On August 27, 1992, Martin aired its very first episode on Fox, on its way to a 5-season run, finally closing down on May 1, 1997. I was a kid when it came on, so I didn't understand why the show disappeared. Here is the reason why the Martin Lawrence show was taken off air by Fox.
Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, Thomas Mikal Ford, Carl Anthony Payne II, and Garrett Morris made up the series starring cast for most of its 5 seasons - a series that was one of Fox's highest-rated shows during its entire run. According to Martin Lawrence, Trisha Campbell had a side deal that if she did the show the network would help her with her music career. She released an album and it flopped hard, and she blamed the Fox network.
Fox refused to back another project of Tisha Campbell's, and she got pissed. She started having breakdowns and complaining a lot on set. Meanwhile, Martin started abusing drugs and coming to the set high and taking it too far with Tisha. This gave her the excuse she needed to end the show and focus on her music. Also, there was a rumor floating around about affairs and stalker cases. Here is what that is about.
It's no secret that Martin and Tisha had history stemming from their work together in the "House Party" Movies. Martin and Tisha history led to the creation of "Martin and Gina" for the TV Show Martin. That project was successful until both stars decided to have a life outside of work, and Martin didn't take it too well.
Tisha got real serious with an up and coming actor named Duane Martin, and she went on to marry him. As a result of Tisha's relationship with Duane, Martin sexually harassed Tisha in an effort to get her to leave her man. No doubt about, Duane Martin had a legitimate reason to be pissed as Martin Lawrence was tripping and was rumored to going beyond character slipping his tongue in Tisha's mouth when they kissed or grabbing her in appropriately or continuing kissing after they yelled cut. The tension on set cause more tension off the set as well.
Tisha got real serious with an up and coming actor named Duane Martin, and she went on to marry him. As a result of Tisha's relationship with Duane, Martin sexually harassed Tisha in an effort to get her to leave her man. No doubt about, Duane Martin had a legitimate reason to be pissed as Martin Lawrence was tripping and was rumored to going beyond character slipping his tongue in Tisha's mouth when they kissed or grabbing her in appropriately or continuing kissing after they yelled cut. The tension on set cause more tension off the set as well.
Martin became obsessed that he couldn't have Tisha, so he became full on psycho and stalker. He started using drugs and dating a Tisha look a like from Saved by the Bell named Lark Voorhees. He developed some serious issues joggling a successful movie and TV career but fail relationship wise. Martin ended up taking his issues out on Lark. Flash forward 15 years into the future, and we can see a pictures of Lark trying to transform herself into a look a like of Tisha proving she had issues that were a result of the failed dating experience with Martin. He developed her insecurities.
When Tisha got tired of the harassment, she filed a lawsuit against Fox, Martin and HBO. Tisha and Martin spent the last season separated in filming until the show was over. Look at Martin's last two seasons and you'll see he wasn't the same wide eyed goofy Martin but a high darker personality Martin. However, Tisha music career did nothing and she became a B list actress.
So what really caused Martin to get cancelled? It was jealousy. When the show started. Tisha Campbell was a bigger star stemming from her film success in movies such as Little Shop of Horrors, House Party Franchise, and Spike Lee movies like School Daze in late 1980's and early 1990's. As the show became successful, Tisha career went up but was limited to the pretty girlfriend or wife of her male co-stars. She only did the show Martin because she wanted a music record deal. The music option was her plan-B, and it didn't work out the way she expected. While her star fell, Martin's star shined brighter.
Around 1996 Martin's star really took off, and he went from being the sidekick in House Party movies to the main star in Thin Line, Nothing to Lose, Bad Boys, and getting officially "Banned" for his You so Crazy "stand-up". All those BLEW him up. Martin became "big headed" well deserved tho. He was a big deal, and he wanted respect. Also, inBad Boys Martin starred along side Will Smith who did the same with his show Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Will Smith is famous for a shady deed he did to Aunt Viv. Basically, the original Aunt Viv, Janet Hubert was replaced because she told Will Smith off and disrespected him on his own show. The conflict and tension she caused turned out to be career suicide for her. Shortly, after the scene on the set Janet was replaced by Daphne Maxwell-Reid. Will Smith stated that he wasn't going to be disrespected on his own shit, so I wonder if Will's actions influenced Martin Lawrence? If you put 2 and 2 together, Martin's New Movie Success+Tisha's Frustration and Jealousy+Tension on the Set= Show being cancelled. And there you have it.
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