‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’: We Talked to Josh Chan!

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend heroine Rebecca Bunch isn’t the only person crazy about Josh Chan. West Covina’s handsomest electronics salesman/professional bro also has the love of a very discerning audience: moms. “I was in Miami recently, and this 10-year-old girl approached me, and said ‘My Mommy told me to come over here and ask you if you’re Josh Chan, because we watch your show,” Josh’s alter ego, Vincent Rodriguez III, tells Yahoo TV. “I look over, and her mom is waving at me from 30 feet away and gives me a big grin. Another time, I was approached by a 67-year-old woman freaking out because I’m Josh Chan; she took 11 selfies with me!”

Welcome to the perks — and perils — of being part out of one of the most beloved cult shows around. Although the first season of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend struggled in the ratings, it inspired a passionate fanbase that has embraced this musical dramedy, and its large ensemble cast, with a passion that almost approaches Hamilton levels of intensity. And just as Lin-Manuel Miranda has admitted to being called “Hamilton” by well-meaning fans, Rodriguez is still getting used to being addressed as “Josh” rather than “Vincent.” “It’s kind of weird and cool,” he says, laughing. “People call me Josh all the time. The spirit of the show has attracted this broad spectrum of people.” Yahoo TV chatted with Rodriguez about being the rare Asian-American male lead of a network series, the dance moves he’ll show off in Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s second season, and his dream Broadway role.

Since people always confuse you for Josh Chan in real life, what’s one way you’d like them to know that you’re not like your character?
Not many people ask me that! [Laughs.] I’d say that there’s a childlike ignorance to Josh; he’s more chill about his life, whereas I’ve always been very ambitious. I’m very focused on where I am and what’s in front of me. So that’s been a huge 180 for me in playing the character. Like Rebecca, he’s a little delusional, which I think is something we’ll see more of in Season 2. We’re going to really see Josh’s point of view regarding himself and his life, and realize how spoiled and one-sided he can be. And that’s something that was news to me! To hear about those personality traits from the people who created the character was very eye-opening; it made some of the things in Season 1 make so much sense. Everyone on the show has a character flaw, but it’s particularly interesting to see Josh’s, because he’s kind of this everyman. The icing on the cake is that I’m an Asian male playing this, and that’s something we haven’t seen.

Related: ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ Songwriting Duo Rachel Bloom and Adam Schlesinger on Their Scene to Remember

In general, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has done a terrific job pursuing diversity amongst its cast and subject matter.
Yeah, we’re becoming a pioneer in that. To ride that train is really exciting, and we’re pushing boundaries even further in Season 2. Some of the subject matter made me stop breathing — I couldn’t believe how well it was being handled. You watch the show and you’re entertained, but then you listen to the lyrics and you’re like, “Oh my god, that’s saying something!” It’s a slice of real life I feel I don’t see on TV or in movies very often.

When we left Josh and Rebecca, they had finally consummated their simmering attraction. What’s in store for them in Season 2?
We’re going to see some of the veil slip away from Rebecca. In the first season, no matter what lesson she was taught, she ultimately made a big mistake. But she’s not an idiot — she’s just in love. And love makes you crazy; it makes you see what you want to see. That’s something we harp on in the show; Josh isn’t just a love interest, but also represents the kind of obsession she has that we can all relate to. So we get to explore that with Rebecca and blow the lid off of every other character.

Dancing-wise, what moves can we expect to see from Josh this year?
There’s going to be more dancing from Josh. There will be a lot of swaying, jumping, a lot of noise, a lot of microphone work, and spiky hair. That’s the best way I can describe it without getting fired or giving away what’s to come. It’s going to be pretty freakin’ hilarious when it’s all said and done. I’m recording a music video tomorrow that’s pretty fun. It’s going to be one of those LOLs where you have to rewind because you were laughing over every other joke.

Gabrielle Ruiz, who played Josh’s girlfriend Valencia, will be a regular this season. She had a tricky role in the first season, because she was the obstacle keeping Josh and Rebecca from getting together. But at the same time, she’s the wronged party in a lot of ways.
Absolutely! You feel like you’re not supposed to like Valencia, but then you see this humanity from her. That’s what Gabrielle brings so beautifully to the part. When you see her in Season 2, I don’t think it’s going to be in a way that you’re expecting. She’s going to have a beautiful path and learn from the Josh/Valencia break-up. Because that was a long time to be with someone and not have the relationship go further. It was actually a good choice for them to break up given where they were at in their relationship. That’s what happens sometimes; someone’s not ready in the way the other person is and you have to be alone to explore your own personal schematics. Gabrielle and I went to the same acting teacher in New York, and she’s a Broadway veteran, so it’s a pleasure to work with her.

And where there’s Josh Chan, there will be White Josh, too, right?
Yes, David Hull! That whole thing is pretty funny, and an interesting comment, too. It seems a little racist, which Rebecca already said in the first season. But it’s also playing into the way a clique of friends operates; we have this particular dynamic as a group. When you get us together, it’s like, what’s going to happen? Is someone going to get into a fight over beer? David is so hilarious as White Josh. This season will be hearing his opinion of Regular Josh, and it’s been eye-opening for me.

As you mentioned before, you’re the rare Asian-American love interest on a network show. That puts you in a unique position to potentially inspire others.
I was chatting with a film producer recently, and he asked me what my story was. When I told him how I got here, he was genuinely blown away. It’s a story I enjoy sharing. My dad wasn’t always supportive of me in the ways I wanted him to be. He was supportive in his own way, but it wasn’t necessarily…pardon me one second. [Pause.]

Sorry, I just realized I was outside with a tank top on. Last time I did that, I had tan line that I’m still trying to get to go away. So the shirt’s coming off, and now I’m Josh Chan at the beach. I’m in character! [Laughs.]

So anyway, I compensated [for my dad] by fighting for what I wanted, to a point where it made me obsessive and kind of a mean person. But then I looked at people like Lin-Manuel Miranda — people who worked really hard to get where they wanted despite the odds. And I wanted to represent that. I auditioned for In the Heights, I auditioned for Hamilton, just trying to be a part of that world. And yes, that’s totally a Little Mermaid reference! I’m always inspired by Rachel Bloom’s story, too; she found a voice and a following despite some early jobs she had that weren’t necessarily very nice to her. I look at her and see this beautiful person who has accomplished so much and does it so joyously. And that’s America! Creating something awesome from your life after experiencing things that weren’t so awesome. I’ve had a cool career, but I want to do something great with it. That’s why I love teaching. Whenever I’m not on camera, I teach dance class and acting. I want to be the person that I needed when I was a kid.

The show is perfectly calibrated to the obsessions of musical theater geeks and Drama Club nerds like myself.
That’s half our speak off-camera! Our conversations are all like, “Did you hear Cabaret is in town?” “How many times did you see Hamilton?” And when people are in their offices and the doors are open, if you say “Angelica,” someone else will say, “Eliza!” I’ve heard it happen! I was like, “This is where I go to work? I’m home!” [Laughs.] As a musical theater person, whether it’s regional theater or community theater or professional theater, it always feels like family. You laugh together, you go through 12 hours of tech rehearsal together, and you get drunk together. That’s the same feeling on our show. There’s this energy that flows through our cast. I think we all know how lucky we are.

Now we just have to hold out hope for a Lin-Manuel Miranda cameo!
If we could have him be on the show in any way, shape, or form, I would die. If I could rap with Lin, I would die a happy man. It’s one of my goals. Whether he knows it or not, he’s inspired so many people and I’m one of them. I want to play Hamilton so badly! He created something really big and powerful and meaningful to many people whether you live in America or not.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend premieres Oct. 21 at 9 p.m. on The CW.