So Random!

After a very lame start "So Random" began to figure out what it wanted to be and has quietly moved toward becoming a Disney version of Nickelodeon's "Roundhouse" (1992-1994).

"Roundhouse" was a classic sketch comedy show for adolescents; with skits, music, and dancing showcasing a group of relatively unknown young actors and dancers.

Although "So Random" lacks some of the originality of "Roundhouse" ("Tantrum Girl" is a weak reprise of "Ask Ashley" from "All That" and "Kid Lawyer" is an improved Judge Trudy" from "The Amanda Show") the writers have managed to inject enough new material into each episode to keep it fresh.

It has come a long way from its "Sonny With A Chance" origins; a show that was slowly straggling on its Demi Lovato – Sterling Knight focus. It had become increasingly obvious that Brandon Smith and Allisyn Ashley Arm were "Sonny's" comedic strength and extremely frustrating that they were relegated to supporting roles. Both are far better utilized on "So Random".

Arm (who looks like Saoirse Ronan playing Amanda Bynes) also benefits from frequent pairing with new cast member Audrey Whitby. These two girls have a natural comedic chemistry that produces a lot of synergy when they play off against each other.

It's no coincidence that the quality improvement has coincided with Whitby's increasing screen time. She has created an obsessive teen character (Julia Peters) with her own television show (The I'm Going To Marry Zach Feldman Show) in the tradition of "Wayne's World". With Arm as her cameraman the screen is filled with extreme close-ups of the manic Julia and her breathless dialogue, which compare favorably with television's best classic comedy segments.

Then again, what do I know? I'm only a child.

This show, has a lot of potential, that for the moment they are not living up to. The writers are trying too hard, the actors are trying to hard, and the audience is trying to hard to laugh at forced jokes.

You can tell that the actors don't find the sketches as funny as the writers think that they are. Hopefully they will take a page out of the SNL and All That book and let the actors contribute far more to the writing than the show is currently doing. After all, THEY ARE THEIR TARGET AUDIENCE, not the writers.

Sonny With A Chance, although started off rough, it started becoming a really decent show. Considering they have generally the same writers and pretty much the same cast, there is a pretty good chance that the show will improve.

I wish them all the best of luck for the potential I see for the show.

Alright, so this show came after Demi Lovato supposedly left the show, Sonny with a Chance. In order to save the show, they bring us a show based off of the show that the Sonny character acted in on Sonny with a Chance. And man, they made a big mistake.

First off, it's Disney Channel! The clean, politically correct kids network. I'm sorry, Disney Channel, but you're just not cut out for shows like this. I can see Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network doing this (in fact, they have, and both of those shows were piles of crap), since they have an "edge" to them, but not Disney Channel. But this was during a time when Disney Channel was pumping out shows like this, like Prank Stars. So, this show seems awful literally right from the start.

First off, the performances. They're annoying as hell. The most annoying of performances comes from that weird guy who looks like he's too old for the show. He kind of creeps me out, too.

Second, the "skits". Sometimes, you'll get an original one, like The I'm Going to Marry Zach Feldman Show, but most of the time, you just get "skits" built around pop-culture. Don't believe me? Well, in every episode, they would always make a Harry Potter joke. Repetitive much, repetitive? Yeah, we get it! You don't like Harry Potter! Please move on! More annoyances include a game show parody with nothing but pop-culture references as the guests (like Willow Smith, Fred, and some other guy); MC Grammar (get it? Ha ha! Wait, nothing was funny) and The Biggest Loser Ruins Your Meal, which reminds me...

Third, the "jokes" are too darn predictable, the most predictable one being from The Biggest Loser Ruins Your Meal, where a cop says to an inmate that this is going to be his "last meal ever" (and he does say it in emphasis). Then, we cut to a 90-degree angle, where it only shows the inmate's back and the side of his face. He's the only one there, and he spends the whole time cheering. When I first saw this, I knew what was coming. Going by the way how he's just standing there, and his meal is just sitting there, where ANYONE can grab it, I knew that something was going to happen to it. And sure enough, something did happen to it! Two joggers who claim to be from The Biggest Loser come and you guessed it, take it away! See what I mean? I could go on for hours about this show, but since it's canceled (thank God!), this is where I end my review.

Overall, it just wasn't the right move for Disney Channel. I know they were trying to be like that, but their channel was already established as a too clean network.

For viewers of Sonny With a Chance, this is the show within the show but is now its own show. After Disney & Demi Levato split ways, the cast of Sonny With a Chance were kept on and Disney decided to just make the cast do a sketch comedy show in the style of All That, MadTV & SNL which is what So Random was supposed to be within the show Sonny With a Chance.

The show is just skits with some musical guest stars mixed in every so often. The musical guest stars are what you'd hear on Radio Disney so if Disney & Radio Disney aren't your cup of tea, you won't like this show. If they are then you'll enjoy this.

I"m wondering why the Disney channel would cancel a show that was intelligently funny and enjoyable to watch. I personally did several episodes over the year, with my two daughters, and truly felt that the show had a definite future. All the actors on the show where very talented and played the various roles very well, especially Doug Brochu, Brandon Smith, Allisyn Arm, Tiffany Thornton, Sterling Knight, Matthew Montgomery and Damien Hass . Very unfortunate to see this one canceled. It's funny that other shows that have stayed on for years on the Disney channel, that did not equal in entertainment value compared to this one, were renewed, but this one was not. I don't get it.