Kristin Chenoweth on Post-'Daisies' Emmy Nom: 'It Certainly Doesn't Suck!'

By Marc Schneider Posted Aug 17th 2009 07:15AM

When ABC mowed down 'Pushing Daisies' last November, fans of the critically-acclaimed and ratings-challenged show were bummed, but not exactly surprised. Mainstream audiences, it seemed, just never latched on to the quirky concept of a pie-maker who resurrects people from the dead to ask them stuff. Petitions to save the show sprung up like weeds, but to no avail. Fast-forward nine months and now the show has risen back into the headlines thanks to one of its stars, Kristin Chenoweth, who was recently nominated for an Emmy for her supporting role on the show.

We chatted briefly with the Broadway-turned-TV star about taking the show's cancellation hard, her upcoming role on another whimsical show ('Glee'), and how she gets mistaken for Cameron Diaz. Full interview after the jump.

Does your nomination for 'Pushing Daisies' soften the blow of the show's cancellation?

"It certainly doesn't suck! I'm pretty good at doing a job and then, kind of, moving on to the next one. But truth be told, I have had a harder time with this job ending. Because I knew it was an original and very, very special show. I loved the fantasy mixed in with the reality, and loved playing a character that was complicated and, you know, kind of the underdog who didn't get the guy. I'm still sad. I'd be a liar if I said I didn't miss it."

Would you trade the nomination to get the show back, even though it's been off the air so long?

"Oh gosh, who doesn't want to keep their job. Especially when it's as different and special as this show was. It feels like a double-edged sword. It's nice to go, 'I can't believe they remembered us!' because, I mean, we were canceled at Christmas! It feels like a win to me. It's just like wow, thanks for remembering."

You were 1 for 2 when it came to Tony nominations ... This being your second Emmy nom, what do you think of your chances this year? Note: She won for 'You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown'; lost for 'Wicked'.

"[Laughter] Oh, can't I just concentrate on my dress?!? I just wanna look cute! Last year I did the long black Armani classic look, which I love. I feel like it'll be different for me this year. Much different."

There's been chatter that it's gonna be between you and Amy Poehler for 'Saturday Night Live' ...

"She's just such a genius, ya know! But frankly none of them are to be counted out. To me when I look at how many people that could have been nominated, it's so many. I'm just happy to be in the top six!"

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Kristin Chenoweth Snapshots

NEW YORK - JUNE 08: (L-R) Kristin Chenoweth, Harry Connick, Jr. and Julia Roberts attend the celebration of Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Camps at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on June 8, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Association of Hole in the Wall Camps) *** Local Caption *** Kristin Chenoweth;Julia Roberts;Harry Connick;Jr.

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Kristin Chenoweth Snapshots

Kristin Chenoweth stops by Treesje launch at Kitson on August 1, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Celebrity Sightings In Los Angeles - August 1, 2009 Los Angeles, CA United States August 1, 2009 Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/WireImage.com To license this image (58032765), contact WireImage.com

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FILE - In this June 8, 2009 file photo, actress Kristin Chenoweth attends a celebration of Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Camps in New York. Chenoweth was nominated for and Emmy award for best supporting actress in a comedy series for her role in "Pushing Daisies," Thursday, July 16, 2009. The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards are scheduled to air live Sept. 20 from the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles.. (AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

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NEW YORK - JUNE 08: Kristin Chenoweth and Julia Roberts attend the celebration of Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Camps at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts on June 8, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Association of Hole in the Wall Camps) *** Local Caption *** Kristin Chenoweth;Julia Roberts

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Actress Kristin Chenoweth attends the 65th annual Theatre World Awards at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on June 2, 2009 in New York City. 65th Annual Theatre World Awards Samuel J. Friedman Theatre New York, NY United States June 2, 2009 Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage.com To license this image (57588829), contact WireImage.com

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Actress Kristin Chenoweth attends Los Angeles Times' 2009 Festival of Books at UCLA on April 25, 2009 in Westwood, California. Los Angeles Times' 2009 Festival of Books - Day 1 UCLA Westwood, CA United States April 25, 2009 Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic.com To license this image (57284689), contact FilmMagic.com

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LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 25: Actress Kristin Chenoweth attends the 14th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books at UCLA on April 25, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kristin Chenoweth

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How did learning about the Emmy nominations compare to your experiences with the Tonys in New York?

"It's nice to be sort of embraced a little bit by the TV community, because so many people only know me from Broadway. This nomination is on acting and I've always considered myself an actress first, even when I'm singing. It's about the lyrics. It's about 'why are you singing the song'. It's certainly nice for some people to say 'Hey, we like you in this venue.' But you know, I really didn't expect it this time."

Why is that?

"I was so shocked because our show had been off the air so long ... I mean, we were canceled! And it's natural for people to forget, but not this Academy. That's why this is really cool that the show got so many [5] nominations."

So many shows get canceled before their time. 'Arrested Development' and 'Pushing Daisies' being obvious picks. Is there a link between the cleverness of a show and how long it can last in our reality TV-obsessed culture?

"'Daisies' wasn't the kind of show that a viewer could just drop in casually and get it ... you had to have actually listened. And I think ('Arrested Development' creator) Mitch Hurwitz and ('Daisies' creator) Bryan Fuller are both so clever. And not to say that America isn't clever, but we're in a very cynical time and, you know, we're at war and I'm not sure people really wanted to pay attention as closely as I had hoped.

I would rather had been a part of something like 'Pushing Daisies' -- and this is just me -- than something that might run for ten years but maybe won't make that impact like this show did."

One of the things that made 'Pushing Daisies' so interesting was the fantasy aspect that allowed you to sing. Now you're connected with the buzzed-about FOX musical comedy show 'Glee' ...

"I can tell you this part is completely different than 'Pushing Daisies' but it is just so fun. 'Glee' is the perfect title for that show. It just gives me so much happiness to be around that kind of talent. You know, working with Matthew Morrison, he's pretty special. I was blown away by all of those kids."

Did all of the theater kids on the show just lose it whey they saw Kristin Chenoweth on the set?

"They were so sweet and kept saying, 'We're so honored' and I was like please, I'M honored! I just had a blast playing that part of April Rhodes [a former member of the glee club that's hit rock bottom in real life]. I loved it."

The roll-out of the show was odd, with a pilot episode airing in May and the rest of the season not happening until September.

"Who knows if it's gonna do well. I can tell you this, though: It's a very special show. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and just glad I was able to be on it."

So far, your presence on the show will be brief. Any talk of bringing you on more frequently?

"They've mentioned about coming back, but I signed no deal."

You started as a singer, then became a Broadway star and now you've had success in film and TV. At what point did you realize you were bona fide famous?

"Gosh, still working on that! I never think about it until I'm at Starbucks and I get approached or, you know what's been happening the past year or so, people come up to me and say 'You know who you look like? Kristin Chenoweth' and I'm like WHAT? Or they say I look like Cameron Diaz, and that's always a compliment.

Of course she's like a foot taller than me."