The Suite Life of Zack and Cody

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Life is unrealistically sweet for tween boys.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that most adults will probably find this popular Disney program annoying and flashy. Though kids will love the fantasy aspect that comes with the notion that living in a hotel is the answer to all home-life problems, the twins' popularity among their peers seems to be for the wrong reasons at times, and adult characters' behavior leaves a lot to be desired.

  • The show is intended to entertain rather than educate.
  • Characters sometimes learn lessons about topics like friendship and responsibility, but in general the show is intended to entertain and amuse rather than convey specific positive messages. The fact that the twins suddently become popular after getting a cool place to live (the Tipton Hotel), sends iffy messages about what's important in friendships.
  • Adults are rude to each other, acting cartoonish most of the time. The kids get a lot of unsupervised time to themselves to get up to mischief; one main character often brags about her family's wealth and tries to control others with money.
  • Not applicable.
  • The twins cruise girls like they're shopping for candy ... but they're not really old enough to act on anything in an inappropriate way.
  • Not applicable.
  • Plugs for other Disney products can be found. Material wealth is celebrated.

What's the story?

When their mom lands a singing gig and they get the keys to a suite high in the sky, it's an invitation for twin brothers Zack and Cody (played by real-life twins Dylan and Cole Sprouse) to party and run amok around the swanky Tipton Hotel. The boys are occasionally chaperoned by cute candy counter girl Maddie (Ashley Tisdale), who also fills the role of babysitter.


Is it any good?

 

The show's premise could allow for some soulful moments, but the series errs on the side of the boys' fun life. Cheesy lines and predictable circumstances are plentiful, but kids love the video-game lifestyle the boys live -- jumping in elevators and hiding on a passing luggage cart to escape trouble, and so on.

While there are always more compelling programs for kids this age to enjoy, the popularity of the twins has proven that they'll be blaring on your TV screens well past their tween years.


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What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the fact that this series is, indeed, a fantasy, and that money doesn't necessarily make life easy. Would your kids want to live in a hotel? What would be the advantages and disadvantages?

  • Is there any part of Zack and Cody's life that real kids can relate to?

  • Kids: Would it be fun to have be a twin?


This review was written by Joly Herman
Adult
April 9, 2008
 
I can't stand this show
I used to let my 6 year old watch The Suite Life because she seemed to enjoy it so much. Within a few weeks I noticed her behavior changed - she wouldn't listen to me, she was disrespectful, and I always found her doing stuff she knew she shouldn't be doing. I realized her attitude was worse after watching an episode of Zack and Cody. When I sat down to watch an entire show I found that the boys and the adults were very rude and disrespectful to each other. I no longer allow her to watch the show and her demeanor has changed for the better. I do not recommend this program to anyone.

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Teen, 17 years old
April 9, 2008
 
BEST SHOW EVER!!!
This show is one of the best I don't see how it could be inipropreit but WEL

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Teen, 15 years old
November 28, 2010
 
Good then, bad now
Back in the day, I could handle this show. It was fun and the characters were interesting, but as time went on, the show just got worse and worse. Like at the beginning, London was, yes, not the brightest, but she was still smart. Not the mind numbing baffoon she is today, but back then, you can tolerate her and she was funny. Maddie was a little bit sassy, but she was also a very kind hard working girl, that was also friends/enemies with London. The mother was hard working, and actually a very good mother. Mr. Mosby seemed mean at first, but it shows a lighter side. Zach of course was into the ladies, but no where NEAR as bad as he is today, he was the trouble maker, but still remarkibly childish and sweet. Cody was a hard worker and almost always did the right thing without being a total spaz about it. I loved the first season. But as time went on (and they start growing) Zach and Cody put a bigger focus on girls, and they began to drift apart and do their own thing. London became so dumb and sqealish, I kept having to turn the channel back and forth. Maddie kept getting shipped of somewhere like Antartica and camp to make room for new people to take her place (bad move Disney) The episodes became pointless and boring, very pradictable. But I admit I loved the show when it first came out, I'd recomend buying the first season if you want to watch it, maybe even season 2 but I'm begging you not to buy the last season before it became the ULTIMITE train wreck.

Flag as inappropriate 
April 9, 2008
 
Questionable values, stereotypes
This show features two young boys withprepubescent hormonal rages getting into schemes to meet girls and obtain material things like bikes. One boy perpetually teases his brother about being a goody-goody nerd, while the other is both a behavior problem and dislikes school. Can you say stereotype. The hotel owner's daughter is vapid and self-absorbed. But the stereotype that I found most distasteful was a German inspector character named Schickelgruber. Some things shouldn't even be joked about. The world's most notorious mass murderer is one of them.

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Teen, 18 years old
April 9, 2008
 
greatt...
i dunno wats wrong with the parent and the cms raters...this is a good show...theres nothing to do with sexuality or watever on it...so wat flirting...it happenes all the time in middle school get over it...its a good show and i dont know why the parents are being so overprotective about it!

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Kid, 12 years old
May 3, 2011
 
Classic!
I can't really describe it, but this was a classic show, great for all.

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Kid, 13 years old
March 8, 2010
 
Pretty good
I genuinely like this show, even though I'm in middle school and should be over this type of stuff. But the main characters are cute and the storylines are interesting, albeit unrealistic. Watch it.

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Teen, 17 years old
April 9, 2008
 
The Suite Life of Zack and Cody is such an amazing show! It doesn't say that material possessions matter too much. I mean, why is it bad that kids want a bike? I don't get that. They're just kids that want to have fun. It's fun to watch a comedy about kids living in a hotel. Also, Zack and Cody turned down the popular kids at the end of the episode, so that gave off a positive message that being popular isn't better than having true friends.

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Teen, 16 years old
July 12, 2011
 
One of the most boring pathetic things I've ever seen
AWFUL! Any other kid I know could write a show better than this (not sarcastic, seriously they can). It totally realizes on guest stars for views! Why anyone thinks there's anything even remotely entertaining in this I have no idea...Just another Hannah Montana aimed for girls AND boys. Did I mention every plot is unoriginally about dating too? *gags*

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Adult
July 19, 2009
 
Way too much romance for younger kids.

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This review was written by Joly Herman
This review was written by Joly Herman
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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