Sometimes, as with "Desperate Housewives," "Lost" and "Heroes," a new series doesn't shine, or even become clear, until it's seen in full.

On paper, the premise sounds stupid, even terrible - but "Pushing Daisies" is on TV, not paper. A guy named Ned (Lee Pace) develops the mysterious power to revive the dead with one touch - with the caveat that a second touch from Ned will take that life away forever.

What do you do with a fantasy concept like that? Writer-producer Bryan Fuller (one of the "Heroes" collaborators) and director Barry Sonnenfeld ("Men in Black") treat it like a vivid, oddball fairy tale. It looks like Tim Burton's "Edward Scissorhands," and has the instant charm and goofy sense of humor of "The Addams Family," the movie versions of which were directed by Sonnenfeld.

It looks great, and looks to be the most pleasant surprise of the 2007 fall season.

The networks are premiering 29 new shows this fall. A handful of shows from this new crop made vivid impressions - none more so than the lighthearted "Pushing Daisies."