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.

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Sorry, Kristin Chenoweth fans, but I bear very bad news. Variety reports that NBC has declined to pick up the Pushing Daisies dynamo’s David E. Kelley pilot called Legally Mad.

Rumors had been flying that was the case since the network failed to mention the potential show during its “infront” announcement last Monday. The event was scheduled to tell the world about the slate of new series NBC intends to give a chance during the 2009–2010 season.

In addition to Chenoweth, the cast of the would-have-been drama included Eli Stone alumna Loretta Devine, as well as Charity Wakefield, Hugh Bonneville, Jon Seda, and Kurt Fuller. What I would have given to see Kristin and Loretta on the same show each week.

The famed Paley Center for Media has released the complete lineup for this year’s PaleyFest09 — scheduled to take place from April 10–24 in Hollywood — and fans of comedy television who plan to attend should be ecstatic to learn there’s a whole lot of funny shows included.

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]

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This news truly sucks.

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.

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According to a dude named Ausiello over at Entertainment Weekly, a fresh episode of Pushing Daisies was supposed to air tonight, January 7, but it got canned at the last moment.

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.

The ink is barely dry on ABC’s utterly depressing cancellation of technicolor dramedy Pushing Daisies, and already much-loved series star Kristin Chenoweth has a new gig on her plate.

Variety reports that the petite powerhouse — she does Broadway and stuff, too, you know, right? — has landed a starring role in NBC’s forthcoming David E. Kelley Chicago-set legal drama Legally Mad.

For those who don’t know, Kelley, husband of actress Michelle Pfeiffer, is the same writing and producing creative mastermind who brought television fans sometimes whimsical, always successful series like the recently ended Boston Legal, which was a spinoff of The Practice, as well as Ally McBeal, Chicago Hope, and my all-time personal favorite, Picket Fences. Why is no basic-cable network syndicating that one?

Obviously, Chenoweth and Kelley are an excellent match, and her role sounds winning, too, right down to the eyebrow-raising name Skippy Pylon. The character is described as “a cheerful and brilliant attorney who nonetheless exhibits flashes of psychosis — and enjoys being mistaken for a teenager.” Since Kelley admits he has long desired to collaborate with Chenoweth, perhaps he had her youthful height (she’s one inch shy of five feet) in mind when creating the role, possibly just for her.

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The news is spreading like wildfire all over the Internets: on November 20, ABC announced more changes to its midseason schedule that include:

• 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.

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Lovely Pushing Daisies star Kristin Chenoweth paid a visit to Jimmy Kimmel Live on Tuesday, October 28.

Follow the jump for a video of the interview with the always vivacious actress who plays Olive Snook.

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ABC Prefers Pushing Daisies Over Half-Hour Presidential Specials

Network foregoes Barack Obama broadcast

Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Wednesday, October 29 follows.

All times are Eastern Standard.

Pushing Daisies — Dim Sum Lose Some
While Emerson’s latest murder case at a dim sum restaurant leads to a reunion with a polygamist’s widow named Simone (Christine Adams), Ned meets a strange man (Stephen Root) who not only claims to be an old friend and colleague of his father, but also wants Ned to help find him.
[8pm-9pm | ABC | Trailer]

The New Adventures of Old Christine — Tie Me Up, Don’t Tie Me Down
The big green monster has Barb and Christine at each other’s throats again when their dates with two guys from a video store have very different outcomes: one leads to a second date and the other one doesn’t. Christine’s date is played by Tim DeKay, Bizarro Jerry on Seinfeld.
[8:30pm-9pm | CBS | SPECIAL TIME]

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David Arquette Guest Stars on Pushing Daisies

Notable Comedy TV scheduled for Wednesday, October 22 follows.

All times are Eastern Standard.

The New Adventures of Old Christine — Everyone Says I Love You Except Ritchie
When Ritchie stops telling Christine he loves her, she decides to have another baby to love her like her son used to. What a great reason to get pregnant again! (Not!)
[8pm-8:30pm | CBS]

Pushing Daisies — Frescorts
David Arquette guest stars as Randy Mann (Get it? He’s a randy man…), the antisocial taxidermy enthusiast who also happens to be the prime suspect in the murder of his roommate, a paid escort. Also, Emerson’s mother (Debra Mooney), a well-known private investigator, shows up unexpectedly.
[8pm-9pm | ABC]

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