Kristin Chenoweth Goes from ‘Pushing Daisies’ to ‘Legally Mad’

The ink is barely dry on ABC’s utterly depressing cancellation of technicolor dramedy Pushing Daisies, and already much-loved series star Kristin Chenoweth has a new gig on her plate.

Variety reports that the petite powerhouse — she does Broadway and stuff, too, you know, right? — has landed a starring role in NBC’s forthcoming David E. Kelley Chicago-set legal drama Legally Mad.

For those who don’t know, Kelley, husband of actress Michelle Pfeiffer, is the same writing and producing creative mastermind who brought television fans sometimes whimsical, always successful series like the recently ended Boston Legal, which was a spinoff of The Practice, as well as Ally McBeal, Chicago Hope, and my all-time personal favorite, Picket Fences. Why is no basic-cable network syndicating that one?

Obviously, Chenoweth and Kelley are an excellent match, and her role sounds winning, too, right down to the eyebrow-raising name Skippy Pylon. The character is described as “a cheerful and brilliant attorney who nonetheless exhibits flashes of psychosis — and enjoys being mistaken for a teenager.” Since Kelley admits he has long desired to collaborate with Chenoweth, perhaps he had her youthful height (she’s one inch shy of five feet) in mind when creating the role, possibly just for her.

Says the series creator, “I’ve wanted to work with her for a long time and can’t wait to reveal her as someone who’s completely mad.” Personally, I can’t wait to see Chenoweth bring Skippy to life on the small screen. It’s terrific she’s bounced back from Pushing Daisies’ premature axing this quickly, and I can only hope for the same for the rest of the show’s cast members.

[TRIVIA: Chenoweth's current Pushing Daisies costar Chi McBride starred in Kelley's 2000–2004 high-school drama Boston Public — just another link in a very long Kelley TV chain.]