{
  "id": 19127737,
  "title": "Phill Lewis initially turned down The Suite Life because of not-so-sweet salary offer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/08/phill-lewis-initially-turned-down-the-suite-life-because-of-not-so",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-11-08T22:59:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The A.V. Club",
    "slug": "the-a-v-club",
    "url": "https://www.avclub.com/phill-lewis-suite-life-of-zack-and-cody-salary-offer"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Phill Lewis initially declined an offer to play Mr. Moseby in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody due to an unsatisfactory salary. During an appearance on the Wildmen podcast, Lewis recounted his audition process and how the casting team initially approached him for a role in The Suite Life. After Lewis successfully auditioned, the team extended an offer for the hotel manager position, but he and his co-star Dylan Sprouse declined the offer. Lewis expressed disappointment with the proposed salary, stating they found it insulting given his lengthy career in the industry. Disney persisted and sweetened the deal, eventually agreeing to pay Lewis a higher weekly salary along with the role in the movie Dadnapped. This financial arrangement allowed Lewis to participate in both projects. The actor emphasized that Disney's persistence paid off, as he became an integral part of the show during its three-season run and its subsequent sequel, The Suite Life on Deck, which also lasted three seasons. Sprouse shared that Lewis' presence greatly contributed to the show's familial feel, highlighting their strong friendship even after the series concluded.",
  "summary": "During an appearance on the Wildmen podcast, Phill Lewis revealed that he initially turned down the role of hotel manager Mr. Moseby on The Suite Life Of Zack & Cody after Disney offered him a low salary.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}