Cory in the House (November 5/08)

A spin-off of That's So Raven, Cory in the House apes its predecessor's unapologetic tween-centric sensibilities by emphasizing gags and subplots of an almost egregiously silly nature. It's subsequently not surprising to note that the series possesses few elements designed to appeal to viewers over a certain age, with star Kyle Massey's relentless mugging proving a test to one's patience right from the get-go. That said, there's little doubt that the show's target demographic will thrill to the exceedingly over-the-top antics of the various characters.

Cory in the House follows That's So Raven's Victor Baxter (Rondell Sheridan) as he accepts a job as the President's personal chef, with the series primarily revolving around his son Cory's (Massey) broad adventures within the White House. Along with his friends Newt (Jason Dolley) and Meena (Maiara Walsh), Cory bumbles his way through a series of predictably goofy misunderstandings and mix-ups - much to the chagrin of no less than the President (John D'Aquino's Richard Martinez) himself.

Cory in the House: All-Star Edition collects four episodes from the series, including: Never the Dwayne Shall Meet (in which Cory and his friends prepare for the imminent arrival of Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson at the White House), That's So In The House (Raven arrives for a visit just in time to design the White House's new tour-guide uniforms), Air Force One Too Many (Cory inadvertently allows the Russian Prime Minister to believe that the United States will be handing Alaska back to Russia), and Just Desserts (Cory finds himself in a heap of trouble after suggesting that Meena provide the dessert for a pivotal banquet).

Cory in the House: Newt & Improved Edition offers up the following four episodes: The Presidential Seal (in which Cory inadvertently stains the Presidential seal within the Oval Office, and exacerbates matters by recruiting Newt to find a new seal [no points for guessing that the character instead emerges with an adorable sea creature]), Through the Roof (Cory and Newt wind up stuck in the ceiling while writing a song, though Meena and her Sunshine Girls eventually come to the rescue), Lip Service (Newt, holding true to a promise he made when he was eight, refuses to kiss one of the school's two Ashleys, thus forcing Cory to track down his old flame), and Peace, Love and Misunderstanding (Cory finds himself caught in the middle of a centuries-old conflict between Meena's people and their sworn enemy).