Living the Suite Life

I.    INTRODUCTION

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody is an America-based sitcom, which was first broadcasted on Disney Channel on March 18, 2005. With 4 million viewers on just the pilot episode, this paved the way for Disney Channel to have its most successful premiere in 2005. The series is the third Disney Channel Original to have more than 65 episodes, which ran for 3 seasons, after That's So Raven and Kim Possible.

The name is a play on words, wherein the use of homonyms is present. The creators used the common phrase “the sweet life” and applied it into the over-all theme of the show, which is based on the lives of the characters in the hotel, thus using the word “suite” to replace “sweet”.

The TV series was created by Danny Kallis and Jim Geoghan, who are also the show’s executive producers, together with Irene Dreayer and Pamela Eells O’Connell. It was written by Christian McLaughlin and Valerie Ahern.

II.  ELEMENTS

A.   STORY

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody centers on the life of twin brothers Zack and Cody Martin, who live at the Tipton Hotel where their mother, Carey, is a night singer and performer. The story also revolves around the lives of ditzy and idiotic hotel heiress London Tipton, and the sweet and smart candy-girl, Maddie Fitzpatrick. The Tipton is managed by Mr. Moseby, who often foils the twin brothers’ pranks and maniacal acts. But, Zack and Cody often think of creative and inventive ideas to get out of the situation.

This series is is a rather fun and humorous children's series, but is still enjoyable for both adults and children. It finds humor in any situation the characters were put in, especially when the twins start playing antics in the hotel.

Unlike most sitcoms, The Suite Life of Zack and Cody does not have a fixed storyline. Not all episodes are interconnected to each other, and no flashbacks are provided (excluding the final episode of the series). Each episode is an entirely new idea and story, thus having the viewers hooked, since they don’t know what to expect. This is also done most probably because it was intended as a children’s show, and the writers wouldn’t want to require the children to stay updated on the order of the episodes, and just want them to enjoy what is right in front of them without having to worry about the interconnectivity of episodes.

B.   CHARACTERS

Twin brothers, Dylan and Cole Sprouse are the main characters of this series. The two were very comfortable portraying their roles because the conversations with each other on set seemed very real, especially when they are in a conflict with each other, in light of the fact that they are real-life siblings, which means they wouldn't have a hard time acting when they are having conflict on the show because they might be used to having these kinds of arguments at home. The two can also be easily identified as to who is who, unlike in other shows where twins are also the main characters but they have identical traits.

The other cast members such as Brenda Song and Ashley Tisdale were remarkable, too, due to the fact that their facial expressions made their acting seem that they have the same personality of the character they are portraying. Kim Rhodes, who portrayed the twins’ mother, Carey, was there to always present the moral of each episode, but still manages to crack in a good joke or two.

The cast was successful in delivering all their lines and staying in character. They also had a lot of on-screen energy and work off each other really well, thus were able to make the dialogues believable, and there were no lags between them.

C.   SCRIPT

The Suite Life of Zack and Cody was intended for a younger audience, thus typical tween language was used. It is a comedy show with clean, lighthearted jokes. Although it avoids malicious and controversial lines, it is unavoidable for them to use “offensive” phrases, such as “You’re so stupid”, or “I hate my brother so much”, thus making it inappropriate for very young audiences.

   Over-all, the writing of the script was excellent, and all the dialogues ran smoothly. The writers never failed to surprise the audience with their sudden plot twists and ideas, which became the core of the entire show.

  Since it is a comedy sitcom, jokes are never out of the picture. The jokes and comebacks are well thought of and are delivered with expert timing. This sets the general mood of the entire series. But, since it is also a children’s show, morals are also presented. When this part of the episode occurs, it is usually Carrey or Mr. Moseby who delivers these lessons to the twins/Maddie/London. This is when the mood of the episode starts to get heavier and more serious, in contradiction to the lightheartedness of the entirety of the show. This shows that the writers are skilled enough to be able to manipulate the tone and emotions of the characters in order to deliver a lesson, but still keeping it within the storyline of the episode.

D.   MUSICAL SCORE

The opening theme song of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, entitled “Here I Am” by Loren Ellis and The Drew Davis Band, ends with the phrase "this is the sweet life, we've got the sweet life". It creates the idea that the main characters are narrating how they are currently enjoying their life within the Tipton Hotel. It has a very catchy tune and lyrics that can easily be remembered, which is the reason as to why it has stuck with the people who have watched the series. Once they hear the first few lines, it is impossible for them not to sing and hum along. Not only is the show timeless, but so is the theme song.

The transitions between scenes consists of happy, upbeat scores which help keeps the mood of the show up. Within each of the episodes you would hear the sound effect of a "laughing audience", which helps people appreciate and understand the jokes and innuendos imbedded within the episode. The laughing comes frequently within a scene which can sometimes be a little redundant and lessens the intention of the comedic interaction.

III.  CONCLUSION

If you’re looking for a feel-good TV series that can brighten up your day, then The Suite Life of Zack and Cody is for you. Age should not be a hindering factor if you’re considering to watch this show, neither do you have to worry about catching up on the story. Each and every episode gives you a fresh new story that will give you surprises and plot twists, and that is what will keep you hooked to the show, and making you want to watch more. It will make you laugh with its perfectly timed and excellently delivered jokes and comebacks, and will definitely make you feel that they truly are “living the sweet life”.