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.
“That’s So Raven” was a big hit for Disney Channel, and “Raven’s Home” has brought its beloved characters back for a new generation.The second season begins production this month.
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 most-watched 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.”
Luckily for fans, there’s going to be a lot more Abby before her departure. This season of “NCIS” is still young, and Perrette isn’t heading for the exit until its end. “NCIS” airs Tuesdays on CBS.