That's So Raven

That's So Raven
File:Come back to rewind.
Created by	Michael Poryes Susan Sherman
Starring	Raven-Symoné Orlando Brown Kyle Massey Anneliese van der Pol T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh (seasons 1-3) Rondell Sheridan
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 producers	Michael Poryes (season 1) Sean McNamara David Brookwell (seasons 1-3) Marc Warren Dennis Rinsler
Camera setup	Videotape; 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 is an American television sitcom. The show premiered on Disney Channel on January 17, 2003, and ended on November 10, 2007. It is Disney Channel's longest-running series, having been on for four years and airing 100 episodes throughout 4 seasons. It was also Disney Channel's first series to break the 65-episode mark, and the highest-rated series to air on Disney Channel during its entire run. In 2007, the series was nominated for an Emmy Award for children's programming.

Premise

The original ideal pitched for the show was to have a modern-day sitcom, with a teenage twist, revolving around the idea of a sitcom based on the comedy stylings of I Love Lucy. That same pitch was kept consistent, but producers added on the idea of giving the main character a supernatural ability that would get her into curious situations. The show is set in San Francisco and revolves around a teenager named Raven Baxter, played by Raven-Symoné, and how she gets herself, her friends Eddie and Chelsea, and her family members, such as her brother Cory, out of various situations, usually by using her psychic powers and a variety of disguises. Reruns of the show currently air on Disney Channel and ABC Kids in the United States, and in Canada on Family.

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, Rose 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 simply as "Raven" throughout the series. The series is the highest-rated show (other than Hannah Montana) in history on Disney Channel and is still the longest-running show in Disney Channel history.

The show filmed its first season in the Summer of 2002 and then premiered on Disney Channel UK that September before premiering in the United States on January 17, 2003.

That's So Raven was responsible for many firsts for Disney Channel: the series was the highest-rated series in the history of Disney Channel and the first series to garner more than three-million viewers; it is the longest-running original series in Disney Channel history (and the first series to last more than 65 episodes, as well as the only Disney-produced series to reach 100 episodes); it is the first Disney-produced series to produce a spinoff (Cory in the House); and it was the first Disney Channel sitcom (and one of only four live action original series, The Famous Jett Jackson, Cory in the House and Wizards of Waverly Place being the others), where the lead and most of the supporting main characters are minorities.

In addition, it was also the first Disney Channel sitcom to be shot on videotape, to use a multi-camera format, to be shot in front of a studio audience or use a laugh track, and to use the simulated film look created by FilmLook, Inc. (all of which has become standard on all Disney Channel comedies, though a 'filmized' appearance will be given to all of the channel's videotaped sitcoms produced from 2009 onward, as the live-action Disney Channel Original Series begin being produced in high definition).

The first three seasons were produced by Brookwell McNamara Entertainment. Raven-Symoné was a producer for the show's fourth and final season. 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 fourth 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 was fired for attacking Raven Symone. The show shot its final few 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.

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 produced by Jeffrey "Def Jef" Fortson 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. 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.

Episodes

Main article: List 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 article: List of characters from That's So Raven

Main

Actor	Character	Status
Raven-Symone	Raven Baxter	2003 — 2007
Orlando Brown	Eddie Thomas	2003 — 2007
Kyle Massey	Cory Baxter	2003 — 2007
Anneliese van der Pol	Chelsea Daniels	2003 — 2007
T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh	Tanya Baxter	2003 — 2005
Rondell Sheridan	Victor Baxter	2003 — 2007

Recurring

Actor	Character	Status
Rose Abdoo	Señorita Rodriguez	2003 — 2006
Frankie Ryan Manriquez	William	2003 — 2007
Adrienne Bailon	Alana Rivera	2004 — 2006
Lil' J	Devon Carter	2004 — 2006
Ashley Drane	Muffy	2004 — 2006
Andrea Edwards	Loca	2004 — 2006
David Henrie	Larry	2004 — 2007
Bobb'e J. Thompson	Stanley	2005 — 2006
Anne-Marie Johnson	Donna Cabonna	2006
Jodi Shilling	Tiffany	2006

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, three video games 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 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. The show released its fourth DVD in July 2006, entitled Raven's Makeover Madness. Sales have reached an estimated $650 million.

Soundtrack albums

• That's So Raven
• That's So Raven Too!

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

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)

Episodes:

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

Special features:

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

Volume 2: Disguise the Limit

(Released August 17, 2005)

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

Disney Channel Holiday

(Released November 1, 2005)

Episode:

• That's So Raven- "Escape Clause"

Volume 3: Raven's House Party

(Released December 6, 2005)

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

(Released July 18, 2006)

Episodes:

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

Special features:

• So You Think You Know Raven (Volume 1, trivia game)
• The Cheetah Girls 2 sneak peek.

That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana

(Released January 16, 2007)

Episodes:

• That's So Raven: "Checkin' Out"
• The Suite Life of Zack & Cody: "That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana"
• Hannah Montana: "On the Road Again"

Special feature

• So You Think You Know Raven (Volume 2, trivia game)
• never before seen episode of "The Suite Life of Zack & Cody"
• Hannah Montana "who said" (music video)

Hannah Montana Volume 4: One In A Million

(Released January 28, 2008)

Episodes:

• That's So Raven- "Run Raven Run"

Spin-off

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, and lasted until September 12, 2008. 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.

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.

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.

In one episode, Raven-Symone guest starred as Raven, who came to show designs of new tour guide uniforms to President Martinez (John D'Aquino). 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 again.

References

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oudFwl5IcZg That's So Raven Intros, from Season 1 - 4

Dragon balls Z

External links

• That's So Raven Disney Channel U.S. website
• That's So Raven at IMDb
• Template:Tv.com

[1] That's So Raven on OpenStreetMap