Pushing Wonder

Sometimes, when scanning the channels, I am quickly reminded that there is no Brian Fuller show on television right now. And this makes me sad. Because Brian Fuller shows like “Pushing Daisies” and “Wonderfalls” had a whimsy to them that is nearly impossible to replicate. It wasn’t that they were silly, though some silly things did happen. It was that they made the absurd and fantastical into something amazing and fabulous. That’s not easy to do. I mean one show was about a gal who spoke to inanimate objects and another was about a guy who could touch the dead and bring them back to life. This is weird, but works. Another thing I miss about Brian Fuller shows is how well they are cast. Caroline Dhavernas. Tracie Thoms. Anna Friel. Kristin Chenoweth. Come on, these are some fantastic ladies. Also, “Wonderfalls” had a lesbian sister. We love a lesbian sister. So now, because I can and because we can’t watch any of his shows live right now, here’s a little reminder of what we’re missing without a Brian Fuller show on our televisions.

Wonderfalls

That lesbian sister plays prominently in this one. And, yes, the thumb-licking lady is Kari Matchett from “Covert Affairs” with brown hair. Saved you a whole day’s wondering.

Pushing Daisies

I stand by my contention that every show on TV can be made better by having Cheno sing on it. This is just a fact.

Brian Fuller’s next TV foray is a remake of “The Munsters.” Yeah, I know it sounds crazy. But so did all of his other shows. So I’ll be there. He gave us a talking smoosed-faced lion. How could I not?

Will Sing for Work

Look, someone has to hire Kristin Chenoweth. Like now, like immediately, like yesterday. She needs to be on my TV. Like regularly, like constantly, like 24/7. Her win at the Emmys Sunday only served as a reminder how much we’re missing. I mean, that speech. Did your heart not just melt? After what can only be described accurately as a series of squeaks, she started her speech with “This is very heavy” (this, of course, being the Emmy itself). And then she went on to quite smartly and sweetly make her pitch: “I’m unemployed now so I’d like to be on ‘Mad Men.’ I also like ‘The Office’ and ‘24.’” Come on, how can you resist TV producers? Hire this woman. Do it, do it now.

The thing is, I don’t understand why Kristin isn’t an enormous star already. Sure, she is a star already – an enormous Broadway star and unequivocal icon in certain circles. But STAR, like of her own show, like on any show. Seriously, why isn’t she on a show? I mean, Jay Mohr has his own show. He’s had three. But instead, since the untimely and unfair early demise of “Pushing Daisies,” we’re relegated to getting our Kristin in tiny doses. Next Wednesday she’ll guest star on “Glee,” which is you think about it is a perfect fit. Singing, dancing, spirit fingers. The combined awesome of Kristin and Jane Lynch on one show is like Christmas in September. And, look, she bowls!

The thing is, Olive Snook may go down in my personal history as one of my all-time favorite TV characters. That combination of adorable melancholy in one teeny-tiny perky package was beyond genius. Also genius? Her easy-access waitress dresses. And, of course, that voice.

For the love of all that is good and right, SOMEONE HIRE KRISTIN CHENOWETH!

p.s. “The Office” fans have found the perfect role for her already. We can make this happen, people. Work with me.

p.p.s. My God, she is truly pocket-sized. I mean, tell me the looks on both Tina and Jon’s faces aren’t a mix of “Congratulations!” and “I want to put you in my pocket and take you home!”

My sentiments exactly.

My Weekend Crush

I realize, looking back at my posts this week, I’ve been in a rather black and white mood. Perhaps it’s the stress of moving or the nostalgia of finding remnants from one’s past. Either way, it’s made me a little monochromatic. But this weekend, I will bathe in the delicious Technicolor waterfall that is “Pushing Daisies.” The series kicks off its final three episodes Saturday night, so it will be a bittersweet exercise. But I plan to put on a brave face and indulge one last time in the cotton-candy ephemera that is this show. As I’ve said before, the denizens of The Pie Hole simply make me happy, like eating ice cream and petting puppies and spotting rainbows on a sunny day happy. This Seussian fantasy for grown-ups will live on to its fans as a glorious moment when whimsy met intrigue and got wrapped up in a quirky blanket of adorability. That this show got cancelled too soon is a given. That it got made in the first place is possibly the biggest fairy tale ever. Watch at 10 p.m. the next three Saturdays on ABC. Oh, Olive Snook, I think I’ll miss you most of all. Happy weekend, all.

Tank Top Tuesday

Pouring a little out for our canceled home girls today. As thrilled as I am with the networks’ decisions to renew some of my most beloved shows, I sing a mournful little song for the ones who didn’t make it. “Pushing Daisies,” “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles,” “Life,” “Samantha Who?” All these shows featured great female leads and their absence makes the TV landscape a little (well, a lot) less interesting. By comparison, Brad Garrett’s seriously unfunny supposed comedy “’Til Death” just got renewed for a fourth (yes, FOURTH) season. Oh, and it’s going to be the Friday-night lead-in for “Dollhouse.” Screw pouring out the liquor; I think I need to drink it instead. A lot of it. Oh well, maybe our dearly departing ladies in tank tops will soothe my pain.

[Click any and all to enlarge]

Summer GlauSarah ShahiKristin ChenowethAnna FrielChristina ApplegateLena Headey

p.s. TV gods, give these women new shows, pronto.

American pie

Eight reasons I can't wait until 8 o'clock tonight:

Anna Friel (a.k.a. Chuck Charles)Kristin Chenoweth (a.k.a Olive Snook)[Click to embiggen my fuzzy math.]

And two more, just for good measure:

Swoosie Kurtz & Ellen Green (a.k.a. Lily and Vivian)

It's strange, but the closer tonight's premiere of “Pushing Daisies” gets the more I realize how much I've missed it's Dr. Seuss for adults approach to television. In its too-brief first season, it was a weekly reminder that we could all use a little more whimsy in our lives. And, gosh, who doesn't want a pint-sized Olive Snook of her very own? While it's practically sacrilege to say this with a cast so unassailably nice, I think I might actually be rooting for Olive. Not that I'm not rooting for Chuck. Oh, shucks. I'm rooting for everyone. Crap. There goes my misanthropic street cred. You won't tell anyone, will you? Though, if “Pushing Daisies” can't bring out your inner optimist, nothing will.

p.s. This is the moment I knew I was going to watch every single second of this show. Consider that birdhouse made.

Tank Top Tuesday

I am decidedly not blonde. This isn’t the beginning of a bad blonde joke or any such hair color-based disparagement; it’s just a fact. I’ve also never dated a blonde. Not that I have anything against blondes. Hello, Jodie Foster. Sit a little closer, Kate Winslet. Don’t be shy, Leisha Hailey. I’ve heard that blondes have more fun. Also, gentlemen prefer them. But what I know for sure is that whenever I see blonde locks and tank tops, I automatically think summer. And, gosh, who doesn’t like summer?

Mary McCormack

Naomi WattsKristen BellKristen WiigUma ThurmanKristin ChenowethElisha CuthbertScarlett JohanssonElisabeth RohmPortia de Rossi[Click each to embiggen...hey, no blonde jokes!]

My Weekend Crush

How cute is Kristin Chenoweth? So cute that in this week’s episode when she brandished a knife while threatening “Don’t make me cut a bitch!” I think I actually squealed. Out loud. Like a little girl. Since I’m on the wrong coast to be a big Broadway fan, I had never experienced Kristin at length before “Pushing Daisies.” In fact the most I knew about her was from “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,” where the character of Harriet Hayes (played by the equally brilliant, not to mention gay, Sarah Paulson) was based on her. On Daisies, Kristin’s Olive Snook is so disarmingly adorable you can’t help but fall in love. She is pocket-sized perfection -- pretty, petite, perky. Plus, she tends to wear low cut tops. Hey, I’m only human.

Now normally I don’t go for the overly perky type. Kelly Ripa and company are high on my list of people I’d never want to get stuck in an elevator with. But with Kristin, underneath the perky is untold depth. In a few episodes she has turned the cheerily love struck Olive into a rich, not to mention hilarious, character. And from everything I’ve read and seen about the woman herself, she is just as delightfully kooky and charming. OK, sure, she recorded a Christian album and there was that unfortunate “700 Club” club appearance. But she later apologized and called Pat Robertson and his ilk “scary.” She has been unquestionably great to her large gay fan base and fully supports gay marriage. I mean, a woman who names her dog after Madeline Kahn could never be all bad. And I haven’t even gotten to her voice. Sweet Lord, her voice. And at 4 foot 11 she is finally a woman I could tower over. OK, fine, “tower” may be an overstatement. Happy weekend, all.