I know — Saturday night isn’t exactly a time for television. But, when one of the medium’s recent most beloved yet short-lived shows returns to air the final three episodes of its second and final season, fans should definitely consider staying home for the occasion.

The time to tune in to ABC tomorrow night (May 30) for Pushing Daisies’ last original run is 10pm ET. A special treat during the first episode up, “Window Dressed to Kill,” consists of guest stars Richard Benjamin (Love at First Bite) and George Segal (Just Shoot Me!), who play the characters Jerry and Buster, respectively.

Follow the jump for spoilers.

The plot goes like this: When Ned decides not to use his gift to solve crimes anymore, Emerson recruits Chuck to help investigate the murder of a window dresser instead. Also, Olive gets a special request from the two con men she persuaded to kidnap her when she was a child after they escape from prison.

If you need to catch up, you can view all nine episodes in the first season of Pushing Daisies online right now at TheWB.com. No luck with the second season, though, since it seems ABC has removed the Season Two video content from the series’ network website. I guess that’s why there’s no sneak peek, either, so let’s just consider ourselves lucky to see the last three episodes on TV at all.

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Making the cut for a panel presentation during the popular annual event are:

FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, which will open the festivities on the very first day. [April 10]

Joss Whedon’s musical Internet series Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, starring How I Met Your Mother’s Neil Patrick Harris, of course, as well as The Big Bang Theory’s Simon Helberg. [April 14]

CBS’ aforementioned The Big Bang Theory. [April 16]

ABC’s Desperate Housewives, which was a bit of a (pleasant) surprise to me. [April 18]

ABC’s canceled Pushing Daisies, with a presentation that will feature series creator Bryan Fuller introducing a very, very special screening of all three remaining unaired episodes. Note that this could be the only chance fans will get to see the episodes before the Season Two DVD release since ABC has failed to schedule them for a tube showing thus far. [April 19]

The rest of the lineup includes an ample smattering of newbies (The CW’s 90210, Fox’s Dollhouse and Fringe, HBO’s True Blood, CBS’ The Mentalist and canceled Swingtown), plus a few crowd-pleasing old-timers (HBO’s Big Love, MTV’s The Hills, and Sci Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica) and one highly anticipated series that hasn’t even premiered yet (Sci Fi Channel’s Battlestar Galactica prequel Caprica, in a joint session with its predecessor).

All of the lucky participants sound like really good choices to me. Check out the full details of PaleyFest09 at the event website, where you can also purchase tickets.

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E! Online’s Kristin and tons of other TV industry insiders in the know all report pretty much the same dismal development: ABC is holding off on airing the final episodes of canceled gems Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, and Pushing Daisies until the summer.

For those of us who remember the vastly boring wasteland the summer TV season used to be before basic cable swooped in and made it a legitimate occasion for new stuff, waiting isn’t such a big deal. But, for fans who wanted closure as soon as possible, it’s a whole ‘nother story I’m sure.

The reason for the delay is very simple, of course. Chalk it up to money, meaning ratings too low to have a large enough positive impact on the network’s bottom line. As Kristin points out, the shows that replaced the three series in their former time slots, including repeats of other series, have been bringing in much more Nielsen bacon — often twice as much or more.

Consequently, don’t expect any new Daisies, Dirty, or Eli until June or later. There are four episodes left on the shelf for the last two shows and three for the first.

With regards to the rescheduling, TV Guide quotes ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson as saying, “I really love those shows. I commend the producers. They delivered what they promised, but we just weren’t able to get the numbers that we needed. I wish we had been able to give the producers series-ending notice. Because of the timing, unfortunately, we weren’t able to.”

Sound sincere to you? Yes or no, it goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Just be happy ABC plans to air the remaining installments at all … and hope (fervently) the situation stays that way. For more on the cancellations, read Dissed by ABC: Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies.

How do those of you who are Daisies, Dirty, and/or Eli fans feel about this news? Leave a comment or vote in the poll below.

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In response to a reader question seeking insider information about the possibility of (unbelievably and regrettably) canceled dramedy gems Pushing Daisies and Dirty Sexy Money completing their sophomore runs over the summer, the Super Scooper writes:

Actually, at this point, we’ll be lucky if they air at all. Episode 11 of Daisies was originally scheduled to air tonight, but, per [series creator and executive producer] Bryan Fuller, the network dropped it from the schedule at the last minute. “They are not scheduled to air right now,” he sighs, “and that’s all we know.”

So, what, you ask, will air in Daisies’ place instead? How about encores of the same two Scrubs episodes — “My Jerks” and “My Last Words” — that marked the show’s debut on ABC this week. And, yes, I mean the very same pair that aired just last night.

Goodness! If I had realized they would repeat so soon, I would have caught The Mentalist in real time on CBS Tuesday night and waited for Scrubs today. As Ausiello concludes his remark above, “Let’s have a round of applause for network TV!” Indeed — and a few cream pies right in the face, too.

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• The Thursday pairing of Grey’s Anatomy and its spinoff Private Practice, beginning on January 8

• The Wednesday pairing of Lost and Life on Mars, which has also received an order for four additional episodes, beginning on January 28

• The simultaneous return and ABC premiere of Scrubs on Tuesday, January 6 at 9pm EST, following double episodes of According to Jim at 8pm

What’s most notable about the schedule, however, especially to us dramedy fans, is the absence of three of television’s most engaging, entertaining, and arguably unique series: Dirty Sexy Money, Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies.

Following a fall season filled with ratings lows for all three programs, ABC has declined to put any of the struggling sophomore series in the midseason lineup. Reports further indicate the network has likewise passed on extending their seasons to a full 22 episodes.

Consequently, as it stands right now, ABC has just publicly issued a de facto cancellation notice for the trio of shows. Sometimes the business of television really sucks.

The good part of this depressing development? Each series will complete all 13 episodes initially ordered, and maybe we’ll even get to see them on the tube. There are currently eight remaining episodes of Eli Stone left to air and and seven of Dirty Sexy Money and Pushing Daisies.

For the number crunchers: this season, Dirty Sexy Money has averaged 6.6 million total viewers, Eli Stone 7.9 million, and Pushing Daisies 6.4 million. In fact, Eli’s numbers match those of Life on Mars‘ most recent airing, except Eli only averages a 2.1 share in adults 18–49, whereas Mars scored higher with a 2.6.

Wow — the difference is astounding! [/sarcasm]

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In fact, during the premiere, Chuck gets to go undercover as something called a Bee Girl in order to investigate the murder of a cosmetics spokesmodel who was stung to death. Ouch! There’s a reason why bees are my least favorite bugs after roaches, wasps, and millipedes, in that order (yes, I have a hierarchy of creepy crawlies and flying insects I detest).

Guest stars include Missi Pyle (Boston Legal) as cosmetics company founder Betty Bee and French Stewart (3rd Rock from the Sun) as the company’s new owner Woolsey Nicholls.

Take a look at a sneak peek for the episode after the jump, but I warn you the video’s quite gross.

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• Discs: 4
• Episodes: 13
• Format: Color, Dolby Digital 5.1, Widescreen
• Languages: English
• List Price: $39.98
• Run Time: 585 minutes
• Season: One
• Special Features: Yes
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• Subtitles: English, Spanish

Cybill – Collector’s Edition, Volume 1

• Discs: 2
• Episodes: 10
• Format: Color, Dolby, Full Screen
• Languages: English
• List Price: $24.98
• Run Time: 240 minutes
• Season: N/A
• Special Features: Yes
• Studio: First Look
• Subtitles: Closed Captioned

Dirty Sexy Money – Season One

• Discs: 3
• Episodes: 10
• Format: Color, Dolby Digital 5.1, Widescreen
• Languages: English
• List Price: $39.99
• Run Time: 426 minutes
• Season: One
• Special Features: Yes
• Studio: Buena Vista Home Entertainment
• Subtitles: Closed Captioned

Pushing Daisies – Season One

• Discs: 3
• Episodes: 9
• Format: Color, Dolby Digital 5.1, Widescreen
• Languages: English
• List Price: $29.98
• Run Time: 379 minutes
• Season: One
• Special Features: Yes
• Studio: Warner Home Video
• Subtitles: English, Spanish

Will & Grace – Season Eight

• Discs: 4
• Episodes: 23
• Format: Color, Dolby Digital 5.1, Full Screen
• Languages: English
• List Price: $44.98
• Run Time: 515 minutes
• Season: Eight
• Special Features: Yes
• Studio: Lionsgate Films
• Subtitles: Closed Captioned, English, Spanish

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Did catch it the first time around but simply can’t remember what happened so long ago?

Can’t wait until the Season One DVD set lands in stores on September 16 to get another PD fix?

Whichever is the case, the following five-minute overview of the show’s first season should help. By the time you finish watching, the various plots threads will all seem so clear and fresh again, for free.

Follow the jump…

Season Two of Pushing Daisies premieres on Wednesday, October 1, at 8pm EST.

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If you want a little idea of what’s coming up during the show’s second season, take a look at the following footage. If you’d rather have everything remain a surprise, however, then move along because the video will definitely reveal some details you probably don’t want to know.

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The mega talented, Tony-winning Broadway veteran sang “That’s How You Know,” one of three nominated musical selections from the film Enchanted, all written and composed by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.

None of the duo’s songs won the Oscar. That honor went to Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová instead for Once’s “Falling Slowly.” Nonetheless, Chenoweth sang well and looked smashing, even busting a few dance moves here and there with the backup chorus.

Take a look at her performance — and cute Miley Cyrus’ introduction — in the clip after the jump.

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