The Suite Life Goes Hollywood

Plot summary

On a winter day in the Tipton Hotel, Zack and Cody's school is closed, making Zack and Cody cause mischief in the hotel. Two failing screenwriters notice their antics and think it might make a good television show, so the boys, their mother, Maddie, London, and Mr. Moseby fly to Hollywood to consult with the writers and observe the pilot of the show, titled How Suite It Is. They stay at the Tipton in Los Angeles, which is largely identical to the one in Boston, and they meet the cast of the show: Zack and Cody are portrayed by two young boys, Carey by a young lady, Maddie by a pretty girl who pretends to like her, London by a boy, and Moseby by a tall man who talks with street slang. The producers think that the twins playing Zack and Cody are too young, and it is decided that the real Zack and Cody should play themselves. This is something the twins see as an exciting opportunity. The rest of the group is kicked out during rehearsals for interfering with the process.

After being kicked out of the stage, Maddie and London, who notice a star they like, dress in costumes for the film he is to be in in order to sneak onto the set. The director assumes them to be stunt doubles, which they initially refuse but eventually go along with because they believe are to kiss the star at the end. However, after they have done the stunts, the real actors are the ones to kiss the star, and the true stunt doubles have them removed from the set.

Back at the taping, Cody becomes nervous and forgets his lines when he finds out how many people are in the audience. This annoys Zack, and the two start to fight, resulting in their mother taking them backstage to lecture them. During the lull in the taping, one of the crew people asks the audience if there are any talented people there. The Veronicas, who are in the audience come down to the stage and sing a song, which is well liked by the crew and audience, resulting in Zack and Cody being fired and The Veronicas being hired. The group then head back to Boston the next day.

Note: The interior scenes for the Los Angeles Tipton, as well as the Hollywood set-version for the soundstage was actually filmed on the exact same set that's used to represent the Boston Tipton for the entire series (as the whole series was filmed in Los Angeles).

Guest cast

The Veronicas as themselves and performed "Cry".

Jennifer Kelly Tisdale as Saloon Girl #1; stunt double for Saloon Girl #1 played by Maddie Fitzpatrick (Jennifer's sister, Ashley Tisdale). Jennifer Tisdale eventually played a recurring role as Connie, in The Suite Life on Deck.

Dante Basco as Madrid Tipton (they wanted London to be a boy for the show).

Benjamin Brown as Hollywood Moseby

Richard Correll, the episode's real-life director, as TV Director

Shawn Crowder as stunt Bell Boy

Louis Dix as Louis

Chris Doyle as Waiter

Mary Z. Othman as Hollywood Maddie

Dina L. Margolin as Maddie stunt double

Sam McMurray as Bud

Eddie Mekka as Western Director

Christopher Neiman as Lou

Michelle Nordin as Hollywood Carey

Brecken Palmer as Hollywood Zack Martin

Bridger Palmer as Hollywood Cody Martin

Ming Qiu as London stunt double

Nikki SooHoo as Saloon Girl #2

Josh Sussman as Kid

Reception

The Suite Life of Zack & Cody episode was among the top five shows for viewers ages 6 – 11 as of April 27, 2007.

"The Hub" called The Suite Life Goes Hollywood "Today's Might-See." They felt that some parts are overacted, but that the Maddie and London subplot is good.

The New York Daily News described The Suite Life Goes Hollywood as "innocent," and as "a two-part adventure."