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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In Case you Didn't Know....Bad Boys is a Classic

Bad Boys starring Martin Lawrence and Will Smith and directed by Michael Bay was released April 7th, 1995 and just celebrated it's 25th anniversary. Reading behind the scenes stories of the film, it comes across as a movie that wasn't suppose to be successful. Decades later people still love the film and yes the term "classic" gets thrown around alot, but I believe the film is a classic here's why.

Bad Boys is one of those films I look back as that has stars in them before they were stars. In this case Martin and Will were stars, but they were not the mega stars they would later come to be. Will Smith was mostly known as the clean cut rapper Fresh Prince and star of the TV show Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Martin Lawrence was the star of his own self-title TV sitcom Martin and the first host of the HBO series Def Comedy Jam. He was also the hottest Black comic of the early to mid 90's. Joe Pantoliano who played Captain Howard was always that guy you saw in movies that played his role well, who years later people would come to hate as Cyper in The Matrix. Tea Leoni has had a solid career but nothing superstar worthy.

Bad Boys took the buddy-cop odd couple formula popularized in the 80's by 48 hours and Lethal Weapon, and turned things up bringing that formula to the 90's. Martin Lawrence is the high strung family man Marcus Burnett, while Will Smith is the laid back smooth ladies man Mike Lowrey. It doesn't take itself too serious and try to be something it is not. 

The funniest scenes in the movie to me, are the one's where Marcus and Mike knowing one another for years. Are able to bicker and reflect real annoyances they have with one another to distract those around them, long enough to get out of a jam. The chemistry is displayed at the very beginning of the film when they use that method to get out of an attempted carjacking. The two have viewers really believing they've known each other for years and know how to get on one anothers nerves.

The action scenes are typical Michael Bay action scenes, before he was given budgets to just create utter nonsense. My favorite action scene in the film, is the foot chase through the city of Miami which honestly is the scene that probably convinced producers that Will Smith could be a formdiable, marketable action star. 

There in lies why Bad Boys is a classic. The story is an typical cop plot, but what it done for the careers of it's major players. It helped Martin Lawrence gain more roles and more clout in Hollywood, giving him the ability write, direct, produce and star in A Thin Line Between Love and Hate a year later. It made Michael Bay the new Hollywood IT boy for large explosive films such as Armageddon, The Rock, and The Transformers movies whether you love them or hate them. It led to roles for Will Smith such as Independence Day and Men In Black, which made him a box office draw off name alone. Eventually Will and Martin joined the $20 million a film club and Bad Boys is the catalyst that sparked those opportunites. 

Bad Boys also bought the buddy cop formula back that gave films like Rush Hour and The Other Guys a chance to succeed. A second film was released in 2003, and earlier this year the third film in the series Bad Boys For Life released with a box office take of $290 million in the U.S. box office. Along with mostly positive or netural reviews from film criticss Which proved after a 17 year hiatus, Bad Boys as a franchise is still well loved and the groundwork was laid way back in 1995. That my friends makes Bad Boys a classic.

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Why We Still Love House Party 30 Years Later

“I don’t give a damn if Marvin Gaye ‘Gonna be there, you Won’t!”- Pops

That line sums up the basis of 1990’s House Party which has become a classic in the 30 years since it’s release. Released March 9th, 1990 and starring tarring rap duo Kid N’ Play, Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, A.J. Johnson, and Robin Harris the movie was a film the culture didn’t know it needed until it was released. High schooler Kid gets into a scuffle with school bullies (Full Force members B-Fine, Bowlegged Lou, and Paul George) during lunch That causes Kid’s dad (Robin Harris), to ground him and keep him from the biggest party of the year thrown by his best friend  Play.

What ensues is a night of dodging bullies and the cops, getting the girl, and having fun. In the early 90’s most Black films highlighted inner-city youth and issues, and the aggression that a lot of Black youths harbor. House Party on the other hand showcased an often under depicted demographic middle-class Black youths who just want to get laid and have fun.

House Party carries so many attributes of the culture that still resonate today. Kid N’ Play and all their friends care about how they dress and look. They just want to rap and dance and look good doing it. Throw in sneaking out while you’re grounded, worried parents who are also pissed. Dealing with overzealous cops, high school bullies that look too damn old, and playing the game to get the girl. The soundtrack is a time capsule of late 80’s hip hop and r&b, and the now legendary New Jack Swing sound. Everyone knows and loves the classic dance off in the middle of the film between Kid N’ Play and Tisha Campbell and A.J. Johnson. 

We can’t forget the quotable lines that make the movie enjoyable to watch time after time. “I smell Pussy”, “follow the drip”, “What the hell is a Public Enema?”, “I would put my shoe so far up your ass, you’ll be shitting sneaker for a month.” "I'll fight a girl", "I know you will, I seen your ass get beat by a couple." And so many other lines you can still quote today, and those in the know will instantly get it.

House Party also is one of those movies that has a lot of stars or actors with consistent work, that you did not realize. Martin Lawrence is a comedy legend who starred in the classic sitcom Martin a couple of years later, and inspired a generation of comedians. Stand up legends Robin Harris and John Witherspoon displayed why their two of the funniest comedians ever. Tisha Campbell has built a nice career displaying her comedy chops between Martin and My Wife and Kids.  A.J. Johnson has built a fitness empire for herself. Everyones favorite scumbag Clifton Powell has an appearance. Funk legend George Clinton steals his scene as a DJ at a party. Daryl Mitchell, Anthony Johnson, Kelly Jo Minter, and Joe Torry all faces you may know more than the name, all have small appearances in the film.

House Party is a movie that those under 18 who watch it enjoy it because of some of the adult content, and looking forward to being in those at times dangerous but relatively harmless situations. Adults on the other hand can watch and relate to the carefree teenage days when you just needed to get home before your parents realized you were gone.

House Party has left a legacy between two direct sequels starring Kid  N’ Play, and a sequel starring music group immature that is related to the original strictly by title. There was also a sequel released in 2013 in which Kid N' Play make a cameo appearance. There are plans to reboot the original with Lebron James producing it, which goes to show how influential the film is years later.

It has made legends out of Kid N’ Play and let several Black youths know dance moves can get you the ladies. House Party is a simple film with a  simple mission, enjoy life and have fun doing it which is why we still love it 30 years later.    

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Love Letter to Do The Right Thing

Today June 30, 2019 marks the 30^th anniversary of Spike Lee’s “Do The Right Thing”. In my personal opinion is Spike’s best movie out of his acclaimed filmography. Starring Spike Lee and talent who were already legends or on their to being stars in later roles, the film follows an eclectic group of characters during the hottest day of the summer in Bed-Stuy Brooklyn. Over the course of this sweltering day tension rises throughout the neighborhood among the many races who live or work in the area.

I could go on and on with the plot of the film but that's not important right now, what's important is about how the film was a product of its time but on the same token ahead of its time. The themes of the film dealt with racism, particularly learning to understand other cultures and their nuances, tolerating others who don’t look like you and moving past your own prejudice. Police brutality which has sadly dominated this decade, gentrification and “them people” moving in causing things to change. Standing up when you've had enough and fighting the power for a real change as indicted by the films classic theme Public Enemy's "Fight The Power".

Many issues that plagued the neighborhood in “Do The Right Thing” still plague the country today. While things really have not changed much since the films release, there is always hope that things will improve. One theme highlighted in the film by Radio Raheem played by the late Bill Nunn, is the conflict between Love vs. Hate. It’s a constant struggle but in the end love should prevail. “Do The Right Thing” is not just a film for the culture as in the Black culture, but it is a film for the culture of the United States. It’s a reason it was added to the National Film Registry for Preservation in 1999 because it’s "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant". If you’ve never seen the movie do the right thing  and check it out.

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