“Enthusiastic” doesn’t come close to describing the crowd’s reaction to writer-producer Bryan Fuller’s new series for ABC, “Pushing Daisies,” the pilot of which screened in full Saturday morning at Comic-Con. Although one of its stars, Kristin Chenoweth, dominated the fan Q&A (through no fault of her own, unless you count her talent), it was a big lovefest across the board. Anna Friel got in on the act, too, laying a big wet one on co-star Lee Pace, who was taken aback.

But first some backstory on the series, which went into production Thursday and debuts in the fall. “Pushing Daisies” centers on Ned (Pace), who discovers in his childhood that he has the power to bring dead things back to life. Years later, he has the opportunity to resurrect his childhood friend Chuck (Friel) after she is murdered, and having done so, he’s now forbidden to touch her again lest she be 86′ed all over again. It’s a tricky superpower. Friel and Pace have great chemistry, and their characters’ problematic relationship might best be described as aww-inspiring. Several times throughout the pilot, girls could be heard going “aww” when the two would find workarounds to not being able to hug, kiss or hold hands. So when one girl asked how their relationship is on the set, specifically whether Friel is a Method actor, Friel responded by kissing Pace — and the crowd went wild.

Co-star Chi McBride had some tough love for an audience member who asked a convoluted question about the “palindromic” nature of Fuller’s writing in the pilot episode. “I know this is Comic-Con, but break it down,” McBride said, to raucous laughter.

Chenoweth, pictured, who had a handful of people in a row declaring their love for her, at one point sultrily pulled her top open to show one fan (well, it was meant for him but seen by 1,000 others) some cleavage. Then when he asked his question — about whether she would be a regular on the series — she turned to Barry Sonnenfeld to her left and did the same in his direction. “I’m pretty sure that just by showing the director that, I’ll be in the show,” she said.
There is good news for Chenoweth’s fans: Fuller said a musical episode with this cast (which also includes Ellen Greene and Swoosie Kurtz) is “inevitable” and that he’ll find ways to get Chenoweth, who plays Ned’s neighbor and a waitress in his pie shop, to use those Tony-winning pipes. (Karen Nicoletti)

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