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| Martin (TV series) | |
|---|---|
| Show name | Martin |
| Genre | Sitcom |
| Creator | Martin Lawrence |
| Starring | Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell-Martin, Tichina Arnold, Reginald VelJohnson, Carl Anthony Payne II, Tommy Davidson |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Num episodes | 132 |
| Executive producer | Martin Lawrence |
| Producer | Tom Werner |
| Runtime | 22–24 minutes |
| Company | Hanna-Barbera Productions, Warner Bros. Television |
| Network | Fox Broadcasting Company |
| Original release | 1992–1997 |
Martin (TV series) is an American television sitcom created by Martin Lawrence that aired on the Fox Broadcasting Company from 1992 to 1997. Set in Detroit, the series follows a fast-talking radio host and his relationships with friends, coworkers, and romantic partners, blending character-driven comedy with recurring sketches and celebrity guest appearances. The show played a role in the careers of its ensemble cast and influenced 1990s popular culture, syndication patterns, and later sitcom productions.
The series centers on a fictional radio personality in Detroit whose flamboyant persona interacts with characters connected to radio broadcasting, nightlife, and retail settings. It combined situational plots with sketch-based humor recalling traditions from stand-up comedy, sketch comedy, and vaudeville influences, while drawing on the rising prominence of African American performers in 1990s television network lineups. The program aired during the expansion of Fox Broadcasting Company into prime-time entertainment and coexisted with shows on NBC, ABC, and CBS that were reshaping Saturday and weekday evening schedules.
Production involved collaboration among talent and companies prominent in 1990s television. The show was produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, tapping producers experienced with multi-camera sitcom formats. Filming used a multi-camera setup at studios associated with Lenox Square-area production facilities and soundstages leased by major studios. Behind-the-scenes personnel had prior credits on series developed for Fox Broadcasting Company and worked alongside producers with backgrounds at MTV, BET, and comedy clubs in New York City and Los Angeles. The series' development paralleled the careers of contemporaneous creators and performers who had credits on shows for NBC's Saturday Night Live, The WB, and cable networks such as HBO and Showtime.
The principal cast featured a stand-up comedian-turned-actor as the lead, with a supporting ensemble that included actors with prior credits on series and films distributed by studios like Paramount Pictures and Universal Pictures. Recurring cast and guest stars included performers from Saturday Night Live, Def Comedy Jam, and theatrical circuits, as well as actors who later worked on projects for Disney, Sony Pictures Television, and Lionsgate. The supporting ensemble's careers intersected with film credits at 20th Century Fox, appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, and roles in productions associated with John Singleton and Spike Lee.
Across five seasons and over one hundred episodes, the series employed serialized arcs alongside standalone episodes centered on workplace comedy, romantic entanglements, and family interactions. Episodes featured celebrity guest stars from music industry acts and film actors with credits at Miramax and Columbia Pictures, often timed with promotional cycles around tours, album releases, and festival appearances at venues promoted by agencies such as CAA and WME. The episode list reflects production codes consistent with sitcom scheduling practices used by networks including Fox Broadcasting Company and syndication packages distributed by Warner Bros. Television Distribution.
Critical reception during the original run combined praise for comedic performance with discussion in newspapers and trade publications such as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. The show's cultural footprint extended into fashion trends, catchphrases, and influence on subsequent sitcoms on UPN and The WB. Alumni of the cast and crew later collaborated on projects for BET, VH1, and streaming services operated by Netflix and Hulu, while the series itself became a staple in off-network syndication packages screened on outlets like TV One and retro networks curated by companies such as Scripps Networks Interactive and AMC Networks.
The series encountered public disputes involving cast relations and allegations that drew attention from unions and advocacy groups connected to broadcasters and performers. Legal filings and mediation involved entertainment attorneys and unions such as SAG-AFTRA, with coverage in outlets including The New York Times and Los Angeles Times. Debates around creative control, workplace claims, and intellectual property were reported alongside discussions of contract negotiations with distributors like Warner Bros. and retransmission fee arrangements with cable operators represented by trade groups such as NCTA.
Home media releases were issued by distributors associated with major studios, including DVD releases from companies tied to Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and subsequent digital availability on platforms managed by Amazon, Apple TV, and streaming services sublicensed by rights holders. Syndication runs appeared on broadcast and cable outlets, with programming blocks curated by networks such as BET, TV Land, and regional affiliates of Fox. Licensing deals for reruns involved negotiations handled by distribution divisions linked to Warner Bros. Television and independent syndicators working with local stations across the United States.
Category:1990s American sitcoms