Film & TV FeaturesPlaybill Viewing: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's Heartfelt, Satirical, and Catchy 4 SeasonsRachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna's series offers 62 episodes of smart musical theatre writing and frank discussions about mental health.
By
Mark Peikert
April 02, 2020
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was deceptively titled. Rebecca Bunch wasn't a Fatal Attraction femme fatale, trailing across the country after her ex. Instead, she was a corporate attorney miserable in a life that didn't fit her, who one day followed her manifest destiny to West Covina, California.
Sure, the initial reason was to reunite with her summer camp boyfriend, Josh. But over the course of four season, Rebecca created a supportive, loving family for herself; received a correct diagnosis that resulted in better management of her mental health; and learned how to (mostly) avoid self-destructive behavior.
And every episode, of course, dotted with two to four hilarious, extensive musical sequences, an amazing feat of creativity. Plus the show routinely featured Broadway alums, including Donna Lynne Champlin as Rebecca's best friend; Tovah Feldshuh as Rebecca's mother; Santino Fontana and Skylar Astin sharing the role of Rachel's maybe other partner, Greg; Josh Rrodriguez III as Josh; Patti LuPone as a rabbi; and many more.
Now the series, co-created by star Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna, is available to stream in its entirety on Netflix (and available for purchase to stream on Amazon), and viewers can relive or experience for the first time the show's manic, subversive humor. It also afford audiences the chance to see what the world lost with the recent passing of the series' composer, Tony nominee Adam Schlesinger (Cry-Baby), who took home an Emmy Award alongside Bloom and co-writer Jack Dolgen for the Season 4 song "Anti-Depressants Are So Not a Big Deal."
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Spend the Day Filming Crazy Ex-Girlfriend With Donna Lynne Champlin
Spend the Day Filming Crazy Ex-Girlfriend With Donna Lynne Champlin
32 PHOTOS
Wake up at 3:30am. Brush teeth. Drive to the set for a 4:30am call. Find coffee machine. It looks a lot like this:
4:30am into hair and makeup
Season Two trailer found. Excited to see TV’s Pete Gardner in a few hours!!!
My trailer sign (courtesy of the CEG crew) gently mocks my sensitivity to leaving the “e” off of my middle name while simultaneously starting a sign war they CANNOT FINISH!!! OH IT’S ON, Lexi Colwell and the CRAZY EX-GIRLFRIEND CREW. IT IS ON!
Sometimes Nani forgets that I’m playing Paula and not The Heat Meiser.
Pre-makeup Superhero, eye-bag, TWINSIES with Rachel Bloom.
My gorgeous makeup sorceress, Laura.
Some of my jewelry for today, courtesy of our Costume Designer Melina Root. Owls are a running theme in our show…Our showrunner/co-creator Aline Brosh McKenna loves them.
Ready to go on set for rehearsal!
Sadly it doesn’t take me long to look like this: It was especially windy today.
…so then this happens. It’s like having a personal NASCAR Pit Crew.
Two of my favorite people ever. Someone should tell them that big light is eavesdropping.
It’s always fun to open Paula’s paralegal portfolio and see analyze her previous state of mind according to my doodles. I’m 50/50 as to whether this is two people watching a monster movie with a film projector down on the right? Or two people having a romantic moment on a bench until one of them explodes into a huge monster. Regardless, it’s safe to say Paula was having a bad day. What do you think?
THE FOREST work begins for my Episode 2 musical number. ALL OF THIS greenery was REAL. Nothing was plastic.
In between scenes, I go to hair to do a test for my “princess” extensions.
We also do a Princess nail polish test.
On a quick break, I go back to the ever growing forest to rehearse my musical number on my own.
At the lunch hour table read, we have three special guests: Kathryn Burns and Kabir Ahktar’s Emmys from Season One, and my husband who is guest starring!
In case anyone wondered what kind of books Rebecca likes to read.
Or what one of Heather’s (fake) tattoos looks like. I took this because my son loves the Loch Ness Monster….and Vella Lovell.
Camera B in between shots.
Home Base also doubles as a “green room” sometimes when it’s not in use.
Rachel Bloom. Our fearless leader, in her natural habitat.
Time for a snack at “crafty” aka Craft Services.
My son Charlie loves to make cupcakes for the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend crew., so I set them out at crafty.
I take a moment to skype with my son, who’s favorite thing about coming to visit me on set is the trailer.
I work on the vocals for an upcoming song record on my portable keyboard which I love.
A little TV magic….when you need it to be “nighttime”, you just pull this big blue curtain all around the set.
Pretty cool, right?
I take selfies and send them to my husband to chronical a long day. This is still early in the evening., as evidenced by my being not pretending to be asleep.
It’s late but I make it home just in time to give my little guy a squeeze and put him to bed.
