i use to watch this show all the time in 1997-1999 before the crappy reruns when they edit good parts of the show aww the good ol days i am feeling nostalgia just thinking about it lol, the show went on for 2 years it was a good show nothing compared to family matters but it was watchable and made some people laugh, i wish they could have least gave a series final to the last episode, why did they cancel smart guy after only 3 seasons ?

A few reasons.

First off, this was never a huge ratings grabber, mostly it trended toward the bottom of the ratings chart. But more importantly, this show debuted at a time when the WB had yet to establish itself and hadn't found it's identity yet. But by the end of the 1997 season it was clear what direction the network should go in. Buffy and Dawson's Creek became big hits and the WB decided to focus on the teen drama's that were becoming hits with their audience. In doing so, they basically opted out of producing the family sitcoms like Smart Guy that weren't making much impact.

thanks factsolife for the history of this show, if the producers of this show worked really hard this show could have been a huge and popular hit it might have went from 1997-2001 atleast we could see TJ graduate from high school

Show never had high ratings but had it's highest rated season in it's last year. Show was cancelled to make room on sunday night's for new comedy's with "all white cast". Those same comedies one that had Nikki Cox, one was an army comedy show were both cancelled after the first year because they had lower ratings than Smart Guy.

I agree that the show should not have been cancelled - it was a creative idea and very funny - really good pure comedy with good family values. The TJ drinking episode was interesting and I think if the show went on, it would have had trouble staying to its roots. I would have watched anyway, Mo was my favorite and Coach Gerber - wow it was brilliant. Nobody would think to do characters like them today. I would love to see it on DVD with cast commentaries on every episode.

Jason Weaver On Why 'Smart Guy' Ended, Down For Reboot

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I never saw it, but big family matters fan.

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Basically:

When they started the show, they all agreed to receive the same pay. As none of them were huge stars at the time, it wasn't an issue and the money wasn't terrible.
A cast member in Season 3 held out for more money and didn't show up to a taping. He doesn't name him directly but from how he describes the situation, it's clear that the cast member is star of the show Tahj Mowry. That's why there's an episode in Season 3 where TJ isn't featured and the episode centers around Mo & Marcus. TJ was back on set the following week.
The situation soured the powers that be on the show.

With the success of one-hour teen dramas such as Charmed, Felicity, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Dawson's Creek, and 7th Heaven, The WB was moving away from urban sitcoms to white teen dramas. At the end of the 1998-1999 season The WB cancelled most of their black sitcoms Sister, Sister, The Wayans Bros. Smart Guy, and The Parent Hood. The Steve Harvey Show and The Jamie Foxx Show were the only ones renewed. But by 2002 both those shows were gone from the line-up.

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American television sitcom Smart Guy, which ran for three seasons in the late ‘90s, center on the escapades of child prodigy and the youngest of three children, T.J. Henderson, played by Tahj Mowry, the 10-year-old brother of "Sister, Sister" stars Tia and Tamera Mowry.

Jason Weaver On Why 'Smart Guy' Ended, Down For Reboot

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Jason Weaver opens up about Disney’s strict rules when it came to wardrobe and brand labels on set. He explains how they had to get permission to wear brands like Nike and Air Jordan because the network didn’t want to give companies free advertisement. He also reveals the real reason the show ended.

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Omar Goodings analysis is actually more accurate. Tahj was also blacklisted.

Omar Gooding Says "Smart Guy" Ended Over Tahj Wanting More Pay

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Omar Gooding doesn’t fully agree with how Tahj Mowry handled the pay dispute that seemingly cost 'Smart Guy' its future (https://www.lipstickalley.com/threads/omar-gooding-doesn%E2%80%99t-fully-agree-with-how-tahj-mowry-handled-the-pay-dispute-that-seemingly-cost-smart-guy-its-future.6139991/)

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