‘Sister, Sisters’ ’ Brother Joins WB’s Family as ‘Smart Guy’

The WB Network’s new “Smart Guy” is strictly for the pre-pubescent set. And, creatively, for the birds.

Its arrival projects WB’s 8 to 9 p.m. bloc as a family hour in the truest sense. First comes incumbent “Sister, Sister,” starring siblings Tia and Tamera Mowry, followed by the distinctly inferior “Smart Guy,” starring their little brother, Tahj.

He’s a real cutie as 10-year-old T.J. Henderson, who, after skipping six grades because of his phenomenal IQ, is now attending the same high school as his 16-year-old sister, Yvette (Essence Atkins) and 15-year-old brother, Marcus (Jason Weaver), all of whom live with their widowed father, Floyd (John Marshall Jones).

The premiere and another episode made available for preview find T.J. using his superior wits to torment his elders, especially Marcus and his two pals--about as dumb a trio of characters as you can find on TV.

Although T.J. is much less abrasive than most smarty-pants kids, his cuteness doesn’t equate to funny, especially in a production as stunningly wooden, amateurish and banal as this one.

* “Smart Guy” premieres at 8:30 tonight on WB (Channel 5). The network has rated it TV-G (suitable for all ages).