The Office and 25 TV shows that were never supposed to be hits
By Kareem Gantt
24. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (The CW)
Series run: 2015-present (4 seasons/52 episodes)
The CW isn’t known for being a place where hit TV shows are created on a regular basis.
While Supernatural and Arrowverse franchise have brought the fledgling network some form of street cred, there is one show on their roster that came completely out of left field and has shocked the television world of its staying power.
When Rachel Bloom pitched the musical-comedy concept for television about a girl who follows her ex-boyfriend to his hometown in search of happiness, many network execs rejected the idea. In fact, eight different networks turned down the concept in just a single day; but the CW, who are always hunting for bonafide hits, stepped in a took a chance on the idea.
As it turned out, it was the best decision the CW has ever made.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend premiered on Oct. 12, 2015, and has been one of the network’s most critically acclaimed shows ever since. The mix of comedy and music to tell the story of the series was something that resonated with the audience, and the show has also played a huge part in furthering the conversation of mental health in America.
The series’ success caught the other networks completely off guard, and in 2017, the New York Times picked Crazy Ex-Girlfriend as one of the best shows of 2017. The series has garnered praise from every critic imaginable, and Bloom, the series’ creator and main star, won a Golden Globe for best actress in a TV comedy.
Persistence does, indeed, pay off.