| Sonny with a Chance | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Teen sitcom |
| Created by | Steve Marmel |
| Starring | |
| Opening theme | "So Far, So Great" by Demi Lovato |
| Composers |
|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 47(list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Patty Gary Cox |
| Camera setup | Multi-camera |
| Production companies | |
| Original release | |
| Network | Disney Channel |
| Release | February 8, 2009 (2009-02-08) – January 2, 2011 (2011-01-02) |
| Related | |
| So Random! | |
Sonny with a Chance is an Americanteen sitcom created bySteve Marmel that aired onDisney Channel for two seasons between February 2009 and January 2011. The series centers on Sonny Munroe, portrayed byDemi Lovato, a teenage comedian from Wisconsin who joins the cast of asketch comedy television series titledSo Random! after moving toHollywood, Los Angeles. Episodes deal with Sonny's attempts to develop relationships with her castmates and establish her role within the group, focusing on her life working on the show's set, as well as coming to terms with her newfound fame. The main themes depicted include the focus on friendships and adolescence. The series also starsTiffany Thornton,Sterling Knight,Brandon Mychal Smith,Doug Brochu andAllisyn Ashley Arm.Sonny with a Chance also contains fully produced comedy sketches from theshow-within-a-show. These elements draw inspiration from theNickelodeon seriesAll That, which executive producersBrian Robbins and Sharla Sumpter Bridgett previously worked on, as well as30 Rock.
The Walt Disney Company commissioned the series to follow its successful comedy programs of the 2000s, includingHannah Montana andWizards of Waverly Place, starringMiley Cyrus andSelena Gomez respectively. Lovato was cast to continue her[a] affiliation with the network after her role in the television filmCamp Rock (2008) and the release of music through Disney-owned labelHollywood Records. This cross-promotion was intended to mirror that of Cyrus and Gomez.Varsity Pictures andIt's a Laugh Productions produced the program, and it premiered on Disney Channel on February 8, 2009.Sonny with a Chance experienced high viewership in the United States on broadcast television. The series did not receive wide critical coverage. It last aired on January 2, 2011; both seasons have been distributed through digital download and on theDisney+streaming service.
Initially renewed for a third season, the series' future became uncertain when Lovato underwent treatment for personal struggles in November 2010 and was unable to continue filming for the show. The season entered production without Lovato, with a focus on the elements of the show-within-a-show (sketches, musical performances, and guest stars) as a temporary solution until her return. After it was reported that Lovato would not return to the series in April 2011, the episodes which had been produced were rebranded as the spin-off seriesSo Random!, which aired for one season from 2011 to 2012.
Sonny Munroe is a cheerful and ambitious fifteen-year-old from Wisconsin who has experienced success by uploading comedic videos to the internet. After she is discovered in a nationwide casting call, she moves toHollywood, Los Angeles, to join the cast of a popularsketch comedy series for teenagers titledSo Random!.[1][2] The series centers on Sonny's life working on the program as well as her home life.[2] She comes to terms with the difficulties of working on a television set alongside her castmates, in particular the self-centered Tawni Hart, who is unkind to Sonny. TheSo Random! cast also includes the suave Nico Harris and his best friend Grady Mitchell, as well as the cunning Zora Lancaster. Comedy sketches fromSo Random! are included within the series. The cast ofSo Random! work at the sametelevision studio as their rival television program,Mackenzie Falls, adrama series which stars theteen idol Chad Dylan Cooper.[3]Sonny with a Chance explores the portrayal of a teenager with an ambitious dream, in the same style as other teen series such asHannah Montana andiCarly.[1] The theme of following dreams is recognized as a prominent attribute of shows produced by Disney Channel.[4]
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The series was officially announced in May 2008 as a half-hour live-action comedy entitledWelcome to Mollywood, in which the title character would be called Molly. It was set to premiere during the2008–09 television season.[2]Gary Marsh, the president ofDisney Channels Worldwide, identified the idea of "following your dream" as a core attribute of Disney Channel which would be present in the series. He described the series as a "hybrid show";[4] fully produced comedy sketches from theshow-within-a-showSo Random! would also appear.[2] Another working title for the series wasWelcome to Holliwood.[5] TheLos Angeles Times's Robert Lloyd speculated that the final title,Sonny with a Chance, makes reference to the phrase "chance of rain".[1]
Sonny with a Chance was created bySteve Marmel, who had previously written for and produced cartoons.Brian Robbins served as an executive producer on the series; he was the co-creator of theNickelodeonsketch comedy seriesAll That.[1][2] Sharla Sumpter Bridgett, who also worked onAll That, joined the series as an executive producer; Robbins and Bridgett's joint production company,Varsity Pictures, produced the program alongsideIt's a Laugh Productions in association with the network.Michael Feldman was an executive producer.[2] The premise of the show was also influenced by30 Rock.[6]
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Demi Lovato portrays the central character of Sonny Munroe; the character was originally named Molly, and later Holli.[2][5] Lovato's affiliation with the network began with her lead role in the seriesAs the Bell Rings and continued with herbreakout role in the musical television filmCamp Rock, which debuted in 2008 and was originally designed as a vehicle for theJonas Brothers.[1][7][8] Lovato had auditioned for bothCamp Rock andSonny with a Chance simultaneously in the summer of 2007 and secured both roles;[7][b] Marsh described her as a "gifted comedian".[6] Lovato's work in the company continued with her debut albumDon't Forget, released by the Disney-owned labelHollywood Records in 2008.[1] She also filmed the television filmPrincess Protection Program alongside fellow Disney Channel starSelena Gomez, and she toured with the Jonas Brothers beforeSonny with a Chance premiered.[2][10] Lovato's cross-promotion within the network followed that of predecessorsMiley Cyrus and Gomez, but it differed in that her movie and album came before her leading role in a sitcom.[8] Lovato sings the series' theme song, "So Far So Great".[11][12] Fellow Disney actorBridgit Mendler had also auditioned for the role of Sonny before Lovato won the role.[13]
The remaining main cast members were revealed in May 2008:Tiffany Thornton as Tawni Hart,Brandon Mychal Smith as Nico Harris,Doug Brochu as Grady Mitchell andAllisyn Ashley Arm as Zora Lancaster.[3][4] The series also starsSterling Knight as Chad Dylan Cooper.[1][3]Nancy McKeon, who had been a teenage actor herself, recurs as Sonny's mother, Connie Munroe.[1][3]
Production began in September 2008. Marmel and Feldman wrote the original, unaired pilot, which was directed byLee Shallat Chemel.[2] The series debuted on February 8, 2009.[3]Sonny with a Chance was renewed for a second season on June 1, 2009. Marsh stated that the episodes would include more comedy and the addition of music.[14]
In November 2010, Disney Channel indicated that production on the third season, which was scheduled to begin in January 2011, would be dependent on Lovato, who was reported to be experiencing "mental health issues".[15] This followed her withdrawing from aJonas Brothers tour and entering a treatment facility for "emotional and physical issues".[16] Later that month, the network made public their plan to begin production on the season without Lovato, reworking the premise to focus on theSo Random! sketches. The writers planned for the third season to feature sketch comedy, musical performances, and guest stars as a temporary solution until Lovato returned. StandaloneSo Random! episodes had been tried during the show's second season, and network executives were pleased with the performance of these episodes, which led to the decision to rework the program for its third season.[17] Months into the season's production, in April 2011,People reported that Lovato would not be returning toSonny with a Chance and thatSo Random! would continue.[18][19] Lovato stated that she would be focusing on her music career as well as her recovery; the network supported the decision.[18] The episodes which had been produced during this time formed the first season of the spin-offSo Random!, which premiered in June 2011,[20] and it aired until March 2012.[21]
| Season | Episodes | Originally released | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First released | Last released | |||
| 1 | 21 | February 8, 2009 (2009-02-08) | November 22, 2009 (2009-11-22) | |
| 2 | 26 | March 14, 2010 (2010-03-14) | January 2, 2011 (2011-01-02) | |
Sonny with a Chance did not receive wide critical coverage. Lloyd stated that the show-within-a-showSo Random! possesses an authenticity whichSonny with a Chance does not achieve. He described the set as "violently designed" and with "riots of colour";[1] Natalie Finn ofE! referred to the colour palette of the show as "eye-popping".[5] Finn described the actors' performances as exaggerated,[5] while Lloyd praised Lovato's acting ability as "very good".[1] Kelvin Cedeno fromDVDizzy.com said that the series has an "outrageous tone" and feels more like a Nickelodeon show, rather than a product of Disney Channel. He wrote that the series does not feature a lesson in each episode and that it is not funny.[22] Emily Ashby wrote forCommon Sense Media that the series does not attempt to promote lessons or positive messages. However, she continued that Sonny's confidence and leadership qualities make her a worthwhile role model.[23]
| Season | Episodes | First aired | Last aired | Avg. viewers (millions) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Viewers (millions) | Date | Viewers (millions) | |||
| 1 | 21 | February 8, 2009 (2009-02-08) | 4.1[24] | November 22, 2009 (2009-11-22) | 3.7[25] | 3.92 |
| 2 | 26 | March 14, 2010 (2010-03-14) | 6.3[26] | January 2, 2011 (2011-01-02) | — | 4.09 |
| Award | Year | Recipient(s) and nominee(s) | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALMA Award | 2011 | Demi Lovato | Favorite TV Actress – Leading Role in a Comedy | Won | [27][28] |
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (Australia) | 2009 | Sonny with a Chance | Favorite Comedy Show | Nominated | [29][30] |
| Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (United States) | 2010 | Sonny with a Chance | Favorite TV Show | Nominated | [31][32] |
| Teen Choice Awards | 2009 | Demi Lovato | Choice TV: Breakout Star Female | Won | [33] |
| 2010 | Sonny with a Chance | Choice TV Show: Comedy | Nominated | [34][35] | |
| Demi Lovato | Choice TV Actress: Comedy | Nominated | |||
| Sterling Knight | Choice TV Actor: Comedy | Nominated | |||
| 2011 | Demi Lovato | Choice TV Actress: Comedy | Nominated | [36][37] | |
| Young Artist Awards | 2010 | Allisyn Ashley Arm | Best Performance In A TV Series (Comedy or Drama) – Supporting Young Actress | Nominated | [38] |
Walt Disney Records released asoundtrack album for the series on October 5, 2010, including songs from, and inspired by, the series.[12]Disney Interactive Studios released a video game based on the series for theNintendo DS,Sonny with a Chance, in 2010. The video game is composed of over 40minigames inspired by the plots of episodes andSo Random! sketches. Characters and locations from the series are also featured.[39] A DVD compilation entitledSonny's Big Break was released on August 25, 2009. The release contains four previously aired episodes, one unreleased episode and bonus features including a clip fromMackenzie Falls.[22]
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