Why did they cancel this show? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

neutron66 · 07-03-2012, 09:25 AM

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 ?

factsoflife · 07-04-2012, 12:33 AM

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.

neutron66 · 07-04-2012, 08:30 AM

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

Sonny Carson · 07-10-2014, 09:26 PM

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.

90skid4ever · 07-10-2014, 09:39 PM

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.

TMC · 09-06-2019, 04:14 AM

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

hawkeye123 · 09-06-2019, 07:48 AM

I never saw it, but big family matters fan.

TMC · 10-16-2020, 04:59 PM

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.

TVSCREEN2015 · 06-30-2022, 05:28 PM

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.

TMC · 11-02-2023, 12:45 AM

Quote:

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.

TMC · 02-26-2026, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

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

Quote:

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.

Sonny Carson · 03-01-2026, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TMC

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

07-03-2012, 09:25 AM	#1
neutron66 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 17, 2012 Location: sarasota,florida Posts: 234	Why did they cancel this show? 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 ?

07-04-2012, 12:33 AM	#2
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,741	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.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

07-10-2014, 09:39 PM	#5
90skid4ever Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 03, 2014 Posts: 84	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.
	__________________ 90skid4ever@gmx.com

09-06-2019, 07:48 AM	#7
hawkeye123 Member Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2012 Posts: 1,390	I never saw it, but big family matters fan.
	__________________ You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think and, loved more than you know.

10-16-2020, 04:59 PM	#8
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,387	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.

07-04-2012, 08:30 AM	#3
neutron66 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 17, 2012 Location: sarasota,florida Posts: 234	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

07-10-2014, 09:26 PM	#4
Sonny Carson Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 26, 2012 Location: Southfield, Michigan Posts: 395	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.

09-06-2019, 04:14 AM	#6
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 124,387	Jason Weaver On Why 'Smart Guy' Ended, Down For Reboot

06-30-2022, 05:28 PM	#9
TVSCREEN2015 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 27, 2015 Posts: 136	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.