What Really Happened to Martin Lawrence’s 90s Sitcom?

It’s safe to say that many of the beloved 90s TV shows we enjoyed in the past wouldn’t hold up well under today’s standards. Series like “Friends” or “Married…With Children” might not have gained as much popularity if they were produced today, let alone considered for development. Of course, there are a few exceptions, and one of them is Martin Lawrence’s renowned sitcom, “Martin.”

The Significance of “Martin”

“Martin” may not have garnered as much critical acclaim as shows like “Frasier” or “Murphy Brown,” but it was equally iconic. Initially mocked for its crude themes, the show still resonated with viewers thanks to its celebration of black culture. Actor Carl Anthony Payne II expressed during a reunion special, “We had to be our authentic selves at that time. And it was told from a perspective that hadn’t been told before, and it was told from a different perspective.” He added, “It was about love in the young Black community, in their friends, and how they dealt with things.” The cast didn’t even realize the impact their show had on the audience until much later. Tisha Campbell said to The Washington Post, “We were just there to feed our families and put on a good show to make people laugh.”

The Premature End of “Martin”

“Martin” achieved a level of cultural reference that other shows could only dream of, but it ended prematurely from the perspective of the fans. Lasting only five seasons, there were speculations that the show was canceled due to Lawrence’s legal battles with Campbell. However, according to Lawrence, the show simply ran its course.

Martin Lawrence’s Account of the Ending

In January 1997, Tisha Campbell departed from “Martin” and accused Martin Lawrence of sexual harassment. According to People magazine, the show’s producers filed a lawsuit against Campbell for not returning to the set, while she countersued Lawrence for “repeated sexual harassment, sexual battery, verbal abuse, and related threats.” The lawsuit was settled out of court, and Campbell returned to the show under the condition that she would not film any scenes in the same room as Lawrence.

Months later, it was announced that the series would end after its fifth season. Fans speculated that the seemingly abrupt ending was a result of the tension between Campbell and Lawrence, but Lawrence denied this. In a statement to Variety, he acknowledged that it was time for him to step away from the small screen and focus on his film career.

In a 2020 interview with GQ, Lawrence reiterated that the show was never canceled. He stated, “Well, you know, I mean, it just ended. Let’s just say that. It just ended. That’s all,” when asked about Campbell’s lawsuit. He flatly denied all the allegations, saying, “None of that was true. It was all a bad time…it was just time for me to walk away from the show. People were saying I got canceled, but that wasn’t the case. In this instance, I decided to leave the show.”

Will There Be a “Martin” Reboot?

Don’t hold your breath for a “Martin” reboot. While the cast expressed their desire for a revival, various factors, particularly Tommy Ford’s death, prevent it from happening.

“We tried really hard for that to be something that happened. And to me, realistically, it won’t happen unless it’s animated,” actress Tichina Arnold said in an interview with Tamron Hall. “Tommy’s no longer with us…this show will never be the same. It’ll never be the same. And sometimes it’s best to just leave things alone.”

Martin Lawrence shares the same sentiment and stated on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” that replicating the magic of the original show is nearly impossible. “I think the show ‘Martin’ was lightning in a bottle. I don’t think you can recapture that again,” he said. However, he wouldn’t mind working with the cast on something else. “I’d like to see a movie with Sheneneh [a character from the show],” he explained. “And I was supposed to do a movie with Sheneneh and Jamie Foxx, Wanda, that was supposed to happen. But it never happened. But I think people would love that.”