Raven Symoné captured viewers' hearts in the late 1980s and early 1990s as an adorable child star who appeared in numerous TV shows and moves, most notably as adorable Olivia Kendall on The Cosby Show.

As an adult, Symoné has garnered success as a singer/songwriter and actress, and in 2015 was named as a co-host on ABC's popular daytime talk show The View. Currently, she serves as executive producer of Disney Channel's Raven's Home, a spinoff of her hit Disney series That's So Raven.

MCN Original Videos caught up with Symoné for a 2017 video interview in which she talks about the not-so-easy transition from child actor to adult media superstar. 

Disney Channel announced it will launch its new comedy series Raven’s Home starring Raven- Symoné on July 21.

The series, a spinoff of the network’s popular That’s So Raven series, will debut after the premiere of the network’s Descendants 2 movie, according to network officials. Raven- Symoné reprises her role as Raven Baxter, now a divorced mother raising two kids. Anneliese van der Pol also reprises her role as Chelsea in the new series.

In support of Raven’s Home, Disney will make available all four seasons of That’s So Raven on the Disney Channel App and VOD beginning June 1, said network officials. Raven’s Home is executively produced by Scott Thomas and Jed Elinoff (Best Friends Whenever), as well as Raven-Symoné.

"Raven is a one-of-a-kind, gifted performer and both she and Anneliese have an undeniable chemistry that we look forward to sharing with a new generation of kids and families,” said Adam Bonnett, executive vice president of original programming for Disney Channels Worldwide in a statement.

Disney Channel will revive its popular series That’s So Raven with series star Raven-Symoné, who today announced her departure from The View to work on the series, Disney said Thursday.

Raven-Symoné will reprise her iconic character Raven Baxter for the untitled spinoff series and serve as executive producer, said Disney. In the new series Baxter is a divorced mother of two pre-teen kids, one of whom has inherited her ability to catch glimpses of the future. The network has already begun preliminary casting for the series.

That’s So Raven aired on Disney Channel from 2003-06 and during its run was one of Disney Channel’s most watched shows.  

"Raven's brilliant style of fearless comedy was a driving force for Disney Channel's success around the world,” said Adam Bonnett, executive vice president of original programming for Disney Channels Worldwide in a statement. “Her performance in That's So Raven is timeless. We now have our eyes on the future with her, and we're looking forward to telling more stories for a new generation with an adult Raven Baxter raising her young family."

Kids-targeted networks Nickelodeon and Disney Channel are turning back the clock, offering blocks of classic TV programming in the hopes that young parents will tune in and watch along with their kids on multiple platforms.

Disney’s Wednesday late-night “Disney Replay” block and Nickelodeon’s daily late-night “Splat” block on TeenNick both offer popular original series from the 1990s to early 2000s. Those shows resonate with 18-to-34-year-olds who grew up watching shows such as Nick’s Rugrats and Hey Arnold! or Disney’s That’s So Raven! and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

“We know that there’s an audience that is engaged with the series, characters and talent that they watched growing up,” Paul DeBenedittis, senior vice president of programming strategy for Disney Channels Worldwide, said. “We hear this across our social-media platforms. For many who loved this timeless programming over the past decade, it’s like comfort food.”

SOLID ANCHORS

The “Disney Replay” block of shows, which airs from midnight to 6 a.m. on Thursday mornings, launched in 2014. Since June, it has been anchored by That’s So Raven! and Lizzie McGuire, which are generating sizable audiences.

Since June, That’s So Raven! (which airs two episodes from midnight to 1 a.m.) is averaging 1.3 million viewers and Lizzie McGuire (1 to 2 a.m.) is averaging 1.1 million viewers on a live-plus-seven-day basis. That compares favorably to Disney’s October total-day average of 1.1 million viewers.

Other shows, such as Duck Tales and Kim Possible, are drawing both parents and their kids to the network’s Watch Disney Channel and DisneyChannel.com digital services. DeBenedittis said the Disney Replay offerings on digital provide the network’s targeted tween viewers with alternative programming to view, while drawing in adults who may not ordinarily access the network’s digital offerings.

“Across our digital platforms, Disney Replay allows us to expand our reach beyond the core audience of kids and families who see Disney Channel as a daily destination,” he said. “Disney Replay ignites a fan base that continues to have a special love and affinity for these classic shows across social commentary and video consumption.”

Nickelodeon last month launched “The Splat,” a multiplatform programming block on its TeenNick service.

The Splat, which runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., offers classic Nickelodeon shows including Kenan & Kel and Hey Arnold!, while offering a fan-driven web site built to drive discussion among parents and fans of the classic programming fare.

While the network would not reveal specific ratings for the block, executives have said that the block was created in response to viewer requests to see the classic Nick series available on multiple platforms.

Both networks are on course to continue vintage programming efforts for the foreseeable future.

ON-DEMAND FORMULA

DeBenedittis said Disney will continue to build on its Disney Replay strategy. The network is looking to expand the classic offerings across linear and on-demand platforms with more series and show episodes, and wants to create stunt packages that will include some new and fresh editorial elements.

For example, Disney will offer several episodes of Miley Cyrus-starrer Hannah Montana — which ran on Disney Channel from 2006 to 2010 — during the Thanksgiving week on the Watch Disney Channel site to engage both parents and kids during the holiday break.

“We saw Hannah Montana become a favorite again across all platforms this summer,” DiBenedittis said. “It’s the timeless themes of wish fulfillment; following your dreams with relatable fantasy elements; music; and great storytelling, topped with a key character played so well by Miley, that drives engagement.”

Former Disney Channel star Raven-Symoné has been named as a co-host for ABC’s daytime talk show The View, ABC announced Monday.

Symoné will replace Rosie O’Donnell on The View effective immediately, joining co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Nicolle Wallace and Rosie Perez.

 Symoné, who starred in Disney Channel’s hit series That’s So Raven in the early mid-2000s, will return to the network this summer in a guest starring role for the network’s series K.C. Undercover, starring Zendaya. Symoné has also recently appeared on episodes of Black-ish and Empire.

 “Raven is smart, funny and genuine. We’ve loved getting to know her, and we’re all thrilled she’ll be part of The View every day,” said Executive Producer Bill Wolff in a statement. “She brings a fresh perspective on the hot topics of the day, and she’s a lively, welcome addition to our conversations and interviews.”

Former Disney Channel teen star Raven-Symoné will return to the network in several episodes of the network’s new series K.C. Undercover, the network confirmed.

The 29-year old Symoné will appear in at least two episodes of the comedy series, starring Zendaya Coleman (Shake It Up) and Kadeem Hardison (A Different World).

The series drew 3.5 million viewers in its Jan. 21 premiere, and delivered nearly 400,000 unique users in the first two weeks of its debut on WATCH Disney Channel.

Symoné previously starred in the network’s popular series That’s So Raven from 2003-2007. Symone’s most recent TV shows as the ABC Family series State Of Georgia, which aired in 2007.