The Untold Truth Of Martin

When "Martin" premiered in 1992, the series was the first of its kind. Although there were already a few prominent sitcoms featuring African American families like "The Cosby Show" and "Family Matters," the show made by comedian Martin Lawrence was unique in that its main two stars played a black couple that a new generation of fans could relate to. Young adults who did not want something as wholesome as the other popular options thoroughly enjoyed it, as did teens who thought the edgier comedy was way cooler than anything else that was available to watch. 

Bill Cosby may not have approved of "Martin" but that did not matter as the show was a massive hit that lasted several years and spanned five seasons. However, fame is not always a blessing and can sometimes ruin a good thing. Sadly, that was the case with both Lawrence and his series near the end. Regardless of its eventual downfall, "Martin" is remembered as classic TV and the stories behind it are just as fascinating as the show itself. Here is the untold truth of "Martin."

Like all sitcoms, "Martin" was based on a script written ahead of time to guide the show, but at any given point throughout filming, Martin Lawrence would throw those guidelines out the window. Tichina Arnold told Buzzfeed it did not take long for Lawrence to start improvising and she immediately saw the brilliance of it. She said, "The first time he went off script, we just knew that's how it was going to be for the rest of the show and that turned out to be much better than what it would have been if he stuck to the script. Him going off script made 'Martin' what it is."

Lawrence's improvised antics were so hilarious on set that it was often difficult for the other cast members not to break character and burst out laughing. They often had contests to see who would break first, and it was usually Thomas Mikal Ford who would lose — although none of them could keep it together for long.

One of the things that made "Martin" so great was the ridiculously funny physical comedy of its creator. However, Martin Lawrence was not the only cast member whose physicality shined throughout the series. Lawrence saw a lot of comedic potential with his costar, Tisha Campbell, so he did what he could to encourage her not to hold back on the show. In "Martin: The Reunion," Lawrence recalled how he used Lucille Ball as a prime example of going all out and not letting fear get to her (via CBS Mornings).

For Campbell, that goal became easier because she made a game out of it trying as best as she could to make Lawrence laugh. The actress did not deny that nerves almost got her in the beginning but getting the shocked, hysterical reaction she wanted out of Lawrence made it all worth it and easier from then on.

Even though the chemistry and natural flow of the cast members of "Martin" was one of its best features during most of the show's five seasons, there was one rocky relationship behind the scenes that was a major exception. Rumors of the tension between Carl Anthony Payne II and Martin Lawrence were eventually confirmed by the co-star when he was interviewed by Thisis50 and asked about the situation.

Payne revealed to Young Jack Thriller that from his perspective, all of the negativity was completely one-sided as he had no problem with Lawrence. However, things got heated gradually over time as the star continued to undermine Payne and bring him down for seemingly no reason. Frustrated from the constant demeaning way he was treated, Payne had enough and the two did not reconcile their grievances for many years until they finally spoke before the "Martin: The Reunion" episode.

Tracy Morgan's career may have begun with "Def Comedy Jam," but it was his appearances on "Martin" that skyrocketed him into becoming the massive star he is now. Martin Lawrence saw a lot of potential in the new comedian, so he gave Morgan a small part on his show as Hustle Man years before he became a regular on "Saturday Night Live." Lawrence quickly confirmed that he made the right decision, as he told Jimmy Fallon that Morgan instantly proved to be a natural on set with his excellent delivery and ability to improv.

From his statements in an interview on SiriusXM, Morgan clearly credits the series for dramatically changing his life because the comedian teared up before he said, "Martin, he let me eat at his table. And it wasn't cause he liked me, it's cause he thought I was funny. So, he said come eat at my table in my show, and he put me in front of this national audience, and he gave me an opportunity. He told me things, man, and I'll never forget it and I'll always be thankful to Martin Lawrence for that."

In 1996, Jackie Chan made a brief appearance on "Martin" for the episode "Scrooge," in which he plays himself and is the unexpected boyfriend of the wacky side character Sheneneh. The appearance of the international star on the series may seem random at first, although Lawrence revealed to Jimmy Fallon that around that time, he was offered the role to play the cop alongside Chan in the action comedy "Rush Hour." When talking with Club Shay Shay, Chris Tucker also confirmed that the studio considered other options like Lawrence and Wesley Snipes.

Yet before Tucker was offered the role, Lawrence had to turn down the part and did so because, as he joked with Fallon, "They didn't have enough money for me." Hopefully, Chan did not make the cameo on "Martin" for the sole reason of getting the comedian to join him, because otherwise it probably would have been upsetting to agree to a somewhat embarrassing role for nothing.

At the same time, Martin Lawrence was also struggling to cope with the pressure from his new level of fame. The comedian turned to smoking marijuana for relief, but the drug use only made matters worse. In May 1996, the Los Angeles Times reported that police were forced to stop Lawrence from yelling and cursing in the middle of a busy street with a concealed firearm.

On his "Biography" episode for A&E, Lawrence was brutally honest about what happened and was able to laugh about it — although he acknowledged the seriousness of the incident. The comedian admitted, "I was high that day. And I don't know how I got into the street but running across the street and herb don't mix cause you don't know if the cars are going slow or fast. So, they had a right to come get me."

The incident was resolved peacefully, yet this was not his only run-in with the law. The Washington Post reported that Lawrence was then arrested later that year for trying to fly with a handgun packed in his carry-on bag, and in March of 1997 he was put on probation after striking a man at a nightclub. However, worse than everything else were the horrible statements he allegedly made to his ex-wife during their divorce. It was a sad and complicated period because he was on top of the world, but he had also reached his lowest point.

Near the end of Season 5 of "Martin," an interesting episode aired with Pam as the central figure, not Martin Lawrence, called "Goin' for Mine." In the story, Pam is fired from her job but then helps a friend discover a new talent for Keep It Real Records, which lands her an awesome job as an A&R executive there. Due to the serious issues behind the scenes of "Martin," it was clear that the series was coming to an end, and this standalone episode was Fox's way to taking steps towards a spinoff with Tichina Arnold as the star.

Though ultimately, it was not meant to be. In an interview with Buzzfeed, Arnold explained, "This was another example of Martin trying to incorporate my singing and talents into the show. Martin and the Fox network were just testing it out and I guess I was looked at as the breakout spinoff character. It was a great opportunity... it didn't happen, but everything worked out the way it was supposed to."