That's So Raven

That's So Raven is an American television series created by Michael Poryes and Susan Sherman. Set in San Francisco, it follows Raven Baxter, a teenager with psychic abilities who draws on her ingenuity, talent as a fashion designer, and a variety of disguises to get in and out of amusing adolescent and pre-adolescent situations.

The series aired on Disney Channel from January 17, 2003 to November 10, 2007.

Plot
Raven Baxter, a teenage girl, receives psychic visions of future events when in deep situations. Attempting to make these visions come true frequently results in trouble and hilarious situations for herself, her family and her friends.

Main

 * Raven-Symoné as Raven Lydia Baxter
 * Orlando Brown as Edward "Eddie" Thomas
 * Anneliese van der Pol as Chelsea Daniels
 * Kyle Massey as Cory Baxter
 * Rondell Sheridan as Victor Baxter
 * T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh as Tanya Baxter (Season 1-3)

Recurring

 * Rose Abdoo as Señorita Rodriguez
 * Lil' J as Devon Carter
 * Adrienne Bailon as Alana Rivera
 * Erica Rivera as Bianca
 * Ashley Drane as Muffy
 * Andrea Edwards as Loca
 * Frankie Ryan Manriquez as William
 * David Henri as Larry
 * Joshua Harto as Ben Sturky
 * Drew Sidora as Chantel
 * Bobb'e J. Thompson as Stanley
 * Sydney Park as Sydney
 * Anne-Marie Johnson as Donna Cabonna
 * Jodi Shilling as Tiffany
 * Jordyn Colemon as Cindy
 * Dan Mott as The Juicer
 * Jake Carlis as Freckles

Episodes
See Also: List of That's So Raven Episodes

Crossovers

 * That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana

Cory in the House
The series premiered on January 12, 2007. It follows Cory and his father with their move to Washington D.C. where Victor has got a new job as the President's chef.

Raven's Home
The series premiered on July 21, 2017. It follows Raven as she is a divorced mother of two pre-teens, and Chelsea who moves in with them with their son.

Music

 * That's So Raven Soundtrack

The soundtrack was released on May 18, 2004 by Walt Disney Records.


 * That's So Raven Too!

The soundtrack was released on March 7, 2006 by Walt Disney Records.

Production
The name for the main character changed several times prior to production, starting with Dawn Baxter in a show named The Future Is on Me. Names changed to Rose Baxter in a show called Absolutely Psychic but finally settling on Raven Baxter when actress Raven-Symoné won the lead part, with the show titled That's So Raven. Symoné originally auditioned for the role of the best friend, Chelsea. Raven-Symoné was credited simply as "Raven" throughout the series.

The show filmed a special pilot episode on April 12, 2001, and the first season was filmed from November 9, 2001 to June 2002.

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; the second longest-running original series in Disney Channel history, the first Disney Channel series to reach 100 episodes, the first Disney Channel series to produce a spinoff (Cory in the House) and one of the first two live action original series where the lead and most of the supporting main characters are minorities (The Famous Jett Jackson being the other.)

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 was 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. The company later left at the end of season 3, being replaced by Warren & Rinsler Productions. Raven-Symoné then received a producer credit for the show's fourth and final season, with the credit being called "That So Productions". 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 became 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 on Cory in the House, Victor states that Tanya (T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh) is in England studying to be a lawyer. The show shot its final few episodes in January 2006, but they weren't all aired until a year later, with the series finale airing 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 for fellow Disney Channel series 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 footage from the episodes of that season. Each season also made an exception to the guideline by showing footage from the previous seasons, most of the time when it was needed. For example, if footage being shown was of the characters dancing, then footage of a character or characters would be shown. When originally broadcast, season two followed the guideline, but when season three began airing, the opening credits from season two were inexplicably replaced with the opening credits from season three for daytime network rebroadcasts and subsequent syndication.

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. Anneliese 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. It also aired in China on CCTV as 那是因此掠夺. Raven-Symoné appeared in every episode of the series along with Kyle Massey, who played her little brother Cory. Orlando Brown appeared in 99 episodes of the series and Annelise van der Pol appeared in 97.

Reception
The series premiere was watched by 3.5 million viewers, the first Disney Channel series to garner more than 3 million viewers. The most watched episode of That's So Raven is "Country Cousins", scoring 10.8 million viewers.

Merchandise
The That's So Raven franchise has been modelled after fellow Disney Channel hit Lizzie McGuire. Raven has a clothing line, DVD releases, novels, bedroom sets, a perfume, a Girl Talk board game, three video games and two soundtracks, That's So Raven 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 had made $400 million.

Video Games

 * That's So Raven
 * That's So Raven 2
 * That's So Raven: Psychic on the Scene