Friday, November 28, 2008

What is The Next Step?

ABC has officially announced that Pushing Daisies will not continue beyond its thirteenth episode for the current season, but is there still a pulse? I have heard rumors that it could still come back next season. I have also heard that if enough units of the Season 1 DVD set this could justify a direct to DVD movie. But none of these have been substantiated. Glancing around at the other Save Pushing Daises sites, it seems that everybody is in disarray. I have seen several suggestions on how to proceed from here, but there is a definite lack of unity.

I feel like my Send a Daisy campaign had run its course because even though we pulled in substantial donations and sent off quite a number of shipments, it never showed signs of rivaling something like the Jericho nuts campaign (and when I said previously that I was suspending the campaign, it did not mean I was giving up on Pushing Daisies, just re-focusing my efforts). And I received feedback from various sources that campaigns like these rarely sway the decisions of network executives. It was worth a try, but perhaps now we need to shift direction.

I have posted a poll on this site to solicit feedback for next steps. Maybe this can provide a springboard for Daisies fans to unify on a single cause and hopefully direct that effort to send a message to the appropriate people. Please cast your vote in the poll and post any suggestions here.

40 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think fans should both lobby for a movie and for the show to be picked up on another network.

I do agree though, that there's a total lack of unity between fans. On facebook there's a considerable amount of people in several different groups. If we can get everyone on "Watch with Kristin", the ABC PD board, and on Facebook together to do one thing - that would be amazing.

Anonymous said...

I think that asking ABC to reconsider, and asking other networks to pick it up if ABC says "no" go together. It would be nice if ABC changed their mind- easier on the cast, crew, and production I'd imagine- but I don't feel comfortable leaving it at that. I'm afraid that if we just leave it with ABC, it will be too late if (when) they make the final decision to cancel.

Anonymous said...

This show is way overrated. Good riddance!

Anonymous said...

Hi...
all good? I am Brazilian [forgives the bad English] We Brazilian fans are mounting a site to help in the campaign to save Pushing Daisies [www.savepushingdaisiesbrazil.webnode.com]. E if will be able to have a partnership.

I wait reply. Helana

rjaye said...

To the person saying the show is overrated- if you know that you're on an area where people are passionate about something, can you just...not post? Was it that important to tell us your opinion?

Anyway, I have made a video on YouTube letting people know what they can do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF2Ybc6QLfQ

Also, I think there needs to be something set up to get a general coherence as to what fans should do, instead of some people complaining to ABC and the rest of them mailing other networks.

If we try to ALL work together and contact other networks, they might pay attention.

A page needs to be created saying all of this with a definitive approach to this situation, and then it needs to be sent to EVERY Save Pushing Daisies campaign out there, so everyone knows what to do.

Anonymous said...

This is like Moonlight all over again for me, my family, and my friends. We all watch the same shows, and when we really start to love one, they cancel it.

I really do hope this isn't the end of Pushing Daisies. It's a great show with an original plot and characters. It would be a shame to get rid of them.

Anonymous said...

Hello, as a fan of pushing daisies and pushing daisies the networks just dont get it. If you would like more info on how the rangers did what we did feel free to goto the universal hd boards.

ShannonMillion said...

I love Pushing Daisies. It's the best ever... written so cleverly and charmingly. It exhibits a writing style of such superb quality as has not been seen since well before the days of modern trashy "reality" TV . It is Dr. Seuss meets Sherlock Holmes meets Technicolor Dreamland. This shows heavenly wit and fantastical characters are the dreamiest ever. The sleuthy nature of this gem of a show keeps me tuned in every week and online to see what fantastic journey the characters will guide me through this week. Don't let them cancel it.... please, please, please. Sincerely, Shannon McCarthy PD SuperFan

Anonymous said...

Send more daisies!
Just reach out to people everywhere!!
Facebook, myspace..
anything like that
Get the meaage out and lets send more daisies now!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm going to send a boquet of daisies!!
Let's do this!
Wo0t wo0t

Anonymous said...

I don't know if anyone really thought about this, or if it's just a lame idea, but how about lobbying SciFi to get them to pick up the show? It would kinda fit with the whole fantasy element, and our supposedly small audience (yeah right) would not be worrisome at all on a smaller network. I'm just grasping at any kind of ideas to help Pushing Daisies live on!

Deb Hardman said...

I think the Sci Fi channel would be a good fit for PD. I wonder if they've considered it. I don't watch a lot of TV, but Pushing Daises & Chuck are my favorite shows on right now. If there is some way I can help save it I want to do it!
I'll be adding this link to my blog.

Anonymous said...

I read at the ABC-messageboard that USA network might be an appropriate channel... it also shows psych and monk - so they're rather open to stranger concepts and the audience might like it as well...

I live in Europe so I don't know much about US-Networks though.

Something else that just came to my mind: If we send daisies it's probably to close to Jericho's nuts action...(though I only heard about this action through PD-sites) and will it really draw as much attention toward the problem as we want?
What about a commercial in a big TV-magazine. (again - you tell which one would be the best)
Yeah it costs money... but hey: there might be people out there who don't surf on messageboards and might not have heard of it... And the media might see... and people would ask.

I know that at the end of the X-Files all fans of each character paid some money for a Thank-you-ad for their star in the X-files-farewell-edition of the hollywood-reporter. Okay, the X-files-community is quite unique.
But when I look at the petition (over 53,000 signatures) I don't think it's impossible!

Well - Think about it!

Anonymous said...

P.S. by "commercial" I meant "newspaper-ad"... forgot to replace the word.

Amanezco said...

This is the best show I have seen in a while; I hope we get more of it! I will buy all seasons on DVD.

Unknown said...

Not to be a downer but it is highly unlikely that, even at this early date, ABC will reconsider. They are suffering financially as are all of the major networks due to a steady decline in ratings and TIVO, both of which decrease ad revenues. Most likely, as horrid as it sounds, legislation will be passed to cause TIVOs to delete programs after a set period of time to encourage live viewing. Of course, they'll say it's to discourage piracy. Until that time, with ad revenues down and decreasing viewership (much of which stems from the television industries complete disregard for fans and perpetual cancellation of substantive programming), we will be seeing more cancellations and fewer completed seasons on network television. Asking ABC to reconsider is certainly a reasonable task and worth trying but remember that encouragement and gratitude to those responsible for Pushing Daisies, particularly Brian, will be more likely to result in future projects involving these characters. Consistent positive reinforcement will keep the show on the minds of the writers and on Brian's mind and will keep him on the offensive, asking networks to do a movie and publishers to do a comic. He has more power as a "big name" than a million of us sending letters to a network that can't afford decent programs because all their money goes to fund the production of Grey's Catastrophe.

Unknown said...

First, Industry's not industries. It's after two and I'm half asleep. Second, one other thing to consider is the power of the fan to keep an actor interested. The Dead Like Me movie was made and is being released on DVD after a couple of years of active hounding by various parties involved with the production of the show who cared enough to keep at it. (Although Fuller was otherwise engaged.) However, two key actors did not participate. One cared and wanted to but was prevented by a preexisting contract which is likely part of the reason he eventually broke that contract. The other wanted more money and really didn't concern themself with matters of fan loyalty and hope. If you really want a movie, keep fan comments coming to the stars of Pushing Daisies. If you keep softening that soft spot in their heart for your specific fan community and for this show, they will do their best to reprise their roles at any time they are able. If you don't, they may end up like David Boreanaz swearing adamantly that he would never play Angel again (until fan reactions caused him to recant). Good luck.

Anonymous said...

I think we should continue to send seeds asking them to bring it back for season 3. I don't think there is anything we can do to change their plans for season 2, but I do think it is worth working for season 3.

There is also the Ask Me About Pushing Daisies pin! We could wear them to keep awareness alive, and we could send some to ABC to show them we are doing our part to advertise the show.

Alice said...

I wish ABC would reconsider. This show has been a breath of fresh air. If not I hope another network picks it up and makes ABC realize how foolish they were to let it go.

Anonymous said...

i was shocked and sad when i initially heard that pushing daises was canceled. It was my favorite show and was also very new and original I just hope they find a way to save it

Matthew said...

What I find ridiculous and crazy, that the ratings system does not take Tivo/DVR viewing into consideration. I watch 100% of my shows on DVR. I watch when I can, usually late at night because of my business hours. This is an extremely common practice since the institution of DVR's. And we all know that they can track DVR viewing since they call in every night. So to say DVR viewing is not real 'ratings' is bullshit.

Unknown said...

Here's a suggestion that I've looked into before, and it could work.

Find out from the show's creators, directors and such how much it would cost to produce a third series. Set up an investment group (or whatever legal entity would work best) and sell shares of the production. While raising the money put it all in a money market account or something so if the total cost isn't reached then everybody gets their money back and the interest gained on the account can go for paying expenses.

If you raise enough money they can produce a third series, and a fourth and so on, which can then be syndicated, sold on DVDs, sold on iTunes, etc. Any profits or residuals go back to the shareholders, after paying the actors and everybody else involved first.

If it works you get a few more seasons of Pushing Daisies, if it doesn't you get your money back. Why not give it a try?

Nussy said...

The Sci Fi Channel seems like a perfect fit for this show. Has this option been explored yet?

audioper said...

There's a group lobbying AMC to pick our beloved show up:

http://savedaisies.com/?p=69

Let's get on it quick! anything to save our Pie Hole!

Anonymous said...

Well it appears that there definitely needmneeds to be some cohesion. off the top of my head after atching the latest episode [ i will think more this weekend ] here are steps i suggest.

# 1 SET UP A SINGLE WEBSITE. I would galdly pay for the domain name, and there has to be someone out there that would volunteer there professional webpage creation skills.

# 1A.... Then contact all the participants on all the other sites and have them converge at this main site.

# 2 Concerning the comment about ABC's financial difficulties.... HIT THEM WHERE IT HURTS ... BOTH POSITIVELY AND NEGATIVELY.

#2A POSITIVELY..... Mass email, call and mail ABC's advertisers and tell them that they should back Daisies return, [ for a set number of seasons ] thereby gaining a parallel cult following of loyal consumers. Conversely, if they do not issue a public statement calling for the return of the show, then they risk a boycott of their products.

#2B NEGATIVELY..... Mass email, call and mail ABC AND DISNEY, telling them that they risk a vocal boycott of their shows, products and advertisers if Daisies is not renewed for a set number of seasons. [This saves us from having to go through this every year]

#2C These Emails can be set up through the website in the same manner that political and charity website 'click' promotions are done, That is when you subscribe to the website you will get an e-mail every day [ or more... depending on your set preference ] that sends you a link that will forward a letter to the companies involved.

#3 PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT. Continue to spread the word on social websites to everyone you know ... wether they like or watch the show or not. I'm sure we all have friends that would do us this small favor, and we might even make them converts.

#4 SOME SORT OF WACKY STUNT OR SERIES OF WACKY STUNTS... that will gain national attention on news services. Such as " MAN WILL NOT LEAVE BILLBOARD UNTIL TV SHOW IS RENEWED " or any thing else seemingly crazy that we can think of. This gets free publicity, and the media copies each other and regurgitates crap constantly. If ' batman on drugs' can get 7 million youtube hits, then we can get attention.

#5 CONTACT OPRAH WINFREY. sounds stupid, but if she is behind the show, it will stay on the air for twenty years.

Yeah i know all this seems amazingly in depth for a tv show, but i dont watch to much tv and this one hour a week really makes me happy.

AND... REMEMBER, MOST IMPORTANTLY:

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

If anyone would like to contact me my e mail is K9earthboy@hotmail.com

LET'S GET TO WORK FOLKS!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

pushing daisies has a small sect of devoted fans in a one hour format.

This is perfect for HBO or showtime. They should be looking to these networks. I'm frustrated than Bryan Fuller doesn't seem to care beyond comic books (meh) and a movie. I'd rather have a few seasons. At least fight for it a little bit more - even go to other broadcast networks that aren't struggling as much as ABC (NBC, through a diversified parent company GE, is actually doing okay). I love the show.

hbo would get new subscriptions if they picked up the show.

It wasn't just that the show was awesome, it was that the cast was awesome, too. You can't replace that.

Natsthename said...

I think it's perfect for the Sci-Fi network!!!

Anonymous said...

I am reminded of when the CBS show Jericho was in danger of being canceled, people sent in peanuts (which were apparently relevant to the show) to CBS in an effort to save the show.

What if we all sent ABC studios a bunch of rotten fruit? They might renew the show just so people will stop sending it, but it would show that Pushing Daisies still has a dedicated following.

It might be boot since Bryan Fuller has already rejoined the Heroes writing team, but it could be worth a shot.

Blake_Parker said...

That's true, he is going back to heroes, and if this AMAZING show is canceled, at least there is that. I can barely stand Heroes now but Season One was really good.

I think Pushing Daisies being picked up by another network is the best idea. By the way, how is ABC "struggling"? Aren't they Disney and isn't Disney like a god or something?

I always thought continuing canceled shows in comics would be cool. I LOVE comics! But this show, so much about it is visual style. If they can successfully adapt it to comics, great, but it would be hard. Plus comics don't have actors, and the actors are great.

If a movie is made, let's hope it's not designed as an ultimate THE END, but leaves it so it could return as a show. Kind of like the Futurama movies if anyone here likes Futurama.

Anyway, there's no law saying we have to settle for one option. Write letters to ABC, write letters to other networks. Give it some time. If it doesn't come back next year, maybe the year after.

Anonymous said...

I find it hard to believe that nobody here has any idea what they're talking about when it comes to network decisions. It ALL comes down to MONEY.

Building a fund to produce a third season is insanity. It costs well over a million to produce a single episode.
We probably wouldn't be able to pull enough money together to rebuild the sets for the show, let alone hire cast, crew and writers. If anyone hasn't noticed, the special effects have been cut dramatically since the first season, and it was purely out of concern over production cost.

If the show isn't making money, it simply wont continue. This is the only reason why Family Guy, Futurama, Firefly all came back because an executive or producer believed it would make them money--either because reruns were popular and dvd sales were doing well. Pushing Daisies must be bleeding money out of every oriface. The only thing that can save this show is a sudden increase in viewers or an ENORMOUS pick up in dvd/blu-ray sales. Sending daisies was nothing but a futile effort following the footsteps of Veronica Mars viewers who sent in Mars Bars. They send thousands of dollars in candy and received nothing in return. Trust me, anything we do other than watch, encourage others to watch and buy as many dvds as we can is pointless.

Anonymous said...

Most likely we need to keep up with the most popular facebook group and let it run. We can get the most support that way. ABC can't ignore the support forever. The more unified the better as you pointed out in the blog post. If we show ABC that the support is there, the show would hopefully follow.

Anonymous said...

All right then. I will now go out and buy 900,000 copies of Season One*

*Will not actually go out and buy 900,000 copies of season one.

Anonymous said...

I really think you should look into a Facebook campaign. I honestly think it could do wonder.

Anonymous said...

youtube to send out a message to all fans to help unify us! and pick something that is simple and effective--"sign the petition" etc... anything that would get a huge number of people doing it at the same time.

Anonymous said...

Sign the Saving Daisies petition online at:

http://www.petitiononline.com/daisies/

The Guru said...

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I would like to help promote your Save Pushing Daisies campaign through my freelancing company, making a website to help...creating emails just let me know by replying

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