LA.COMFIDENTIAL > CELEBS.

Coming up roses, sort of

Who needs a theater when you've got Hollywood Forever Cemetery to screen a show about death? ABC chose this location to screen the premiere episode of its provocative new drama "Pushing Daisies," which premieres Oct. 3.

The cast, including leads Lee Pace, Anna Friel and Chi McBride, all walked what was dubbed by some the "dead carpet" since, instead of a red carpet, they gave interviews on a walkway in front of rows and rows of grave sites, including that of Alfred Hitchcock.

"The good thing about the audience is they ain't going anywhere and they're all on time," joked McBride. "All the hell-raising that these folks have done, they've already done, so I'm not worried about them."

"Daisies" marks McBride's first series since "Boston Public," and he says its "the most unique and ambitious project that I've been involved with. I really dig it right away. It's something completely off the beaten path."

Most of McBride's scenes are with Pace, whose character has the ability to touch dead things and bring them back to life, including the first girl he ever kissed (Friel). But there's a catch: If he touches them a second time, they die for good.

" 'Pushing Daisies' " makes you feel good -- that's what I think people are going to get out of it," Pace says. "It's funny and it's so about life. It's uplifting, it makes you feel good."

Two-time Tony winner Swoosie Kurtz is also in the cast, along with Tony Award nominee Ellen Greene of "Little Shop of Horrors" fame.

They play eccentric sisters who are former

synchronized-swimmers-turned-well-dressed-Line is overdrawn shut-ins.

"I always go where the material is," says Kurtz. "This just leapt out at me, this script. I mean, this was like no other thing I had read."

Adds the very funny Greene: "This is a fairy tale land where it's very optimistic, it's witty, and it's terribly romantic, full of yearning and dearness. And so silly. Everyone's work is wonderful down to the person who held the screwdriver -- I mean, the wallpaper is great."

>GREG HERNANDEZ

Hip-hop grooves to some Red Star Soul

Heineken kicked off another installment of its Red Star Soul tour Wednesday night at the stylish indoor-outdoor Boulevard3 nightclub in Hollywood. The invitation-only event, featuring performances by rapper Common and R&B newcomer Chrisette Michele, was the first of many concerts that will hit cities around the country in the coming weeks, featuring various up-and- coming artists and veterans in the soul music genre.

R&B artist and Red Star Soul alum Raheem DeVaughn warmed up the audience with a soulful serenade of his hit "Guess Who Loves You More."

But the energy was elevated after Michele hit the stage, giving an emotionally charged performance of songs from her highly acclaimed debut album, "I Am." Small in stature with a voice far more mature than most singers her age (she's 24), Michele engaged the audience as she belted out such ballads as the piano-backed "Love Is You," which she co-wrote with John Legend.

The rapper-turned-actor Common followed as an unconventional hip-hop act for the usually soul music-centered tour, but like the evening's MC said, "Hip-hop got soul, too." The Chicago-born artist performed a rack of hits, mostly from 2005's "Be" and from his latest, the largely Kanye West-produced "Finding Forever," which hit Billboard's No. 1 spot just two weeks after its July 31 release. Known for his poetic style and conscious lyrics, the night was essentially a celebration of love -- love of music, love of the people -- which drew no complaints from the mostly female crowd.

>SEMHAR DEBESSAI, LA.COM 

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3 photos

Photo:

(1) Anna Friel, right, and Lee Pace attends ABC's preview of "Pushing Daisies" at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Thursday.

FRAZER HARRISON>GETTY IMAGES

(2) COMMON

(3) CHRISETTE MICHELLE