A couple of my favorite shows this year — "Chuck" [1] and "Reaper," [2] most notably — have already fallen prey to the Curse of the Second Episode, where the second installment of a show can't quite match the energy and excitement of the pilot. Here's hoping that doesn't happen with "Pushing Daisies" [3] tonight. Last week's pie-lette [3] was so adorable that I'd hate to see tonight's second episode be anything short of brilliant.

The story has Chuck officially joining Ned and Emerson's investigative team as they search out the truth behind a sketchy-seeming hit-and-run that killed an automotive expert. Meanwhile, Chuck still has quite a few questions for Ned about how he brought her back to life. From the pictures and previews I've seen, it seems like the whimsy of the first episode is definitely still present. To watch a preview, just

Photo copyright 2007 ABC, Inc. [4]