By Brittnee Jones
On Thursday August 27, 1992 at 8:30pm, FOX premiered a brand-new series featuring a young black radio host and the many adventures that he endured on a daily basis with his girlfriend and best friends. That show was titled “Martin” & Martin came into our lives & nothing was the same! Martin was just “feel good TV”. It felt like a good playlist, hanging out on a packed parking lot on a summer evening and a cookout all rolled into one. Martin was for the culture and we still appreciate what it did for Black TV! Martin was so good that we even let that Season 5 slide LOL!! During quarantine, I pulled out my Martin DVDs, binged watch the entire series and I decided to come up with a list of my favorite Martin episodes!! This was very difficult to do, and everyone will have their personal favorites (list your favorites in the comment section below) but let’s get to it!! Here are my favorite Martin episodes (no particular order except #1 lol)
C.R.E.A.M. (Season 3, Episode 22..Airdate – April 6, 1995)
Plot: Martin & Gina are blessed with a tax refund check and they use it to open Marty Mar’s Meatloaf & Waffles…what a hilarious disaster that was!
Why I love this episode: One memorable phrase…..”RENT EM SPOONS”!!!!! (Note: This was Garrett Morris’s last appearance as Stan).
Control (Season, Episode 7..Airdate – October 3, 1993)
Plot: Gina loses Martin’s Piston tickets (so she thought), Sheneneh informed her that she had tickets to offer un exchange for working in Sheneneh’s Sho Nuff Hair Salon for the day.
Why I love this episode: Sheneneh delivered some her most iconic shade throwing on this episode, giving Myra (Bebe Drake) a perm without Neutralizer and “YOU GOTTA GO TO WORK ON MYRA’S FEET”!!!!!
DMV Blues (Season 4, Episode 25..Airdate April 25, 1996)
Plot: Martin is forced to go to the DMV on his off day to renew his license.
Why I love this episode: The characters Martin encounter all while trying to renew his license made this episode fantastic. From the “Almond Joy” guy, Poindexter, Ms. Gerri and the late Sherman Hemsley.
Blow, Baby, Blow (Season 4, Episode 4..Airdate – September 25, 1995)
Plot: The late Biggie Smalls is in town and he’s looking for a background singer.
Why I love this episode: Biggie of course but seeing Gina & Pam in competition mode throughout the entire episode was absolute gold (Anita Faker & Phony Braxton was quality shade)!
No Justice, No Peace (Season 2, Episode 16…Airdate January 4, 1994)
Plot: Martin becomes his own lawyer to contest a parking ticket
Why I love this episode: G.T.D. + Martin’s fake mental meltdown = GOLD!!
Hollywood Swingin’ (Part 2) (Season 2, Episode 12..Airdate November 14, 1993)
Plot: Martin continues his quest to be a guest on the Varnell Hill Show
Why I Love this episode: If you tell Martin he’s gonna be on your show then he’s gonna be on your show…even if that means interrupting Jodeci’s performance (such an ICONIC moment).
Ain’t Nothin’ Goin’ On But the Rent (Season 3, Episode 16..Airdate February 2, 1995)
Plot: Martin & the Crew were snowed in with no food, heat or hot water because Martin didn’t wanna pay the 5 ($5 rent increase lol)!!!
Why I love this episode: Martin & Pam’s jab were FLAWLESS in this episode! There were so many funny moments but the “Hens on a branch” made with pork & bean juice & molasses takes the cake!
Romantic Weekend (Season 3, Episode 24..Airdate April 27, 1995)
Plot: Martin surprises Gina with a trip to Chilligan’s Island. An island that was advertised on the back of a cereal box.
Why I love this episode: The rat/puppy was the star of the show. “That ain’t no damn puppy”!!!
Heading for Trouble (Season 4, Episode 12..Airdate December 10, 1995)
Plot: Martin wanted him & Gina to test out the new Nefertiti 2000…resulting in Gina getting her head stuck in the headboard.
Why I love this episode: Gina’s head has been a running joke since the beginning of the show and those joke come full throttle in this episode. So many gems and of course Tommy having a random blow torch! How her head got stuck?? That’s the mystery..
Suspicious Minds (Season 2, Episode 17..Airdate – January 16, 1994)
Plot: Martin’s CD Player is missing and targets his girlfriend and best friends as the main suspects.
Why I love this episode: If I sound biased about this episode then you’re absolutely correct because this is literally my favorite episode of Martin! Martin has always been materialistic and a little “me first” and it truly shows in this episode! Each character shines in their own way and of course, this episode has one of, if not the best scenes in the show’s history…the New Jack City interrogation scene. You know it’s funny when you see Tommy & Gina trying their best not to laugh! This episode is great!
Here are a few more of my favorite episodes..
“Sophisticated Ladies”
“Checks, Lies & Videotapes”
“Dead Men Don’t Flush”
“Forever Sheneneh”
“The Closer I Get To You”
“Lockin’ Boots”
“Whole Lotto Trouble”
“I’ve Got a Secret”
“Fat Like Dat”
“Whoop There it Ain’t”
“The Night He Came Home”
“Go Tell it on The Martin”
“Get A Job”
“Feast or Famine”
“I’ve Got Work to Do”
“Beat It”
“The Closer I Get to You”
“Lockin’ Boots”
“Swing Thing”
“The Cabin Show”
“Martin, I Wanna Sing”
“Banging Hard in the School Yard”
“Snow White”
“You Can Drive My Car”
“Got To Be There”
“Baby, You Can Drive My Car”
There you have it….my favorite Martin episodes!! Do you agree with my list? What are some of your favorite episodes??? Let me know in the comments below!!
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