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A grown-up 'Cosby' kid returns to TV in own show
Thu Jul 11, 8:53 AM ET
Bill Keveney USA TODAY

PASADENA, Calif. -- The littlest girl from The Cosby Show is back in a situation comedy, but things are a lot different.

Raven-Symone, who started at age 4 on Cosby's hit show, goes by just Raven now. She's about to be a high school senior and the star of a new show, That's So Raven, which premieres in January on the Disney Channel.

The series, presented to reporters Wednesday at the summer TV critics' tour, will feature physical comedy while focusing on Raven Baxter, a teen whose ability to see bits of the future gets her into trouble. Rondell Sheridan (Mars/Venus) and T'Keyah Crystal Keymah (In Living Color) play Raven's parents.

Raven, 16, says that as the star there are more lines to learn and more time on set. She has talked to the producers about her character and has advised them on current teen slang. She thinks the show is a cool opportunity.

''I've wanted this for a very long time, a show of my own,'' she says.

New shows on the menu

Pop culture will be on the menu at Top 5, a new Food Network series that will celebrate and then rate popular foods over the years. Former VH1 personality Bobby Rivers will host the series, which premieres Oct. 7.

Describing itself as an American Bandstand of food, Top 5 will mimic musical countdown shows, rating foods according to topic, such as Top 5 Food Fads of the '50s and Top 5 Deep-Fried Treats.

In November, Food Network will add two series to its Saturday block. Paula's Home Cooking (Nov. 16) will follow Savannah, Ga., restaurateur Paula Deen. In Barefoot Contessa (Nov. 30), cookbook author Ina Garten will make easy, elegant foods.