Martin

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Martin
Genre	Sitcom
Created by	John Bowman Martin Lawrence Topper Carew
Starring	Martin Lawrence Thomas Mikal Ford Carl Anthony Payne II Tichina Arnold Tisha Campbell (1992-1996;1997) Jonathan Gries (1992-1994) Garrett Morris (1992-1994)
Country of origin	United States
Language(s)	English
No. of seasons	5
No. of episodes	132 (List of episodes)
Production
Running time	30 mins. (approx)
Broadcast
Original channel	FOX
Original run	August 27, 1992 – May 1, 1997

Martin is an American sitcom produced by HBO Independent Productions (a subsidiary of HBO) that aired for five seasons, from August 27, 1992 to May 1, 1997 on FOX. The show stars actor-comedian Martin Lawrence, Thomas Mikal Ford, Carl Anthony Payne II, Tichina Arnold and Tisha Campbell.

Reflecting the rising popularity of the FOX network throughout the 1990s, Martin was one of the network's highest-rated shows during the sitcom's five-season run. In contrast to the popularity of NBC's "Must See TV" on Thursday nights in the 1990s, many African American viewers flocked to FOX's Thursday night line-up of Living Single, New York Undercover, and Martin. In fact, these were the three highest rated series among Black households (in this respective order) for the 1996-1997 season.^[1]

Summary

Set in Detroit, Michigan, the series stars Martin Lawrence in the role of Martin Payne, a young disc jockey who in later seasons becomes a television talk-show host, and his comic misadventures with his closest friends. Martin works for the fictional radio station WZUP, and later for local public-access TV station Channel 51. A common theme of the series is Martin's derisive and brash nature; episodes often center on Martin's inconsideration towards his friends, neighbors, and whomever else might find themselves in his presence. When all is said and done, though, Martin loves his family and friends - it just takes dire situations to bring it to light.

As the series progressed, plotlines saw Martin lose his job with WZUP and eventually move on to become the host of the talk show "Word on the Street," which aired on the small Detroit public-access TV station Channel 51. He retained this position until the series' final episode, in which he and Gina prepared to move to California, from where his show would be syndicated nationally. The move coincided fortuitously with Gina's promotion by Mr. Whitaker to head up his company's new, main Los Angeles office, after having shut down the Detroit office. Pam, whom Whitaker let go two episodes earlier due to this consolidation and downsizing, went on to pursue a career in the music industry as an artists & repertoire (A&R) executive at Keep It Real Records. This plotline is the subject of a pilot episode that was included in the Martin series for a planned sitcom on FOX starring Tichina Arnold to be called Goin' for Mine. (Episode 129, "Goin' for Mine." This sitcom never materialized, though.) And at season's end, Cole proposed to his even more dimwitted but attractive and devoted girlfriend Shanice (portrayed by Maura McDade), and they made plans to move into their own place. In one of the earlier episodes, Martin is shown in a verbal argument, and later a fist-fight with Michael Jackson.

Regular characters

• Gina Waters (Tisha Campbell) (1992-1996, 1997), Martin's more level-headed, long suffering better half, and later his wife. Gina works for a public-relations firm headed by Mr. Whitaker (portrayed by Michael Colyar in a recurring role). In Season 5, Campbell had left the series but she made a guest appearance on the series finale. However, she is still credited as a regular cast member.

• Tommy Strawn (Thomas Mikal Ford), one of Martin's two best friends since childhood, a self-confident and worldly young man whose mysterious employment status is the subject of frequent debate among them all. Regarding Tommy's last name, there is some confusion as to whether it was actually Strong or "Strawn" (the latter being the most widely assumed). In Season Five, Episode Nine ("World Famous," airdate April 3, 1997), Tommy's father, Sgt. Hamilton Strawn (portrayed by John Amos), comes to visit, and he and the gang have drinks at Nipsey's, where Tommy and his father end up competing vigorously for the attentions of an attractive young woman. In this episode Sgt. Strawn is seen, throughout his first scene, wearing a U.S.Marine dress uniform. In several subsequent close-ups during this scene the name Strawn is clearly visible on the left breast of his uniform. Tommy's name is also spelled Strawn on his basketball jersey in the episode with the woman's olympic team.

• Cole Brown (Carl Anthony Payne II), Martin's other best friend. Dimwitted but well-meaning, he proudly cleaned jets at the airport for a living, and lived with his mother, Maddie, until season five. In the fifth (and final) season, he moved into his own place in a rough neighborhood. He also married Shanise in the 5th and final season. He is also well known for his eclectic taste in headgear.

• Pamela "Pam" James (Tichina Arnold), Gina's sassy, explosive best friend, who is consistently portrayed as Martin's antagonist. Initially, Pam worked in a boutique on commission. In later episodes, it's revealed that she works at the PR firm where Gina is employed, working as her subordinate. Pam and Tommy were occasionally flirtatious with each other in the beginning, and this developed into a romantic relationship later on in the series. During season one, Cole harbored an unrequited crush on Pam, which she usually responded to by losing her temper with him.

• Shawn John (Jonathan Gries) (1992-1994), Martin always found himself having rather strange conversations with Shawn. Shawn usually did things that upset Stan and once even tried to get a record deal from Snoop Dogg. Shawn was later fired, along with Martin, when Stan sold the radio station.

• Stan Winters (Garrett Morris) [1992-1994; 1995 (guest appearance)] Stan was Martin's and Shawn's employer, and the owner and founder of radio station WZUP. He always had on bad cologne and woefully outdated clothing from the 1970s. Martin knew Stan to be cheap and quite untrustworthy, and just when Martin didn't think Stan could sink any lower with his schemes, Stan was always able to surprise him. Furthermore, Stan got into trouble with the IRS due to a debt of $20,000 in unpaid taxes, precipitating his sale of the radio station and subsequent flight to parts unknown. He returned for one episode in Season Three to form a partnership with Martin, and together they opened a restaurant --Marty Mart's Meatloaf and Waffles. Needless to say, their joint venture was a failure, whereupon Stan left and was never mentioned again on the series.

Recurring characters

• Bruh-Man (portrayed by comedian Reginald Ballard): Bruh Man was an extremely presumptuous man who lived on the fifth "flo" directly upstairs from Martin (yet he always put 4 fingers up when relating this fact). Whenever Martin asked what he was doing, Bruh Man would reply: "....just chillin'". He often climbed down the "f-a-a-a-ah 'scape" to break into Martin's apartment, taking food, borrowing assorted items and generally lounging around as if he lived there. In fact, the fire escape seemed his only means of movement throughout the building. He was seldom seen entering or exiting the apartment through the front door. One memorable Bruh Man quote was in an episode in which Martin was having recurring romantic dreams about Pam. Martin wakes up around 3 a.m. and walks into his living room to find Bruh Man making a "s-a-a-a-h-h-mich." After some terse words from Martin, Bruh man asks "What you doin up? I usually have the place to myself 'round this ho-o-our." Bruh Man always wore badly fitting clothing a size or two too small (sometimes items he'd "borrowed" from Martin), and had a characteristic gait consisting of a slow and lazy, rather limping, plodding walk, with his head cocked to one side. Martin, as Bruh Man was heading toward the window to make his exit, once referred to it as his "slow bop." Bruh Man spoke in a deep voice and with a long drawl, not unlike that of Shaquille O'Neal.

• Ms. Geri (portrayed by Jeri Gray): A tough, trigger-happy senior who, regardless of her age and diminutive size, had no qualms about "whoopin' ass." Most of her assaults were committed on Martin in mundane, everyday situations, such as standing in line at the DMV or at the unemployment office. On one occasion, her opponent was Dragonfly Jones, whom she would soundly defeat as well, then take his money for good measure.

• Hustle Man (portrayed by comedian Tracy Morgan): This character was the neighborhood purveyor of questionable products and services "at a discount rate! I don't do dat for erra'body! I'm just tryna help YOU out!" He always greeted Martin with his trademark "What's happenin', chief?" In one episode, one of Hustle Man's more outrageous items for sale was an 'appetizing' array of roasted pigeons impaled on a tree branch (as if barbecued on it), which he attempted to sell to Martin and his friends while they were snowed in and starving. In another episode he served as Martin's cut-rate "wedding planner," armed with a shopping cart brimming with chitlin loaf, plastic flowers and a 40 of malt liquor, in retaliation for Gina's choice of a more elegant and greatly overpriced wedding planner.

• Nipsey (portrayed by Sean Lampkin): The rotund, good-natured bartender who owned Nipsey's, the group's favorite hangout.

• Mrs. Porter (portrayed by LaWanda Page): A senior resident who lives in Martin's apartment building who is also friends with Mama Payne and Cole's mother, Maddie.

• Bonquisha (portrayed by Kim Coles): A stylist at Sheneneh's Sho' Nuff Hair Salon

• Keylolo (portrayed by rapper Yo-Yo): A stylist at Sheneneh's Sho' Nuff Hair Salon

• Laquita (portrayed by Simbi Khali): A stylist at Sheneneh's Sho' Nuff Hair Salon and Sheneneh's even-more loudmouthed girlfriend, if that were possible.

• Rhodesia (portrayed by Kelly Jo Minter): A stylist at Sheneneh's Sho' Nuff Hair Salon.

Roles played by Lawrence

One of the trademarks of 'Martin, especially early in its run, was Lawrence playing multiple characters in the series, utilizing various costumes and prosthetic applications.

• Sheneneh Jenkins: A stereotypically flashy "Detroit ghetto girl," she was owner/operator of Sheneneh's Sho' Nuff Hair Salon, whom Lawrence played in drag. Mama Payne and Sheneneh were the only two characters Lawrence played in drag on the show, and both characters hated Gina. Though Sheneneh was awkwardly tall and thick in build, she often characterized herself as a "la-a-a-dy." She's portrayed as being very mouthy, confrontational, and feisty. She lived in an apartment across the hallway from Martin's, and factored into many of the plots by picking fights with Gina, and especially Pam, out in the hallway. Sheneneh had several girlfriends who appeared occasionally. Shenneneh has appeared on Martin 27 times from Season 1-5. She makes her final appearance in the series finale when her hair catches on fire and asks for Martin's help to put it out. However, only her voice is heard.

• Edna (Mama) Payne: Martin's shrill, extremely frenetic, and easily excited mother, who was overprotective of Martin, and who disliked Gina immensely. Comedically, Lawrence's mustache was never covered with stage make-up while in this role. The mustache was occasionally the subject of a sharp retort by Gina when she and Martin argued. She is last seen in Season 4 but her voice was heard in the fifth (and final) season in a Christmas-themed episode. She has a brother, named Junior (John Witherspoon).

• Old Otis the Security Guard: An abrasive, strict, potbellied old man, who was always seen while on his job as a security guard. Otis is usually seen trying to keep order whether there's trouble or not. Because of his immense stomach, old age, and geeky appearance, Otis seems like a weak old man who just tries to make everyone think he's capable of taking them out. Because of this, he's often challenged in some way, usually to physical fights, which he is more than willing to engage in. Surprisingly, enough, through his loony style of wrestling, he's always the victor, easily defeating all challengers. He is last seen in Season 4.

• Jerome: A loudmouthed, flashy Detroit pimp. He ran an illicit casino, wore a family-heirloom "gold" tooth, often partied, and regularly hits on Pam. He is not seen in the fifth season.

• Roscoe: A 10-year-old kid with a constantly runny nose and a smart mouth. Lawrence played the role by standing still on his knees, and attaching shoes to his kneecaps. He appears once in the fifth season.

• Dragonfly Jones: A martial arts "expert" who was beaten up in nearly every appearance. He always seemed to owe money to a real martial artist, who was actually a student of his named Kenji, who would beat Dragonfly up when he refused to pay him.

• Bob: A white man who worked in the marketing department of Gina's company who is best described as a stereotypical surfer-dude-cum-redneck. He spoke in a Southern Californian accent mixed with a Southern twang and often used words like "dude" and "man" even in professional settings. Lawrence achieved his appearance as this character with stage make-up and a prosthetic nose attachment to make him appear white, as well as wearing a long, blond mullet wig to complete the look. He only appeared in the first two seasons.

• Elroy Preston: The fictional "Godfather of Black Surf Music" who is now completely forgotten and washed up. Preston worked as an auto mechanic, and was best known for randomly breaking into song while performing his mechanical duties. This character often distracted himself and irritated others when reminiscing on things that involved his trademark song, which consisted of Preston singing "Don't you know no good!" over and over. He only appeared in four of the five seasons.

• King Beef: This was Cole's favorite '70s blaxploitation movie actor in a huge bodysuit. Whenever trouble arose, he felt the overwhelming need to dance. It didn't matter if he was on the run from Godzilla - he always found time for dancing, and always with his scantily clad female co-stars flanking him. He only appeared in the first two seasons.

• The Mechanic:

Special guest appearances

Episodes

Awards and nominations

Syndication and DVD releases

Reruns air in syndication in most major U.S. cities, and also air daily nationwide on the TV One cable network.

HBO Home Video has released all five seasons of Martin on DVD in Region 1. The fifth and final season was released on October 7, 2008.^[2]

References

External links

• Martin at the Internet Movie Database
• Martin at TV.com
• Martin at EpGuides.com