Top 10 That's So Raven References in Raven's Home
#10: The Chill Grill
“Vest in Show”
Top 5 Facts about Raven's Home
After getting fired from his previous job, Victor decided to open his own establishment. “The Chill Grill” became the setting for many memorable “That’s So Raven” moments. Indeed, Chelsea calls back to their hilarious waitressing experience while trying to run a restaurant in their living room in season one of the reboot. As we know, Victor and Cory eventually moved to The White House, leaving us all to wonder: what became of the restaurant? But it seems like it’s still thriving, and will reappear in season five now that Raven’s back in San Francisco. We can’t wait to see what other foodie throwbacks the show has on the menu.
#9: Devon Carter
Various
Our hearts burst when we learned that Raven and Devon got hitched — even if it wasn’t happily ever after. As you’ll recall, he was her high school sweetheart, and she was heartbroken when his family moved away. Although Raven dated other people, it was clear that the spark was still very much alive whenever Devon came to town. Naturally, a lot of thought went into deciding who the twins’ dad should be in the reboot. And they definitely made the right call, because we wouldn’t want anyone other than Devon Carter to be the father. Even though the marriage didn’t work out, we’re glad these exes are still friends.
#8: “Yup, That’s Us!”
Various
Top 10 Adult Jokes on That's So Raven You Definitely Missed
The “That’s So Raven” theme song is iconic, so its successor had big shoes to fill. Luckily, the “Raven’s Home” tune doesn’t disappoint, striking a perfect balance between old and new. The part that really gets us is the way Raven caps it off. As any fan will know, this is a callback to the end of the original theme song. And in the reboot’s second season, Raven makes a more direct reference to the lyric when Levi pulls up Dr. Sleevemore’s file about her. Devon also alludes to the original series when he learns that Raven and Chelsea are lost in a snow tunnel in season four. The reboot has its own identity, but it always stays true to its roots.
#7: Booker’s Vision Face
Various
In the first episode of the reboot, we learn that Booker inherited his mother’s psychic abilities — but the similarities don’t end there. Clearly, actor Issac Ryan Brown did his homework, because he got his vision face down. Even Raven-Symoné was impressed. Naturally, Booker also acquired his mom’s talent for misinterpreting visions and getting into sticky situations as a result. Fortunately, this guarantees hilarity will unfold in practically every episode. Now that they’ve returned to The Golden City, we won’t be surprised if Ray and Booker dig through her costume collection and pull out some old disguises. You know what they say: the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree!
#6: The Apartment’s Aesthetic
Various
Top 10 Funniest That's So Raven Running Gags
Raven always dreamt of having her own fashion line. Though her journey wasn’t straightforward, she never lost sight of the end goal as she grew up. And her eye for interior design didn’t fade over the years, either. Who could ever forget her iconic bedroom? Thankfully, you can still see hints of the younger Raven in her Chicago apartment. Indeed, the overall look and color scheme are fairly similar to that of her old room, seemingly reflecting a more grown-up version of her tastes. Yet the new aesthetic doesn’t sacrifice any of the fun style we fell in love with in the original series. In other words, the abode is quintessentially Raven. It’s a subtle touch, but an incredibly inviting one.
#5: Old Oaky
“Crewed Up”
Top 10 Times That's So Raven Tackled Serious Issues
You couldn’t bring most of the old gang back together without revisiting some of their most memorable antics. While helping Nia with her ecology project in season three, Chelsea’s reminded of when she protested against an old tree being cut down. “That’s So Raven” fans know this legendary episode well, and can still burst into “On Top of Old Oaky” if prompted. And that’s not the only one of Ray and Chels’ teenage shenanigans that comes up. In season four, they talk about the time Raven joined Chelsea on a camping trip and lost her boot to a skunk. We remember the chaos of their adventures fondly, and clearly they created happy memories for Raven and Chelsea too.
#4: The Return of Dr. Sleevemore
Various
Top 10 Stars You Forgot Were on That's So Raven
“Raven’s Home” sees the titular character doing some work as a Scüt driver. So imagine her surprise when her passenger ends up being a familiar face, Dr. Sleevemore himself. She learns that he’s opened the “Sleevemore Center for Psychically Gifted Children” in Chicago, which is pretty similar to the center she visited as a teen. Their reunion couldn’t have come at a better time, as they end up enlisting his expertise to help Booker after he freezes mid-vision. This leads to a three-episode story arc revolving around the Doctor, his work, and his granddaughter. It was delightful to see this nod to the original, especially as it opened the door to other throwbacks as well.
#3: Alana Rivera
“Wheel of Misfortune”
Raven’s high school nemesis Alana only appeared in four episodes, but she was an unforgettable character. Followed by her loyal sidekicks, Loca and Muffy, she got a kick out of tormenting our protagonist. The pair shared what can only be described as a frenemy dynamic. But in season three, we learned that she was sent to military school. Raven’s reminded of her in the reboot when Levi alludes to trouble with a kid at school. And to answer Chelsea’s question, Alana’s now the principal at Bayside, and a recurring character in the latest season. The actress behind the character, Adrienne Bailon-Houghton, had previously spoken about how she’d love to reprise the role. We couldn’t be more thrilled to see it happening!
#2: Grandpa Victor’s Visit
“Just Call Me Vic”
Raven’s dynamic with her family was a huge part of what made the original series so special. So it was incredibly exciting when Rondell Sheridan, a.k.a Victor Baxter, guest starred in season two. He came to help his daughter while Chelsea was away, and proved he was still the same loving, supportive father we remembered. He’s now rejoined the principal cast, with Raven and Booker moving in to help him following a health scare. Raven even finds a way to trick him into admitting that she’s his favorite child, giving us a much-needed Cory reference. Hopefully, we’ll get to witness many more callbacks — and perhaps some other family cameos too!
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Oh, Snap!”, “Baxter's Back!”
It Didn’t Take Long Until We Heard Raven’s Famous Catchphrase
Sheridan Punches Booker, “Oh Father, Where Art Thou?”
We Wouldn’t Be Surprised if Loca Was Her Mom
Boyz `N' Motion, “The Bearer of Dad News”
The Boys Still Have Raven’s Devotion in Adulthood
#1: Liz Anya
“Vest in Show”
Top 10 BEST That’s So Raven Characters
After a vision showed her dad getting fired in the original series, Raven tried to get his job back in a way that was so her. And she made quite an impression with her Liz Anya persona. To this day, you can identify a fan of the show based on their reaction to this hilarious quote. So it was a delightful surprise when the star appeared in the reboot. Except apparently, she's not just a character Eddie made up on the spot, as we initially thought. That’s right, Liz Anya is a real person! Interestingly, the episode's premise is also similar, with Booker's vision showing Raven getting fired. We’re just putting it out there, but since Victor’s back, we'd love a Liz Anya encore.
