring things back from the dead with a touch. There is, of course, a catch. A second touch from Ned means the person dies and stays dead. He uses his ability on Charlotte (affectionately called 鈥淐huck鈥� through most of the show), and while love blossoms between them, they鈥檙e unable to express it through even the simplest hug.
Instead, they spend their time together helping Cod crack cases.
The 鈥淧ushing Daisies鈥� cast is rounded out by Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook, a well-meaning, fast-talking waitress at the pie shop. Ellen Greene and Swoosie Kurtz play Chuck鈥檚 aunts Vivian Charles and Lily Charles who were a former internationally famous synchronized swimming duo.
The women are befriended by Sook, who regularly delivers pies to their home because both are agoraphobic.
While the show sounds like a lot to take in, it鈥檚 really just an unconventional and comedic take on a love story made richer by the characters鈥� idiosyncrasies.
The dialogue is witty, and in the style of the 鈥淭he Wonder Years,鈥� a narrator sets the stage throughout each episode. (And fans of Chenoweth鈥檚 will find her singing in some of the episodes a big bonus 鈥� her rendition of They Might Be Giants鈥� 鈥淏irdhouse in Your Soul鈥� is particularly good.)
鈥淧ushing Daisies鈥� is the perfect show to curl up and watch on Saturday, while celebrating National Pie Day.
So, for the record, is the CW鈥檚 鈥淪upernatural,鈥� which just ended its 15-season run in November.
In the series鈥� finale, pie-loving Dean Winchester and his brother Sam go to the Akron Pie Fest.
It鈥檚 a nod to Dean鈥檚 obsession with pie, which spanned the entire series.
Other days to celebrate this week include:
n Jan. 21: National Hugging Day, Squirrel Appreciation Day, International Sweatpants Day
n Jan. 22: Answer Your Cat鈥檚 Questions Day, National Hot Sauce Day, National Blonde Brownie Day
n Jan. 23: National Pie Day, National Handwriting Day
n Jan. 24: Global Belly Laugh Day, Beer Can Appreciation Day, National Compliment Day
n Jan. 25: National Opposite Day, National Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day, National Florida Day
n Jan. 26: National Spouse鈥檚 Day, National Plan for Vacation Day, National Green Juice Day
n Jan. 27: Punch the Clock Day, Chocolate Cake Day