Jason Maybaum, Navia Robinson, Sky Katz, Issac Ryan Brown and Raven-Symone dance it out in an episode of the Disney Channel series “Raven’s Home,” the decade-later sequel to “That’s So Raven.” (Eric McCandless/Disney Channel)

“Raven’s Home,” the sequel to “That’s So Raven,” is the latest cookie cutter family-friendly situation comedy from the Disney Channel. It features the same over-the-top comedy, rapid pacing and family dynamics elements that have become so familiar.

Despite the lack of originality, the question isn’t why the Disney Channel is doing a sequel to “That’s So Raven” but more, what took them so long? It doesn’t take someone with psychic abilities to know that if “Raven’s Home,” starring Raven-Symone, attracts an audience even close to the numbers who watched “That’s So Raven,” the channel will have another hit.

That’s not to say “Raven’s Home” has the kind of quality writing or acting to be a success. During the run of “That’s So Raven” from 2003-2007, it was the highest-rated series in the history of Disney Channel and the first series to attract 3 million viewers. It remains the third longest-running original series in Disney Channel history and produced the spinoff “Cory in the House.”

It took a decade, but the network brass finally decided to see if Raven-Symone still has the Disney magic.

The story picks up with Raven, now the mother of 11-year-old twins Booker (Issac Ryan Brown) and Nia (Navia Robinson). They share an apartment with Raven’s free-spirited friend, Chelsea (Anneliese van der Pol), and her 9-year-old son, Levi (Jason Maybaum). Raven still hasn’t told her children that she has psychic abilities but that may change as those skills have been passed down to her son.

The series opener has the big-talking Booker discovering his abilities to see into the near future. He’s bragged about being masterful at so many things in the past, so it’s not easy for him to convince his sister that his latest claim is true. It’s easier to convince the wise-beyond-his-years Levi.

At the same time, Raven’s dealing with her own vision that suggests she’s been showing too much attention to her son. Her efforts to make up for that go to comic and parental extremes.

The fact that “Raven’s Home” plays so big and loud isn’t a surprise. Situation comedies aimed at youngsters always tend to have the parents doing silly and idiotic things while the children are smarter and more in control. It’s a little weird to watch Raven-Symone go from the catalyst for the absurd parental humor and being at the center of it.

What will end up being the key is whether the writers can stay true to keeping the spirit of the show focused on the youngsters or if the stories will shift too much to the adults in the room. They have found the perfect humor level for van der Pol as she’s the court jester in a room full of comedians. Her insecurities and inabilities play perfectly into a world where the youngsters should always be the heart of the story.

It’s going to take a few episodes to see if Raven-Symone will be able to step back. In the opener, she ends up in the middle of a battle with tennis balls that is there more to show off her comedy timing than move along the story. And there is the potential for plenty of competing visions. These are moments best served up sparingly.

Reviving this franchise follows the same path as the launch of the “Full House” sequel “Fuller House.” There’s already enough nostalgic draw to make sure there will be an initial audience for the project. The key is finding the rhythms to keep the young target audience happy.

“Raven’s Home” can use the nostalgic appeal of seeing Raven-Symone back in a series to get the show off the ground. To stay around, the focus should never move too far away from the young actors because this kind of bigger-than-life comedy will wear thin on parents long before it runs off young viewers. And the opening episodes shows the young actors can hold a scene without the adults being around.

The fact that Scott Thomas and Jed Elinoff, the team behind Disney Channel’s “Best Friends Whenever,” are executive producers is a plus as they have shown they understand the power young players have in these kind of productions. The two executive producers will just have to make sure Raven-Symone, the third executive producer on ‘Raven’s Home,” is in agreement.

TV spotlight

“Raven’s Home”
10 p.m. Friday, Disney Channel