'Pushing Daisies' actresses behave as if they're real-life siblings

BURBANK, Calif. — Swoosie Kurtz and Ellen Greene don't just play sisters on TV, they're kind of like siblings when the cameras are turned off.

"We do have that odd, sisterly feel," said Greene, who plays Aunt Vivian on ABC's "Pushing Daisies" — arguably the most original, charming show on TV. "It's very yin-yang."

"Truly, we bring out the best in each other, and I think we sort of complement each other's characters," said Kurtz, who plays Aunt Lily. "Like, I feel better when she's there because I feel like I'm better when she's there."

The veteran actresses are having the time of their lives playing the Charles sisters — the former Darling Mermaid Darlings synchronized swimming pair who inhabit the strange, magical world of "Pushing Daisies."

When the series began, their niece, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Anna Friel), had just been murdered. Which led shy, gentle Vivian and tough, sarcastic Lily to become virtual recluses in their Victorian house.

What they still don't know is that Chuck was brought back to life by the magic touch of the the Piemaker, Ned (Lee Pace), Chuck's childhood love. But while Ned can revive a dead person with a touch, if he touches him/her again, he/she is dead for good. Which is a decided impediment to Ned and Chuck's love.

What Chuck doesn't know is that Lily isn't her aunt, she's her mother. Which is playing out this season on the show, which continues to feature Ned, Chuck and private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) solving murders with the help of Ned's power.

It sounds crazy, but it's a brightly colored, very funny and heartfelt hour like nothing else on TV.

"(Creator/executive producer) Bryan (Fuller) has this amazing land that lives inside. Either that or he's taking amazing drugs," Greene said with a laugh. "He's a genius. His imagination knows no bounds."

(And, remember, Greene originated the role of Audrey in "Little Shop of Horrors.")

Vivian and Lily are getting out more this season, and they're not as joined-at-the-hip. But, like their characters, Kurtz and Greene have a sisterly relationship.

They almost finish each other's sentences. They interject and take over stories in midstream, passing the narrative back and forth.

"I do set her up for a lot of jokes. She's very funny," Greene said.

"I treat her, in real life — I'm sorry to say — exactly the way Lily treats Vivian," Kurtz said. "'Ellen, we're going now! Come on!"'

Among the many, many quirks on "Pushing Daisies" is that Lily wears on eyepatch. (She lost her eye in a cat-litter accident in the first episode. Really.)

And the eyepatches that Kurtz wears really do make her unable to see out of her right eye.