Zoey 101: The Complete 1st Season

A Nickelodeon sitcom that airs weekly and enjoys a burgeoning ‘tween fan base, Zoey 101 is a star vehicle for Britney Spears' little sister, Jamie Lynn, who bears a close resemblance to her more-famous sibling. The show is set at Pacific Coast Academy, a simply awesome educational institution—once an all-boys school—that has recently opened its doors to girls. Zoey makes her presence known in any number of ways, often getting herself into tricky situations but wriggling out with a combination of wit and luck. Other principal characters include Zoey's brother Dustin (Paul Butcher) and pals Chase Matthews (Sean Flynn) and Quinn Pensky (Erin Sanders). For the most part, this show feels like a leftover Saved by the Bell, with perky Jamie Lynn standing in for the earlier show's Zach Morris. Still, the actress is an appealing and energetic performer in her own right, and if Zoey 101 does for her what Lizzie McGuire did for Hilary Duff, then the younger Spears sibling may have a bright future in store. Featuring all 13 episodes from the 2005 first season, DVD extras include the bonus episode “Quarantine,” a “Before They Were Cast Mates” featurette, and bloopers. A strong optional purchase. (E. Hulse)