That's So Raven
That's So Raven | |
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File:That's So Raven.jpg The That's So Raven logo with Raven-Symoné as Raven Baxter. | |
Created by | Michael Poryes Productions Susan Sherman |
Starring | Raven-Symoné Orlando Brown Kyle Massey Anneliese van der Pol Rondell Sheridan T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh (1-3) |
Opening theme | "That's So Raven (main song)" by Raven-Symoné, Orlando Brown, and Anneliese van der Pol |
Country of origin | ![]() |
No. of seasons | 4 |
No. of episodes | 100 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers | Michael Poryes Susan Sherman (season 1) Sean McNamara David Brookwell (seasons 1-3) Marc Warren Dennis Rinsler (season 2+) |
Camera setup | Multi-camera |
Running time | 25 or 30 minutes (with commercials) |
Original release | |
Network | Disney Channel |
Release | January 17, 2003 – November 10, 2007 |
That's So Raven was an Emmy, Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Teen Choice Award Award-winning American television sitcom. The show premiered on Disney Channel on January 17, 2003, and ended on November 10, 2007. It is The Disney Channel's longest running and most successful series having been on since 2003 - 2007 and has aired 100 episodes.
Premise
The plot revolves around teenager Raven Baxter, played by Raven-Symoné and how she gets herself, her friends Eddie and Chelsea as well as her family members, such as her brother Cory, out of various situations, usually by using her psychic powers and as a master of disguise. Her show is on Disney Channel and ABC Kids. It usually comes on after movies or in the afternoon,on Disney Channel. On weekends her show is on twice on ABC Kids at 10:00 a.m and 10:30 ET/PT. and Canada's hit channel, Family (TV channel).
Production
The original name for the main character was Dawn Baxter, and the show was originally named The Future Is On Me. However, they changed the main character's name to Rose Baxter, and the show was called Absolutely Psychic. Finally, it was changed yet again to Raven Baxter when Raven-Symoné won the lead part, and the show was changed to That's So Raven. Raven-Symoné originally auditioned for the role of the best friend, Chelsea, who's played by Anneliese van der Pol. Raven-Symoné is credited as Raven throughout the series. The series was the highest rated show in history on Disney Channel, before Hannah Montana. However, it is still the longest running show in Disney channel history.
The show first premiered in September 2002 in the U.K. before premiering in the United States on January 17, 2003.
Seasons 1-3 were produced by Brookwell McNamara Entertainment. The fourth and final season was produced by Raven-Symoné. It became the first Disney Channel Series to create a spin-off, Cory in the House, which followed her younger brother, Cory, as his dad becomes the head chef for the President of the United States, causing the two of them to move to Washington D.C.
In the 4th season of That's So Raven and in Cory In The House, Victor states that Tanya (T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh) is in England as a lawyer. In real life, Keymáh left for creative and personal reasons. The show shot its final two episodes in January 2006 but they weren't shown until a year later, with the series finale shown in March 2007 and the second-to-last episode shown that November.
Ratings
The ratings for That's So Raven increased each episode to the point where they were around 10 million views putting it in the top 50. Raven said during one of her concerts that That's So Raven was number 1 on the Disney Channel their entire run. Hannah Montana has yet to beat That's So Raven highest rated episode which was 10.8 but came close with 10.7 million viewers.
Opening sequence
The show's title theme song was written by John Coda, who also composed the music cues to signify scene changes and commercial breaks for this series and Even Stevens, was co-produced by Def Jef and Christopher B. Pearman (Raven-Symoné's), and was performed by Raven-Symoné, Anneliese van der Pol, and Orlando Brown.
Each season had opening credits composed of various clips from the episodes of that season. Season two followed the guideline when it first premiered, but once season three premiered, the opening credits from season two were replaced with the opening credits from season three, with no clips from season two episodes being shown at all. To this day, the season three opening credits are still being used in season two episodes. [1] Each season also made an exception to the guideline by showing a few clips from the previous seasons, most of the time when it was needed. For example, if the group of clips being shown was of the characters dancing, then a clip of a character or chacters would be shown.
Each opening sequence, before going to the title card, always ended with the main cast being together (in clips that were not part of any episode). Seasons one, two, and three were of the Baxters sitting on their living room couch, and season 4 was of the Baxters (with the exception of Tanya), Eddie, and Chelsea coming down the Baxters' living room stairs.
At the end of the opening credits, Raven stands next to the title card and says "Yep, that's me." This remained in season four, except with a new addition. Raven's catchphrase "Oh, snap!" was dubbed in right before she says "Yep, that's me."
Raven-Symoné performs most of the theme, while Brown performs a rap near the end of the theme and some scattered vocals in the beginning of the theme. Van der Pol sings the show's title in the chorus. A full-length version of this theme was heard in a music video which aired a few months before the shows U.S. premiere and also can be heard on the show's first soundtrack, released in 2004.
In Disney Channel Asia, an Asian version of the show's theme song was made. The music video debuted on January 1, 2007 back-to-back with the 100th episode of That's So Raven.
Episodes
The show is one of the few Disney Channel Original Series to extend its contract from 65 to 100 episodes, next to shows like Kim Possible and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. The last episodes produced were "The Way We Were," but then the crossover called "Checkin' Out" was produced as part of That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana. Although it was chronologically the last episode, it did not air last; instead, "When There's Smoke" aired last.
Season | Ep # | First Airdate | Last Airdate |
---|---|---|---|
Season 1 | 21 | January 17, 2003 | March 19, 2004 |
Season 2 | 22 | October 3, 2003 | September 24, 2004 |
Season 3 | 35 | October 1, 2004 | January 16, 2006 |
Season 4 | 22 | February 20, 2006 | November 10, 2007 |
Characters
Main
Actor | Character | Status | # Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
Raven-Symoné | Raven Baxter | 2003 — 2007 | 100 |
Orlando Brown | Eddie Thomas | 2003 — 2007 | 99 |
Kyle Massey | Cory Baxter | 2003 — 2007 | 96 |
Anneliese van der Pol | Chelsea Daniels | 2003 — 2007 | 97 |
Rondell Sheridan | Victor Baxter | 2003 — 2007 | 87 |
T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh | Tanya Baxter | 2003 — 2005 | 66 |
Recurring
Actor | Character | Status | # Episodes |
---|---|---|---|
David Henrie | Larry | 2004 — 2006 | 12 |
Bobb'e J. Thompson | Stanley | 2005 — 2006 | 10 |
Rose Abdoo | Senorita Rodriguez | 2003 — 2006 | 18 |
Lil' J | Devon Carter | 2004 — 2006 | 10 |
Adrianne Bailon | Alana | 2004 | 10 |
Ashley Eckstein | Muffy | 2004 — 2006 | 8 |
Andrea Edwards | Loca | 2004 — 2006 | 7 |
Anne-Marie Johnson | Donna Cabonna | 2006 | 11 |
Jodi Shilling | Tiffany | 2006 | 6 |
Merchandise
The That's So Raven franchise has been modeled after fellow Disney Channel hit Lizzie McGuire. Raven has a clothing line, DVD releases, novels, bedroom sets, a perfume, a GirlTalk board game,[2] three video games[3][4] and two soundtracks, That's So Raven: Songs from and inspired by the hit TV show and That's So Raven Too!.
In February 2005, That's So Raven toys were featured in the McDonald's Happy meal. In April 2005, a doll based on Raven Baxter was released[5] and another was released the following year. Also, two That's So Raven dolls have been released.
In September 2005, the show also spawned a fragrance and an MP3 player. That same month, the clothing line was shipped to Macy's stores. As of 2006, the That's So Raven merchandise has made $400 million.[6] The show released its fourth DVD in July 2006, entitled Raven's Makeover Madness. Sales have reached to in estimated 650 million dollars.
Soundtrack albums
Series Novelizations
- What You See Is What You Get - Smell Of Victory & A Dog By Any Other Name
- Rescue Me - Driven To Insanity & Mother Dearest
- In Raven We Trust - Test Of Friendship & Saturday Afternoon Fever
- Step Up - Dissin' Cousins & Party Animal
- Family Affair - If I Only Had A Job & Teach Your Children Well
- 2 Good 2 B True - To See Or Not To See & Ye Olde Dating Game
- Tell It Like It Is - Campaign In The Neck & Separation Anxiety
- Dueling Divas' - A Fight At The Opera & The Parties
- Showtime! - Wake Up, Victor & A Fish Called Raven
- Psyched - Psychics Wanted & Saving Psychic Raven
- Boyfriend Blues - Four's A Crowd & Blue In The Face
- Be Mine - Hearts And Minds & Close Encounters Of The Nerd Kind
- The Real Deal - That's So Not Raven & Run Raven Run
- Over The Top - Out Of Control & He's Got The Power
- Rebel Raven - Clothes Minded & Spa Day Afternoon
- Superstar - Radio Heads & The Road To Audition
- House Party - Hizzouse Party & Leave It To Diva
- Queen Of Hearts - There Goes The Bride & Royal Treatment
- Raven Rocks - A Goat's Tale & Boyz 'N Motion
- Extreme Fever - Extreme Cory & When There's Smoke
Video Games
That's So Raven has spawned three video games:
- That's So Raven, Game Boy Advance
- That's So Raven 2, Game Boy Advance
- That's So Raven: Psychic on the Scene, Nintendo DS
DVD Releases
Volume 1: Supernaturally Stylish
(Released December 7, 2004)[7]
Episodes:
Special features:
- Supernatural (music video)
- That's So Raven (music video)
Volume 2: Disguise the Limit
Episodes:
Special features:
- Master of Disguises (featurette)
- Visual commentary by Raven on selected scenes
Disney Channel Holiday
(Released November 1, 2005)
Episodes:
- Escape Claus
Volume 3: Raven's House Party
(Released December 6, 2005)[9]
Episodes:
- Opportunity Shocks
- Too Much Pressure
- Double Vision
- Four Aces
- Vision Impossible
Special features:
- That's So Raven (Radio Trivia Game)
- Bloopers and outtakes
Volume 4: Raven's Makeover Madness
Episodes:
- Pin Pals
- Dues and Don'ts
- Adventures in Boss-Sitting
- Hook Up My Space
- When 6021 Met 4267
Special features:
- Road trip
- The Cheetah Girls 2 sneak peek.
(Released January 16, 2007)[10]
Episodes:
- Checkin' Out
Special feature
- So You Think You Know Raven (Volume 2, trivia game)
Hannah Montana Volume 4: One In A Million
(Released January 28, 2008)[11]
Episodes:
- Run Raven Run
Spin-Off
Cory in the House
![]() | This article possibly contains original research. (September 2008) |
Cory in the House is the first Disney Channel spin off and premiered on January 12, 2007. It was the one chosen out of the many pitched and proposed spin-offs that were to have aired after the completion of That's So Raven, including one about Raven going off to college and another centering around Donna Cabonna's ventures hiring a new intern at her office.[citation needed]The spin-off has not seen the same success as "Thats So Raven".
The storyline involves Cory and his father Victor adjusting to life in Washington D.C.; Victor has received a job as the Head chef to the President. The show takes place while Raven is attending fashion college and Cory's mom is still in London. Raven has guest-starred on the show.
The series is similar to its sister show, That's So Raven. Cory has two best friends, one a boy, Newton Livingston III (Jason Dolley), and one a girl, Meena Paroom (Maiara Walsh). Note that in "That's So Raven", the main character also has two best friends, one a boy and one a girl. Cory attends a middle school in Washington DC. Also in the series, the president's daughter, (Madison Pettis) Sophie, constantly pesters Cory, like Cory did to Raven in That's So Raven. Cory also participates in crazy situations in which he learns a moral lesson and will most likely get punished. Candy Smiles plays in Cory's love life multiple times, and Stickler continuously spies on the Meena, Newton and especially Cory.
On one episode, Raven Symone guest starred as Raven, who came to show designs of new tour guide uniforms to President Martinez. Unfortunately, she has a vision of a clock falling on the President, and tackles him, earning the Secret Service a chance to chase her around the grounds. Cory poses as his sister to display the uniforms, modeled by Newton and Meena. Raven is discovered outside the Oval Office window, and chased, until she actually does save Mr. Martinez from the clock. The episode ends with the credits sequence for That's So Pooshnick, a show from Meena's country about a psychic girl who can see the past and always ends up messing up trying to stop the vision from happening.
References
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO6C8TzWDUI That's So Raven Original Season 2 Opening
- ^ http://z.about.com/d/boardgames/1/0/f/G/tf06-raven_girl_talk.jpg Z.about.com
- ^ http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p5105.htm Kidzworld.com
- ^ http://videogames.yahoo.com/gamemain?cid=1951020519&tab=&page+0&eid=-1 Videogames.yahoo.com
- ^ http://www.barbiecollector.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=J0872 Barbiedollcollector.co
- ^ http://blackvoices.aol.com/black_news/black_history_month/articlecanvas/_a/bhm-star-raven-symone/20060221023209990001 Blackvoices.aol.com
- ^ Amazon.com: That's So Raven - Supernaturally Stylish: Orlando Brown, T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Kyle Orlando Massey, Raven (VII), Rondell Sheridan, Anneliese van der Pol, Debbie ...
- ^ Amazon.com: That's So Raven - Disguise the Limit: Orlando Brown, T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Kyle Orlando Massey, Raven (VII), Rondell Sheridan, Anneliese van der Pol, Debbie Alle...
- ^ a b Amazon.com: That's So Raven - Raven's House Party: Orlando Brown, T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh, Kyle Orlando Massey, Raven (VII), Rondell Sheridan, Anneliese van der Pol, Debbie All...
- ^ Amazon.com: That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana: David Kendall (II), Lee Shallat Chemel, Casey Lynn De Stefano, Andrew Tsao, Henry Chan (IV), Jim Drake (II): Movies & TV
- ^ Amazon.com: Hannah Montana - One in a Million: Miley Cyrus: Movies & TV
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- That's So Raven Disney Channel U.S. website
- That's So Raven Disney Channel UK website
- That's So Raven Disney Channel Asia website
- Brookwell McNamara Entertainment official site
- That's So Raven DVD reviews with pictures
- Numerous online games at Disney Channel U.S. website
- That's So Raven wiki
That's So Raven on OpenStreetMap
- ABC Kids
- That's So Raven
- 2003 television series debuts
- 2007 television series endings
- Television series by Disney
- Black sitcoms
- Children's television series
- 2000s American television series
- Disney Channel shows
- Family Channel shows
- Fantasy television series
- American television sitcoms
- American children's comedy series
- Television shows set in San Francisco
- Television shows set in California