Raven Symone Serves Up Laughs in “State of Georgia”

Raven Symone returns to television tonight in ABC Family’s new comedy State of Georgia and she’s ready and hopeful of providing more laughs. It’s been so much fun watching Raven grow from that cute little girl, Olivia, on The Cosby Show, to the lovely and talented young lady she is today. I should say multi-talented because Raven is not only a wonderful comedic actress, but her music is know and loved by millions. The premise of the show is is about an aspiring actress with a larger than life personality and her science geek best friend who try to make headway in New York City. Majandra Delfino plays Georgia’s best friend, Jo.

Raven is very proud when she can make people laugh. “The fact that I can feel joy going home and it’s not the glitz and the glamour that really drives me. I get the thrill of making someone else laugh, or someone else feel emotion; that’s very much a selfless act. And that’s what I, no matter what character I choose, I try to make it about that, otherwise I’ll go crazy.”

State of Georgia

Raven describes the show: “About a young lady who moves to New York with her best friend where Loretta Devine has a condo in New York, she wants to become famous. And her best friend is a physicist or she’s trying to become one, and it’s the trials and tribulations of these two girls having a great time in New York, taking odd jobs here and there, trying to find their way, while having that Down South, more homey type vibe to them, it’s fun.”

About Georgia

“Georgia is a strong-willed individual, she could be flighty at times, but at the same time she is very gallant and she knows that her core is the passing moment and that’s probably a characteristic in characters that I choose all the time,” explains Symone. “It’s very important for females to stay confident and to go off and venture into the world, but to come back knowing that you have family to come back to.”

Georgia and Jo

“Georgia and Jo have been friends since they were four years old and they were inseparable, they always were chilling together and they went to school together. Georgia became one of the popular girls but kept Jo close because she knew that that was her best friend for life. So when Georgia decided to move, Jo went right along and got a scholarship, I think, to a college, and there it is, and that’s how they’re here together, they are bestest of friends, kind of like sisters from another mother, so good.”

State of Georgia premieres tonight at 8:30/7:30 central, immediately following the summer premiere of Melissa & Joey on ABC Family. Additionally, Raven and creator/executive producer Jennifer Weiner will be live-Tweeting during the show. Viewers can join the conversation by tweeting questions to #GeorgiaChat.