That's So Raven

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That's So Raven

The That's So Raven logo with Raven-Symoné as Raven Baxter.
Format Television series Sitcom
Created by Michael Poryes
Susan Sherman
Starring Raven-Symoné
Anneliese van der Pol
Orlando Brown
Kyle Massey
Rondell Sheridan
T'Keyah Keymah
Opening theme "That's So Raven (main song)" by Raven-Symoné, Orlando Brown, and Anneliese van der Pol
Country of origin  United States
No. of seasons 4
No. of episodes 100 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive
producer(s)
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)
Broadcast
Original channel Disney Channel
Original run January 17, 2003November 10, 2007
Chronology
Followed by Cory in the House
(2007–present)
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary

That's So Raven is an 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 series having been on since 2003 and has aired 100 episodes, being the first series to break the 65 episode mark. That's So Raven is different from other Disney Channel Original Series due to its content and some of its themes. (Such as smoking in the episode "Where Theres Smoke" )

Contents

[edit] 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. The show airs on Disney Channel and ABC Kids, and in Canada on Family (TV channel).

[edit] 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.


[edit] 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 as well as Even Stevens. It was co-produced by Def Jef and Christopher B. Pearman, 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. 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 characters 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 four 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 show's 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 17, 2007 back-to-back with the 100th episode of That's So Raven.

[edit] 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

[edit] Characters

[edit] 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 100
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

[edit] 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 16

[edit] 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.

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, 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 an estimated $650 million.

[edit] Soundtrack albums

[edit] Series Novelizations

  1. What You See Is What You Get - Smell Of Victory & A Dog By Any Other Name
  2. Rescue Me - Driven To Insanity & Mother Dearest
  3. In Raven We Trust - Test Of Friendship & Saturday Afternoon Fever
  4. Step Up - Dissin' Cousins & Party Animal
  5. Family Affair - If I Only Had A Job & Teach Your Children Well
  6. 2 Good 2 B True - To See Or Not To See & Ye Olde Dating Game
  7. Tell It Like It Is - Campaign In The Neck & Separation Anxiety
  8. Dueling Divas' - A Fight At The Opera & The Parties
  9. Showtime! - Wake Up, Victor & A Fish Called Raven
  10. Psyched - Psychics Wanted & Saving Psychic Raven
  11. Boyfriend Blues - Four's A Crowd & Blue In The Face
  12. Be Mine - Hearts And Minds & Close Encounters Of The Nerd Kind
  13. The Real Deal - That's So Not Raven & Run Raven Run
  14. Over The Top - Out Of Control & He's Got The Power
  15. Rebel Raven - Clothes Minded & Spa Day Afternoon
  16. Superstar - Radio Heads & The Road To Audition
  17. House Party - Hizzouse Party & Leave It To Diva
  18. Queen Of Hearts - There Goes The Bride & Royal Treatment
  19. Raven Rocks - A Goat's Tale & Boyz 'N Motion
  20. Extreme Fever - Extreme Cory & When There's Smoke

[edit] Video Games

That's So Raven has spawned three video games:

[edit] DVD Releases

[edit] Volume 1: Supernaturally Stylish

(Released December 7, 2004)[7]

Episodes:

  • "If I Only Had a Job"
  • "He's Got the Power"
  • "That's So Not Raven"
  • "Boyz 'N Motion"

Special features:

  • Supernatural (music video)
  • That's So Raven (music video)

[edit] Volume 2: Disguise the Limit

(Released August 17, 2005)[8]

Episodes:

  • "Art Breaker"
  • "Country Cousins (part 1)"
  • "Country Cousins (part 2)"
  • "The Grill Next Door"

Special features:

  • Master of Disguises (featurette)
  • Visual commentary by Raven on selected scenes

[edit] Disney Channel Holiday

(Released November 1, 2005)

Episodes:

  • "Escape Claus"

[edit] 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

[edit] Volume 4: Raven's Makeover Madness

(Released July 18, 2006)[9]

Episodes:

  • "Pin Pals"
  • "Dues and Don'ts"
  • "Adventures in Boss-Sitting"
  • "Hook Up My Space"
  • "When 6021 Met 4267"

Special features:

[edit] That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana

(Released January 16, 2007)[10]

Episodes:

  • "Checkin' Out"

Special feature

  • So You Think You Know Raven (Volume 2, trivia game)

[edit] Hannah Montana Volume 4: One In A Million

(Released January 28, 2008)[11]

Episodes:

  • "Run Raven Run"

[edit] Spin-Off

[edit] Cory in the House

Main article: Cory in the House

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 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, D.C. Also in the series, the president's daughter Sophie (Madison Pettis) 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 Cory, Newton and especially Meena.

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.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Preceded by
Nothing
Disney Channel Original Series Succeeded by
Cory in the House
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