"Martin" (1992) TV series 1992-1997

Creators:

John Bowman
Topper Carew
Martin Lawrence

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | unknown

Release Date:

27 August 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

The random misadventures of Martin Payne, an abrasive, loud-mouthed (though somewhat insecure) Detroit talk show host and his assortment of friends and enemies.

Plot Keywords:

Radio | Male Female Relationship | Career Woman | Actor Playing Multiple Roles | Friendship

Awards:

6 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Martin Lawrence

...

Martin Payne / ... (132 episodes, 1992-1997)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Company:

Home Box Office (HBO)

Trivia:

In the episode where Gina loses her job, she and Martin argue about her redecorating their bedroom with the colors pink and green. Gina says that they're her sorority colors, a reference to Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. the nation's oldest black sorority.

Quotes:

Pam: I heard that, Ashford and Shrimpson!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Married with Children: Enemies (#10.23)" (1996)

Quite simply the funniest show on TV

"Martin" was my favorite show in the '90s and it still is my favorite show today. I set my VCR everyday to record the episodes that are rerun on USA network. Bill Cosby once called this show a "modern day minstrel" and yet I'm still waiting to see "Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids" reruns on Cartoon Network, maybe Mr. Cosby won't allow them to be shown because it would eat at his own guilty conscience. Martin is a comedic genius and the other characters, Gina, Pam, Tommy and Cole contrasted well with his over-the-top style, usually ending up the butts of his jokes. Although at some times Martin would come across as crass and surly, by the end of the show his generosity and warm heart would shine through. Long before Eddie Murphy in "The Nutty Professor", Martin mastered playing multiple characters. From Sheneneh to Mama Payne, Roscoe the snot nosed kid, Otis the security guard, Dragonfly Jones, Elroy the mechanic, white boy Bob and who could forget Jerome "the playa from the Himalayas", Martin amazingly portrayed every different character with their own unique personalities. Some of the funniest moments ever in my opinion came during Martin's interaction with the old lady, Miss Jerri, or Hustle Man (Tracy Morgan at his funniest) and of course you can't forget his occasional visit from Bruh Man from the "fiff flo". If loving this show is wrong, then I don't wanna be right. So, to Bill Cosby and all the other bougie black folks that dissed this show, I'll tell you like Eddie Murphy said in "Raw", shut the f*** up and have a Coke and a smile!