When I first heard of Pushing Daisies, about a man who could bring back the dead, I reminisced about one of my favorite shows, the HBO series Carnivàle. Ben Hawkins also had the power to revive the dead. Carnivàle was full of mystery and intrigue. Pushing Daisies however, while having an interesting concept is trapped in a typical TV series formula, spinning it wheels and not really getting anywhere.

In Pushing Daisies, Ned (Lee Pace) had the ability to bring back the dead. However, there are a few rules. He could only bring them back for 60 seconds without any consequences. If the dead are revived for longer than 60 seconds, then another person’s life is taken. If Ned touches the person again they are dead, forever. He cannot revive them. Ned discovers all this as a young boy when his mother dies. He revives her, and in turn the love of his life, Chuck ( Anna Friel), father who is just outside is taken.

That same night, when Ned’s mother kisses him goodnight, she drops dead. One touch life, second touch dead. Ned is sent to a boarding school. The next time with see Ned he is a man and the owner of The Pie Hole. He works with a private investigator named Emerson Cod (Chi McBride). Ned’s ability comes in handy when needing to talk to the dead. When Emerson is hired to investigate the death of Chuck, Ned revives her but cannot let her go. This is the second time he has given a life and taken a life. Now Ned much deal with his unusually relationship with Chuck who he loves, but cannot touch.

There are some interesting concepts on this show that could really be explorer to give us some very good stories. However, the writers tend to focus each episode around a murder which by the third episode becomes quite boring. The only thing the show has going for it, is that it is extreme funny. The whole cast is excellent, but Chi McBride is superb. He pretty much steals ever scene he is in.

This TV series was made for the Blu-ray format and each episode looks speculator on high-definitions. The colors look vivid and make Ned’s world look like a true fantasy. There are virtually no imperfections to be found. This series was cut short due to the writers’ strike and this first season only features 9 episodes. Much like Dirty Sexy Money the series feels a little empty because of the way the character arcs are left. I only hope that both of these series have a better season 2.

Review by Brad Peterson
Blu-ray Release Date: September 16, 2008
DVD DETAILS
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ABC Studios most sizzling new series, Dirty Sexy Money: The Complete First Season, comes to DVD from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on September 16, 2008. The debut season of the show that redefined “rich” will be available for the first time ever in a three-disc set with exclusive bonus features including deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes revelations.

Outlandishly wealthy, unimaginably powerful and relentlessly scheming, the Darlings have everything money can buy, including the poshest palazzo in Manhattan. It’s up to incorruptible family attorney Nick George (Peter Krause) to help them keep their secrets from destroying them—which makes him a very busy man. From the collapse of daughter Karen’s fourth marriage to the loss of the real estate empire’s flagship property, Nick has an eye on every aspect of their life…at least, he thinks he does.

Here are some clips from Dirty Sexy Money Season One DVD.
Thrown Out and Late Arrival



Meeting with Simon



The Boys Clothes



Setting the Tone



Simon Elder

Its been quite a while since TV Stations have been releasing TV Series of extraordinary quality. Shows like Lost, House, and Heroes have becoming somehow part of the urban culture. Last Fall ABC Released a series that at first glance did not promise much, but once the audience took a look at it, it captivated with an original style and unique comedy . Pushing Daisies aired last October and its reception was well accepted by fans and critics, it was the most watch new series of the year. The success of the series was so huge that was nominated for 12 including Outstanding Lead actor and Outstanding Director for a comedy. The show has it all: it is imaginative and beautiful to watch,. It has a great plot, dialogue, characters and laughs. The first season will be available in its home format on September 16, 2007 and it is a great addition for any fan’s collection.

Pushing Daisies is about a man named Ned, who since he was a little boy discovered he has an uncommon gift, he could bring back the dead, with just a single touch from his fingers. He discovered his extraordinary gift when his precious dog is run over by a truck. Soon he realized that his gift has horrible consequences in the most unpleasant way, when he revives his mother from her accidental death, and his childhood sweetheart’s father dies a minute later. He learns that the price of life is dead, also he learns the side effects of his gift, that once the person is revived he can not touch it again or he or she will die for good. This findings do not just changes his life, but also his childhood sweetheart Charlotte “Chuck” Charles having her moved with her aunts, and losing touch with Ned. After this, Ned leaves his neighborhood and renounces to get attached to anyone else. The series then fast-forwards to an older Ned, as a restaurant owner, and part time private eye. He and his partner, Emerson Cod, discovered that solving murder crimes by asking the victims who kill them are much easier to solve. Everything gets complicated when Charlotte is one of the victims, which Ned brings back to live but is unable to put her back to rest. Now he is involved in a romantic cycle with a woman who loves her, her assistant, and the woman he loves but can not touch.

The series main focus is the relationship between Ned and Chuck, along with a well mixed mysterious but funny murders that the main characters have to solved, it is no doubt that classical movies like Alfred Hitchcock’s Birds also influenced this series but the way is shown guarantees freshness and humor. It is presented in a fairy tale format, with “once Upon a time“ kind of phrases, that evokes a dreamlike feeling to the audience. Along with a well narrating interventions full of rhymes and allegories makes the audience feel like they are listening to a DR Zeus story. It is amazing how the directors and writers brought this ridiculous idea into something completely wonderful. From the beginning the audience get caught visually in a magical world full of color, light, and great use of camera effects. Each episode introduces original characters, stories, and situations that are well kept along with the evolution of the characters. I have to complement the actor which did an outstanding job performing their part, even the secondary and invited guest surprise us with their performances, and to the writers to keep the story alive, in each episode we learn a little more about one of the main characters with out losing focus of the original story.

It is a shame that the series had to be released during the writer’s strike the series had to be cut short, as the series progresses the audience want to know more and more about it. The humor, stile, the situations and even the special effects are convincing enough for people to fall in love with the series. I have to admit that I have become a fan and that each episode always let me wanting for more. For people who missed this series and like series like Dead Like Me, this one would not let you down, the series is smart, funny and original, full of beautiful and colorful places, great music, an a well managed ending that would ensure the returned of the fans for the next season. If you have not seen this season I recommend it watch it and let us hope that its second season coming up this October to be as original, fresh and exciting as this first one. I Cant Wait.

Review by Dee

Here is a Clip from the Show

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