ABC Hits the Road to Promote Shows

By Josef Adalian

ABC is bringing pie and prizes to the public, taking to the road to promote the return of "Pushing Daisies" and the launch of new game show "Opportunity Knocks."

The network Wednesday unveiled plans for separate cross-country promotional tours designed to give potential viewers a hands-on experience with both shows.

For "Daisies," ABC is outfitting an Airstream trailer to resemble the Pie Hole, the fanciful bakery at the heart of the show. In addition to sampling free pie, visitors will interact with an upbeat restaurant staff, check out props from the series and watch footage from the show on plasma TV screens.

The Pie Hole staff will hand out "Daisies"-branded trinkets, including spatulas, pie cutters and magnets. Waitresses riding on daisy bicycles will direct audiences to the site of the faux Pie Hole as part of what ABC is calling "The Touch of Wonder Tour. "

ABC will let viewers keep track of the Pie Hole's journeys via a newly launched Web site, PushingDaisiesTour.com.

Meanwhile, to hype "Opportunity Knocks," ABC is mounting what it calls a "Block Party Mobile Tour."

Massive trailer trucks will visit 14 cities, bringing the game show directly to various neighborhoods. As in the show, families in each community will get a chance to play the "Opportunity Knocks" game in front of friends and family.

In addition to serving food and drinks to all, the tour will give people the chance to compete for various prizes, including a Blu-ray DVD player, a high-def TV set, gift cards and ABC gift packs.

ABC will work closely with affiliates and local radio stations during the "Opportunity" tour.

As for dates, the mobile Pie Hole will travel to 10 cities, starting Sunday with a stop at Downtown Disney in Anaheim. Other stops include San Francisco (Sept. 7), Santa Monica (Sept. 10), Las Vegas (Sept. 12), Phoenix (Sept. 14), Denver (Sept. 17), Dallas (Sept. 20), Chicago (Sept. 24), Philadelphia (Sept. 26) and Times Square (Sept. 29).

The "Opportunity Knocks" tour kicks off Sept. 2 with simultaneous visits to Phoenix, Dallas and Cincinnati. ABC has also created a Web site for the event, OpportunityKnocksTour.com.

(12:35 p.m.: Updated 2nd paragraph)