Shannon has signed on for a three-episode arc in the freshman series, which recently received a full-season pickup. Her first appearance is scheduled for the show's eighth episode, in either late November or early December.

She'll play a character named Dilly Balsam, a professional rival of Ned's (Lee Pace) who opens a sweets shop across from the Pie Hole. Her sometime collaborator Mike White - writer of the movie ''Year of the Dog'' and creator of Fox ''Cracking Up,'' both of which starred Shannon - will also guest-star as Dilly's brother Billy.

Shannon has been busy of late. In addition to her ''Pushing Daisies'' stint, she's working on a Lifetime movie called ''More of Me'' (premiering Nov. 17) and will star in NBC's remake of the Australian comedy ''Kath and Kim.'' She also co-starred in ''Evan Almighty,'' which opened earlier this year.