Producers of Demi Lovato’s show “Sonny with a Chance” have come up with a win/win situation for the actress while she is on a self-imposed break, seeking therapy for personal issues.
The popular Disney Channel sitcom, which centers around a show-within-a-show called “So Random!” will focus more attention on the “So Random!” storyline, and will include more musical numbers, guest stars, and comedy sketches. “So Random!” will, in effect, take over for “Sonny with a Chance” in the meantime.
The concept isn’t so far-fetched. Before Lovato’s announcement that she would be leaving the Jonas Brothers’ tour to check herself into rehab, producers of “Sonny with a Chance” had produced two full episodes of “So Random!” as specials. One aired with success in October, and the other is scheduled for late November. Network executives were pleased with the first episode’s performance, so when Lovato’s troubles forced producers to question the show’s future, reworking the series to focus on “So Random!” was a natural and viable solution to buy the show – and its young star – some extra time, all while staying on schedule with production, which is scheduled to resume in January.
“This allows her the time she needs to get well, without distraction or pressure,” said a spokesperson for the network.
“Sonny with a Chance” is in its third season on the Disney Channel. Eighteen year-old Lovato stars in the half-hour sitcom as Allison “Sonny” Monroe, a girl who moves to LA to join the cast of “So Random!” a fictional teen sketch series.
