From the creators of the quirky "Wonderfalls," "Pushing Daisies" is a "forensics fairy tale" staring Lee Pace as Ned.

Ned has two talents. First, he's a gifted pie maker. Second, he can bring the dead back to life--kind of. Once he touches someone again after bringing them back from the dead, they die again. The gift also comes with a caveat, the person can only stay alive for one minute, or else someone else must die.

He uses his talents to make a living. He owns a pie store, and he assists a private detective (Chi McBride) in solving murders. In the first episode, Ned tries to solve the murder of his childhood love, Charlotte Charles, a.k.a. "Chuck" (Anna Friel). He brings her back to life, but can't bare to let her go. So she lives and falls in love with Ned, but they can't touch or she'll die again.

The pilot was directed by Barry Sonnenfeld ("Addams Family," "Men in Black"). His visual style gives "Pushing Daisies" the look of a pop-up story book. Sonnenfeld has set the bar high for future directors on the series.

Pace is outstanding as the outcast Ned. Broadway veterans Ellen Green, Swoosie Kurtz (both play Chuck's former synchronized swimmer aunts), and Kristin Chenoweth (Ned's clueless, yet love struck, employee Olive) add to the quirky characters that add that fairy tale feeling.

"Pushing Daisies" may just be one of the best shows of the fall season. It airs Wednesdays at 8p.m. on ABC.