"Pushing Daisies" and "Dirty Sexy Money" return tonight, and we've got a primer for newbies!

The quirky Pushing Daisies (you're required to use "quirky") and nighttime soap Dirty Sexy Money begin their second seasons tonight on ABC, and both gay faves (Pushing Dirty Sexy Daisies) are hoping to avoid the dreaded sophomore jinx.

Pushing Daisies is the creation of the out Bryan Fuller, and continued his string of quirky eccentric shows like Dead Like Me and the gone-too-soon Wonderfalls (curse you, FOX!).

It debuted to fantastic reviews and great ratings, but by the season finale had lost half of its audience. Most critics blame the erratic second half of the season for the loss in viewership, but the writer's strike didn't help, shortening the season to just nine episodes.

If you haven't seen it, and want to give it a look, here's a sampling of some characters to watch for (and if you have seen it, it's a refresher, since the last original episode was last December!).

(L-R) Swoosie Kurtz, Ellen Greene, Lee Pace, Anna Friels, Kristin Chenoweth, Chi McBride

Ned (Lee Pace) is a pie shop owner who can touch a dead person and bring them back to life. There's a catch, though. If he touches that person again, they die for keeps. Oh, and if he does bring someone back to life, someone else has to die instead ... unless he touches that same person again within sixty seconds. Um ... got that?

That makes things difficult for his love interest, Charlotte aka "Chuck" (Anna Friels). They were childhood friends, but when they meet again, it's under deadly circumstances. She's dead. She was murdered, but he brought her back to life. Alas, this means they can never touch (until the final episode or a season cliffhanger).

Emerson (Chi McBride) is a former P.I. who finds out about Ned's ability and offers to keep his secret, for a price. Ned must bring murder victims back to life, find out what happened to them, then let them die again. Then he and Emerson will split the reward money.

Vivian (Ellen Greene) and Lily (Swoosie Kurtz) are Chuck's aunts, and total loons. Lily lost an eye from a tragic kitty litter accident, and her big secret is revealed when she confesses to Olive to actually being Chuck's mother.

As played by Kristin Chenoweth, Olive is a waitress at the Pie Hole, who has the hots for Ned. She's also a former jockey who won't hesitate to break out an Olivia Newton-John musical number.

Oh ... and be sure and keep an eye on the Coroner played by Sy Richardson, who should have some interesting scenes this season.

After the break, take a look at NYC's most dysfunctional brood (No, not the AfterElton.com bloggers ... this is a rich dysfunctional brood)...

Dirty Sexy Money is co-produced by the out Greg Berlanti and Bryan Singer, and unlike Daisies, was not a critical or ratings hit out of the starting gate. It received middling reviews, and ranked between #30 and into the mid-50's during it's first season. Another victim of the strike, it eeked out ten episodes before ending (again, way back in December).

There are far too many characters to go over each one individually (seriously, there are enough actors on this show to re-enact the crowd scene in Troy), so I'll just focus on the characters I want to see naked.

Peter Krause, William Baldwin

Nick (Peter Krause) is an altruistic lawyer who's drawn into the web of the rich, powerful Darling family of NYC. His father was their lawyer, but when he dies under "mysterious circumstances", Nick is convinced to take over for him.

Patrick (William Baldwin) is the firstborn son of the Darling family. The NY State Attorney General, his Senate plans might be thwarted if it's revealed that this married man with two kids is having an affair with the transgender hottie Carmelita (played by the fabulous Candis Cayne).

Seth Gabel, Blair Underwood

Jeremy (Seth Gabel) is one half of the Darling twins (along with his sister Juliet), and as you can tell from the porkpie hat, is an obnoxious twit.

Simon (Blair Underwear Underwood) is the mortal enemy of the Darling family. Newly wealthy, he hates them for their asshattery.

Glenn Fitzgerald

Finally, there's Brian (Glenn Fitzgerald), who is the middle Darling child, and one of those smoldering priests that only exist in soap operas and Omen movies. I was hoping for another Father Kieron, but unfortunately, he reminds me more of Niall (but with slightly less insanity).

You can catch both premieres tonight on ABC, and we're interested to know if you're looking forward to them, or has it been too long, or are you just not fans?