You might know Lea Salonga as a Broadway star and the voice of Disney's Jasmine and Mulan. Starting tonight, you'll also know her as Aunt Myrna on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Salonga guest stars on the Season 1 finale of the musical show, which airs tonight (8 ET, The CW).
USA TODAY can exclusively share a clip of Salonga singing while Josh (Vincent Rodriguez III) and Rebecca (Rachel Bloom) text at Josh's sister's wedding.
Though only about a minute long, the clip presents plenty of questions to regular viewers of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Co-creator and finale director Aline Brosh McKenna has answers for those queries.
Why is Lea Salonga on the show?
The writers really wanted her. Most of the finale takes place at an event that's "a Southern California juxtaposition of a Filipino bride, Arabian Nights-style wedding to a Jewish guy, in a hotel that looks like Versailles," says Brosh McKenna. The Filipino Salonga, who's voiced princesses from diverse cultures, was the perfect person. "There were actual tears shed in the writers' room" when Salonga signed on to guest. "Vinnie (who plays Josh), when he found out, he kind of fell over and fainted."
Why is Rebecca at the wedding?
Yes, Rebecca was kicked out of the bridal party. However, she still gets a wedding invite as Greg's date.
What song is Salonga singing?
The romantic ballad is called One Indescribable Instant, and it's from Slumbered, "an important movie for Rebecca as a child, an animated movie from the '80s that she watches over and over again. It's also a song Aunt Myrna (Salonga) sang on Star Search" before performing it at the wedding, says Brosh McKenna.
What is Josh's text all about?
We can't give that all away, but Brosh McKenna will say this: "Josh texted her, Rebecca doesn't know what it means, but she's looking for this moment, this 'one indescribable instant,'" as the song goes. "We've always played with this idea of fate and destiny... Rebecca is drawn not only toward Josh, but to this fairy tale idea of romance."
Where's Greg?
Great question. Watch tonight to find out!
