TV with MeeVee

ABC Finally Spills Spring Plans For "Desperate Housewives" And The Rest

ABC has finally unveiled its spring, post-strike debut schedule. The bad news is that "Pushing Daisies," "Private Practice" and "Dirty Sexy Money" won't return until next season. The good news is that they will return. "Desperate Housewives" returns to the scheduled April 13 with seven hours of new episodes including a two-hour season finale. Also returning with new episodes: "Boston Legal," "Brothers & Sisters," "Grey's Anatomy," "Samantha Who?" and "Ugly Betty." "Grey's" returns April 24, when "Lost" switches to 10 p.m. Thursdays. The full release with all the details is after the jump.

Morning Reads: Saturn Awards Find "Lost"

• "Lost" leads the TV nominations for the Saturn Awards from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy And Horror Films. Best Network Series nominees are: "Heroes," "Journeyman," "Lost," "Pushing Daisies," "Supernatural" and "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles." "Journeyman"? Really? (TV Addict)
• Lorne Michaels knows that "Saturday Night Live" is in a tough place as it returns to the air this week. (NY Times)
• Fox now has the highest average network rating for the season. Yikes. (AP)
• I guess "K-Ville" really isn't coming back. Anthony Anderson is going to replacing Jesse L. Martin on "Law & Order." (Hollywood Reporter)
• "Jericho" and "Big Brother" both had really bad weeks for CBS. (tvbythenumbers.com)

Writers Strike: So Now What About "24"? And "Lost"? And...

The staff of your favorite sitcom is champing at the bit to start writing new jokes beginning Wednesday, assuming writers vote tomorrow to end their strike. But serial dramas are in a very different place, as the shows with the most to gain or lose as Hollywood returns to work. In recent seasons, the networks found out that shows like "24" and "Lost" play best in big chunks uninterrupted by reruns, allowing viewers to get fully absorbed in the often complex storylines. But the strike screwed up networks' plans. So what's up with your favorite drama series?

Well, the showrunner - aka the producer who makes it all go - is probably figuring that out at this very second, or possibly staring at his telephone in agitation, waiting impatiently for a call from the network that will give him his marching orders. (Shonda Rhimes aside, most showrunners are still men.) But even though the situation remains unsettled, the contradictory plans for Fox's "24" and ABC's "Lost" will give you a feel for what's really going on out there.

The anti-terrorism drama "24" was due to air 22 straight from early January through May sweeps, tag-teaming the Nielsen ratings with "American Idol" as in years past. ABC and "Lost" producers had committed to three more seasons of 16 episodes each, this year and in 2009 and 2010, giving dubious viewers some assurance of an orderly wrapup to the mystery-laden series. "Lost" was due to start airing in late January or February with a more-or-less uninterrupted run until May.

Non-Strike Writing

New York magazine asked some striking TV writers to fill in the season-finale blanks for shows other than their own, for mirthful purposes. I wasn't that impressed with the results, but I did like what the "Daily Show" team offered for a season finale to "Pushing Daisies" - Attempting to revive his strike-threatened show, Ned decides to “touch himself.” Unfortunately, he enjoys it so much he touches himself again, killing the series for good.

TV Critics Love "Pushing Daisies," Hate "Cavemen"

(Begin pointless personal digression.) I have a soft spot for the semi-annual TV Week Critics Poll. (Read the story here and results here.) Back when the magazine was called Electronic Media, I used to be in the poll all the time, and I started talking to the people over there - we were all in Chicago at the time - and I ended up getting hired as assistant managing editor. While I worked there I ran the poll a couple of times, too, which gave me lots of time to talk to my critic friends who I only got to see on press tour otherwise. So this poll is like an old pal. (End pointless personal digression.)

But seriously, "Pushing Daisies" is better than "Mad Men"??? I don't think so. Better than "House" or "The Office"?? Really? Uh, no.

Ten Best Series
1. Pushing Daisies
2. Mad Men
3. Dexter
4. 30 Rock
5. Friday Night Lights
6. Damages
7. House
8. The Office (tie)
8. Ugly Betty (tie)
10. Californication

Worst after the jump...

"Psych" Prediction: Strong Ratings For January 11

"Psych" is the sort of show that tends not to get a hell of a lot of critical respect, but gets a reliable audience anyway. It's not groundbreaking or innovative, but it is clever and well-acted and funny. With the second season of the USA comedy/crime show returning from a winter break on January 11th, "Psych" also has the advantage of new episodes when everything else is in reruns.

The show is about a guy named Shawn (James Roday) with such uncanny powers of observation that it's simpler to just tell people he's a psychic.  His best buddy is a pharmaceutical salesman named Gus (Dulé Hill). Together, they fight crime.

It's got two dudes, some mysteries, a few laughs, a little drama, and a sixty-minute Friday-night time-slot. "Psych" isn't anything fancy, but it's a good time, and it's obvious that the viewers aren't the only ones enjoying it.

On a conference call yesterday, Roday and Hill demonstrated an easygoing friendship that seems to reflect that of their characters. When a questioner asked if Roday's skills of observation had improved at all while filming the show, Hill answered for him: "There are many times that Roday has driven me to work in the morning, and I can answer that no, his skills have not improved. I'll have to call out to him 'That's a red light over there.'"

Yes, Roday and Hill carpool to work. Just like regular people!

Oddly, they seemed unaware of just how dedicated their fanbase is: They hadn't heard of fan fiction, but were impressed that it existed for "Psych." (And yes, in accordance with Rule 34 of the internet, some of it is dirty). "They should keep on doing it: We may need ideas very soon."

When "Psych" resumes this Friday, you can expect more awkward psychic gags, more unresolved sexual tension between Shawn and Jessica Juliet (played by Roday's real-life girlfriend, Maggie Lawson), and even some expanded story arcs and returning characters, especially once the third season gets underway this summer.

"Pushing Daisies" -- A Bonobo Named Bobo

"Pushing Daisies"
Corpsicle
First Aired: 12/12/07

As the writer's strike claims victim after victim, there are precious few new episodes of our favorite shows left. This week's episode was the last "Pushing Daisies" for the near future, and cruelly, we're left with one of the biggest revelations so far, a big fat cliffhanger to leave us wanting more. At least we can console ourselves with the fact that Ned and Chuck come to a peaceful resolution about Ned's accidental killing of Chuck's dad, but then it was no surprise that our quirky little lovebirds couldn't stay apart for long.

Lee Pace And Sarah Michelle Gellar In Supernatural Thriller

Sarah Michelle Gellar ("Buffy The Vampire Slayer") and Lee Pace ("Pushing Daisies") are starring in a new supernatural thriller called "Possession." Gellar plays a happily married woman with a nice husband and a creepy brother-in-law. When the two brothers are in a car accident, the creepy brother-in-law wakes up from a coma thinking he's the nice husband. Suspense, panic and a reference to Hamlet ensue.

You'd think that with a combination of "Buffy" and "Daisies" we'd be in fanboy heaven, but judging by the trailer it seems like yet another disappointment:

MeeVee Video Top 5: Deadly Shows - "Dexter," "Cold Case," "CSI:Crime Scene Investigation," and more

The battle will probably forever carry on as to whether video violence corrupts our fragile and delicate youth. Can our youth internalize the unimaginable horrors on TV and, in turn, reek the same havoc on society?  Regardless of the answer, one thing is for sure: TV is violent and TV violence is here to stay.  Even the nightly news is embedded with graphic and violent stories of murder and mayhem. True, it is a reflection of a portion of our society, but do we really need to hear about it every day?!

This week Video Top 5 is looking at five of the seemingly endless supply of death-bringing shows.  You can preview Showtime's hit show Dexter.  Look at behind-the-scenes of Cold Case.  Surprisingly it's not as graphic as one might think.  Catch bonus scenes and DVD extras from the CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.  We have full episodes available of Pushing Daisies. And finally,take a tour with Dr. Baden from Autopsy as he shows you the ropes of what his less-than-comforting job details.

Of course don't forget our YouTube Clip of the Week. Join the Happy Tree Friends to get into the holiday spirit. Unfortunately for many, it's not as festive as one might think.

Family Friendly Programming Awards - Not Bad, Actually

Too often "family-friendly" is a TV code word for "lame crap for the kids." But nearly a decade ago a group of major advertisers put their money where their mouthes were and funded the Family Friendly Programming Forum, which provides seed money for the development of family friendly TV scripts. The show gets on the air, the fund gets reimbursed. Simple as that. And the results have been pretty good, including "Gilmore Girls," "Friday Night Lights" and "Everybody Hates Chris." Separately, the group promotes the annual Family Television Awards, which were handed out Wednesday night in Hollywood, with the ceremony to be televised Dec. 27 on CW.

Now, you're not going to find "The Wire" or "Weeds" here (and ironically you won't find any CW shows either). But the winners mostly demonstrate that the Forum has been true to its word, making inclusive, family-friendly shows that regularly defy the "lame crap for kids" stereotype by being at least halfway decent and often very good. (This year, not surprisingly, it's Fox that brings the average down.) This year's winners are:

Comedy - "Ugly Betty," ABC
Drama - "Heroes," NBC
Actor - Zac Efron ("High School Musical 2," ABC Family)
Actor - Kyle Chandler ("Friday Night Lights," NBC)
Actress - America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty," ABC, pictured)
Miniseries or Special - "Planet Earth" BBC/Discovery
Movie Musical - "High School Musical 2," ABC Family
New Series - "Pushing Daisies," ABC
Cable Series - "Kyle XY," ABC Family
Reality - "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" Fox
Favorite Newcomer - Zachary Levi ("Chuck," NBC)

"Pushing Daisies" - Bitter Much?

"Pushing Daisies"
Bitter Sweets
First Aired: 11/28/07

I hate to admit it, because I love Lily and Vivian, but the episodes that are sans aunts tend to flow a bit better. Because they're never a part of the main mystery plot line they always feel a little tacked on. Perhaps in future episodes they'll get down to the Pie Hole and join the gang? That would improve things nicely. In exchange for aunts, this week's episode brings us Molly Shannon as the evil, stuttering Dilly Balsam, a candy maker who, along with her brother, opens a candy shop across the street from the Pie Hole.

MeeVee Video Top 5: Out There--It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Tin Man, Hogan Knows Best, and more

You ever watch TV? You ever watch TV........on weed?!?!  (thank you Half Baked).  Whether you're the average toker, hardcore toker, or you're glaucoma is acting up, Mary-Jane can make a good pairing with the fantastical world of television. The 30-min to 60-min block of time is apt for the stoner 'cause let's face it: being stoned and watching a 3-hour movie can sometimes be a more painful experience than a pleasurable one. Sorry Peter Jackson, it's just the truth.

Now that the "Weeds" season is over, this week Video Top 5 is looking at some "out there" shows.  The list can essentially be endless, but here's a decent five to start.  Watch all the footage from Hogan Knows Best and the (sexy) Brooke Hogan videos. The Wizard of Oz remake, Tin Man, hits the Sci-Fi Channel.  We have full episodes of Pushing Daisies, exclusive previews of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and OLD clips of Beavis & Butt-Head. Finally, our YouTube Clip of the Week.

(Editor's note: We're not condoning the use of illegal drugs. Seriously, we're all about the breakfast beers. What, you got a problem with that?)

"Pushing Daisies": The Smell Of Success

"Pushing Daisies"
Title: Smell Of Success
First Aired: 11/21/07

It may seem like the biggest problem for Ned and his sweetie is the fact that they can't touch, but like most couples, the truth is more complicated. Sure, there's no touching, but lovers separated by distance find a way to struggle through that. No, just like anyone, Ned and Chuck have to work on communication and compromise. It's cool to see their relationship getting more subtle as the season goes on, shedding the fairytale simplicity of the first few episodes. It's also cool to see the always bizarre Paul Reubens as a very stinky guest star.

Paul Reubens, Hayden Panettiere, Kristen Bell, And The King Of Spain

The Pie Maker has details on an interview Paul "PeeWee" Reubens gave to The Journal News about his
role as Oscar the "olfactory expert" in "Pushing Daisies."  Yes, he had been initially tapped for a different role. No, he's not going to talk about that. Yes, he loves the role he's getting. The strike is putting a kink in the plans for him to really shine over the course of a full season, but still, it's good.

Meanwhile, in another interview, Hayden Panettiere and Kristen Bell talk "Heroes." What I love about it is that the tape starts from before the interview, while the crew is checking the mics. You get to see a few short unscripted moments before they go into their interview performances.

Finally, the best unscripted moment captured on video this month and possibly this year. Scene: The Ibero-American Summit, in Santiago de Chile. The Spanish prime minister is trying to speak, but Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez keeps interrupting. Suddenly, King Juan Carlos of Spain leans forward, turns to Chavez, and says what everyone is thinking: "Why don't you shut up?" It happens about halfway through the video below, and the moment has already inspired ring tones, parodies, remixes, t-shirts, and bumper stickers. If you never thought royalty could be cool, check again now.

¿Por qué no te callas?
Uploaded by joraupa

"Pushing Daisies" And The Coll-A-Dor Russell-A-Poo

"Pushing Daisies"
Title: Bitches
First Aired: 11/14/07

This week's episode features a perished polygamous producer of perfect puppies. I'm not sure anything else I can say can compare to that, but I'll do my best. There's no doubt that "Pushing Daisies" is not for everyone; its blend of twee whimsy, whiplash-inducing dialogue, candy-colored visuals and fairy-tale sensibilities will only appeal to a certain kind of fan. If you are that kind of fan, and I am, then this week's episode is just as spectacularly delightful as all the rest, maybe even a little better.

We only got a brief flash of the past in this episode - though the short claymation sequence in the flashback was worth the price of admission - and no time with the aunts at all. Lily and Vivian are excellent, as are the little snippets of the past, but it's hard to deny that the pacing of the show worked a little better without all the cutaways.

"Pushing Daisies" And The Not-Headless Horseman

"Pushing Daisies"
Title: Girth
First Aired: 10/31/07

A Halloween special may be coals-to-Newscastle for "Pushing Daisies," which wanders into the macabre in more or less every episode. It may not be much of a change from the regular week to week, but the Halloween episode is a ghoulish good time. It's also all about Olive, and since I can't get enough of Kristin Chenoweth, that's a-ok by me.

Given her diminutive stature, it's no surprise that she used to be a jockey. We learn about her former career when one of her competitors is trampled to death by a fire-breathing horse and a jockey from beyond the grave (the horse breathes fire, not the jockey). Olive, in fear for her life and determined to hide a dark and terrible secret, hires Emerson to find out how the jockey died. Emerson brings along Ned to revive the jockey, which makes Ned feel uncomfortable. This leads to a laugh-out-loud funny gag of Emerson pretending to make a phone call to his money, to make sure the money isn't uncomfortable.

"Pushing Daisies" And The Birdhouse In Your Soul

"Pushing Daisies"
Title: Pigeon
First Aired: 10/24/07

I think, at this point, we have to discard any pretense of calling "Pushing Daisies" a procedural. A fantastic show, yes, but it's no more a procedural than Scooby Doo was. The mystery of the week is less of a mystery and more of a quirky backdrop for the quirkily romantic fairytale. Ironic quote marks aside, this week's "mystery" was especially fun, and the developing relationship between Olive and Chuck's aunts is particularly nice to see.

The show is clearly going to get a lot of mileage out of the delicate dance of preventing Olive from finding out about Ned's power and preventing Chuck's aunts from finding out she's alive. It remains entertaining for the moment, but they'll eventually have to spill the beans. In this episode, a plane and a pigeon fall from the sky at roughly the same moment, and Ned accidentally revives the little bird right under Olive's nose, but she manages not to catch wise, this time.

Morning World Series Go-Sox Linkage

• As we told you late yesterday, The Pie Maker broke the news  that "Pushing Daisies" has been picked up for a full season. So y'all bettter get on the bus and watch tonight, 'kay? You don't want to be left out of this funny, poignant and deeply weird series. To be perfectly honest I wasn't sure it would go over with America, but it has, even big time. So if you haven't tried it yet, now is the time. First pitch on the Series isn't until 8:35, and you'll be granted special dispensation to miss the first half inning as long as you don't live in Massachusetts or Colorado.
• Disappointed and underwhelmed by this week's "Heroes?" (GMMR)
• All the scoop on what happened in the season finale of "Damages," which really is the best show I'm not watching. (TV Squad)
• Like "24" hasn't got enough problems, the L.A. fires are screwing with the shooting schedule. (Buddy TV)
• My friend Tim interviewed David Duchovny while the "Californication" star kept one eye on the news, worried about the fires coming near to his house. It's a podcast. (The Bastard Machine)
• A women's-prison spinoff for "Prison Break?" Sounds porn-y to me. (Televisionista)
• Rate Schrute Farms on Trip Adviser. For real. For "The Office" fans, fun! (TV Squad)

More "Pushing Daisies!"

Yes! In a victory for the interesting, the unusual, and the new on TV, ABC has ordered the second half of "Pushing Daisies," meaning it will run the full season.

MeeVee Video Top 5: Weird - "Pushing Daisies," "The Office," Conan O'Brien, and more

There's a lot of weird on TV these days so it was very difficult to choose only five shows. Why are we so fascinated with weirdness?  From contestants that eat bugs for a big cash prize to a bisexual MySpace fanatic searching for love; the list never ends. The true question posed is: What's weirder? The shows themselves? Or us for watching them?

Video Top 5 looks at just a small sample of bizarre shows today. For starters, we have highlights and full episodes of Pushing Daisies.  And while The Office isn't much of a strange concept, but characters like Dwight Schrute add a lot of flavor to the 'normal' paper company. And to one up that, we're featuring last week's episode of Jim and Pam's visit to the Schrute Farm.

Conan O'Brien is a comic genius, but what also really rounds out Late Show are his zany characters that make appearances. Take a look at some of the more popular ones. To round out this week's Video Top 5, we have web clips from Pirate Master (a reality show gone overboard....literally) and clips from A Shot at Tila Tequila (aka the MySpace tart). All in all she's not that weird, but wait till you meet some of the guys (and girls) vying for her love!

Since Halloween is coming up, we're featuring a Jack-o-lantern as our star for the YouTube Clip of the Week.

Totally Frakked: "Pushing Daisies" And The Dandy Lion

"Pushing Daisies"
Title: Dummy
First Aired: 10/10/07

The danger of a brilliantly charming pilot is that it sets the bar very high for the second episode. Doing it right once is much, much easier than doing it right every time. Fortunately for "Pushing Daisies" - and for us - they're two for two. The second episode is just as lovely as the first, with another mystery to solve, more character development, and continuing romance between the piemaker and his not-dead girlfriend.

We spend a bit more time with young Chuck and Ned, learning about Ned's misadventures at the private school his father farmed him off to, and Chuck's rather curious upbringing at the hands of her aunts. He brings the frogs for dissection back to life, she learns to talk about cheese in 5 or 6 different languages. Chuck yearned for more, while Ned, for the most part, seemed to yearn for less. Control over life and death is bound to make you into kind of a weird kid, and it's no surprise that Ned was a bit of an outcast in school.

"Pushing Daisies" Interviews: Foreplay In Beekeeper Suits

It's probably the only show that was inspired by "Amelie" and "CSI." ABC's "Pushing Daisies" is a "forensic fairytale" and one of the season's most talked-about new shows. The oddball cast of characters centers around Ned, a piemaker with a miraculous gift - he can revive the dead with a touch. Problem: The second time he touches them, they're toast. Things get really complicated when he revives the love of his life.

To whet your appetite for tonight's debut, here are excerpts of stars Lee Pace and Anna Friel, creator Bryan Fuller, director Barry Sonnenfeld and other cast members talking about the show at press tour in Hollywood...

Q: Can you talk about the genesis of the concept, what was the core idea and then how you decided to develop it so it took on its full chrome here?
Fuller: Sure. The story actually started out as a spinoff of "Dead Like Me," and I put it in my back pocket. And when I went to Warner Brothers and was talking about ideas to do for a new show, I pitched them the idea of a guy who can touch dead people once and bring them back to life, and if he touches them again they go back to being dead. problem is, he touches a dead girl, falls in love with her, and can never touch her again. So that was sort of the core of the idea. It was built around this impossible romance, which kind of infects all the stories around it, so everything has a little bit of sweetness to it.

Review: "Pushing Daisies" Blooms, But Is It A Hothouse Flower?

It's the strangest show of the new season. Also the sweetest. One of the most talked-about. And certainly the most original. The "forensic fairytale" called "Pushing Daisies" debuts tonight on ABC. There's no question that it's different. The question is whether America will tune in week after week. You should at least give it a try. This kind of daring - by the creators and by ABC - deserves to be rewarded. I promise you this: You've never seen anything like it.

OK, smart guy, but what's it about? Ned is a young boy with a special gift: He can bring the dead back to life with just a touch. It works on a fly, his dog, his mom. He also learns that when he touches them a second time, they're dead again, this time forever. D'oh! Among the unforeseen consequences of Ned's unexplained gift is that he is separated from the little girl he loves, whose name is Chuck.

As an adult, Ned (Lee Pace) runs the local pie shop. He's a bit of a loner, understandably wary of forming attachments. Then a private detective named Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) learns of his gift and convinces Ned to join him in a seemingly simple scheme - Ned will revive murder victims just long enough for them to name their killers, and then he and the detective will split the reward money.

Ned's life gets even more complicated when one of the victims he revives turns out to be Chuck (Anna Friel), now a lovely young woman. He can't bring himself to touch her a second time, so pretty soon they're falling in love again - but a single kiss and she'll be dead forever. While they're working that out, she's going to hang around and help Ned and Cod solve crimes.

Done poorly, or on CBS, this is "Ghost Whisperer." But "Pushing Daisies" is the creation of Bryan Fuller, who was behind the short-lived "Wonderfalls" and also wrote part of the first season of "Heroes." And his script has been realized by director Barry Sonnenfeld, who did "Men in Black" and "Lemony Snicket" and "The Addams Family." Together they've come up with a look that is bright and quirky, with oversaturated colors, digital backgrounds, and bizarro sets. It's a dream world, wholesome and cartoony and somehow unsettling all at the same time.

Pushing "Pushing Daisies"

Yep, "Pushing Daisies" debuts Wednesday night on ABC. One of the most talked-about shows of the year, at least among critics - and therein lies the challenge. It's going to be ginormously interesting to see if the general public locks in with this highly stylized, dreamlike, fantasy-romance-mystery series. We're review it here on Wednesday But there's already a smart new fan site for the show, The Piemaker.com, and today they've got the stirring tale of a recent set visit to the show. Perhaps the most revealing thing about it is just how deeply into this show some people are.

Your Minimum Daily Requirement Of Morning Links

• Who won "Big Brother 8?" Who cares! Well, actually, Give Me My Remote Does. Let's just say the choice was hilariously appropriate. (GMMR)
• Pictures and spoilers from the season premiere of "Friday Night Lights." (Televisionista)
• "The Office" spoilers and pix. (GMMR)
• Are "Heroes" co-stars Milo Ventimiglia and Hayden Panettiere dating? She just turned 18 and he's what? (Televisionista)
• "Gilmore Girls" star Lauren Graham inks a big development deal with NBC. (TV Squad)
• Molly Shannon signs for a multi-ep stint on "Pushing Daisies" as the owner of a saltwater taffy shop across the street from the Pie Hole. (Ausiello)

What Happens When You Insult Someone On The Red Carpet?

TV Squad's Joel Keller went to the "Pushing Daisies" premiere and got to stand by the red carpet and talk to the bigwigs. When he spotted series executive producer Barry Sonnenfeld, best known for his film direction credits, Keller couldn't resist mentioning that he thought the "Pushing Daisies" intro had the dreamlike quality of Tim Burton's "Edward Scissorhands."

He meant it in a nice way, but Sonnenfeld was not amused. Apparently, nobody wants to hear that they've produced something that seems inspired by something else. They want to hear they've produced something totally original and brilliant. It's even worse if the comparison is one that's obvious and accurate. The word is that Keller wasn't the first to make that comment.

Sonnenfeld mentioned the slight repeatedly throughout the evening, and Keller didn't get any ice cream at the afterparty.

Lesson: Never speak truth to power, because it will be annoyed.

Massive Morning Reads Breakdown: Something For Everyone

The folks at "Criminal Minds" tell the New York Times that Joe Mantegna is a fantastic replacement for Mandy Patinkin, and the show will be better than ever, and Mantegna was the one they were really serious about offering the part, despite all those reports about Geena Davis and others. Uh huh. ... GMMR mulls bloggers as an avenue for TV publicity. ... Ramblings Of A TV Whore mulls early release of pilots on the Internet, in light of the fact that we won't be seeing "Pushing Daisies" online before the premiere. ... TV Squad breaks down last night's "Damages." ... Televisionista offers up some "Private Practice" spoilers and even better pictures. ... Ausiello sez former "ER" doc Michael Michele will pay a visit to "House" in an episode involving the, gulp, CIA. ... Jerry Lewis sez he's sorry for making a "fag "joke on the MDA telethon. Tut, tut. Maybe time to retire, there, Jer. ... In a move sure to please the soon-to-strike writer's guild and screen actor's guild, HBO has bought the rights to a film shot entirely in Second Life. ... CBS continues to back "Kid Nation," thought there are more bumps in the road, especially lost advertising, according to AdAge.  ... Zac Efron denies a salary dispute over "High School Musical 3." ... Stereogum says The Shins are the latest to record a version of "Little Boxes" for the "Weeds" opening credits, and has a link to a stream. ...

"Pushing Daisies" Casts Pee-Wee?

You've got to be kidding. Pee-Wee Herman as a homeopathic medicine salesman in "Pushing Daisies?"

Actually, it's a good idea. Paul Reubens isn't Pee-Wee anymore. He's a legit actor with a certain amount of credibility among the hipster set. For example, there is already a limited-edition sneaker (Nike  Dunks SB, if you must know) honoring him and his famous career-damaging arrest.

Reubens is also hilarious. He'll do a great job boosting the off-kilter humor of the show. Nice pick.

Pushing "Pushing Daisies"

Late last week, Televisionary managed to get a 1-on-1 interview with Bryan Fuller to talk about "Pushing Daisies," which is quickly becoming the most anticipated show of this fall. Fuller talks about how this project is more romantic than his previous work, and how he wants to take people on a fun ride that lets them drop most of their concerns about reality. Also, he explains his love of monkeys. Well worth a read.

Personally, I plan on tuning in to the show for the sole reason that the protagonist, Ned, works at a place called "The Pie Hole." How can you resist a name like that?