Editing That's So Raven (section)

==Production==
===Development===

In the early 2000s, [[The Walt Disney Company]]'s [[pay television]] network [[Disney Channel]] experienced success with [[Single-camera setup|single-camera]] comedy series ''[[Even Stevens]]'' and ''[[Lizzie McGuire]]'', and others that were also aimed at a [[pre-adolescent]] audience.<ref name="keeneye"/> ''That's So Raven'' was intended to appeal to a family audience while having a female character in the comedy lead role.<ref name="keeneye"/><ref name="ravenint2006"/> [[Michael Poryes]] and Susan Sherman created the series.<ref name="seriesorder"/><ref name="keeneye"/> Sherman first conceived the idea of a [[buddy comedy]] for a pre-adolescent audience, and she and Poryes decided to base it around the idea of being able to see the future, which they thought would interest young viewers.<ref name="scripttoscreen">{{cite news|last=Scott Mason|first=Marilynne |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0927/p18s02-hfks.html|title=Two TV shows from script to screen|work=[[The Christian Science Monitor]]|publisher=[[Christian Science Publishing Society]] |date=September 27, 2005|access-date=January 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807161434/https://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0927/p18s02-hfks.html|archive-date=August 7, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The creators pitched the concept to network executives under the working title ''The Future is On Me'' and later as ''Absolutely Psychic''.<ref name="scripttoscreen"/><ref name="avclub100"/><ref name="ravenint2006"/> Poryes said at her audition, [[Raven-Symoné]] read for the role of the lead character and for the comedic best-friend character Chelsea, and that she wanted to play Chelsea.<ref name="scripttoscreen"/> Subsequently, a pilot episode in which she starred as the best friend rather than in the central role was filmed but after the [[Test screening|test audience]] responded well to her and producers were impressed, the program was re-written with Raven-Symoné in the main role.<ref name="scripttoscreen"/> Test audiences also responded favorably to the show's supernatural premise and its comedy.<ref name="keeneye"/> The series was also retitled ''That's So Raven''.<ref name="scripttoscreen"/> Poryes also served as an executive producer alongside [[David Brookwell]] and [[Sean McNamara (filmmaker)|Sean McNamara]], who concurrently produced ''[[Even Stevens]]'' for Disney Channel.<ref name="musical"/> Their joint company, [[Brookwell McNamara Entertainment]] produced the program in association with the network.<ref name="seriesorder"/> ''That's So Raven'' became Disney Channel's first [[Multiple-camera setup|multi-camera]] sitcom.<ref name="ewravenshome"/> The series is centered on an [[African Americans|African American]] family in a deliberate attempt to represent the diversity of the network's audience.<ref name="keeneye"/>

''That's So Raven'' and Raven-Symoné's involvement as the titular character Raven were announced in a press release in November 2001. Twenty-one episodes were ordered for the first season, which began filming in [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]], in the same month.<ref name="seriesorder">{{cite news|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Raven+Symone+To+Star+in+Disney+Channel+Original+Series+That's+So...-a079852087|title=Raven Symone To Star in Disney Channel Original Series ''That's So Raven''; Production To Begin in Los Angeles Nov. 9.|work=[[Business Wire]] |date=November 8, 2001|access-date=January 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170406022540/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Raven+Symone+To+Star+in+Disney+Channel+Original+Series+That's+So...-a079852087|archive-date=April 6, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The series was initially expected to premiere in early 2002 but the whole first season was filmed before it aired on television.<ref name="tkeyah"/> The premiere broadcast of ''That's So Raven'', which included the first four episodes of the series, occurred on Friday, January 17, 2003.<ref name="keeneye">{{cite news|last=Heffley|first=Lynne|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-17-et-heffley17-story.html|title=A keen eye for 'tween' foibles|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 17, 2003|access-date=January 17, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104083655/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-17-et-heffley17-story.html|archive-date=January 4, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="marathon">{{cite web|title=''Raven'' ratings take wing for Disney net: Disney Channel scores high ratings for the launch of ''That's So Raven''|date=January 23, 2003|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-97730302.html|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|publisher=[[Penske Media Corporation|Variety Media, LLC.]]|access-date=January 5, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104212556/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-97730302.html|archive-date=November 4, 2012|via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}</ref>

===Casting===
[[File:That'sSoRavencast.jpg|210px|thumb|Cast members (L-R, above): [[Kyle Massey]], [[T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh]], [[Rondell Sheridan]], (below): [[Orlando Brown (actor)|Orlando Brown]], [[Raven-Symoné]] and [[Anneliese van der Pol]].]]

The program and its primary cast were announced in November 2001; Raven-Symoné was revealed to be portraying the titular character Raven; she had previously worked as a child actor on the sitcoms ''[[The Cosby Show]]'' and ''[[Hangin' with Mr. Cooper]]''.<ref name="seriesorder"/> Raven-Symoné was reported to be Disney's first African American female star,{{sfn|Bell|2015|p=56}} and the first African American woman to have her name in the title of a comedy series at the network.<ref name="ewravenshome"/><!--the show [[Thea (TV series)]], starring Thea Vidale, was the first TV show to be named for an African American woman.--> Joshua Alston of ''[[The A.V. Club]]'' called Raven-Symoné's role on the show her "most successful phase" and praised her [[physical comedy]].<ref name="avclub100">{{cite news|last=Alston|first=Joshua |url=https://www.avclub.com/that-s-so-raven-changed-disney-channel-in-ways-no-one-c-1798247263|title=''That's So Raven'' changed Disney Channel in ways no one could have predicted|work=[[The A.V. Club]]|publisher=[[G/O Media]] |date=May 16, 2016|access-date=January 5, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104083759/https://www.avclub.com/that-s-so-raven-changed-disney-channel-in-ways-no-one-c-1798247263|archive-date=January 4, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Marsh cited her humor and commitment to comedy as a reason for her success.<ref name="garymarsh">{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/gary-marsh-television-producer-138444/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106021427/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/gary-marsh-television-producer-138444/|title=Gary Marsh, television producer |work=The Hollywood Reporter|publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group|date=August 1, 2006|archive-date=January 6, 2022|access-date=January 7, 2022|last=Abott|first=Denise|url-status=live}}</ref> She is credited as "Raven" throughout the series.<ref name="avclub100"/>

The supporting cast was also first announced in November 2001.<ref name="seriesorder"/> [[Orlando Brown (actor)|Orlando Brown]] portrays Raven's close friend Eddie and [[Anneliese van der Pol]] plays Chelsea, another of Raven's friends.<ref name="avclub100"/> [[Tricia Dixon]] was originally listed in the casting announcement before van der Pol joined the cast.<ref name="seriesorder"/> [[Kyle Massey]] portrays Raven's younger brother, Cory. [[Rondell Sheridan]] portrays Raven's father, Victor.<ref name="avclub100"/>

[[T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh]] plays Raven's mother Tanya for the first three seasons; she left the show because she had initially expected to only work on three seasons as she was required to provide full-time care for her ailing grandmother.<ref name="tkeyah">{{cite news|url=https://madamenoire.com/701421/tkeyah-crystal-keymah/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220111094045/https://madamenoire.com/701421/tkeyah-crystal-keymah/amp/|title=T'Keyah Crystal Keymáh Talks ''In Living Color,'' Caring For A Grandmother Living With Alzheimer's & Raven Symoné |work=[[MadameNoire]]|date=June 9, 2016|archive-date=January 11, 2022|access-date=January 12, 2022|last=Wells|first=Veronica |url-status=live}}</ref> Within the show's storyline, it is explained Tanya has traveled to England to pursue [[higher education]].<ref name="avclub100"/>

Guest stars in the series include [[Jenifer Lewis]] as Raven's grandmother Vivian<ref name="vivian"/> and [[Anne-Marie Johnson]] as famous fashion designer Donna Cabonna in the show's fourth season.<ref name="donnacabonna">{{cite magazine|title=Anne-Marie Johnson has signed on to Disney Channel's live-action hit ''That's So Raven.'' She'll play the recurring role of a diva-like fashion designer Donna Cabonna, who offers Raven an internship. |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]|publisher=Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group|date=August 10, 2005|volume=390|issue=21}}</ref>

===Writing===
Poryes believed it was important to write the scripts with honesty rather than talking down to the young audience.<ref name="scripttoscreen"/> The writers endeavored to present meaningful stories to children, including lessons about friendship, but tried not to make the messages too "preachy".<ref name="scripttoscreen"/> The series was written to reflect life as a typical teenager while also incorporating comedy, particularly through its central focus on physical humor.<ref name="scripttoscreen"/><ref name="keeneye"/> Van der Pol said the actors typically were not permitted to deviate from their scripted lines;<ref name="vampiresmovie"/> however, Ross stated Raven-Symoné would improvise "comic bits".<ref name="keeneye"/> Alston described the show's nature as "goofy" with a "kid-friendly" comedy style, but also noted its complex stories revolving around "ethical challenges". The episodes did not typically air in the order of their production due to the lack of [[serialization]] in their stories.<ref name="avclub100"/>

===Filming and conclusion===
''That's So Raven'' was recorded in front of a [[Studio audience|live studio audience]] in a set on a [[sound stage]] in Los Angeles.<ref name="scripttoscreen"/> Filming of the first season began in November 2001. The series was filmed on two days each week and the child actors attended school on set.<ref name="keeneye"/> Prior to filming, the weekly schedule would also consist of script read-throughs, rewrites and rehearsals.<ref name="seriesorder"/> A stunt coordinator was present for Raven-Symoné's slapstick and physical stunts.<ref name="keeneye"/>

The series was renewed for a second season in April 2003.<ref name="s2renew">{{cite magazine|title=Disney Channel orders second season of ''That's So Raven''|date=April 14, 2003|magazine=[[Multichannel News]]|publisher=[[Fairchild Fashion Media]]}}</ref> Prior to the renewal, a [[Musical film|musical]] episode of ''Even Stevens'' was aired in 2002; its success among the show's audience led network executives to ask Brookwell and McNamara to also produce a musical episode of ''That's So Raven''.<ref name="musical">{{cite news|last=Schildhause|first=Chloe|url=https://uproxx.com/music/even-stevens-musical-episode-oral-history/|title='We Went To The Moon In 1969': How The ''Even Stevens'' Musical Episode Changed The Disney Channel Forever|work=[[Uproxx]]|publisher=[[Warner Music Group]] |date=May 13, 2016|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104083655/https://uproxx.com/music/even-stevens-musical-episode-oral-history/|archive-date=January 4, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> The musical episode of ''That's So Raven'', entitled "The Road to Audition", was aired as part of the second season in July 2004.<ref>{{Cite episode|title=[[That's So Raven (season 2)#ep39|The Road to Audition]]|series=That's So Raven|network=[[Disney Channel]]|date=July 30, 2004|season=2|number=18|credits=Writers: Beth Seriff & Geoff Tarson}}</ref> The success of the musical format on both ''Even Stevens'' and ''That's So Raven'' gave executives confidence in the appeal and interest of the musical genre, and inspired the development of the television film ''[[High School Musical]]''.<ref name="musical"/>

While it was originally planned for a maximum of three seasons,<ref name="tkeyah"/> in June 2005, ''That's So Raven'' was renewed for a fourth season, which would consist of 22 episodes and bring the program's total number of episodes to 100.<ref name="s4multichannel">{{cite web|title=''Raven'' set for fourth Disney Channel season|date=June 27, 2005|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133753678.html|work=Multichannel News|publisher=Fairchild Fashion Media|access-date=January 5, 2022|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104212607/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133753678.html|archive-date=November 4, 2012|via=HighBeam Research}}</ref><ref name="s4nydaily">{{cite web|last=Huff|first=Richard|title=Disney orders fourth ''Raven'' series, movie|date=June 27, 2005|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/jun/27/disney-orders-fourth-raven-series-movie/|work=[[New York Daily News]]|publisher=[[Tribune Publishing]]|access-date=January 5, 2022|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220105051450/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/jun/27/disney-orders-fourth-raven-series-movie/|archive-date=January 5, 2022|via=[[The Spokesman-Review]]}}</ref> The announcement marked the first time an original Disney Channel series would exceed three seasons and the first to reach [[100 episodes]] for [[Broadcast syndication|syndication]].<ref name="avclub100"/><ref name="s4nydaily"/>{{efn-lr|By August 2006, there were no plans to syndicate the show.<ref name="garymarsh"/>}} A film adaptation was also ordered to debut in 2007.<ref name="s4nydaily"/> Ross called ''That's So Raven'' the network's "most successful series".<ref name="s4nydaily"/> Production on the season was expected to begin in July and the episodes would be aired over the following two years.<ref name="s4nydaily"/> Raven-Symoné became a producer on the show's fourth season at the age of 19;<ref name="s4nydaily"/> her roles included having input toward casting, scripts and special effects; however, she rejected the offer to direct an episode.<ref name="ravenint2006"/> Brookwell and McNamara departed the series at the end of the third season when their company was replaced with Warren & Rinsler Productions. An episode of the series was aired as part of the network [[Crossover (fiction)|crossover]] special ''[[That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana]]'', which was aired in July 2006 as a crossover of ''[[The Suite Life of Zack & Cody]]'' and ''[[Hannah Montana]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/07/30/085419.php|title=TV Review: ''That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana''|editor=Olsen, Eric|work=[[Blogcritics]]|publisher=Critical Lens Media|date=July 30, 2006|access-date=January 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070222042619/http://blogcritics.org/archives/2006/07/30/085419.php|archive-date=February 22, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Production of the series finished in January 2006,<ref name="kidscreen">{{cite news|last=Foster|first=Elizabeth|url=https://kidscreen.com/2016/10/28/disney-channel-has-new-vision-for-thats-so-raven/|title=Disney Channel has new vision for ''That's So Raven''|work=Kidscreen|date=October 28, 2016|access-date=January 9, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213085700/https://kidscreen.com/2016/10/28/disney-channel-has-new-vision-for-thats-so-raven/|archive-date=December 13, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> and by August, president of [[Disney Branded Television|Disney Channels Worldwide]] [[Gary Marsh]] stated it was unlikely any further episodes would be produced.<ref name="garymarsh"/> Due to the heavy focus on high-school stories in the series, the network decided to end the show once the characters were beginning to age beyond their teenage years.<ref name="avclub100"/>