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Debuting in 2015, the series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend on The CW swiftly won the hearts of audiences and critics, showcasing co-creator and lead Rachel Bloom as a groundbreaking talent in television. This musical series stands out for its diverse cast and bold exploration of themes like mental health and body positivity, challenging the 'crazy ex-girlfriend' trope with humor and depth.
The show centers on Rebecca Bunch (Bloom), a high-achieving yet discontented lawyer from New York City. After a serendipitous meeting with her former flame, Josh Chan (Vincent Rodriguez III), she impulsively relocates to West Covina, California, determined to rekindle their romance.
Bloom is a multi-talented force, excelling in acting, singing, dancing, and writing. Prior to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, she gained viral fame with her witty musical videos such as "F*** Me, Ray Bradbury" and "Historically Accurate Disney Princess Song." Her collaboration with Aline Brosh McKenna (The Devil Wears Prada) led to the creation of this innovative series, which recently announced its fourth season as its finale. Discover 10 lesser-known facts about Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
1. WEST COVINA IS AN ACTUAL CITY, AND IT HAS WHOLEHEARTEDLY EMBRACED CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND.
Unlike the countless series set in New York City or Los Angeles, this show takes place in the suburban Southern California town of West Covina. Before Crazy Ex-Girlfriend put it on the map, the city was relatively obscure to outsiders. Bloom explained to the Los Angeles Times, "Aline and I were drawn to West Covina as a representation of modern America: a melting pot of people from diverse backgrounds sharing the same chain stores and restaurants." The publication also highlighted how the show has been embraced by locals for its portrayal of the cheerful monotony and multiculturalism of suburban Southern California life.
In 2015, the year the show debuted, the Covina City Council awarded the cast and creators with the key to the city. The following year, they declared October 21 as "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Day" to celebrate the premiere of the second season.
2. NEARLY EVERY CAST MEMBER HAS BROADWAY EXPERIENCE.
The CWCreating an original musical TV series requires actors with singing and dancing talents, and Broadway is the perfect place to find them. Santino Fontana, who portrays Greg Serrano, Josh's best friend, was already making waves in New York theater before joining Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. He earned a Tony nomination for his role in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella and starred in productions like Act One and The Importance of Being Earnest. Off-Broadway, he was part of the original revival cast of The Fantasticks as Matt.
Fontana's career skyrocketed in 2013 when he voiced Prince Hans in Disney's blockbuster Frozen. After departing Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, he was cast in a new Broadway musical adaptation of Tootsie.
Donna Lynne Champlin, who played Pirelli in the 2005 revival of Sweeney Todd alongside Patti LuPone, stood out as the cast performed their own instruments. Vincent Rodriguez III and Gabrielle Ruiz also honed their skills in musical theater, with Rodriguez touring in Anything Goes and Pippin, and Ruiz performing in Evita and In the Heights.
3. THE SHOW HAS FEATURED SEVERAL RENOWNED DIRECTORS.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend boasts as much talent behind the scenes as it does on screen. The pilot was directed by Marc Webb, known for The Amazing Spider-Man and (500) Days of Summer, the latter famous for its Hall & Oates-inspired musical sequence. Webb also serves as an executive producer and returned to direct and co-write the season two premiere. He describes himself as a devoted fan of the show, telling Variety that while his primary involvement is at the start of each season, he constantly praises Bloom and McKenna for their incredible work.
Other notable directors include Kenny Ortega, the creative force behind the High School Musical series, who directed the season one episode "I'm Going to the Beach with Josh and His Friends!" Additionally, Bloom's husband, comedian Dan Gregor, directed two episodes.
4. THE SHOW WAS INITIALLY PLANNED FOR SHOWTIME.
Without Aline Brosh McKenna, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend might never have existed. In a ThinkProgress interview, McKenna shared how she discovered Rachel Bloom's viral comedy videos while procrastinating. Determined to collaborate, they developed the show's concept. McKenna explained, "We initially considered a broadcast network, but securing Bloom as the lead was uncertain. I insisted Rachel had to star, so we turned to cable for creative freedom."
Showtime initially showed strong interest, even recommending Marc Webb to direct the pilot. However, they ultimately passed, leaving McKenna surprised. Meanwhile, McKenna had become a fan of Jane the Virgin and approached The CW, which embraced the show, risqué humor and all.
5. ADAM SCHLESINGER, EXECUTIVE MUSIC PRODUCER AND SONGWRITER, WAS PART OF FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE.
Adam Schlesinger, a key songwriter for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, gained fame as the bassist for the 2000s rock band Fountains of Wayne, best known for their hit "Stacy's Mom." Beyond his band success, Schlesinger has built an impressive career in Hollywood, earning Emmy and Grammy Awards, along with nominations for Oscars, Tonys, and Golden Globes. He composed the title track for That Thing You Do! and contributed songs to films like the 2007 romantic comedy Music and Lyrics and the cult classic Josie and the Pussycats. He also created the score for the Broadway adaptation of John Waters' Cry-Baby.
The Crazy Ex-Girlfriend songwriting trio—Bloom, Schlesinger, and Jack Dolgen—has earned two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. Bloom focuses on crafting lyrics and rhythms, often working on set. She told Billboard, "Writing music requires me to be at the piano with time to think, which I rarely have. Adam takes my musical ideas and elevates them."
6. WEST COVINA IS ACTUALLY CLOSER TO THE BEACH THAN THE SHOW SUGGESTS
A running gag in the series highlights West Covina's dual nature as both idyllic and mundane: locals often claim it's two hours from the beach, or four in traffic. However, real West Covina residents point out that their city is actually under two hours from the coast. One fan even used Google Maps to confirm that Huntington Beach is 46 minutes away and Redondo Beach is just 47 minutes away.
7. RACHEL BLOOM TRIED OUT FOR SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.
8. BLOOM ONCE INTERNED FOR SETH MEYERS.
While Bloom didn't land a spot on Saturday Night Live, she did intern there. During a 2016 appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, she shared stories from her time at SNL, including an incident where Meyers got upset with another intern over a salad mix-up. "Someone brought you the wrong salad from Hale and Hearty," she recalled. "They apologized and offered to get another, but you just said, 'No, we'll make do,' and slammed the door." Bloom, however, never made the same mistake.
9. BLOOM AND DANNY JOLLES HAVE BEEN FRIENDS FOR YEARS.
Danny Jolles, who plays George, Rebecca's frequently mistreated coworker, finally got his spotlight in season two with the song "George's Turn." However, in true George fashion, the camera cut away just as he was about to make a bold declaration. What fans might not know is that Jolles and Bloom have been friends long before the show. They've collaborated on online sketches and performed together at Upright Citizens Brigade and the People's Improv Theater in New York. Bloom even tweeted about their friendship when the episode aired.
10. FATHER BRAH ALSO CONTRIBUTES AS A WRITER ON THE SHOW
Rene Gube, who portrays Father Brah, Josh's confidant, is also a writer for the series. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has been praised for its authentic portrayal of a Filipino-American family, largely due to Gube's personal experiences. He wrote the episode "My First Thanksgiving with Josh!," where Rebecca tries to win over Josh's mom during a traditional Filipino-American Thanksgiving. Gube shared with Vulture his enthusiasm for crafting a fully realized Filipino character, stating, "Creating a male romantic lead of Filipino descent is something I’ve never seen before. It’s an incredible chance to depict a Filipino family on network TV and highlight their American identity."
Rodriguez, reflecting on the Thanksgiving episode, told Vulture, "We aimed to capture the family values and atmosphere of a Filipino household during Thanksgiving. Rene has been invaluable in ensuring the authenticity of the Filipino family’s representation on screen."
