Line #71 Series/ZekeAndLuther


1	[[quoteright:239:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ZekeAndLutherImagePage_8052.PNG]]
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3	''Zeke and Luther'' is a sitcom created by Matt Dearborn and Tom Burkhard that ran on Creator/{{Disney XD}} from 2009 to 2012.
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5	It centers around the namesake characters, two best friends in the northern part of Gilroy, California (primarily the fictional Pacific Terrace area) who aspire to become the world’s greatest skateboarders. Zeke (Creator/HutchDano) is an average student born in Japan who has issues with girls, while Luther (Creator/AdamHicks) is a video gamer who happens to be a cup-stacking champion, but is also on the dimmer side.
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7	The show mostly follows their various adventures as they work towards their goal, accompanied by their FriendlyRival, Kojo (Creator/DanielCurtisLee), and Zeke’s antagonistic younger sister, Ginger (Creator/RyanNewman), along with a whole host of recurring characters also from Gilroy, California, such as Kojo’s girlfriend Monica and the two boys’ many friends.
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9	Not to be confused with [[Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody Zack and Cody]], or [[Series/WizardsOfWaverlyPlace Zeke and Justin]].
10	----
11	!! This show provides examples of:
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13	* {{Acrofatic}}: Zeke's algebra teacher Mr "Twirls" Rucker is a pretty good skateboarder for a "800 pound 37 year old." [[note]] Helooks older than 37. [[/note]] Luther even lampshades this.
14	* ActorAllusion:
15	** When Daniel Curtis Lee poses as Luther's brother he [[LargeHam hams it up]] and accidentally calls him [[Series/NedsDeclassifiedSchoolSurvivalGuide Loomer]].
16	** In an episode featuring Hayley Kiyoko, Luther goes up to her, takes a whiff of her hair, and says it smells like Film/{{lemon\|adeMouth}}s.
17	** Hutch Dano (Zeke) also had a role on ''[[Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody The Suite Life on Deck]]'' as Moose, Bailey's ex from Kettlecorn and in one episode of Zeke and Luther he is found shedding corn and he says, "What, I shed corn when I am stressed" and on the ''The Suite Life on Deck'' he also sheds corn.
18	%%* AffectionateParody: Of ''Film/TheHangover''
19	* AlliterativeName:
20	** The duo's favorite hangout is Don's Donuts, which is owned by Donald Donaldson.
21	** Dale Davis is a recurring reporter that covers events in the neighborhood.
22	* AnnoyingYoungerSibling: Ginger is an exaggerated case. She freely admits she lives to torment Zeke, be it getting him in trouble, embarrassing him, or profitting off his hard work.
23	* BigStupidDoodooHead: When a skateboarding manager tells Zeke and Luther "You skate rats need to grow up", Luther replies [[Main/NoYou "No you need to grow up Dooty-McPooface"]]
24	* BreakingTheFourthWall: Zeke and Luther often will interrupt the show to explain, interject, or something else. It's also functions as a ConfessionCam.
25	* BrokenAesop: In "Cup Stacking". So, if my best friend shows talent in something that doesn't interest me, I should find his friends and scare them into abandoning my friend so he'll come crawling back?
26	* ButtMonkey: All of the main characters (except for Zeke) fall to this trope at times. For the recurring characters, it's pretty much: Ozzie, Kirby Cheddar and Deputy Dingle.
27	* CatchPhrase:
28	** Ginger repeatedly calls Zeke and Luther "pit-sniffers". In return, Zeke usually calls Ginger "mini-munch."
29	** Ginger also tends to say "Oh yeah, baby!" when things are going her way.
30	** Also, Kojo's "Watch out!" accompanied by a butt-slap.
31	** Poochie's "YAY!"
32	* TheChainsOfCommanding: Played for laughs in Kojo's subplot in the finale. With the guys going out of town, he takes over overseeing Ramps and suffers constantly.
33	* CharlieAndTheChocolateParody: The B Plot of "Luther Leads" starts with Ginger finding [[Literature/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory a golden golf ball inside a donut]] and thus being named heir to the donut shop, complete with a SuspiciouslySimilarSong to "[[Film/WillyWonkaAndTheChocolateFactory I've got a Golden Ticket]]". She is eventually refused because she couldn't stand training or donuts and intended to tear the place down and erect an office building.
34	%%* ChekhovsGun: The dog food in the pilot episode.
35	* ChristmasEpisode: "Bro-ho-ho." Zeke and Luther use Kirby to get expensive skateboards and then try to fix his Christmas. Meanwhile, Ginger encounters someone claiming to be the real Santa Claus.
36	* ChuckCunninghamSyndrome:
37	** Olivia completely disappeared following "Adventure Boy" and no mention has been made at all of her since. Her poster still hangs on Zeke's bedroom, however.
38	** Poochie, Stinky Cast, and Kirby Cheddar disappear after Season 2. This can in part be attributed to Ginger being DemotedToExtra, as they had more interactions with her than the titular duo.
39	* ConfessionCam: "There's No Business Like Bro Business, Part 1" opens with the boys revealing they've been doing this the entire time and recording various exploits as video journals. They even introduce the audience to their cameraman.
40	* {{Crossover}}:
41	** Zeke and Luther once appeared in a ''Series/PeterPunk'' episode.
42	** Also, Dale Davis appeared in ''Series/KickinIt'' and ''Series/PairOfKings''.
43	** Indirectly in ''Series/ImInTheBand'' Burger yells "Skateboard on the sidewalk Zeke" which is highly possible he was referring to Zeke but which other skater in California is there named Zeke?. This is more proof that Zeke and Luther & the 3 areformentioned shows take place in the DCLAU.
44	* DemotedToExtra: Ginger in Season 3 due to Ryan Newman leaving the show. She still appears in five episodes, however, but unfortunately not the Finale.
45	* DisappearedDad: While parents are already rare on this show, Kojo constantly refers to his mother but not his father.
46	* DistractedByTheSexy: Lisa gets distracted by watching Zeke drink water, which causes her and Ginger to lose an academic competition against [[BookDumb Zeke]] and [[TheDitz Luther]].
47	* TheDitz: Luther, at times. Such as when he thinks a hospital bedpan is a ''guacamole bowl and asks if he can have one.''
48	* EnemyMine: After their actions in "Law and Boarder" lead to the neighborhood association imposing all sorts of strict rules and bans, Zeke and Ginger team up to get Jumpsuit Johnson (the head of the association) to relent. Their plan is to trick him into violating the very rules he's been enforcing.
49	%%* EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: Jumpsuit Johnson, Stinky Cast.
50	* {{Expy}}:
51	** It's pretty obvious that Ginger is the [[Series/PhilOfTheFuture Pim Diffy]] of the present day.
52	** Ginger is also very similar to [[Series/DrakeAndJosh Megan Parker]] (the show itself is often compared to Series/DrakeAndJosh).
53	** Jumpsuit Johnson can be considered one of Crazy Steve from D&J. They are both grown men with a HairTriggerTemper who always wear the same outfit every day. Except Crazy Steve is more of a friend/co-worker with Josh but Jumpsuit is considered an enemy of Zeke & Luther
54	%%* FanDisservice: Oswald's shorts are really '''really''' short [[{{Squick}} (shudder)]].
55	* FreeRangeChildren: And how! While there are assorted adults in the recurring cast (such as Jumpsuit Johnson or Dorothy) and one-off authority figures, the main characters' actual parents are never shown. At most, Kojo's mother is TheVoice, but even then, he (like the other kids) is still often seeing going wherever he pleases at any time of day. The same is often the case for assorted friends, with only a few exceptions (such as Kirby's parents). If not for the occasional reference to some off-screen activity, you'd think the kids in this neighborhood were somehow living on their own.
56	%%* GRatedDrug: The "Nordic Blue" snow-cone syrup that was featured in one episode.
57	%%* GettingCrapPastTheRadar: Please check the trope page to make sure your example fits the current definition.
58	* TheGhost: Zeke's parents are mentioned but noticeably absent, even when the plot clearly calls for them. Ditto for Luther's parents.
59	* HalloweenEpisode: "Haunted Board." Zeke and Luther come across a skateboard that seems to have a mind of its own and won't leave them alone. Meanwhile, Ginger bets Stinky Cast that he won't be able to scare her.
60	* HeterosexualLifePartners: Zeke and Luther, obviously. They do literally everything together and their dreams of going pro involve being a duo instead of going solo.
61	* {{Jerkass}}: Most of characters show their jerkass side. Luther seems to be the exception in this trope (sometimes).
62	%%* KidCom
63	%%* KillerRobot: In "I, Skatebot"
64	* KnightOfCerebus: Garm Garoosh. Who tries to destroy Luther buy making him ride a skateboard about to explode.
65	* LadyLand: Skater Girl Island, a near-mythical place hidden somewhere in town that boys are forbidden from entering.
66	%%* LadykillerInLove: Kojo with Zeke's cousin, in "Sludge"
67	* LaughTrack: Averted (unlike [[Series/TheSuiteLifeofZackandCody several]] [[Series/PairOfKings other]] [[Series/ImInTheBand shows]] on its network).
68	%%* LawfulStupid: Deputy Dingle
69	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: In the ChristmasEpisode, the boys pull a trick to get Kirby Cheddar's parents to buy expensive skateboards that they want and know he won't so they can get them for free. It works, but then they see they kept Kirby from getting what he most wanted for Christmas.
70	%%* NameAndName
71	* ObnoxiousInLaws: Luther's beloved grandmother, Dorothy, is HappilyMarried to Carl. Neither Luther nor Carl can stand each other, being only barely able to pretend otherwise for Dorothy's sake and quite honest about their dislike when she's out of earshot.
72	* OnlySaneWoman: Bridget (a character introduced in Season 3) is this, being a fairly down to Earth figure in a cast full of crazy people.
73	* OutOfFocus: Kojo in the last season. He makes fewer appearances, as the show focuses more on Zeke and Luther's professional skating careers than one-off adventures in the neighborhood.
74	* PuppyDogEyes: Luther will sport these when he wants to guilt Zeke into doing something. To his frustration, Zeke says in "Soul Bucket" that this is a family trait, as Luther's grandmother and other relatives are all capable of it. And, as to be expected, so is the family dog.
75	* RememberTheNewGuy: Luther's little brother, Roy, who appears a couple times more than halfway into the show's run. Lampshaded by the characters noting that Roy spends so much time playing video games that he rarely leaves his room and doesn't even recognize Luther.
76	* SantasExistenceClause: In the ChristmasEpisode, the characters encounter a guy claiming to be the real Santa Claus, who constantly talks about the true meaning of the holiday. Others are willing to indulge this, but an annoyed Ginger finally demands he prove he's the real deal by getting Zeke and Luther the rare present they're looking for to give to Kirby. Subverted in that he says he can't, is just a guy who plays Santa for kids, and only wanted to teach her the meaning of Christmas. Double subverted when he reveals at the very end that he was Santa all along and got Kirby his present after all.
77	* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Luther (sensitive) and Zeke (manly). Kojo is manly to Luther but sensitive to Zeke.
78	* {{Sexophone}}: Lisa tries to invoke this by getting a friend to play the saxophone to help her seduce Zeke.
79	* ShipperWithAnAgenda: Stinky Cast has a big crush on Ginger. Zeke and Luther exploit this so that they can get him to film their stunts for less money.
80	%%* ShoutOut: To anyone who has watched ''Film/TheShining'', watch the Gingernator.
81	%%* SitcomArchNemesis: The Plunk Brothers
82	%%* SkateHeavenIsAPlaceOnEarth: A rare non-gaming example.
83	%%* StalkerWithACrush: Lisa Grubner, Zeke's 12-and-a-half-year-old stalker.
84	%%** Stinky Cast is this to Ginger, but not to the same extreme.
85	* StoryArc: A good chunk of season 3 revolves around the boys skate careers picking up for real.
86	%%* SmallNameBigEgo: Kojo, to an insane degree.
87	* TerrifiedOfGerms: Ginger is a downplayed example. Germs in general don't bother her, but she's very protective of her belongings, especially when her brother's involved. The subplot to "Robo-Luth" involves Zeke messing with her by sneezing on something in her room but refusing to tell her what it was. It infuriates her to no end, and she eventually and aggressively scrubs all of her belongings. Once she's done, Zeke tells her what he sneezed on: [[spoiler: the gloves she used to clean her other belongings]].
88	%%* TotallyRadical: Advertisements hype its "skater lingo."
89	* UngratefulBastard: Ginger at the end of the episode "Old Nasty". When she falls down the ride, Deuce catches her and saves her from being seriously injured. Deuce then tries the stunt himself and severly injures himself. After, Ginger breaks up with Deuce because she didn't want to take care of someone super injured even though Deuce saved her life. Such a [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Bonnie Swanson]] thing to do. Enough for Zeke to agree that Ginger is a cyborg. (A Brick Joke that Luther stated throughout the episode).
90	%%* UnusualEuphemism: Oh, my god. Watch the show.
91	* VileVillainSaccharineShow: Garm Garoosh from "Luther Waffles and the Skateboard of Doom". Garoosh is the darkest villain/antagonist in this Main/KidCom show. He tried to kill Luther by having him stuck to a magnetic skateboard that was about to explode.
92	* VitriolicBestBuds: Zeke and Luther with Kojo. He's acknowledged his dislike of them and vice versa (to the point of Zeke calling Kojo his enemy), yet they always hang out and do things together.
93	* TheVoice: Kojo's mother. (She is only seen at the end of a music video although it's uncertain if it's actually the same woman with the voice.)
94	* WeWantOurJerkBack: "Kojo Loses His Mojo." Kojo gets struck by lightning and his personality completely changes. He becomes sickeningly nice and gives up boarding. Zeke is initially thrilled, but he realizes their rivalry makes races and competitions more challenging and fun.
95	%%* WorldOfHam: Arguably the best thing about the show.
96	* YesMan: Ginger's best friend, Poochie, is often treated as an assistant, but she's an exaggerated case. She not only defers to her over every possible thing no matter how trivial, but she also shouts an enthusiastic "YAY!" while clapping in the process. Ginger's subplot in "Soul Bucket" is trying to find a more independent replacement and only welcoming Poochie back when she demonstrates some actual backbone.

Context Series / ZekeAndLuther