Strike Claims Pushing Daisies

Word on the internets is that the PUSHING DAISIES Pie Hole set is being torn down.

Further evidence that quirky and creative just doesn't work on network TV, the impending loss of one of broadcast TV's most innovatively designed and written programs has roots beyond the lowest common denominator.

Like several new show from the 2007-08 season, DAISIES has struggled in its second season, and I blame the writers' strike - or nore specifically, the networks' collective response to the writers' strike.

The 2008-09 season saw the nets being patient with shows that showed promise but had their seasons cut short by the strike. Not one of those programs have delivered the same audience as in their debut season. Not one.

First, in some cases, the class of '07 was rushed into production. The race was on to produce as many episodes as possible before the strike struck. Several of those shows probably shouldn't have been produced in the first place. Those were the ones that didn't get invited back for the 08-09 season.

In some cases, these shows had great original concepts, but as production rushed through the latter episodes of a shortened season, there was less time to tweak, correct and do much in terms of true creation beyond first drafts. Perhaps these shows ever so slightly came off their prospective rails.

Then came the summer of '08. None of the networks felt it worth investing in reruns of thses rookie shows in preparation for the fall launch. They arrogantly assumed that we'd be eager to plan our week around the return of a program in which we'd only invested 13 hours.

It's one thing to assume viewers will return for '24' - and I think they will, even given it's year long absence. It's another assumption completely to expect viewers to return for CHUCK or DAISIES or even SARAH CONNOR given that the show were on hiatus longer than they were originally on the air.

Lastly, in DAISIES' case, the program has not lived up to its early promise.

What I found to extra special about the pie-maker and his universe is that it is unique. It can't be identified with a specific decade or location - unless the writers get sloppy - and lately they have. There was a whimsy about the first 13 episode of DAISIES that has slowly fallen by the wayside. It was charming, clever and matched the impeccable art direction of the series.

There are little things going wrong of late - small but important details that cemented the pie-maker in his unique universe. Lately, the word 'ass' has crept into several of the characters' vocabulary. There have been uniquely modern colloquialisms as well. Again, it's the small stuff that separated this show from everything else, and the small stuff is starting to be ignored.

I almost expect one of the characters to break out a cell phone next week. It's just wrong. It doesn't taste like the pie we've been getting.

When an eaterie like the Pie Hole changes its recipes this much, one has to wonder if its under new management, the head chef left, or if the owner really cared to begin with.