Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
STARS ON SCREEN
Retaining Raven: It looks like Raven is staying home. Disney Channel’s spinoff of supernatural kids’ show “That’s So Raven” has received a second season order that Raven almost definitely saw coming.
“Raven’s Home” premiered on Disney Channel this past July and is a direct spinoff of “That’s So Raven,” reuniting several of the characters and actors from the teen-focused sitcom that ran from 2003 to 2007. Production on a second season is scheduled to begin this month.
The titular Raven is played by former “The View” host Raven-Symoné, reprising the role that she first played in “That’s So Raven.” Now all grown up, Raven is a young woman with twins, Booker (Issac Ryan Brown, “Black-ish”) and Nia (Navia Robinson, “Free Rein”), who invites her childhood best friend Chelsea (played by another “That’s So Raven” star returning to her role, Anneliese van der Pol) and her son Levi (Jason Maybaum, “Becoming Bond,” 2017) to move in with her after both women divorce their husbands. Newcomer Sky Katz rounds out the kiddos as Nia’s BFF Tess, who lives in the same building.
Two best-friend moms living under the same roof with three preteen kids? It’s a recipe for both laughs and warmth, but there’s another twist at play. What set “That’s So Raven” apart from its peers was Raven’s supernatural ability: She sometimes received visions from the future, and most of her adventures involved those prophetic sightings.
Well, she hasn’t stopped having those visions in “Raven’s Home,” and it seems she’s passed on her gift to one of her children. Booker has inherited her ability to see future events, setting off many situations that result in trouble — but also plenty of laughs for people watching at home.
Windy city strength:
NBC’s “Chicago” franchise may have suffered its first real stumble, but it sure isn’t having any problems attracting guest stars. “Chicago Justice,” the fourth series in the franchise that includes “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago P.D.” and “Chicago Med,” was canceled earlier this year after just a single season, but the other three are still going strong.
Case in point: “Chicago P.D.,” the second show in the franchise. Next week’s episode, airing Wednesday, Nov. 15, has tapped veteran actor Scott Bryce to guest-star in a political role. He starred in “As the World Turns” for well over two decades, from 1982 to 2008, as well as in the sitcom “Popular.” More recently, he’s had spots in “Deception,” “30 Rock” and “The Good Fight.”
In “Chicago P.D.,” Bryce will guest star as pro-police politician Scott Graynor, who finds himself in hot water when he’s found at a crime scene claiming that he has no memory of what’s happened. He has a friendly relationship with Voight (Jason Beghe, “Californication”), the head of the department’s Intelligence Unit, but whether that relationship helps or hurts a politician with few political allies remains to be seen.
In more long-term casting changes for the procedural, Jon Seda (“Treme”) returned to the fold this season after exiting it for a spot in “Chicago Justice,” joining new series regular Tracy Spiridakos (“Revolution”), while Sophia Bush (“One Tree Hill”) departed. Zach Appelman (“Sleepy Hollow”), Wendell Pierce (“The Wire”), Annabelle Acosta (“Quantico”) and Mykelti Williamson (“Justified”) all have guest spots this season as well.
A long goodbye: One of television’s most watched shows is losing one of its most loved characters. Currently in its 15th season, CBS’s “NCIS” still ranks as one of the mostwatched shows on TV, drawing in viewership numbers that many other shows can only dream of.
With that in mind, it’s no doubt with sadness that many of the show’s longtime fans have learned that Pauley Perrette (“The Ring,” 2002) has confirmed that the current season of the procedural will be her last. Her portrayal of forensic specialist Abby Sciuto has made her a favorite with viewers, and the fact that she’s been with the series since the very beginning makes her departure all the more significant.
“We’ve known for some time this would be Pauley’s final season on ‘NCIS’ and have been working toward a special send-off,” said executive producers George Schenck and Frank Cardea in a statement. “From Day 1, she has brought incredible passion and specificity to the role. Abby is a character that inspires millions of fans around the world, and all of us at ‘NCIS’ are appreciative of Pauley for portraying her.”