During my Star Wars: The Force Awakens Global Press Event trip, I had the opportunity to chat with one of the stars of ABC’s Galavant Timothy Omundson (“King Richard”) and Executive Producers Dan Fogelman (“Tangled” and “Crazy Stupid Love” fame) and Kat Likkel about Galavant’s Season 2 (take note it premieres tonight, January 3.)
Just in case you are not familiar with ABC’s Galavant, the show features the adventures of Galavant (Joshua Sasse,) a dashing hero who is determined to reclaim his reputation and his “Happily Ever After” by going after the evil King Richard, who ruined it the moment he stole the love of Galavant’s life, Madalena. And did I mention it’s a musical fairy tale that is comedic gold.
The return of last season’s breakout comedy extravaganza “Galavant” reunites screenwriter/executive producer Dan Fogelman (“Crazy, Stupid, Love,” “Tangled,” “Cars”) with the award-winning musical team of composer Alan Menken (“The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin,” “Beauty and the Beast”) and lyricist Glenn Slater (“The Little Mermaid,” “Tangled”).
Previewing Galavant Season 2 Premiere – “A New Season… aka Suck It Cancellation Bear”
Prior to our Q&A session, we had the pleasure of previewing the season premiere (“A New Season… aka Suck It Cancellation Bear”) in which bad advice results in Galavant and the crew being shipwrecked, and they end up traveling by foot in order to get back to Richard’s kingdom. This was truly a fun and funny episode filled with two major guest stars Kylie Minogue as The Queen and Hugh Bonneville of ‘Downton Abby fame” returning as the Pirate King.
(Photo Credit: ABC/Liam Daniel) – HUGH BONNEVILLE
There were so many laughs, it was hard to count, definitely well-written and yes, it is a musical with clever songs that propel the story along.
Here’s the first song of Galavant Season 2!
So what is there to look forward to in Season 2? According to the panel, season 2 is all about love and redemption. Producer Kat Likkel told us that the entire season goes big with everybody as they try to find the next step in their lives.
PHOTO CREDIT: (ABC/Nick Ray) Timothy Omundson
Watching the show, you hope they are having as much dancing and singing as it looks. “I’m incredibly proud. Everyone really gets some beautiful opportunities to do some amazing work and every body steps up” is how Timothy Omundson describes the cast of the show.
Alan Menken, the award winning composer of Disney hits, “The Little Mermaid,” “Aladdin ” and “Beauty and the Beast”) wrote a ballad for the evil queen called “What Is This Feeling” for Season 2 and if you can believe it wrote a total of 32 songs from every genre for the season. That really speaks to the range of Menken to work across that many types of music and to write that many songs for a television show.
PHOTO CREDIT: (ABC/Nick Ray) Timothy Omundson and Joshua Sasse
Whereas season 1 was an introduction of the characters, in season 2 there will be more character development. Executive Producer Kat Likkel told us that Tim Omundson’s “character (King Richard) really gets a chance to grow.”
Fun facts about Galavant’s Season 2
- Executive Producer Dan Fogelman explained that many of the songs are recorded live which helps them not look cheesy.
- And don’t be surprised at the cameos for the upcoming season including Nick Frost, John Stamos and Weird Al Yankovic (for the second time.)
- The season finale takes place in Morocco where Lawrence of Arabia was filmed. According to Producer Dan Fogelman, the finale had three armies with hundreds of local extras. He described it as “Game of Thrones” but that everybody’s breaking into musical numbers.
- I was a fan of Tim Omundson from his days as straight-laced Carlton Lassiter on Psych so just for you newer viewers, he indeed is an American actor doing a spot-on English accent.
“Galavant” will premiere on Tonight SUNDAY, JANUARY 3 at 8/7c with two 30-minute episodes.
Disclosure: NYC Single Mom’s travel and accommodations to attend the Star Wars: The Force Awakens and ABC TV Event were covered by Disney. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.
