1992: 'Martin' Debuts on Fox
August 27, 2020
| By TV WW
On this day in 1992, Fox launched the situation comedy, Martin. The show starred comedian Martin Lawrence as Detroit disc jockey (and later talk show host) Martin Payne. Tisha Campbell-Martin starred as his girlfriend, Gina, and Thomas Mikal Ford, Carl Anthony Payne II, and Tichina Arnold co-starred as the couple's friends.
Lawrence also played a range of recurring characters on the show, including a 10-year-old boy, Roscoe, and the Martin character's mother, Edna Payne.
Martin proved popular with Fox's audience, and along with its Thursday night counterparts Living Single and New York Undercover, delivered respectable ratings.
During its five seasons, Martin welcomed a string of guest stars, ranging from Shaquille O'Neal, Snoop Dogg and Billy Dee Williams to Pam Grier, Richard Pryor and Mr. T.