Dead Like Me

Every summer, when TV is in rerun land, Buttin and I watch older shows on DVD. I do appreciate that many great shows have seasons that run during the summer; (i.e. Burn Notice, Weeds, Mad Men & SYTYCD) however, these shows don't fill up my DVR in the way that I'm accustomed. There are honestly times in the fall when we have to stay indoors just to watch shows for fear we might reach DVR capacity and miss recording another of our favorites.

For all of you missing ((insert your favorite show here)) & if you say "CSI: Miami" or "Two and A Half Men", I'll laugh at you) I have a recommendation - "Dead Like Me". We've just finished it and I miss it already. It's the same kind of sadness you get when you finish a good book - I miss the people in this show. It's a dark comedy (originally aired on Showtime) about a group of grim reapers. The protagonist (Georgia) is an early 20-something gal who just recently died (from a piece of space trash plummeting to Earth, a toilet seat) and becomes a grim reaper. She is one of a small group of reapers (from the "accident division") who claims the souls of accident victims right before they die.

I must say that I find this idea incredibly comforting and the show has moments of uncomfortable humor mixed with sweet despair (like when we find out there's such a thing as animal reapers). Every episode revolves around the group of reapers, (they can be seen and touched by all people, but they just look different than when they were alive) the souls they take and the family Georgia left behind. It makes me want to know a grim reaper, just like Harry Potter makes me want to go to Hogwarts.

Bryan Fuller created "Dead Like Me" and I can also highly recommend his other shows, "Wonderfalls" and the oh so sadly short lived, "Pushing Daisies". As I mentioned in my Lame TV Show Names post, I have no idea why shows like "Pushing Daisies" don't make it, but shows like "Two and a Half Men" thrive. I don't understand why people don't ask my opinion.

If you're having a summer TV drought - I also highly recommend "The Wire", which is one of he best shows ever. We are also enjoying "True Blood" - turns out if you can get over Anna Paquin's accent - it's pretty entertaining.

The Last Three Pushing Daisies

I'm in love with a TV show that's been cancelled.

I'm a girl who needs a certain amount of whimsy in my life. This whimsy can be provided by any number of things, including; spending time with my niece JT (she's a stop and smell the psychedelic flowers kind of little girl), listening to our misfits defend a decision they've made (this often boarders on absurd, but you have to see the funny in it so you don't kill them) and television shows.

As I've mentioned before, work makes me stressed. I'm stressed about bills, stressed about employees, stressed about customers and the list goes on. I have found that a good antidote to my unnatural level of stress is whimsy. Whimsy makes me feel so much better - it's like an escape to a happy place that cannot be reached by outsiders. Stupid outsiders and their stupid demands.

A couple fall seasons ago, I found the ultimate in whimsy in a wonderful show - Pushing Daisies. I fell in love with this show from the very first frame - it's unusual coloring and narrated story made me squeal with whimsical delight! It was the perfect adult fairytale and I love fairy tales. Then the stupid writers strike came and took my beloved show away. Stupid writers or producers or money-grubby people or whoever's fault it was.

The show came back last fall and I was so happy. I told EVERYONE (which was probably just Liz and maybe one other person) I know about this show. I delighted in the love story and every little crime fighting adventure. Buttin and I even talked about naming Lumpy, Charlotte (when/if Lumpy arrives and if Lumpy is a girl), in honor of one of the main characters.

Sadly, even with all my love - Pushing Daisies was cancelled. I blame the terrorists. In hindsight, I probably should have told more people to watch it or sent in a bunch of daisy seeds to ABC in protest.

I have the last three Pushing Daisies waiting in my DVR - waiting for me and for when the day when I really need the most powerful form of whimsy ever created. I really am scared for that day and don't want it to ever come, because if it ever does then I'll have to admit that Pushing Daisies really is over. So sad.