Her Gone Life

A dashing young hero on a quest to save his damsel in distress from a bad king. All while singing. Does this show sound familiar? Last weekend “Galavant” premiered on ABC Television Network with two 30 minute episodes.

But what is this new eight episode series about? Why is everyone singing? And which other celebrity (John Stamos was in the 2nd episode) will guest star on “Galavant” each Sunday night in January?!

Note: Thanks to Disney and ABC TV, who invited me on this all expense paid trip to Los Angeles for the Big Hero 6 Event and ABC TV Event. While I will share about different events and activities during the trip, any personal views expressed are always 100% my own.


It was during my Disney/ ABCTV LA trip that I learned some of the answers to these questions. While visiting ABC Studios, I joined the blogger group to preview the "Galavant" pilot and interview “Galavant” Executive Producer Dan Fogelman, Alan Menken (composer), Glenn Slater (lyricist) AND SURPRISE GUEST Joshua Sasse! YES Mr. Galavant himself!


Sharing how the concept for the show was developed

Dan Fogelman: I did the movie (Tangled) with Glenn and Alan. I was working on this Princess Bride type idea and did another show called the Neighbors, and Alan, Glenn and I did a musical episode and got an Emmy nomination for it.

While we were recording that song, I said, we should figure out something to do. And I had this script, but I hadn’t finished it. I was said, maybe we can turn it into a musical. Then, Alan and Glenn wrote the initial song and it all just spiraled from there.

Sharing if he did musicals before

Joshua Sasse: Yeah, I had. As an actor in England you have to have a fair amount of strings to your bow to get anywhere because it’s quite a tough crowd. I’ve done some stuff in the West End in England and I’ve been doing bits and pieces here and there.

They’re an incredible team to work with in terms of making sure that you don’t fall on your feet.

They really walk you through it. It doesn’t matter. Even if I hadn’t sung before, as long as you’ve got a voice, they made it a pleasure. Which is really something to say, because hard music to sing, is one of the hardest things because you’re putting yourself out there. You’re like, “Who would sing for other people?” It’s very baring. It’s amazing that the songs are that hard and they make it a real pleasure to sing.

Sharing about the process of writing for TV versus film

Alan Menken: First of all, it was great that we had the opportunity to work with Dan on Tangled before we did this because because it was a musical. We really did go through the trenches on that one, trying to figure out the story, figure out where the songs go and how you support the songs with dialogue, etc.

By the time we got to this, we had developed a pretty good shorthand. It was, I would say, essentially a three-way collaboration between Dan and Glenn and me in terms of the vocabulary of the songs, what we want the songs to say, where we want the songs to go and it was very much like a regular musical. It’s just that it’s shorter and more economical. The truth is, the best musicals are very economical.

Glenn Slater: One of the huge benefits from a lyricists point of view of working on a TV show is that you have the benefit of the writers room. Dan has put together an unbelievably talented group of writers on this who are all brilliantly funny. Just getting in the room with them and hearing the ideas flying around, getting on the phone when we hit a rough spot and having instantly 10, 12 or 15 possible ideas has been unbelievably helpful.

And if you saw the show last weekend, you know all that collaboration comes together nicely. The show is unlike any other show currently on television. The medieval setting, hero on a quest feel and outrageous humor of the show is something I enjoy as a fan of The Princess Bride. If you also like story lines like this, then I know you'll enjoy “Galavant”.


So what can you look forward to during the third and fourth “Galavant” half-hour episodes TONIGHT SUNDAY, JANUARY 11 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network?

• “Two Balls” (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET) – A visit to Sid’s hometown reveals he has not been truthful about his career path. While Galavant and Isabella back up Sid’s stories, King Richard decides to throw a ball to cheer up the people of Valencia.
  
  Guest stars in “Two Balls” include Ben Presley as Jester and Narrator, Darren Evans as Chef, Stanley Townsend as King of Valencia, Genevieve Allenbury as Queen of Valenica, Michael Brandon as Sid’s Dad, Faith Prince as Sid’s Mom, Nick Holder as Bald Eunuch, Tim Plester as Executioner, Kenneth Collard as The Squire, Mark Sheals as Squire #2, Edward Judge as Squire #3, Jimmy Johnston as Squire #3 and Carolyn Jolliffe as Hot Woman.

• “Comedy Gold” (8:30-9:00 p.m. ET) – An encounter with land-bound pirates forces Galavant, Isabella and Sid to learn how to get over their petty squabbles and work together. Meanwhile, King Richard tries a new tact to win Madalena’s love.
  
  Guest stars in “Comedy Gold” include Ben Presley as Jester and Narrator, Darren Evans as Chef, Daniel Hoffmann-Gill as Pirate #1, Martin Collins as Pirate #2, Hugh Bonneville as Pirate King, and Adam Loxley as Pirate #3.

“Galavant” stars Joshua Sasse as Galavant, Timothy Omundson as King Richard, Vinnie Jones as Gareth, Mallory Jansen as Madalena, Karen David as Isabella and Luke Youngblood as Sid. The eight episode series will run through Sunday nights in January.

To learn more about “Galavant”, visit - www.abc.go.com/shows/galavant
On Facebook - www.facebook.com/GalavantOnABC
On Twitter - www.twitter.com/GalavantABC (#Galavant)