Thursday Nights On Fox: The Real Must See TV

 

This month mark's the 30th Anniversary of the cop classic New York Undercover, which also marks the anniversary of when Fox had a trifecta of shows airing on Thursday nights and was the real Must See TV. Starting in the 1980's NBC pretty much owned the night with a television block of sitcoms originally dubbed America's Best Night Of Television On Television, throughout it's run shows such as The Cosby Show, A Different World, Wing's, Cheers, Dear John, and Night Court ran the airwaves. In 1993 the network decided to rebrand Thursday night sitcom's dubbing it Must See TV. Led by Seinfeld, Mad About You, and Fraiser. The following season a new sitcom called Friends, and a new drama named ER joined the party.

All successful shows, but over on Fox all the cool kid's knew what time it was starting at 8:00 pm. The classic sitcoms Martin and Living Single kept the laughs coming for that one hour block. Then at 9:00 pm New York Undercover bought the fashion, action and drama. That block of shows was legendary for the culture and cemented their place and to this day 90's kid's watch the show like they have never seen. While a new generation watch those shows and are in awe about how awesome the 90's were. 

I'm not sure there is a more legendary TV block for the culture. When using the phrase what a time!, Thursday night's on Fox were a time. You were guaranteed to be entertained the entire night and there are so many classic episodes among the three series. Martin, is a certified sitcom classic. Living Single is very relatable hilarious sitcom, especially as you get older. Then New York Undercover, had two of the coolest police detectives ever to grace the screen while providing compelling, realistic stories. Thursday Night's Fox was a can't miss time in television history. You really had to be there.

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TV Thanksgiving episodes

 Thanksgiving that holiday the middle of Halloween and Christmas/New Years. A day of giving thanks for what you have, although we love our spread, big plates, and football it doesn't get a ton of love. Some folks find the holiday boring, others are just waiting to fully kickoff the Christmas season, then there are those that try to educate you on why you shouldn't celebrate the holiday as you try to enjoy your meal in peace.

For reasons like that, there aren't many movies considered Thanksgiving classics, but there are several TV shows that have produced classic Thanksgiving episodes. 

Thanksgiving is covered a bit more in TV land as opposed to film. Likely because in the TV landscape, November is also sweeps month. A big money making time for networks. Since the actor's strike just ended a couple weeks and there won't be any  Thanksgiving episodes this year. I figured I'd share some good depisodes. 

This article covers some of  to me the best Thanksgiving episodes in TV. So there are likely damn good episodes of sitcoms or dramas I've never seen that's not on this list.

5. Boy Meets World-Turkey Day

Everyone's favorite 90's teen sitcom Boy Meets World taught us some important life lesson's in this season 4 episode. It provided some insight into Cory and Shawn's friendship that for as long as they have been friends, their families likely never meet before this day. 

Cory and Shawn win a turkey and stuffing as a reward for donating the most cans in their class. They decide to have their families come as one for Thanksgiving and break bread together. Problem is the social class difference between the two sides may derail that plan. With a lot of bickering over small differences in taste occurring between the families. 

Eventually the adults get it together when Cory and Shawn have their own moment discussing what they are thankful for. A light episode with laughs, it also has a strong message.

4. Living Single-Thanks For Giving

This season 2 episode of Living Single features a Friendsgiving dinner before that was a thing as the focal point of the episode. Highlights include the debut of Heavy D as a frequent guest star on the series, as a love interest of Regine. The rest of the episode focuses on Khadijah being on edge wondering if her beau Scooter will propose to her, while also getting jitters about him taking a job in Tokyo.

This episode is hilarious and touching at the same time, and is a shining example of why the show is a 90's sitcom classic.

3. Fresh Off The Boat-Huangsgiving

The season 2, episode 8 of Fresh Off The Boat focused on the Huang family hosting Thanksgiving after Jessica's overbearing mom decided who was hosting that year. Determined to outdo her sister Connie who hosted in previous years, Jessica and Louis devise a plan for Huangsgiving to make it the best holiday dinner yet.

With ideas like switching up the menu (I personally am never opposed to that). The Huang's plan to serve individual cornish hens as opposed to Duck, which they serve instead of Turkey. To me that is interested as I'm always curious what Thanksgiving meals look like for other cultures. Of course nothing goes as planned, and it's revealed Connie and her husband Rick are divorcing. Throwing some plans out the window, and Rick and Louis to get pissy drunk. In the end it all come's together and proves the holidays are all about family.

2. This is Us-Pilgrim Rick

First thing's first, damn I really miss this show and this episode is a big reason why. Tugging at our heart strings in this season one episode. It follows the big three getting prepared for turkey day while reminiscing about how they're annual tradition of watching Police Academy 3 and the Pilgrim Rick hat for Thanksgiving came to be.

Per usual it's because Jack saved the day one year when holiday plans were derailed and he had to make the best out of a tough situation. Besides the feel good moments of family traditions, Randall also learns in this episode that Rebecca and William had met previously...the show wasted no time bringing out the heavy hitters.

The episode is about traditions, which many people consider Thanksgiving and most holidays in general to be about. Now that I have a child of my own I look forward to finding something that can be our yearly tradition for the holidays.

1. Martin-Feast or Famine

In this season 3 Thanksgiving epsiode, Martin ever the over confident big mouth boasts that he and the fellas could make a better dinner than the ladies. Gina and pam take them up on the challenge and a battle of the sexes for Thanksgiving dinner ensues. Martin, Cole, and Tommy have some unconventional  methods for they cook the dinner. Leading to a hilarious scene featuring some underwear.

Meanwhile Gina and Pam are aided by Mama Payne and her friend Florine (Millie Jackson) who take a liking to Pam over Gina. Who is still trying to get on Mama Payne's good side, they end up doing a rendition of Pass The Peas . The episode ends with a faceoff dinner, but everyone suspecting some fraudulent activity.

Leave it up to Bruh Man to end the episode on a high note lol.

Welp here's my 5 favorite Turkey Day episodes. Hope everyone eat's good, enjoys time with friends and family and relaxs. 

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! 

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30 Years of Martin: My 10 Favorite Episode's

 Today marks 30 years of my favorite sitcom "Martin". Starring Martin Lawrence, the show was a cornerstone of upstart TV network Fox. With an unmatched chemistry from the cast, non stop laughs. These simple words define the show legendary, iconic, game changing. There will never be another sitcom like Martin.

I have seen every episode hundreds of time, even the lackluster fifth season. Heres my top 10 episodes.

10. Really Gina Is Not My Lover

This season 2 episode focuses on Martin attending his 10 year high school reunion, with a focus on getting back at everyone who did him wrong in high school. Including Ricky Fontaine "Pretty Ricky" what they called him. Martin's goal to show up everyone is interrupted when Gina fresh off of an allergic reaction shows up to stand by her man.

9. No Justice, No Peace

This season 2 episode sees Martin deciding to fight a traffic ticket in court on his own. What follows is a hilarious range of banter between Martin, his close pals, and even the judge. The two most iconic scenes in this episode are finding out what GTD stands for, and Martin pleading insanity and acting upon it to escape any charges. 

Everytime this episode is on I stop what I'm doing and watch it.

8. Suspicious minds

Season 2 episode Martin buys a brand new CD player that turns up missing. Martin then takes a Don't Trust Anybody approach and become's a detective interrogating his friends. Eventually taking inspiration from New Jack City, he call's a meeting with his friends in all black and his stuffed dog.

Which lead's to this scene that if you don't laugh you need to check your pulse. Even Thomas Ford who play's Tommy is trying his best to keep his composure together with Martin's antics.

7. I Don't Have The Heart

Pam dates a older very rich man and Martin reaps the benefits. While Gina feels the dynamics of the  relationship is off. This episode was a fun poke at people getting into relationships without really knowing the other person. Marrying for money, and having friends with deep pockets and connections opening up a new whole lifestyle for some.

Martin without him realizing him becomes a third wheel in the relationship. He almost has a nervous breakdown when he's loses access to the suite at the Pistons game.

6. Momma's Baby, Martin's Maybe

A little boy named Marvin shows up claiming Martin is his dad. Figuring out the math make's sense, Martin set's out to be the best dad he can be. Trying to make up for all those lost year's he did not know about Marvin. That is until he find's out Marvin isn't even his son, which lead's to this funny exchange about Arizona.

5. Blackboard Jungle Fever

Martin runs into his old grade school teacher Ms. Trinidad. Only to see Ms. Trinidad still has it going on all those years later, and she's willing to let Martin fulfill his childhood fantasies. Martin almost give's into the temptation that is until Gina walk's in on the both of them.

Martin's a bit remorseful about even getting in to the temptation, Ms. Trinidad still wants her prey, and Gina is out for blood. This is a certified season 1 classic.

4. Guard Your Grill

Martin takes winning a charity boxing event too far and feeling disrespected, decides to challenge Tommy "Hitman" Hearns to a charity boxing match. Despite all the training in the world, of course he is no match for Hearns. Leading up to this hilarious confrontation in the boxing ring, which Martin sustains some serious apperance altering bruises from.

3. The Night He Came Home

This season 1 Halloween episode has everyone in the spirit except for Martin who doesn't buy into it. What follows is a night of Martin finding out his apartment just maybe haunted by Old Man Ackerman, and his friends being victims of the ghost. Martin soon show's his bravado is all talk when more spirits come after him.

2. I've Got A Secret

This season 1 episode brings out some bad blood amongst the friends, when secrets they've all held about one another come to light. Everytime I watch this episode I laugh my ass off like it's my first time watching it. 

In classic he said, she said scenario. Martin spills the beans on-air about a secret tactic Pam uses to get what she wants at work. Which he would only from Gina, which open's pandora's box amongst the gang of them basically talking shit about each other to one another.

1. Hollywood Swingin 1 and 2

This two part episode featured Tommy Davidson as a highly successful Late night host Varnell Hill who inspires Martin to reach for more.

Originally I only had the second episode listed, that interruption of Jodecis live performance gets me everytime. When I thought about it the first episode is just as funny if not more. While the second episode has the Jodeci interruption and a hilarious beef between Martin and "Michael Jackson". 

The first episode of this two-parter includes a just as funny if not more funnier exchange, between Martin and Varnell during an interview. Martin and Tommy Davidson are even trying their best not to break character during this scene. The 2nd half of this scene also highlights the chemistry between the two comedic geniuses and their amazing comedic timing.

A show as iconic as Martin it was hard to narrow down my ten favorite episodes, but in my opinion if someone could only watch 10 episodes from the 5 seasons. This 10 will show just what made this show so special.

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30 Years Of Martin: 15 Of My Favorite Scenes

 In continuing to celebrate 30 years of my favorite sitcom ever, I decided to highlight 15 scenes that really have stood the test of time as funny to me. Originally this was only to suppose to contain 5 scenes, anyone who has watched Martin religiously like I have. Know's how hard it was hard to settle on just five.

So, originally I picked 10 and that wasnt enough. So here we are with a top fifteen list, but while the episodes themselves may have been funny these scenes just took it over the edge for me. I consider them more memorable than the episodes themselves.

15. "Old School Loving"

In this season 4 episode, Gina has been working an insane amount of hours making things happen at work. As such she hasn't really spent quality time with Martin, and he hasn't really been eating.

The eating part come's to a head when he link's up with Cole and Tommy at Nipsey's. While they indulge in good ol restaurant food, Martin tries to hold strong but eventually cave's in under pressure.

14. "Working Day And Night"

In this season 2 episode, Martin begins working multiple shifts at the station. When Gina objects to it, Martin let's Stan and the fella's get into his head about Gina dominating him. In true Martin fashion, he shows up at a dinner. Encouraging other Male patrons and encouraged by them buying into his B.S. he lead's a "revolt" and it always get's me, when he yell's "Yo Fella's Let's Be Out!!"

13. "Romantic Weekend"

I'll be honest I don't find this season 3 episode on "Chilligan's Island" that funny. What saves the episode  is the famous battle with the rat. Tichnia Arnold and Martin show that they were just as great at physical comedy as they were at delivering lines. It also snapshotted their relationship best, when needed they had one another's back but could quickly go back to cracking on one another. Needless to say they whipped that "puppy's" ass.

12. "Martin Returns"

The end of season 2 finds Martin leaving Gina and friends behind to find his way. The beginning of season 3 finds Martin as Shaquille Sunflower. He's all philosophical now and it's all on display in the second episode of that season. During a conversation with Cole and Tommy, Martin makes so many philosophical comparisons that have nothing to do with the situation really, but are funny as hell.

11. "Ain't Nuttin Going On But The Rent"

Season 3 episode "Ain't Nuttin Going On But The Rent". It's a blizzard outside,there's no food in the house, no heat and Martin refuses to "pay the five". While waiting for Cole to come back with food, the gang hears a knock on the door. On the other side is none other than Hustle Man selling "free range" chicken, and offering his recipe to Gina who totally buys into his foolisness.

10. "Do The Fight Thing"

Gina is a guest on Martin's radio show in this season 1 episode. Stan convinces the two to make it permanent which Martin isn't feeling. He decides to leave Gina hanging and when she cracks under pressure, a caller gets disrespectful with her. Martin comes to the rescue and cusses the caller out full of all kinds of bleeps. While funny this episode displayed just how much they had one another's backs.

9. "Come Over To My Place"

Cole comes to the determination he needs his own spot in this season 5 episode. Which the highlight for me is the scene where he casually walks in Martin's apartment. Martin remarks to Cole to remind him to whip Cole ass later. Cole pulls out a notepad to schedule it. The way those two non chalantly discuss the timing of the ass whipping, like it's normal has me in tears everytime.

8. "Arms Are For Hugging"

This episode from season 2 follows Martin and Gina headed to the mountains for a weekend at a couple s retreat. Honestly thinking about it, this episode is easily top 15, but what really takes the cake in this episode is when a fellow retreater labels Martin "an angry man". Martin responds with a comeback and look that only Martin could. 

7. "Lockin' Boots"

This season 3 episode features Gina getting a boot on her car, and trying to keep it from Martin. Martin upon learning she doesn't have it sends her on a wild goose chase across the city for random things. After coming clean, Gina get's her payback in this scene dressing Martin in too small clothing "Air Wack".

6. "The Tooth Will Set You Free"

Turn's out enemies often are just alike, in this season 4 episode Pam is hypnotized while getting a tooth removed. She's end up under a spell to be more like Martin, and more like Martin she becomes during an high class art show. The scene at the art gallery is even more hilarious once Martin and Gina realize Pam is under hypnosis, Marvin loves it while Gina can't handle two of the same personalities, especially as they clear out the gallery.

5. "Get A Job"

I believe this season 3 episode is the first appearance of Hustle Man. As he attempts to swindle Martin for a pizza, Tommy pays for the pizza and pulls out a wad of money. Everyone knows Tommy ain't got no job, so Martin heads down the rabbit hole of what he does in this episode.

The highlight is Hustle Man's line which I always quote "We go back like spinal cords and car seats".

4. "Martin I Want To Sing"

This is by far the funniest Hustle Man scene ever, as well as one of the series all time funniest. This season 4 episode features Martin ever the opportunist, taking a young singer under his wing as her manager.

While he tries to secure a record deal for her. Hustle Man is at the same label trying to secure a deal. Saxophone in tow, he performs his catchy tune "Pick Up The Pieces"

3. "The Closer I Get To You"

Martin fill's in as the talk show host at his job and help's a couple rekindle their love in this season 3 episode. He spend's the remaining episode giving out relationship advice as The "Love Doctor" even being responsible for Pam and Tommy connecting, which he isn't aware of. Man when he find's out this scene is one for the ages.

2. "Fat Like Dat"

In this season 2 episode, Martin feeling less of a man after not being able to sustain working out in a majority female class. Decides to go on a strict diet and workout regiment, Gina not being able to sustain the lifestyle anymore. Use's some good ol' homecooking and his Momma's biscuits to break him down, and in this funny ass scene break down indeed he does.

1. "Your Arms Are Too Short To Box With Martin"

Episode 24 of Season 1 Tommy, Cole, and Martin are jumped by midgets during the early part of the episode. This episode has several zinger of jokes and is easily a top fifteen as well. After being jumped the gang decides they need to learn how to protect themselves better, and enlist the services of Dragon Fly Jones. This scene show's just how good of a comedian Martin Lawrence is with his delivery and his body language.

Dragon Fly Jones is a supposed master of the martial arts, but his pupil overpowers him at every step of the way. I crack up everytime I watch this scene, and it seem's Martin ad-libbed a lot of his movements during filming, as Carl Anthony Payne who plays Cole can be seen in the background trying his hardest not to laugh. This is my favorite scene in the history of Martin, even topping the Jodeci scene.

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