The CW’s musical comedy series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2019) delivered one of the most unapologetic bi anthems of television with “Gettin’ Bi” (2016), a two-and-a-half-minute number performed by actor Pete Gardner as the character Darryl Whitefeather. Channeling the upbeat energy of Huey Lewis and the News, the sequence features Darryl — the show’s affable, occasionally daffy office manager — embracing his newfound bisexuality spectacularly. Dressed in a white suit with rolled sleeves, purple polo (collar defiantly popped), and wielding a white saxophone, Gardner fully commits to the 1980s-inspired aesthetic that frames this pivotal character moment.
Within the show’s narrative, the song arrives after several episodes, establishing Darryl’s emotional journey, his divorce from his wife, and gradual realization of his attraction to White Josh (David Hull), an acquaintance of the protagonist, Rebecca Bunch, with whom he established an unlikely bond. True to Crazy Ex-Girlfriend‘s signature style, the number alternates between Darryl’s awkward workplace coming-out and an extravagant fantasy sequence. The imagined performance boasts a Robert Palmer-esque backing band clad in bisexual pride colors, vibrant pink-and-blue lighting, a massive bi pride flag backdrop, and precision choreography with backup dancers — all elevating what could have been a throwaway joke into a sincere declaration of identity.
The lyrics themselves serve dual purposes: both celebrating bisexuality and directly dismantling harmful stereotypes. The opening verse confronts the persistent “just gay” myth with the defiant declaration:
- Now, some may say, ‘Oh, you’re just gay,
- Why don’t you just go all the way?’
- But that’s not it, ‘cause bi’s legit,
- Whether you’re a he or a she,
- We might be a perfect fit.
- And one more thing, I tell you what,
- Being bi does not imply that you’re a player or a slut …
- It’s not a phase, I’m not confused,
- Not indecisive, don’t have the ‘gotta choose’ blues…
Gardner, a straight ally, emphasized in his Nerdy Girl Express interview how the show avoided reducing Darryl’s sexuality to a punchline. He recounted how viewers, particularly bi fans, appreciated that the storyline unfolded over five episodes as a genuine romance rather than a one-off gag. “Darryl is funny because Darryl is awkward”, Gardner noted, “…his sexuality was never a joke”. The actor specifically highlighted the realism of Darryl’s workplace coming-out scene, where colleagues accept his revelation without judgment — a subtle but radical departure from typical LGBT narratives centered on sexuality being a conflict in itself.
The song’s cultural resonance extended far beyond the show. Gardner performed it live at LA Pride for AmBi, a bi community organization, further cementing its status as an anthem.
The official music video surpassed one million YouTube views, while the track accumulated over 3.5 million Spotify streams. More broadly, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend earned praise for sustaining multifaceted bi representation across its run, with Darryl’s storyline standing out for its emotional authenticity.
What makes “Gettin’ Bi” revolutionary isn’t just its killer hooks or retro pastiche perfection, but its fearless centering of bisexual joy. By marrying Darryl’s earnest self-discovery with razor-sharp rebuttals to bi erasure — all delivered through an unapologetically queer, exuberant performance — it transcends its sitcom origins to become one of television’s most vital celebrations of bi identity.