"Martin" (1992-1997)

Martin Payne (Martin Lawrence) was a popular DJ on a talk radio show in Detroit. Martin was quick-tempered, and could be rude and obnoxious. I always wondered what Gina Waters (Tisha Campbell), a marketing executive, saw in him. Whatever it was, their relationship stuck. Eventually, the two went from dating to living together.

Martin had two buddies he'd known from childhood. Dimwitted Cole Brown (Carl Anthony Payne II), initially lived with his overbearing mother (played by comedianne Laura Hayes in some episodes), and dated a never-seen woman named Big Shirley. Level-headed Tommy Strong (Thomas Mikal Ford) allegedly had a job, but no one knew what he did for a living. It was never found out during the entire run of the series. Gina's best friend was her co-worker Pam James (Tichina Arnold), an outspoken type who couldn't stand Martin. The feeling was mutual. Some of the biggest laughs came from Martin and Pam insulting each other. Martin's boss in the early seasons was Stan Winters (Garrett Morris), an insufferable cheapskate. Goofy Shawn (Jonathan Gries) was an engineer at the radio station. Shanise (Maura McDade) was the ditzy girl Cole took up with after he broke up with Big Shirley. Nipsey (Sean Lampkin) ran the bar the Martin and friends frequented. Brutha Man as well as Hustle Man (Tracy Morgan) were characters who showed up from time to time to vex Martin.

The series started off with a sort of "Mad About You" feel, focusing on Gina and Martin's growing relationship. As time went along, the plots became wilder and somewhat over the top. The sitcom made good use of Lawrence's talents, as he played several other characters including ghetto fabulous hairdresser Sheneneh, who's apartment was across the hall's from Martin; Otis, an old school security guard; and Mrs. Payne, Martin's harridan of a mother, who did not think Gina was good enough for her son.

As couples do often on TV sitcoms, Martin and Gina hit a major bump in their relationship. Gina was offered a job in New York, and took it after it appeared that Martin could not make a decision about their future together. After realizing he was about to ruin the best thing that ever happened to him, he proposed to Gina, with popular R&B singer Bryan McKnight on hand to provide a serenade. Not long after the engagement, the radio station was sold, and Martin found himself out of a job and despondent. After getting his head together, Gina helped him get a job on a local talk show as a producer. Eventually, Martin took over the show as host, and was back on top. Meanwhile, Tommy and Pam had started a relationship, but it fizzled out after a season or so.

The friends continued to move up in the world. Gina was given more responsibility at her job, even though Martin nearly caused her to lose it at one point due to his interference in a beef between Gina and her boss. Pam was downsized out of the agency, but talked her way into an A & R job at a record company. A pilot for a show featuring Pam on her new job was shown as an episode of "Martin", but nothing ever came of it. Cole moved out of his mother's house and eventually got engaged to Shanise.

Tisha Campbell virtually disappeared from the show in late 1996. The actress claimed that Lawrence had sexually harrassed her, and put in a lawsuit. Her character was not written out of the show, however. It was explained that Gina was in LA helping to open up another branch of the marketing firm she worked for. Gina did appear in the last episode of the series, which found her and Martin packing up to move to LA--she was made the head of the markeing firm there, and her hubby landed a big-time talk show host gig--but Campbell and Lawrence did not appear in scenes together.

Campbell's next sitcom was "My Wife and Kids" alongside "In Livng Color" alumus Damon Wayans. Arnold appeared as the mom on "Everybody Hates Chris". Lawrence continues to appear in movies and does standup comedy. Tracy Morgan was a regular on "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock".