Are you one of those kids who have to learn things the hard way? Who have to experience things for themselves instead of taking other people’s word for it? If so, you’re like Marcus Henderson on WB’s sitcom “Smart Guy” -and like the actor who plays him, Jason Weaver.
“Marcus is your regular teenager going through the normal changes of becoming a man,” Jason says when we nab him for a chat. “He thinks he knows stuff, but he really doesn’t. He has to learn on his own.”
Sound like anyone you know, Jason? Yep. “I’m stubborn as well,” the 18-year-old says. “I have to go through something myself to learn.”
Right now, Jason is learning what it feels like to be a TV star. He’s getting lots of attention for his role on the show — even though his character isn’t the smart guy it’s named after. That role belongs to Taj Mowry, real-life little brother of Tia and Tamara of “Sister, Sister” fame. Taj plays TJ Henderson, the genius little brother who skips grades and winds up in high school with Marcus. TJ is adorable, but lots of fans like Marcus’ outgoing, fun-loving character. In fact, when Jason and some friends went to the Taste of Chicago over the summer, “all these people were following us. It’s still catching me by surprise.”
Still, Jason is no show-biz rookie. He played Michael Jackson in the ’92 miniseries “The Jacksons: An American Dream.” And when he was 11, he was the singing voice of Simba in “Lion King.” He calls that job one of the highlights of his life. “From now on, even after I’ve done my thing, my grandchildren will be watching that movie.”
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If you’re smart, you’ll tune in to “Smart Guy” at 7:30 p.m. Central Time on the WB Network.