If you grew up during the golden era of the Disney Channel, you probably remember the Tipton Hotel like it was your second home. You remember the twin hijinks, London Tipton’s iconic "Yay me!" and Mr. Moseby’s eternal frustration. But there’s one cameo that often gets buried in the nostalgia: Cheryl Burke in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
It’s one of those "wait, was that really her?" moments that hits you when you’re rewatching the show on Disney+ at 2:00 AM.
Honestly, it wasn't just a random walk-on role. It was a full-blown crossover of the biggest trends of 2006. Back then, Dancing with the Stars was a cultural juggernaut, and Cheryl Burke was its reigning queen. She had just won back-to-back seasons with Drew Lachey and Emmitt Smith. Disney, being the marketing genius it is, decided to bring that ballroom magic to the Tipton.
The Episode: "Loosely Ballroom"
The appearance happened in Season 2, Episode 25, titled "Loosely Ballroom." If the title sounds familiar, it’s a cheeky nod to the 1992 film Strictly Ballroom.
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In this episode, Esteban Julio Ricardo Montoya de la Rosa Ramírez (yes, I typed the whole thing) is desperate to win a dance competition. Why? To fund his sister’s Quinceañera back in Mexico. It’s a classic Suite Life setup—high stakes, physical comedy, and a lot of chaotic rehearsals in the lobby.
Cheryl Burke didn't play herself, though. She played a character named Shannon, a professional dancer who ends up being Esteban’s partner.
Why This Cameo Was Different
Most guest stars on Disney sitcoms at the time were other Disney kids. Seeing a professional athlete/dancer like Cheryl was a bit of a curveball. She wasn't alone, either. The episode featured other DWTS legends like Louis van Amstel and Ashly DelGrosso.
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It’s kinda funny looking back at her performance. Cheryl is a world-class dancer, but the show required her to lean into the "sitcom acting" style. She had to play the straight woman to Esteban’s over-the-top energy.
- The Plot Twist: Carey (Zack and Cody's mom) gets sick and can't dance.
- The Solution: Esteban finds Shannon (Cheryl).
- The Result: Some actually impressive choreography for a kid's show.
Fact-Checking the "Shannon" Confusion
There is a weird bit of misinformation floating around some old forums and fan wikis. Some people insist she played a nurse or a different character in a later season. That is incorrect. Cheryl Burke's only appearance in the Zack and Cody universe was as Shannon in "Loosely Ballroom." She never returned for The Suite Life on Deck, and she didn't play a recurring character. It was a one-and-done deal, purely to capitalize on the ballroom dancing craze that was sweeping America at the time.
Why It Still Matters to Fans
The mid-2000s were a weird time for TV crossovers. You had Hannah Montana meeting the Suite Life crew, and then you had these "prestige" reality stars dropping in. For many young viewers, this was their first introduction to ballroom dance.
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Cheryl actually posted about this on her YouTube channel a few years ago, reminiscing about working with Dylan and Cole Sprouse. She mentioned how much fun the set was, which makes sense—the Sprouse twins were notorious for being great hosts to guest stars.
Basically, the episode remains a "hidden gem" because it represents a specific moment in TV history when Disney was trying to bridge the gap between their kid audience and the adult "prime-time" audience.
What You Can Do Now
If you want to relive this specific piece of 2000s history, here is exactly how to find it:
- Stream it: Head to Disney+ and look for Season 2, Episode 25 of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.
- Watch the background: Keep an eye out for the other DWTS pros who fill out the competition brackets—they are all actual professional dancers, not just extras.
- Check the credits: Look for the choreography credits; the show actually hired professionals to make sure the ballroom sequences didn't look like a middle school talent show.
The next time you're debating Disney Channel trivia with friends, you can drop the fact that a two-time Dancing with the Stars champion once graced the halls of the Tipton. It’s a small detail, but for fans of that era, it’s a perfect piece of the nostalgia puzzle.