Martin

Sassy sitcom centering on radio and television personality Martin Payne. Series focuses on his romantic relationship with girlfriend Gina, her best friend Pam and escapades with best friends Tommy and Cole.

Martin (1992-1997) is an American sitcom created by Martin Lawrence, John Bowman and Topper Carew, produced for FOX as a star-driven comedy in the tradition of 1990s network situation comedies. Martin Lawrence plays Martin Payne, a sassy radio and television personality whose romance with his girlfriend Gina Waters-Payne (Tisha Campbell) keeps pulling him into trouble. Tichina Arnold plays Pamela James, Gina's outspoken best friend, while Carl Anthony Payne II as Cole Brown and Thomas Mikal Ford as Tommy Strawn supply the loyal, mischievous friend circle whose escapades fill many episodes. Across five seasons and 132 half-hour episodes, the show runs as a continuing comedy in which each story grows from Martin's vanity, his impulsive schemes and the tangled loyalties of his relationships. Its engine is simple: Martin wants to impress, keep his romance intact and stay in control of his image, and the people around him keep complicating that plan. Set in a contemporary Detroit milieu, the series carries a breezy, cheerful, direct-to-camera energy, with a warm affection for its characters and a loud, confident comic voice. Fans of Living Single, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Seinfeld will find similar pleasures in its star-centered bravado and friend-group banter.

Viewers broadly rate Martin as a positive, lively sitcom whose early seasons are its strongest, though some reviewers find its raunchy edge watered down for broadcast.

• Living Singleshared workplace-free romantic sitcom tones, outspoken star-driven comedy, friend group dynamics
• The Fresh Prince of Bel-Airshared star-vehicle sitcom format built around a charismatic comedian and his circle of friends
• Seinfeldshared irreverent, fourth-wall-leaning comedic voice centered on a self-absorbed host

Created by

Martin Lawrence, John Bowman, Topper Carew

Release Date

1992-08-27

Episode runtime

22 min

Rating

7.5 / 10 (142)

What is Martin about?

A brash Detroit radio and television personality juggles his romance with Gina and the antics of his close circle of friends.

What is Martin like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Martin as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as simple.

Is Martin violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Martin.

What did critics think of Martin?

Viewers broadly rate Martin as a positive, lively sitcom whose early seasons are its strongest, though some reviewers find its raunchy edge watered down for broadcast.

Which shows are like Martin?

Shows with a similar feel include Living Single, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and Seinfeld.

How long is Martin?

Martin: 5 seasons, 132 episodes.

Is Martin still running?

No, Martin has ended.

Where can I watch Martin?

In United States, Martin streams on Netflix, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Peacock Premium, Paramount Plus Apple TV channel, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel, Netflix Standard with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus.