The other day I was putzing around The YouTubes and landed on some videos for “Wonderfalls.” Ahh, “Wonderfalls.” Every fan of “Pushing Daisies” who never watched this show should drop whatever she is doing right now and run (seriously, make with the hurry) to the store to buy the complete series box set. Go, now. I'll wait. Maybe I'll pour myself a beverage. Speaking of beverages, does anyone drink Tang anymore? Maybe astronauts? Heck, probably not even astronauts anymore. I wonder if you could use it as a mixer? Nah, it'd probably be too gritty. Who wants a crunchy screwdriver... Oh, thank God, you're back.
Look, if you never watched “Wonderfalls” (and that's probably all but five of you since the show only had about a dozen viewers total and subsequently got yanked after four episodes) do yourself a favor and start. Don't let its criminally premature cancellation scare you. Quantity doesn't necessarily equal quality, especially on TV. “According to Jim” just got renewed for an eighth season. Yeah, I rest my case.
What made “Wonderfalls” so wonderful was its deliciously winsome, unrepentantly quirky combination of cynicism, witticisms, mysticism and inanimate talking animals. OK, Caroline Dhavernas helped too. She helped a lot. Like a ton. Like I still harbor an unrequited, Google-her-every-couple-of-months crush on her. Hey, it's not creepy if you never actually come within 500-feet of the person. But, for serious, I would have driven to Niagra Falls to propose marriage to Jaye Tyler if she wasn't already making time with that doofy bartender (and, you know, was real...ahem). I mean, she was exactly my type. Overeducated and underemployed. Add snarky as all get out to that and be still my misanthropic heart.
Heck, every time I hear the jaunty theme song I grin like a lovesick fool. And I forgot the best part (well, besides Caroline), the show had a lesbian and everything in Jaye's sister Sharon. Oooh, oooh, one more thing – are you ready to be jealous?
Yeah, you know you're jealous. Well, at least five of you are.
p.s. Seriously. Go. Watch. Right. Now.
Count me as of the the five because I own the boxset! Wonderfalls was an incredibly well written show with amazing characters so naturally it was canceled.
ReplyDeleteYes, so jealous. I remember looking for one of those on ebay a couple months ago. :(
ReplyDeleteYep. Jealous as hell.
ReplyDeleteThat was one awesome show.
Yes... you can also count me as one of those "envious" types. I was very upset that Wonderfalls was never really given the chance to flourish, but was thrilled to buy the entire series on DVD (including the unaired episodes).
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the audio commentary on the DVD. Caroline and Katie had such a wonderful camaraderie that shines through on the audio commentary. I loved seeing Tracie Thoms and Lee Pace on the show (and Lee is wonderful on "Pushing Daisies"). Perhaps we'll get an appearance from the "Wonderfalls" cast on "Pushing Daisies".
I think Wonderfalls is my second favorite TV show, Buffy being first.
ReplyDeleteAnd I am totally jealous of that smooshed face lion. I now have something else to obsess over on ebay...
Ooooh, where did you get that?
ReplyDeleteI'm putting it on my Netflix queue right now!
ReplyDeleteso, i'm free to go now, right?
ReplyDeletethank you.
smooshed face lion! I want one!
ReplyDeleteBryan Fuller is a genius. Wonderfalls was one of the best shows on tv.
I watched Wonderfalls when it aired originally. I should revisit it cuz it's been awhile now.
ReplyDeleteI am jealous. I watched when it was on originally and N*tflixed it awhile back to see all of the episodes. Too bad I'm broke or I would probably own it and now I can pine for the little smoosh faced lion too.
ReplyDeletemost genius shows get canceled too soon (see: my so called life, freaks & geeks, et al.) so it was quite a surprise when pushing daises was renewed.
ReplyDeleteLove Wonderfalls :)
ReplyDeleteFortunately, I live in a country where the entire season was aired. Yay.
Was saddened by the news it didn't get renewed for another season, tho.
"You're ass is ringing" is a line I try to use in one way or another, whatever shape or form ;)
Oh, and the one episode in which Jaye's sister makes out with her girlfriend on the livingroom floor; hilarious!
Wow. SO glad to see Jaye/Caroline! I watched the movie "Breach" SOLELY because she was in it (sadly in an all too brief role; though the movie wasn't so bad). Andy Partridge from XTC wrote and performed the theme song, which I think is pretty darn cool too! As if they show needed to be any cooler! As other commenters have noted, it was a quirky, smart show with a great cast and great writing - wasn't long for this world.
ReplyDeleteI'm jealous.
ReplyDeleteI don't own the box set...but my local library does.
You have an original Wax Lion figurine? You are officially the coolest person I (kind of) know. :D Needless to say, Wonderfalls is my favorite show.
ReplyDeleteah, dorothy,
ReplyDeletedon't mess up your day,
somehow, today is good day.
see ya.
Just thought I'd poke my head out of the woodwork and say that I am a huge fan of everything to do with both of your fabulous blogs, and am one of the five, as I own the boxset. Most importantly, I'm not jealous of you, as I am also the proud owner of a smooshed face lion, and was kind of super excited to see that picture.
ReplyDeleteOh, man! I wanted one of these so bad! I looked all over when I was in Niagara Falls on our honeymoon. Alas, no wax lions, talking bears in barrels, or monkey bookends to be found. But I did get married to my lovely wife, so it's all good. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe lady (like, the actual character) who made all those muffins in the Muffin Buffalo episode is going to show up in Pushing Daisies this season!
ReplyDeleteSo, yeah, I'm totally a fan of Wonderfalls, since episode one aired on Fox.
so frakkin' jealous
ReplyDeleteI so jealous I'm going to watch an episode.
I never saw it when it aired, but logo aired the entire season a year or so ago. I absolutely loved it. I covet your smooshed lion.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, the muffin lady, Beth Grant, is also in "Sordid Lives: the tv series" on logo, airing currently. She is wicked funny.
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0335275/
Wonderfalls is one of the two TV shows for which I saw one episode, then went out and bought the boxed set. (The other is Band of Brothers.)
ReplyDeleteSo much love for Wonderfalls!
I'm one of the five! I even managed to see the fourth (and final) episode Fox aired when they put it on a different night. (An awesome pairing of Wonderfalls and the late, great Tru Calling. Why, Fox, why?!)
ReplyDeleteI bought the series box set the day it came out and have since used it to convert at least four people to the Jaye Tyler love. I pull it out every few months and do a marathon viewing. It just makes me happy.
Oh, and Bryan Fuller revealed a couple weeks ago that the muffin lady will be making a guest appearance on Pushing Daisies. Joy! :D
A friend of mine's daughter has a copy of the lion from the show like yours, as well as which ever of the the see no, hear no, say no evil monkey's that was in the show and she just showed them to me last week...weird huh...similar wave length now...
ReplyDeleteThis show did rock. I'm glad Pushing Daisies got picked up.
ReplyDeleteThat lion is a chachka worth putting on the mantle.
VERY JEALOUS!!! Count me to the five too. Another Brillant but CANCELED series.
ReplyDeleteDorothy, you love Wonderfalls and you have a smooshed faced lion!?!
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I want to have your babies. I too am one of those who saw one episode and bought the dvd box set.
BTW, did you spot the smooshed faced lion in an episode of Heroes?
Yay, wonderfalls - how could anyone not harbour an *un-obsessive, ahem* unrequited crush on madame herself....
ReplyDeleteooh the hand of Dorothy...how intruiging
I also was one of the five. I loved it. It was way quirky and it had good people in it. LIke the dad who was on Roswell and I crushed on. I had also lived in upstate NY and could relate.
ReplyDeleteI own the DVD box set, I actually watched the show on the telly, and I have the theme song as my ring tone.
ReplyDeleteI like Pushing Daisies but I also think that Wonderfalls is a better show, but maybe too strange for most.
I'm jealous ... I watch the first episod today and I love this show so much (like Pushing Daisies) ... Where can I find a wax lion ?
ReplyDeleteA french woman