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Cory in the House

By Daniel McQuade

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Dec. 31, 2008

A
Fri., 8:30pm. Disney

Every once in a while, a television show comes along that's truly evocative of the times. This year it was Cory in the House.

At first glance, there's nothing special about the show. Kyle Massey is Cory, a 16-year-old at a new high school. His wacky sitcom character trait (WSCT) is "always cooking up get-rich-quick schemes." He plays drums in a band with two of his friends, Meena (WSCT: "nondescript foreign stereotype girl") and Newt (WSCT: "forgetful stoner beach-bum dude"). The adults are indecipherable and incredibly stupid. In short, it's like every other Disney Channel show. Not surprisingly, it's a spin-off of That's So Raven.

Of course, there's one difference between Cory in the House and, say, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody. While Zack and Cody live in a hotel, Cory lives in the White House. One of his best friends is the daughter of the ambassador to the fictional Bahavia and the other is the son of a senator and the chief justice of the United States.

There are no limits to Cory's wacky adventures. He tells everyone he's a champion steeplechase rider when he isn't. He tries to pitch an exercise machine to the Rock. He attempts to break up Meena and her boyfriend so she'll write a song that a Hollywood director will pay big bucks for.

And who almost always ends up directly in the crosshairs of one of Cory's schemes? President Martinez!

What makes Cory in the House extra special is that the White House setting has absolutely no impact on Cory and his friends. The president is just another wacky adult. The show's "living room" set has a front door and friends just ring the bell (as in the real White House). The show's creators apparently selected the White House setting without any concrete thought as to how that would affect the show. So guess what? It doesn't affect it at all.