TV | Pop Culture | 90s

TJ Isn't A 10-Year-Old Whiz Kid Anymore - See What The Cast Of Smart Guy Have Been Up To For The Past 20 Years

By Zachary |

The WB

If you grew up watching Smart Guy, you know that it wasn't just any other sitcom. Sure, it was about a high school kid learning life lessons and getting into hijinks.

But Smart Guy had an added twist: that high school student was a 10-year-old, who was smarter than most of his teachers.

Believe it or not, Smart Guy first aired way back in 1997. So what have the cast been up to since then?

1. Floyd Henderson - John Marshall Jones

TJ's dad was a roofer who struggled to understand all the science that his son was constantly talking about, but he always had a helpful life lesson ready for the end of each episode.

Jones's career stretches back to the '80s, and he was a regular on Melrose Place before being cast as TJ's dad. After the series wrapped up, he went on to be a regular on shows like The Troop, Still Standing, and John Doe.

But Jones's career is still going strong. You might recognize him - a little grayer than before - on episodes of The Fosters and Bosch.

2.  Marcus Henderson - Jason Weaver

Did you know Weaver was the singing voice for Simba in The Lion King? He made a big impression on the show as TJ's older (but not wiser) brother. Marcus always had a new scheme to use his brother's big brain to his own advantage.

After Smart Guy ended, Weaver had parts in movies like ATL, The Ladykillers and Drumline, but his career has slowed down since then. Aside from a bit part on Black-ish, he's only had small roles for the last few years.

3. Mo - Omar Gooding

If TJ was the brains, and Marcus was the leader, Mo was definitely the heart of the trio. He also supplied some of the show's funniest lines.

Omar Gooding, Cuba Gooding Jr.'s younger brother, had already been on Blossom and Hangin' With Mr. Cooper before starring in Smart Guy. Afterwards, he had leading parts on shows like Playmakers and the Barbershop TV series.

His latest sitcom, Family Time, just ended, so expect to see more from Gooding in the future.

4. Mackey - J.D. Walsh

Playing the dimwitted Mackey was Walsh's first big break, but he followed it up with parts in Dharma and Greg and the disastrous Tremors TV series.

While he's mainly had small roles on movie and TV shows since the '90s, he was a regular as Gordon on Two and a Half Men, and played a scientist in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

5. Goach Gerber - Dann Florek

Florek has had a long and interesting career, and his role as the gym teacher on Smart Guy is just one highlight. He also played the principal on Roseanne, and was a regular on LA Law.

In fact, Florek was playing homicide captain Donald Cragen on Law and Order at the same time as Coach Gerber. He reprised that part on the spin-off Special Victims Unit, where he played Cragen from 1999-2015.

6. Leslie / Monique - Taraji P. Henson

Yes, keep your eyes peeled for the future Empire star during the third season, when she plays one of Marcus's love interests in a pair of episodes. She actually appeared in a second season episode too, as a different character.

Smart Guy was just Henson's fifth role, after taking parts on shows like ER and Saved by the Bell: The New Class.

7. Tasha Henderson - Essence Atkins

TJ's older sister Tasha was the voice of reason in the Henderson house. Well, unless she needed to use TJ's smarts to her own advantage.

After Smart Guy, Atkins had small roles on Moesha and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, before starring in the sitcom Half and Half.

She went on to appear on shows like Are We There Yet? and Mr. Box Office, and had a memorable role in the movie How High.

Lately, she's been teaming up with Marlon Wayans for projects like his horror movie spoof Haunted House and his sitcom Marlon.

8. TJ - Tahj Mowry

The 10-year-old whiz kid at the heart of the show couldn't stay young forever, which is probably why Smart Guy only lasted for three seasons. But Mowry had a pretty impressive career after the show ended.

You may remember him as the voice of Wade on Kim Possible, and he also starred in the Disney Channel movie Seventeen Again. While his career has slowed down lately, he starred in the show Baby Daddy, which ended just last year.

Did you grow up watching this show?

More Throwbacks

TV

'Beverly Hills: 90210' Revival Looks Like It Will Feature A Lot Of Familiar Faces

By Tanya
Who else remembers planning their entire week based on when Beverly Hills: 90210 was going to be on TV? It wasn't like we could record it easily, blank VHS tapes were pricey, so we had to watch it when it was on or miss out. Watching Brenda, Kelly, Dylan, Brandon, Donna, and everyone else hand out and get into all kinds of mayhem was the highlight of our weeks. When it ended, we were all a bit sad, but then they brought it back with a new spin-off.  The new show tried to catch that same teen spirit, but

TV

'SpongeBob SquarePants' Creator Stephen Hillenburg Dies At 57

By Tanya
It's a sad day in the world of cartoons, as Nickelodeon has confirmed the passing of SpongeBob SquarePants creator Steven Hillenburg. The iconic TV show writer and producer with a long career and a hand in creating a lot of our favorite moments in animation. Hillenburg actually didn't go to school for television writing, instead studying "Natural Resource Planning and Interpretation with an emphasis on marine resources" according to Variety. Obviously, this would come into play later in his career. He started working in television after going back to school to study Experimental Animation, and eventually became a writer and

TV

Netflix Is Bringing All Of Your Favorite Roald Dahl Stories Back In A New Animated Series

By Tanya
There are a few iconic storytellers we can all agree influenced our childhoods, and Roald Dahl is basically guaranteed to make everyone's list. His classic stories like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, and James and the Giant Peach have been loved by children for decades. It doesn't matter if you're reading the book or watching one of the many movies based on one of his novels, because Dahl's ability to create these magical little worlds manages to transcend format and remain enjoyable no matter what.Dahl's characters are nothing short of iconic. Whether it's the six-year-old Matilda who has

80s

Die Hard's Reginald VelJohnson Reveals How Al Powell Got Him Cast On Family Matters

By Tanya
Watching Die Hard is like watching a little piece of history. It truly has remained one of the greatest movies of all time no matter how much time passes. Maybe we didn't know how special it was when we first saw it, but as the decades go on, it has become clear that it's a true classic that is basically required viewing for every single person. Everyone obviously thinks of Bruce Willis when they think about Die Hard, which makes sense because he embodies John McClane in a way that makes him feel real, but he's not the only iconic

90s

Trailer For New Nickelodeon Documentary Has Your 90s Favorites Spilling All The Secrets

By Tanya
Nickelodeon wasn't just a television network, it was basically a generation. Kids all over the country were bonded in this weird little family, obsessing over shows that our parents just couldn't possibly understand. They were for us. They weren't made to appeal to our parents, they were made for our enjoyment and so we felt a special connection to them unlike any other shows. Nickelodeon is still going strong today, but it's hard to remember that there was a time before the iconic kids network came around. The company may be a juggernaut now, but how did it get started?

TV

Woman Surprised Her Mom With A Trip To 'Sesame Street' And It's The Cutest Thing You'll See All Day

By Tanya
"Sunny day! Sweepin' the clouds away! On my way to where the air is sweet! Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?" It's a song we all know off by heart no matter how old we are now because it was literally one of the most important parts of our days. Sesame Street was a staple in almost every household. Those Muppets were our teachers and our friends before we made our way into elementary school or daycare, and they gave us a lot of life lessons that taught us how to be a