So Random!

Concept, production and premise

So Random! began as a fictional sketch comedy show within the series Sonny with a Chance, where Demi Lovato portrayed the new cast member Sonny Munroe. During the second season of Sonny with a Chance, the show-within-a-show was presented in full-length sketch comedy format for the Halloween and Christmas episodes. In November 2010, Lovato entered treatment for physical and emotional issues, and by April 2011 she had decided not to return for a third season of Sonny with a Chance, explaining that immediately resuming acting would be detrimental to her recovery.

After Lovato left, So Random! was launched as its own separate series, shifting the focus more toward comedy skits rather than the original sitcom format. Filming for this new series began on January 30, 2011. While it was initially planned as a third season of Sonny with a Chance, Disney began referring to it as a distinct show once Lovato's departure was confirmed. Each episode of So Random! contains five or six sketches, along with a musical performance by a guest artist.

Despite being a sketch comedy series, it keeps the fictional universe of the sitcom it spun off from: the main cast members portray both the characters they originated on Sonny with a Chance and the characters in each sketch. One reference to the original show occurs when Grady accidentally hits the applause button while struggling to open a pickle jar. Zora comes from offstage to tell him to stop, and he explains that he always eats a pickle before the show but cannot open the jar.

Zora opens it easily, horrifying Grady. The episode featuring Miss Piggy is the only one that includes backstage scenes, where Grady, Zora, and other cast members visit her dressing room. Unlike traditional sketch comedy series, where opening segments and sketches are written by teams of up to twelve writers, each episode of So Random! was typically written by just two writers.

Recurring sketches

The series featured numerous recurring sketches. Angus: Supermodel from Down Under involves an Australian Shin Model who gets into people's personal spaces. Braggy Benson is about a kid who brags about something bad happening to him. Chilly Slab Ice Cream Shop is an ice cream shop that celebrates whenever a customer leaves a tip.

Crazy Carson's Lost and Found features a student called Crazy Carson making advertisements about everything being free at the lost and found. Dr. Goldstein is a segment about a dentist. Harry Potter in the Real World shows Harry Potter taking on the challenges of the real world by trying to get a job and pulling off magic spells that don't work. M.C. Grammar is a rapper who rhymes grammatically corrects people while he raps while being chased by two gang members, and is a spoof of MC Hammer.

Nolan is a French-speaking hand who gives advice. Puppy Playdate features two dimwitted girls named Victoria and Lyla who go on a playdate with their dogs, with conversations between them ending up insulting other people. Rufus: Kid with Excuses is about a boy named Rufus who tends to come up with different excuses to evade getting into trouble, much to the chagrin of Principal Zaniya and Teacher Joanne, with some excuses ending up being true. Raised by Beavers features a buck-toothed girl named Becky who was raised by beavers and tries to hide the fact from anyone she meets.

Sally Jensen: Kid Lawyer helps a different child when it comes to whatever wrongful act someone has done to them, with that someone being locked up in jail. Simple Country Boy is a country boy with no background story who happens to know how to handle any type of situation. Possibly Sarcastic Skip is a boy misunderstood by people by his sarcasm. So Random's Inappropriate Places for a Flash Mob shows inappropriate places for people to start a flash mob.

So Random! Storybook Remix details remixed versions of classic stories. Tantrum Girl is a girl who tends to lose her temper at specific things when talking about something else. Tales from the FBI: Fairytale Bureau Investigation involves situations requiring a visit from the Fairytale Bureau of Investigation.

Teachers, Don't Try to Be Cool features a teacher named Mr. Goodman who tries to fit in with his students and acts as if he doesn't play by the rules, which usually gets him hurt.