Disney has decided to permanently focus on the show-within-the-show, as “Sonny with a Chance” will be renamed “So Random” for the series’ third season.
The Disney Channel comedy, which starred Demi Lovato before the popular teen singer/actress spent a few months on hiatus while recovering from emotional problems, was supposed to focus temporarily on the sketch comedy that the show is about. According to Disney, Lovato would be rejoining the cast once she was well enough.
But that statement seems to be in question now. With the renaming and refocusing of the show from the title character to the series the show portrays, the move is fueling rumors that Lovato’s exit may be permanent after all.
There have been no statements regarding the move by Disney or from Lovato’s camp. However, Lovato’s co star, Brandon Mychal Smith, speculated that the name change is part of the natural evolution that series undergo:
“With a show like ours, and any great show that I’ve seen in the past, like The Wire or Seinfeld, each season you focus on a different concept, a different theory, or maybe a different character’s background. Season one we established who we were – you saw some mini sketches, you saw who the characters were and how they mingled and intertwined. Season two you were able to see more of the relationship between Sonny and Chad and how they got into it and how we didn’t like it, and you saw some of Mackenzie Falls and that aspect. And now this season you’ll be able to see So Random, see why we are where we are today in regards to being the teen idols that we are. You’ll be able to see how we bring the funny every week.”
