EXCLUSIVE: Raven Symone is returning to series television as the star of ABC Family’s multi-camera comedy pilot The Great State of Georgia. The project, from ABC Studios, centers on Georgia (Raven Symone), an exuberant curvy performer from the south who is trying to make it big as an actress in New York City. Also cast in the pilot is Brock Cuchna (Melrose Place) as Georgia’s Southern ex-boyfriend who, still madly in love with her, comes to New York to bring her back home. The pilot was written by author Jennifer Weiner (In Her Shoes) and Jeff Greenstein (Desperate Housewives). Symone, who landed her first regular TV role on The Cosby Show at age 3, worked non-stop for 18 years until the end of her sitcom That’s So Raven in 2007 when she took 2 years off. She returned to the business this summer as one of the two stars of the ABC Family movie Revenge of the Bridesmaid and went on to pitch the cable network a half-hour project with writer Yvette Lee Bowser for her to star in and produce. The two sides were in negotiations on it when ABC Family brass brought up Georgia. Atlanta, Georgia-born Symone was interested, leading to her getting her cast as the lead. With the casting of Symone, repped by UTA and the Collective, ABC Family is sticking to its strategy of tapping sitcom veterans as the leads of its half-hour comedies, a genre the network recently ventured into with Melissa & Joey, toplined by Melissa Joan Hart and Joey Lawrence.





Yes! I confess, I still get up early on Saturdays to watch reruns of THAT’S SO RAVEN on ABC. She is so funny. So talented.
I agree. Watching “That’s So Raven,” I’m shocked by just how good Raven is with her comedic skills. She handles slapstick with the aplomb that Lucille Ball delighted us with for years.
I’m glad to see Raven back on TV. She is one of my favorite actress I will be watching!!!
I have read that script and it is not good. On second thought, it might play well for children.
How did you get access to the script? I’d love to read it.
I was wondering when she would come back to TV. That’s a great team and a good concept.
Curvy is right. She is wonderful and when she was doing That’s So Raven because she blossomed so much so early with her breast size they would always always always force her to wear a sweater draped over her shoulders to hide her large breasts. Disgraceful that they made her do that. She should have hired Gloria Allred to sue Disney for making her do that it has to be a form of sexual discrimination.
SO HAPPY RAVEN WILL BE BACK ON TV! I love this girl…she is so talented and will elevate any show.
Why are the lead guys of all these shows so so Vanilla looking. There is absolutely nothing interesting about this guy Brock.
Thank you.
And where are the “black” male love interests on these shows?
Good point, Anthony.
How disappointing. I was really looking forward to this show, but I have no interest in watching That’s So Raven, part two. I wish the powers that be had done a better job with casting.
I’ve read the script….and I don’t see where you’re getting that it’s That’s So Raven 2….
Disapointed curvy Vanilla carmel mocha who cares she may Be Talented but only for the children in my opinion•. Who ever said Disney was Wholesome?????? Remember Judy Garland ANYONE??????
“The pilot was written by author Jennifer Weiner (In Her Shoes) and Jeff Greenstein (Desperate Housewives).”
Well, I love In Her Shoes and Desperate Housewives so I will definitely give the pilot a chance!
Love her. She has great comedic timing…
Glad ABC Family is sticking with half hour multi-camera comedies!
Was very exited to watch a show written by one of my favorite authors… not so much anymore. Raven Symone? They really couldn’t find anyone new?… or who wasn’t on the Disney Channel?
Yuck. I can’t stand Raven. I can’t see anyone watching this show that wasn’t an initial fan of her Disney channel show. I find her to be a very obnoxious actress who is way too over the top in her mannerisms.
ABC Family is very smart to do a Raven Symone sitcom, she is super talented and has a big fanbase.
ABC Family, where former child stars’ careers go to die.
You realize that she was playing an over the top teenager on a slapstick comedy show??
Raven was no more over the top that Lucille Ball.
Far from having a dying career, Raven Symone will happily follow in the foot steps of other successful young actors who have successful hit shows on ABC Family. Hell, have you compared the ratings for ABC Family’s most successful shows to AMC’s Mad Men or Breaking Bad?
So excited a Jennifer Weiner project is coming to TV. I love her novels and she’s a really astute cultural commentator too.
And yet the casting here, I have to say, does not look promising… very sitcom-y, laugh track-y, dull.
OMG
Raven back I love uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Finally Raven Good-Luck
WOW!! A show about a girl trying to make it as an actress. This has never been done before. What morons.
Raven is adorable and is usually at her best in comedic sitcoms. I wish her and the show well and look forward to seeing it when it premieres. ABC Family has really stepped up there game with the sitcoms and hourlong dramas for teens..do you hear that CW???..
The Mickey Rooney of the 21st Century (in a good way). Cosby can pick definitely pick ’em. She’s going to be in the game for the next 50 years. She’s fantastic.
Awful actress. Loud. Obnoxious. Not funny. Hope it fails.
I wish Raven the best of Luck I always had her back…
I am really excited by the idea of a comedy pilot with MULTI-CAMERAS!!!!
I think that is so exciting that more than one camera will be used to film this undoubtedly awesome show! Does anyone know if it will be in color, too? If it is: OMG!!!!!
I remember this guy Brock from other shows! He’s great looking, like a young Paul Newman. I think I’m gonna like this show alot!
KK , Judy Garland was not under contract to the Disney studio. She was under contract to MGM. At that time in the film industry actors were under contract to the studios.