Title: “Corpsicle”
Airdate: December 12, 2007
Gallery: Promotional pictures | Screencaps

Official Synopsis - added 11.23.07
NED TRIES TO MAKE PEACE WITH CHUCK WHILE EMERSON TRIES TO FIGURE OUT WHO’S KILLING INSURANCE ADJUSTORS, ON ABC’S “PUSHING DAISIES”

Paul Reubens Reprises His Role as Oscar Vibenius

“Corpsicle” - After a shocking turn of events, Ned tries to make peace with Chuck. Meanwhile, Emerson tries to get him to concentrate on their latest case, an insurance adjustor found frozen solid. And scent expert Oscar Vibenius (guest star Paul Reubens) returns, trying to figure out what’s so different about Chuck and Digby, on “Pushing Daisies,” WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.

“Pushing Daisies” stars Lee as Ned, Anna Friel as Chuck, Chi McBride as Emerson Cod, Ellen Greene as Vivian, with Swoosie Kurtz as Lily and Kristin Chenoweth as Olive Snook. Jim Dale is the narrator.

Guest starring in “Corpsicle” is Paul Reubens as Oscar Vibenius. Also appearing are Colby Paul as Abner Newsome, Julia Campbell as Emma Newsome, Audrey Wasilewski as Madeline McLean, Grant Shaud as Steve Kaiser, Michael Merton as Bill Richter and Jeff Marlow as Victor Narramore.

“Corpsicle” was written by Lisa Joy and directed by Brian Dannelly.

Added 10.31.07 - Updated 11.05.07
Johnny and Jaslene Newsome are now Abner and Emma, respectively.

Title changed from “Rival Darlings” to “Corpsicle.

When Chuck disappears after discovering Ned’s connection to her father’s death, Ned finds her at the aunts house, but she refuses to go back home with him. Meanwhile, Oscar continues his attempt to figure out Chuck’s secret.

It’s New Year’s, and Emerson and Ned investigate the death of an adjuster from the Uber-Life Life Insurance Agency. who was found in a snow bank. Their investigation of Snowman Killer - “not that he’s killing snowmen” - leads them to the home of Abner Newsome, a 14-year-old in need of a new heart, literally and figurateively. Abner and his mother, Emma, have been using his illness to get free goodies from the Wish-a-Wish Foundation while waiting for the new heart. During an interview with the Uber-Life Life Insurance Agency, we see the Angry Pie-Maker for the first time; it is intimidating.

Chuck continues to medicate her aunts via pies, with some unexpected hallucinogenic effects.

Added 9.25.07
The title of this episode suggests that the story centers around Ned’s aunts, The (former) Darling Mermaid Darlings.