Tahj Mowry: The Smart Guy and a literally smart guy
⤏ ACTOR TAHJ MOWRY ON REPRESENTATION, ASTROLOGY, AND HIS RETURN TO DISNEY WITH THE MUPPETS MAYHEM
⤏ IN CONVERSATION WITH CIANA ALESSI
⤏ PHOTOGRAPHY BY CARLY PALMOUR
⤏ STYLING BY BRANDEN RUIZ
⤏ GROOMING BY SONIA LEE
TLDR; Tahj Mowry is both The Smart Guy and a literally smart guy. He’s also a celebrated artist, a success story for child actors who want their career to flourish as they get older, and a genuinely lovely person to talk with (he laughs a lot). Unfortunately Tahj didn’t share his SAT score with me, but we did discuss the importance of representation in Hollywood, the innate togetherness of The Muppets, and birth charts. And he had smart things to say about all of them — he is a Virgo moon afterall.
CIANA ALESSI: I would be remiss if I did not start here. Are you really a smart guy? How smart are you?
TAHJ MOWRY: [Laughs] Oh, man. I'd say I am pretty smart. I feel like I'm smart in different ways. I did not finish college in my actual life. I dropped out of college [but] for me that was smart, you know. It's not smart for everyone. I'm smart in different ways. I've got some street smarts and life smarts, some adult smarts that I've learned along the way. I'm pretty intelligent. I don’t speak with SAT type words or anything like that.
CA: Well, that was actually my next question. What did you get on the SAT?
TM: Yeah, there was not anything to write home about.
CA: Standardized testing is problematic.
TM: It’s not for me. Reading comprehension? No. Get somebody else to do it.
CA: One last question to play on the title of your show, would you rather be smarter than your partner or have a partner that's smarter than you?
TM: I think there's a balance. If both parties are intelligent then you can learn from each other. I don't think there's ever anything fun — in any type of relationship — if someone [doesn’t have] any intelligence at all. There's a give and take balance.
CA: Well, thank you for entertaining me there. We'll get into the proper interview questions. What was it like growing up as a Black child slash preteen in the entertainment industry?
TM: It was something that — when I look back on it now — was a very monumental thing. It’s something I don't take for granted. I'm so thankful for being someone that looks like me for so many kids watching TV. There's something very special about watching something and seeing someone that looks like you. Or someone that likes the same things that you do, or has the same characteristics as you. You can relate more on that level. I was that person growing up and still am to this day. [I’m] so thankful for that. I'm very blessed to be one of those people in this industry, one of the African American actors that people can see themselves in.
That's important to have in the entertainment industry. If you're watching television, you want to see yourself in the situations that these actors are portraying. I think there's something special in that. When you can't see yourself on TV, there's something missing. Now looking back, I'm so thankful that I was able to play not only a mixed kid like myself — my mom is Black [and] my dad's white — but also an African American that's intelligent. I am one of those actors that has the ability and the blessing to represent a community, and I think that's so special.
CA: Completely agree. I am also a mixed kid and I remember watching Sister, Sister and Smart Guy with both of my sisters and it definitely was a great feeling [to see myself represented].
TM: It’s awesome, right? It's one of the things I love hearing people come up and tell me. It never gets old.
“I'm very blessed to be one of those people in this industry, one of the African American actors that people can see themselves in.”
CA: When you were younger would you get fan mail?
TM: Oh my gosh, yes. Fan mail is definitely a thing. Every now and then I still get [fan mail], but there's social media [now.] The fan mail that I still get is mostly from super fan type people. Mostly people that love when I was on Star Trek. Random stuff like that, which is always cool. But most “fan mail” is on social media now.
CA: If you had to give a name to your fans, what would they be called?
TM: Oh, wow. That's hard. I would need time to think about that.
CA: Well, get back to me on it if you need more time.
TM: That's crazy. I'm really like thinking about it now. I'll let you know when I figure it out. [Laughs]
CA: Well speaking of fans, I know that you have a new project coming out soon, The Muppets Mayhem. I read a little bit about your character but I love to hear people explain things in three words, so how would you explain your character in three words?
TM: Moog is loyal. He is musical, and he is a bit of a romantic.
CA: Have you ever been a super fan of someone or anything like your character is?
TM: Oh my gosh. Not on the level of my character. Moog is the number one fan of The Electric Mayhem. Nobody beats him. One of the members of The Electric Mayhem is named Lips and he sort of just mumbles, he doesn't really say words. Moog is one of the only people who can understand him, as far as the humans go. So he's super loyal to this band. He goes to every concert no matter what country it's in. I've never been like that. Of course, I fan out and nerd out over so many things so I was able to relate to him in that way. And everyone's a fan of The Muppets, right?
Walking onto set and doing a scene with Animal on my first day, I was able to become Moog fairly easily. I was definitely fanning out on set my damn self. I'm like, oh shoot these are the Muppets. I grew up watching them, and I'm a part of this family now. I was able to relate to [Moog] in other ways because he is loyal as well. He's not just like, “I love the music and the superstardom.” He literally cares about their hearts. He's a very caring fan that will do anything to make sure that his favorite band is good and that they're healthy and thriving. It's more than the music to him. That's why Moog is so special because everything he does is from the heart, and everything is full force.
“The Muppets stand for unity. They're all so different and unique, but when they're together they're family.”
CA: That's awesome. It also sounds like it has a communal aspect to it.
TM: That's the special part about [The Muppets Mayhem] in general. The Muppets stand for unity. Each Muppet is a different color, has a different voice, [is] a different size. They're all so different and unique, but when they're together they're family. They'll do anything they have to do to keep that family intact, and that's just what this show is about, too. Not to mention the show is hilarious. It’s [an] adult and kid type show, you'll get some jokes that maybe only adults will get, but the kids will be laughing along right there with them. It's just a very special show. I'm so excited for people to get to experience it.
CA: How does it feel to be back in like the Disney Universe?
TM: It feels great. I've been able to work with Disney on various projects, but to be back specifically with a Disney Plus original show is amazing. Disney is family to me and it's my happy place. I love all things Disney. I love Disneyland, [and] Disneyworld. I love my Disney Plus app, I love the classic cartoons like The Great Mouse Detective and The Rescuers. I am a true Disney fan so to be able to, once again, work with them is a dream come true. I'm honored and I'm thankful. The Muppets touch so many people's hearts, and so does Disney. It's a no brainer why the Muppets are part of that Disney umbrella.
CA: This is an obligatory Junior High question. Do you believe in astrology?
TM: I don't know everything about it, but it does interest me. I believe that people born around the same time can have similar characteristics. I've been blown away multiple times by things said about my sign. I’m always like, “Oh shoot, I do do that.”
CA: What are your big three?
TM: Oh, shoot. I just learned this, too. I'm a Taurus. My birthday is May 17th, so I'm like a true Taurus. I think my moon is in Virgo, so my rising I believe is Gemini.
CA: I was going to guess that you were a Gemini rising. Not to be like that guy, but I was.
TM: Yeah, I'm pretty sure that's what it is. Taurus sun, Gemini rising, and I believe my moon is in Virgo. Yeah, I’m pretty sure that’s what it is.
CA: You're welcome to all the Tahj Mowry fans who now know his sun, moon and rising. They're gonna psychoanalyze you on Instagram. It’s going to be great.
TM: [Laughs].