The REAL Reason Why Smart Guy Got Canceled

[@GE0RGECREWS]

Floyd is so underrated as a black sitcom father. Widowed while raising 3 kids. One's a genius, the other does the bare minimum, & the last is a daughter which is/was hard to raise as a single father. All while owning his own business. He needs more recognition

[@WadeIsInsane]

And the actor of Floyd previously played as a single windowed father to a genius student that was stuck in Whitley's remedial class on A Different World

[@TheNewgreatlife]

I used to always think Floyd was a remarkable black TV dad. He was awesome in so many ways. He was a little strict, but I always felt a loving essence from him. He was cool too.

[@Chuck_EL]

​@@TheNewgreatlife There was many great black dads on tv , and even on nickelodeon

[@DavesPlace99]

I think he was a great sitcom father PERIOD. I'd easily put him up there with Alan from Boy Meets World.

[@TheNewgreatlife]

@@DreamsInBlue Um, sir he had three....Yvette (Essence Atkins), Marcus (Jason Weaver), and TJ (Tahj Mowry). Mo was Omar's character.

[@beaniegee5129]

Smart Guy also had some deep episodes like the one where TJ met a guy pretending to be a kid and the one where Yvette was being followed by her boss at her job

[@chrissysimms-du6gm]

or the one where he was drinking

[@EZdelFresco]

They say it all the time, but this was legitimately a show that the entire family could enjoy.

[@maryperry6573]

When my mom would sit and watch it with me- that’s when I knew it was good lol

[@drewstice992]

Yea if your family likes watching corny crap 💩 shows

[@yolanda007]

And the dad was a Man who was respected by his family.

[@jubaalasi]

Naw, that show was too corny

[@AmoMe2009]

Yvette, Mo and Marcus made Smart Guy such a flavorful show. They were stylin’, mature, funny and relatable. In fact, most of the characters on that show made it such a memorable and dope watch before and after episodes of Sister Sister during the 90s on THE WB and even during syndication on other channels. The afterschool specials were great too like Yvette’s racist retail manager, the TJ drinking episode as a series finale and the other episode with the unspoken pedophile masking as a video game developer. Well-developed and great message. Mr.Henderson and Yvette did well in that episode including their conflict over handling TJ’s drunken state.

[@PHSDM104]

Honestly, I think Omar and Jason were both right. However, Jason did bring up a very good point. At the time, there were only about 8 Black-led shows on the WB. Majority of them ended around 1999. What were the biggest on the WB at the time? Dawson's Creek and 7th Heaven. Two shows so white bread and devoid of color that they might as well have been snow. UPN had the majority of Black-led shows and upon the merger with The WB forming The CW, the only one to make the transition was Girlfriends. It was kinda clear that the network was tailoring to one market.

[@stingrey1571]

It happened on fox, wb, and upn. They start with black shows to get a footing. Once established, they can them

[@PHSDM104]

@@stingrey1571 Yep. Especially going into the 2000s.

[@KrisBryant99]

7th Heaven was actually good though 😂

[@simplyjuannie5128]

One On One was on the CW too, and they completely messed up the show.

[@lexkanyima2195]

​@@simplyjuannie5128to not a end on a high

[@jessicaibada5728]

Tahj was 10 at the time. I think Omar should have had this issue up with Tahj's people.

[@corinicole9271]

Right!! Kinda weird beefin' with a kid!

[@emayan06]

@@corinicole9271 he was not beefing with him and if you actually watch the interview, he completely understood him. Obviously he was talking about his people. Stop being debse

[@therealmarlonbellamy]

Smart Guy is an underrated sitcom & should have last longer. Can we please get stories on the following sitcoms: Roc Hangin With Mr. Cooper The Parenthood The Wayans Bros The Jamie Foxx Show The Steve Harvey Show Malcolm & Eddie In The House

[@larrymarshall8900]

Great choices all great sitcoms.

[@therealmarlonbellamy]

@@larrymarshall8900 Thank you. Those are Tier 2 underrated sitcoms

[@larrymarshall8900]

​@@therealmarlonbellamyYour welcome

[@130world1]

I think the Marlon show got booted on Netflix

[@jusme2266]

Both Omar and Jason’s perspectives can be true. UPN WB CW that whole transition ate a lot of urban shows. The gained followers on the programming and then shifted focus abandoning their audience. However, the Mowrys were a big deal with TV shows, movies, and music. I doubt it was Tahj’s idea to strike. But it didn’t do him any favors. You make a big fuss and these big networks remind what color you are…

[@DrLadyBugM]

I was looking for this response. They are both right. The business side then the ego driven actor side both led to the non renewal.

[@aspebb]

They'll always remind yoi of your colour

[@cadillacdeville5828]

Damn time passes quickly. I'm in my 30's and remember this.

[@MsFirestar21]

Me too, me too. I was watching it recently on Disney+ and was like "it doesn't feel that long ago!"

[@gazellehelene5380]

Smart Guy was really funny! I was surprised it didn’t seem to be as popular as it should have been. Everyone did a great job, and Jason Weaver was in it!😍

[@nwsmgquis]

One of my favorite childhood shows of all time!!

[@trnigyul]

Smart Guy was one of my faves, it was hella funny. Mo and Marcus used to have me rolling with their shenanigans.

[@beaniegee5129]

And not to mention that the pilot episode of Smart Guy used the same high school setting as Boy Meets World just like Living Single did using the same living room setting as Family Matters for the first episode

[@DrLadyBugM]

I have been trying to figure out for years where the pilot episode of Living Single was filmed. Thank you.

[@RaquelCGary]

A Mo and Marcus spin off I feel like could’ve worked. Following them to college or maybe a spin off about the band. They were hilarious! Also shout out to Floyd is an overlooked great TV dad.

[@ghostchick5275]

Oh, for sure. TJ was technically the star, but Mo and Marcus carried it. I would have watched the hell out of a show about them in college.

[@A87-p1l]

YES!! 🔥

[@RaquelCGary]

@@ghostchick5275 definitely! When he was speaking on those episodes that TJ wasn’t there, I completely forgot tj wasnt there for a time. Goes to show they could carry the show without the star.

[@jonnykilroy9762]

Floyd Henderson one of the GOAT Tv dads, we need to give 'em his flowers! Far as why it ended it's probably half what both Omar and Jason saying. Changes start gettin made, Tahj and his people see that and (rightfully) think a pay raise is in order

[@yell0wberry]

It’s really a shame that African-Americans can’t get paid a salary, comparable to the white counterparts. The cast of friends, as well as the cast of Two and a Half Men were paid as much as $1 million per episode. Cedric the entertainer is one of the leads in the TV show on CBS, the neighborhood. Let’s see if Cedric gets paid more than $1 million an episode on a high profile network.

[@shotymeisupandcummin]

I'm glad someone recognizes Floyd Henderson as a TV dad. 💊 Cosby not anymore. Philip Banks,Al Bundy,Danny Tanner,Carl Winslow are my TV dads

[@Bigmojojo]

​@yell0wberry they got paid that amount of money because they were the top rated TV shows during their time. If a black show is pulling in 15-30 million people every week, they will get paid.

[@yell0wberry]

@@Bigmojojo how about if black folks were given the opportunity to be on that particular platform so they could be the top rated show, I don’t remember anybody on Cosby or a different world getting paid $1 million an episode

[@danavixen6274]

Smart Guy was pretty good. Tahj Mowry was DEFINITELY an ADORABLE standout! ❤

[@nicolesherman8974]

Praying you cover The King of Queens ✨. Love that show!

[@cadillacdeville5828]

Who remember Omar Gooding from " Wild & Crazy Kids" on Nickelodeon?! 😂

[@PHSDM104]

And Hangin' With Mr Cooper? ME!!! 🙋

[@inthemixwithleahbpodcast]

I do!!

[@handsomeX]

Also that short-lived football drama on ESPN where he played a drug addicted running back. That was a great show.

[@corinicole9271]

🙋🏾‍♀️

[@corinicole9271]

@@handsomeX Was it called "Playmakers"--that was a great show!!

[@AggravatedMan365]

Smart guy was underrated as many of our shows were.

[@ashleysykes5936]

Right!

[@cakefam6189]

Floyd was hands down the best tv dad! Not bill or Carl but Floyd !

[@airjaff]

Our?

[@paulan7218]

@@airjaff some people have to make everything about race

[@therealmarlonbellamy]

It’s a tier 2 show.

[@bbsdollsandtvarchive]

Please do one of Half & Half

[@beezy22]

Smart Guy:Underrated WB Sunday TV Classic……used to watch this show on reruns and still watch it on Disney Plus……To this day I’m still unhappy that smart guy didn’t get a proper series finale and WB cancelling some good WB sunday night shows back in the day…..smh….

[@mrserwin08]

This show was another fav! Marcus and Mo were friggin hilarious! I completely understand and agree with Omar. But what Jason said makes so much more sense. Because UPN got rid of EVERYTHING that made them popular with black audiences.

[@TophDaGreat]

Another thing about this show too was we had a positive black father figure. Many times in media, we have the widowed mother or single mother with the deadbeat dad or whatever. Not the case here. Nothing was stereotypical about the father. Just wanted to give him his flowers.

[@yell0wberry]

I believe Jason’s story, as well as Omar’s story. The network, which is now known as the CW definitely wanted to take on a different audience than 7:10 what they started out with for the purpose of gaining more high profile sponsorship. they got rid of this show as well as everybody hates Chris and girlfriends so that they could get a 18-34 Caucasian audience. Taj definitely deserved more money being the lead character.

[@AmoMe2009]

The second theme song of Smart Guy(the theme song of Season 3) was the top 3 best theme songs EVER of the ‘90s. Hands down! The best. The beat, the lyrics, the flow, the slow-down speed, the colors, the music video visuals and the main cast’s jammin’ and groovin’ to the beat was the top best memory of the 90’s I ever had. For anyone who doesn’t remember-go back and watch. It was EVERYTHING especially Marcus’s and Yvette’s outfits in the theme song.

[@corinicole9271]

Sure was!! 💃🏽💃🏽💃🏽

[@AmoMe2009]

@@corinicole9271such an uplifting song to youth as well! “Can be anything you want to be”. I wish that was a full song. ❤❤❤ I love that the show Moesha changed it’s theme song as well that year too to a more RnB flow like Smart Guy.

[@handsomeX]

Facts. Another sitcom theme song banger was the one they used in the last seasons of the Jamie Foxx show. That one definitely should've been released as a single!

[@AmoMe2009]

@@handsomeX”simple things is all I need” 🙌🏾

[@elivlogstv7907]

Do a story on The Parent Hood.

[@Tiffany-mu6br]

Actually surprised to see this video pop up...I feel deprived we don't even get replays of smart guy!!

[@beebee__]

It's on Disney+

[@ElleMS-14]

I loveddddd this show. Also Marcus and Mo’s friendship was so pure :)

[@RoziRoz25]

I literally still watch this show to this day

[@Buggy-su4oy]

The episode where T.J. gets hit on the head and begins to act weird is funny especially when he plays with a glove and says "He is Milking a Cow"...Tahj is so funny...He, Jason,, Omar, and the rest of the cast should have a reunion show.

[@beaniegee5129]

Anne Marie Johnson played Ms. Williams for only the pilot episode of Smart Guy as well

[@corinicole9271]

Still one of my fave shows!! 🤗🤗

[@Capricornus17]

Smart Guy only lasted 3 seasons?? Wow I thought it was around longer 😮‍💨

[@princessamani]

I’m so sad there weren’t more shows

[@DollFaceox]

The 2nd theme song that Omar hopped on was straight 🔥 🔥 🔥 they should of turned it into a full song 🎵 🎶

[@stingrey1571]

when i was in college. i had a class with an 11 year old girl and there was 15 year old in our dorm.

[@jessicascreenwritingservices]

This was my show back in the day! Loved the dynamic especially with Mo, Marcus, TJ and Yvette.

[@ryansingletary7018]

So did they get the chance to film a fourth season at all

[@handsomeX]

It only lasted three seasons?? Wow i figured around 5 or 6.

[@torriebrown9607]

This was a good show. I think both opinions was correct.

[@flashfunk0373]

They could've done Seasons 4 and 5 on Disney Channel since it was doing well in the ratings there

[@chashumen]

It was but by the time it was syndicated on there, I'm sure the cast and whatever writing staff moved on. Tahj was already regularly voicing Wade on Kim Possible, Jason Weaver was still collecting royalties from his Lion King work and had roles here and there Yvette was doing different roles plus Half & Half. dePasse Entertainment was fully absorbed into doing Disney Channel stuff in the early-mid 00s as well.

[@warriorjgamer]

For years I didn’t even know Taj was Tia and Tamera’s little brother

[@kobrathadon4956]

How he look just like them

[@warriorjgamer]

@@kobrathadon4956 as a kid you don’t really think about it that deep until you are told

[@perkgambit1627]

YEAH HONESTLY LETS SAY THEY WERE GETTING 20k a PIECE TJ DEFINITELY SHOULD’VE BEEN GETTING 40 or 50 ESPECIALLY BY THE 3rd SEASON SMH I WAS WONDERING WHY THEY ONLY HAD A FEW EPISODES 🎯

[@Profess84]

I loved this show. I have family members who introduced Smart Guy to they're kids on Disney Plus.

[@PourLaMourDeLargent]

I honestly think they're both right; I could imagine the network cutting them after receiving notice that the lead wanted a significant pay increase. especially when they were a Black cast in a primetime slot. Perfect storm, unfortunately. It was a great show!

[@TheNewgreatlife]

This was such a cute show in the late 90s! I may have been seven years old but you couldn't tell me that T.J. wasn't going to be my boyfriend at the time lmao. This show just had such a good and gentle spirit about it while also being hilarious at times. The Destiny's Child episode may be my absolute favorite.

[@bresams2917]

It had to be his parents. I'm sure he himself wasn't asking for more money. Gary Colemans parents did the same to different strokes.

[@corinicole9271]

Same with the girl who played "Judy" on Family Matters. Her mother kept pressing the producers of their show about her daughter getting more money. They just went ahead and fired her, then wrote her character off the show.

[@Bigmojojo]

​@@corinicole9271 not more money, more lines. Judy had hardly any lines and no stories evolved around her like there were with Eddie, Laura, and Urkel. I can't blame her mom trying to remind the producers that there was a third Winslow child on the show.

[@shostysboo]

I started watching this show in disney+ back in 2020 cause I was looking for something new to watch and I absolutely LOVE this show! It’s a shame it never got a proper ending. I wasn’t born yet when this came out, but it feels so nostalgic to me.

[@Buggy-su4oy]

Omar was also great on "Wild and Crazy Kids."....could you do something about that show.

[@ikejay]

The episode without Tj was literally one of my favorite episodes probably in my top 5.

[@nicolesherman8974]

Juicy pop back with another banger 🔥

[@tb22k]

Miss the ❤90s

[@beaniegee5129]

Smart Guy definitely deserved a proper ending it ended on a cliffhanger

[@abby-a]

I *love* this show I still watch it till this day. I really wish that when the show got canceled they did a spin off with Marcus and MO because they were the *funniest* ones on the show. 😂😂😂

[@biancadixon88]

Yes 🙌🏿 I used to love ❤️ this show and sister, sister tv show 😃

[@JeremiahSpeaks]

Happy November my sister. Another great video 😁

[@Makoto03]

Nostalgic video. I loved Smart Guy as a kid, while my sister was obsessed with 'Sister Sister'. lol

[@cleftheart1969]

Damn shame loved that show 😕

[@Xayjohns]

I really need this on DVD. Years ago, somebody had every episode on KZbin and I downloaded each one. Still have em. Even burned them to a DVD. But I want an official release.

[@dystanysam9896]

I was wondering.. why Tahj wasn’t part, of episode I only saw a few .episodes without him then again. I’m not surprised it was probably was his mother based of the popular of the twins.

[@jadedaejanae]

This was an essential part of my childhood. I just swore I was gonna be a 14 year old high school graduate lolololol

[@brandonpage7087]

It's a crime that Smart Guy got cancelled after only 3 seasons!! In my opinion, it was one of the best & most memorable, of the original WB series! This series introduced me to Essence Atkins, a lifelong crush of mine! The guy who played the dad on here, got screwed, as he didn't seem to be able to get anymore work afterwards, & he was a good actor..Marcus & Mo stole the show for me, though, especially Mo! Omar Gooding owned that character! So much so, that i lmao when i saw him playing the part of sweet pea in Baby Boy, lol!

[@jeffreyblocker7371]

Ray J is the Dollar General version of Jason Weaver 💯

[@gazellehelene5380]

“Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬ Jesus loves you so much and He wants you and your loved ones to make it to Heaven! Tomorrow is not promised. Today is the day of salvation. Come to Jesus today and be saved!❤️🙏🏾

[@MissPricey80]

Amen❤

[@convictionnotice1]

I'm leaning more towards Jason's reason for the cancellation, seeing as how Smart Guy wasn't the only black show that got the axe during the mergers.

[@larrymarshall8900]

It wasn't around during the WB and UPN merger. But they cancelled the show it could of last at least 7 seasons.

[@thedreetaylor]

It was an agenda on Black positive shows. IDC. So many of them ended abruptly and on TERRIBLE situation. Moesha. Smart Guy. Eve. It’s actually disgusting how they did our shows.

[@Team90sBABE]

Smart guy was such a great show!!

[@dsainte3914]

If things went down how Omar described, it's a shame because that's EXACTLY how Suzanne Somers lost her job at Three's Company in 1981! 🤦🏾

[@Josef_wrld]

I just wish this video could've be been a little longer though, didn't even have a "Fun Fact" 😞😞 & when are you gonna do "City Guys"

[@cdgates1]

The father on smart guy reminds me of Ward Cleaver....always giving fatherly advice at the end of a episode

[@beaniegee5129]

Great story on Smart Guy

[@yahainHotPink]

Thank you for sharing. Loved this show

[@Fre3_Smok3]

Man, this was and still is one of my favorite shows. So sad how it just got cancelled.

[@JHollowayNetwork]

It went opposite ABC's "Dharma & Greg" during its 2nd season (But it did beat an NBC sitcom (Built to Last) in the ratings, leading to it's eventual cancellation), forcing The WB to move it to Sundays for what would be its final season (It reran on Disney Channel for a number of years following it's WB cancellation).

[@gsignaturemessage]

Loved this show..can you do In The House and Roc?

[@MRJLS15]

This show was great

[@charlesredmon7717]

Hey now! This is my show I literally watch this with my family every day when in doubt were watching t.j henderson as my 5yo son likes to call the show.

[@JadedJassy21]

Jason and Omar were both right about what happened to the show.

[@Keoniiii]

THIS WAS MY SHOW!

[@postmastersgt1670]

Why is it always the positive family oriented black tv shows be the first to get cancelled while trash like LNHH gets 10× seasons and on.🤦‍♂️

[@MikeyJae777]

exactly

[@MikeyJae777]

@entertainingblackmanvideos7691 ⁠Actually it has a lot do do with that. Many black actors from popular black sitcoms back in the day have spoken out about this. It has everything to do with race look at TV today in the black community. I agree with you on Tahjs parents but the OP has a valid point too.

[@taureanmay1411]

2:03 I love ❤️😘 this sitcom.

[@taureanmay1411]

2:42 smart 🤓👍▶️ guy.

[@Blackrain7920]

Essence was 30 playing a high school student

[@MichaelSpikes-pv6kl]

Greatest black show ever of all time

[@mynameisdub6232]

Best sitcom theme song that’s for sure.

[@101ladii]

Said it b4 and I'll say it again....Marcus and Mo carried that show....and they should have been given the show....

[@dannymayberry1627]

That was a good damn show back in the day it’s was better than sister sister.

[@RapFanatic4ever]

I love Smart Guy. Marcus and Mo really need a spin off . They have great on screen chemstry.

[@hyperiondragon]

It’s not gonna work if you have only one person trying to protest. LoL the studio set Taj up. Only maybe today you’ll get castmates that will fight with you or for you on your behalf when you’re the only one being underpaid. For example, Jessica Chastain supported Octavia Spencer in getting 8x more pay in a film. Chastain wanted to bridge the gap between male pay and female pay. Octavia was like hold up, black women are paid lesser than white women. Imagine if Spencer did it alone. It’s still possible but it’s a harder fight alone.

[@TheActualFinn]

Loved this show

[@thecloud9effect765]

My queen is back ❤

[@darrylcarter3691]

Do you mean the Omar Gooding we knew from Nickelodeon’s Wild and Crazy Kids?

[@conceited2.0]

Mane that brought back some good memories 🥲

[@Not0iletpaper4]

I'll never forget this show and the intro song

[@timmyheatz12]

Smart guy was my ishhh back then! Not to mention it guest stars Gabrielle Union, destiny's child, taraji p. Henson etc Now I have my peace and mind of how the "show" ended.

[@60_percenTT]

3 seasons. You can't ask for anything more . I enjoyed it. He shined.

[@jamiejameskingofgames4648]

I do this he deserved more. He did the most. It was his show and he had to remember all that complicated stuff that came with him portraying a genius.

[@ilikeitlikethat7305]

Wow! That one actors voice is still so high! His voice never changed as he grew?

[@scarzwr]

Have you ever done a video on kenan and kel?

[@princesurvivor7093]

I hope the actors dnt think lil a$$ TJ was demandin more $…he has parents/handlers dealin with contracts..

[@FATMAN1988]

Idk how I came across your chchannel but I'm glade I did 💯💯🔥🔥🔥

[@chapterblaq]

0:22 this is a blessed image. Those siblings were shining in the late 90s. And stacking chips i hope 💸

[@charlita25]

No matter who’s show 📺 it is. You’re nothing without your supporting cast 🎥.