TV Daily

Salon’s guide to what to watch

Prime Pick

Pushing Daisies

Photo: ABC

Fans of dark, cartoonish films like "Amélie" or "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" are likely to enjoy ABC's "Pushing Daisies" (premieres at 8 p.m. EDT), an odd little fairy tale about a pie maker who can bring people back to life by touching them. If that sounds just like the six or seven other shows featuring dead people that have aired over the past few years, that's because Bryan Fuller, creator of Showtime's "Dead Like Me" and Fox's "Wonderfalls," is behind it. But despite appearances, "Pushing Daisies" may be the most original new drama to premiere this fall. With snappy writing, stunning art direction and a great cast, this really is the new show you don't want to miss.

Also…

Woody Allen's "Manhattan" airs at 8 p.m. EDT on TCM, the season finale of "Top Chef" airs at 10 p.m. EDT on Bravo, and "The Sarah Silverman Program" premieres at 10:30 p.m. EDT on Comedy Central. Fans of Wired magazine won't want to miss "Wired Science," a weekly technology series on PBS (8 p.m. EDT, check local listings). You and your ball and chain might also enjoy Bravo's "Better Half" (premieres at 11 p.m. EDT), in which spouses learn to do each other's jobs.

On the talk shows

Regis and Kelly

ABC, 9 a.m. EDT
Ted Danson, Ted Koppel

The View

ABC, 11 a.m. EDT
Sarah Silverman, Lee Pace

Ellen DeGeneres

Syndicated, check local listings
Jamie Foxx, Emily Bear

Oprah Winfrey

Syndicated, check local listings
Tyler Perry, Janet Jackson, Jill Scott

Charlie Rose

PBS, check local listings
Chris Hill, Alan Alda

Larry King

CNN, 9 p.m. EDT
Dorothy Hamill

Jon Stewart

Comedy Central, 11 p.m. EDT
Ted Koppel

Stephen Colbert

Comedy Central, 11:30 p.m. EDT
Jim Lovell

David Letterman

CBS, 11:30 p.m. EDT
Alec Baldwin, Faith Hill

Jay Leno

NBC, 11:35 p.m. EDT
Tom Selleck, Carlos Mencia, Bobbie and Willie Nelson

Tavis Smiley

PBS, check local listings
Frank Rich

Jimmy Kimmel

ABC, 12:05 a.m. EDT
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Brad Womack, Nick Lowe

Conan O'Brien

NBC, 12:35 a.m. EDT
Tina Fey, Ani DiFranco

Craig Ferguson

CBS, 12:35 a.m. EDT
Kevin Smith, J.L. Cauvin

Contributors: Megan Doll, Heather Havrilesky, Eryn Loeb, Amy Reiter

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