With an off-putting title and a decidedly retrograde premise, the CW dramedy Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a surprising choice for critical analysis. But, loyal viewers quickly came to appreciate the show’s sharp cultural critique through masterful parody, and this strategy has made it a critical darling and earned it several awards throughout its run. In ways not often seen on traditional network television, the show transcends conventional genre boundaries—the Hollywood musical, the romantic comedy, the music video—while resisting stereotypes associated with contemporary life.
The essays in this collection underscore the show’s ability to distinguish itself within the current television market. Focusing on themes of feminism, gender identity, and mental health, contributors explore the ways in which the show challenged viewer expectations, as well as the role television critics play in identifying a show’s “authenticity” or quality.

Amanda Konkle's profile page

Charles Burnetts' profile page

David Diffrient's profile page

Chelsea McCracken's profile page

William Stevenson was born in Britain in 1925. He served as an aircraft pilot in Her Majesty’s Royal Navy during World War II and later moved to Canada where he worked for the Toronto Star. Stevenson traveled the globe, operating as the Star’s one-man foreign service and covering conflicts in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Stevenson is the author of nine books, including the international bestseller A Man Called Intrepid. He died in 2013 in Toronto, Canada.

William Stevenson's profile page

Caitlin Ray's profile page

Hazel Mackenzie's profile page

Kathleen W. Taylor Kollman's profile page

Lauren Boumaroun's profile page

Margaret Tally's profile page

Stephanie Salerno's profile page

Christine Prevas' profile page

Marija Laugalyte's profile page

Bibi Burger's profile page

Carel van Rooyen's profile page

Christi Cook's profile page

One of the most readable yet theoretically informed essay collections about thought-provoking television that readers are likely to encounter. . . .a collection that deserves to be savored, taught, and revisited by media scholars, students, and fans alike. This is truly Peak Media Writers Writing on Peak TV.

Rebecca Bell-Metereau, Texas State University

Examining the series through the lenses of genre, fandom, queerness, mental illness, feminism, and more, the authors in this collection highlight the series’ progressive, original, and compelling contributions to contemporary television.

Taylor Nygaard, Faculty Associate at Arizona State University

Offers fans, students, and scholars some much needed help navigating the contrapuntally hysterical and profound depths, eddies, and undertows beneath the series’ intriguingly complex methods of re-presentation.

Anna Froula, East Carolina University

This collection stands both as a fitting tribute to its much-loved subject and as a reflection on the dynamics of popular culture. . . . It's no mean feat to write about comedy in a manner that captures its intellectual weight without destroying its silliness. Led by Konkle and Burnetts, the contributors to Perspectives on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend do so admirably here.

Keri Walsh, author of Women, Method Acting, and the Hollywood Film

The book is insightful and provides a unique perspective on an equally unique show.

Allison Lips, the Journal of Popular Culture