Shocker, Yes, "Galavant" is Back

Though it didn't get the greatest ratings last year, ABC renewed Galavant -- the medieval musical series -- and it had its premiere on Sunday.  Throughout the show, there were off-handed quips about being surprised it got picked up, though most were in the very entertaining opening number. (And carry that a step further, the first episode was titled, "A New Season, aka Suck It Cancellation Bear.")

I didn't love the first year, but did enjoy it, so I'm glad it got picked up.  And though all the songs weren't wonderful, I found them generally clever, especially given the conditions.  And I especially loved the main theme song, which they repeated endlessly during the year as a sort of minstrel substitute for filling in the story.  They have fun with that in the opening of Season Two.  I shall say no more.

I will mention a few small tidbits.  He'll be hard to recognize in his bushy hair and elaborate costume, but playing the Pirate King in the opening number is Hugh Bonneville from Downtown Abbey.  He first comes in at the 15-second mark of the video, and sings the line about the network having to pay a lot for big guest stars.  Also, when Vinnie Jones sings the line about not watching football matches, I suspect that's an inside joke because before becoming an actor he was a professional soccer player (which, of course, in England is football.)

The opening episode was written by the show's creator Dan Fogelman, who also wrote the movies Crazy, Stupid, Love; The Guilt Trip, Last Vegas; Cars, Tangled and Danny Collins, the last of which he directed.  Also, I mentioned recently, he wrote the screenplay adaptation of my friend Bart Baker's novel, Honeymoon with Harry, which Fogelman is scheduled to direct.

As for directing, I noted that the first two episodes were directed by John Fortenberry, who I worked with years ago during my dreaded publicist days as the on-set unit publicist for a very mediocre movie, though an enjoyable work experience, Jury Duty, that starred Pauly Shore and Tia Carrerre.  (Also, Stanley Tucci, who I had a good time chatting with, and Abe Vigoda.)

But enough of that, on with the new opening number, which has music by Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Little Shop of Horrors and a lot more) and lyrics by Glenn Slater (who, among other things, wrote the lyrics for the new musical, School of Rock, with music by Andrew Lloyd Weber).  This is the official video from ABC, so they included the lyrics on screen.  They're a bit distraction from the rich visuals, though the lyrics zip by so I was able to catch some of the jokes better.