In addition to theater, Smart began working in television in several smaller to mid-size guest parts in the late 1970s and early 1980s, appearing on "The Facts of Life", "Alice", and "Remington Steele" among several others. According to Smart, after roles on the short-lived series "Teachers Only" and "Reggie" in 1983, "casting directors just decided I was funny. When that happens, you usually get pigeonholed, but I was fortunate. I got to move back and forth." The following year, she had a supporting part in the thriller "Flashpoint" (1984).