‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ Musical Recap: Mom’s the Word

There are two ways to look at Jan. 6’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend doubleheader, “Who Is Josh’s Soup Fairy?” and “When Do I Get to Spend Time Wth Josh?”

1) The Smiley-Faced Way: It’s the CW’s version of a belated Hanukkah present, giving fans back-to-back episodes after a nearly monthlong break.

2) The Frowny-Faced Way: It’s the beginning of the end, as Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was officially labeled the lowest-rated series on TV for the second year in a row.

Call us crazy — which, as we all know by now, is the same thing as calling us in love … blam! — but we’re choosing to keep our frowns upside down and just enjoy our two-hour trip back to West Covina. (UPDATE: The CW announced on Jan. 8 that it’s renewing CEG!) And we’re even happier knowing that our favorite couple is back together. No, not Rebecca and Josh, although it is totes adorbs to see them making kissy faces again now that Anna is long gone. The reunion that really made us break out into song was Rebecca and Paula, who went from off-again to on-again after Rebecca took the plunge and apologized first. Of course, then she went ahead and immediately imperiled their reignited friendship by being the world’s worst babysitter to Paula’s younger, boob-obsessed son, Tommy. But,hey, now the kid has plenty of material for his very own Adventures in Babysitting remake.

Rebecca said “sorry” to Paula just in time too, because the firm of Whitefeather & Associates is officially under new management. Scott Michael Foster joined the cast in the second hour as Nathaniel, the new minority turned majority stakeholder in Darryl’s firm. And he’s out to inject some serious East Coast discipline into the laid-back West Coast office vibe, starting with a round of firings of key personnel … including Paula. Fortunately, that plan is thwarted at the last minute by some quick-thinking (if ethically questionable) tricks, up to and including Rebecca’s patented squirrel fighting pose. If this were any other show, Rebecca and Nathaniel would be the next big couple on the horizon. But expecting Crazy Ex-Girlfriend to head in that obvious a direction would just be … well, crazy.

“So Maternal”

What it’s about: Rebecca makes the case for why she’s the most deserving of the title — and the accompanying coffee mug — of “World’s Best Mom.” Never mind the fact that she doesn’t have any kids.
Sounds like: The pop funk of ’80s-era David Bowie combined with the fashion sense of Bell Biv Devoe.
Best lyric: “Even Gwyneth said you’re the best at this in her well-respected online journal.”
Funniest sight gag: Supposed super-mom Rebecca hammering a banana, wrapping it in a tortilla, and calling it a meal.
What it reveals about Rebecca: Consider this song Exhibit A in why Rebecca should probably delay motherhood for a while.

“Duh”

What it’s about: Once again, we’re alone with Josh’s thoughts … his half-formed, haltingly verbalized thoughts.
Sounds like: Justin Timberlake circa 2002, just after he traded “Bye Bye Bye” for “Cry Me a River.”
Best lyric: “Looking back on all those times/ like that one time/ and that other time.”
Funniest sight gag: Josh doing a walk-and-sing down a street, until he realizes he’s forgotten his keys and phone and makes a U-turn back to the club.
What it reveals about Josh: If brains are the computers of the human body, then Josh’s could use a hard reboot.

“Who’s the New Guy?”

What it’s about: The staff of Whitefeather & Associates questions the value of adding a new member to the staff, at the same time that the Crazy Ex-Girlfriend writers question the wisdom of adding a new cast member to the ensemble.
Sounds like: An oh-so-meta take on a vintage Broadway ensemble number. Think “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” meets “The Book of Mormon.”
Best lyric: “Do we really need a new guy this far into the season/ and by ‘far into the season’ I mean it’s almost fall?”
Funniest sight gag: Paula and her co-workers doing their version of “The Creep” through the office hallways.
What it reveals about the office: They may not always get along, but the Whitefeather & Associates crew can find common ground in their fear and loathing of a new boss.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend airs Fridays at 9 p.m. on the CW.