Crazy-awesome facts about crazy ex-girlfriend

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, which aired on The CW from 2015-2019, is one of the most innovative shows in recent TV history. The show’s musical numbers, hilarious characters, and blunt approach to taboo topics like sexuality and mental health earned much critical acclaim throughout it’s run. But even if you’re a big fan, there may be a lot that you don’t know about the show. Check out these amazing and surprising facts about Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to see just how much there is to appreciate about this standout TV series.

The Show’s Star is Amazingly Multitalented

Rachel Bloom stars in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend as Rebecca Bunch, a hopeless romantic who follows her ex-boyfriend across the country. But Bloom’s acting, singing, and dancing is only part of her contribution to the show. She’s also a co-creator of the series (along with Aline Brosh McKenna). Bloom wrote numerous episodes for the show and worked as one of the show’s three main songwriters, along with music producer Jack Dolgen and executive music producer Adam Schlesinger.

One of the Show’s Songwriters was in a Popular Band

Speaking of Adam Schlesinger, he may not be a household name, but one of his band’s songs was a chart-topper. Schlesinger was a bassist in the rock band Fountains of Wayne, which found widespread fame with the release of their song, “Stacy’s Mom”, in 2003. Outside of his time in the band, he’s written songs for a number of movies, including Music and Lyrics, Josie and the Pussycats, and That Thing You Do! (including the catchy title song).

It Was Almost on Showtime

The show’s co-creators pitched a half-hour pilot for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to several cable networks. Showtime showed interest, but ultimately decided it wasn’t the right fit for the network. After Showtime passed on the show, it was picked up by The CW and reworked into an hour-long show. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was a bit racier when it was originally planned for a premium network, and some of the language and scenes had to be toned down to be suitable for cable audiences. However, it still managed to push the envelope quite a bit through the topics discussed on the show.

Bloom is Married to Another Actor from the Show

Rachel Bloom is married to Dan Gregor, a comedian who played twin doctors, Dr. Nick Roth and Dr. Chester Roth, on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. This recurring set of characters worked at Glenn Willow Medical Center and was featured on the show several times throughout its run. Gregor also wrote three episodes of the show, directed two episodes, and produced 26 episodes. He has also been a writer and producer on other TV series, including How I Met Your Mother and The Comedians.

Several Cast Members Have Broadway Roots

It seems only fitting that a show so clearly based on big musical productions features many Broadway stars. Most notable is Santino Fontana, who plays Josh’s best friend Greg Serrano. Fontana came to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend after a hot streak on the stage. He made his Broadway debut in Sunday in the Park with George, then originated the role of Tony in Billy Elliot. He was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his starring role as Prince Topher in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella on Broadway. He eventually left the cast of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to star as Michael Dorsey in the stage musical adaptation of the film Tootsie, for which he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Other cast members have Broadway credits to their name as well, including Donna Lynne Champlin, who plays Rebecca’s best friend Paula Proctor. She previously starred on Broadway in hits like Sweeney Todd and James Joyce’s The Dead. Gabrielle Ruiz, who plays Josh’s girlfriend Valencia, has been featured in smaller roles in productions like A Chorus Line and In the Heights. Vincent Rodriguez III (Josh) wasn’t on Broadway, but he did perform in national tours of Pippin and Anything Goes.

It’s a Love Letter to West Covina, California

At the beginning of the show, Rebecca decides to abandon her high-powered lawyer lifestyle in New York City to move to West Covina in pursuit of her ex-boyfriend, Josh. Though the show has some fun with the fact that the city isn’t exactly as glamorous as NYC, it also showcases just how much West Covina has to offer. The residents are diverse, the stores and restaurants are welcoming, and the city enjoys the best of what suburban California has to offer. The biggest musical number from the first episode is all about West Covina.

Locals have embraced Crazy Ex-Girlfriend for featuring West Covina in a positive light. The cast received a key to the city in 2015, the year the show premiered. The following year, the City Council announced that October 21, the date of the season two premiere, would be “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Day” in West Covina.

Real West Covina Locations Are Featured in the Show

Many of the outdoor scenes for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend were shot on location in West Covina. One of the most notable spots in the show is Home Base, the sports bar where Josh’s best friend, Greg, works. In real life, this baseball-themed sports facility is called Big League Dreams, located at 2100 S. Azusa Ave. Several scenes were also filmed at The Lakes at West Covina, located at 1200 Lakes Drive. This is actually where part of the memorable “West Covina” musical number from the first episode was filmed.

Additionally, stock footage from real locations in West Covina was often used on the show. For example, the East Building (1050 Lakes Drive) was filmed as the exterior to Whitefeather & Associates, the law office where Rebecca found a job after moving to West Covina. The exterior for Rebecca’s townhouse is located at 1496 McCabe Way, in the Solana Park neighborhood of West Covina.

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