In My Write Mind

If you were with me over at blogspot, you remember earlier this year when I did an entire post about Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids being a show that should immediately be put on DVD. If you recall, soon after that post, it was out on DVD. That’s right. I have pull. I have power. I have… incredibly good timing. LOL

So I’ve decided to try it again. Gonna put it out there and see what happens. With all the shows out on DVD these days–from season one of The Wayans Brothers (Oy) to season sixty-nine of Gilligan’s Island (Blecch)–I’m sure you would agree that there has been a glaring omission. One that I’ve gathered you all here to rectify immediately if not sooner.

Yup… you guessed it. It’s way past time… for Martin to be out on DVD. Let’s make this happen.

Can you believe it’s been thirteen years since the FOX sitcom first aired? Whew. Between that and the Cosby Show being legal this year (LOL), I’m feeling kinda old. And since I’m in “classic television” mode this week, I wanted to give a shout out to one of my favorite series.

Wazzzzuuuuppppp?!?!?

Whew. That felt good. And it would feel even better if this show was out on DVD. Well, at least the first three seasons. As far as I’m concerned, Seasons 4 & 5 never happened. You hear me? It’s not even up for discussion. Yeck! But at the very least, give us Season 1.

August 27, 1992. That’s when we were introduced to Martin Payne of Apartment #41 on East 23rd Street in Detroit, Michigan. We met, one by one, his girlfriend Gina Waters, his boys Cole Brown and Tommy Strong… and Gina’s best friend Pamela James. That was the core of a show that lasted for five seasons, with Martin and Pam being the Fred and Aunt Esther of their generation. Season Two is the absolute apex of the show, with week after week showing the gang hitting their stride and providing some classic comedy.

But we all know the show. There’s no need to recap it all here. We know that Martin was a radio talk show host and Gina was a marketing executive. We know that Pam worked with Gina, Cole cleaned airplanes and ummm…Tommy…he ain’t have no job. LOL So instead of recapping their occupations and the such, I’m just going to list some of my favorite episodes in an effort to force the hands of those who are selfishly keeping this treasure off of store shelves. *cross your fingers…lol*

So without further ado, My Favorite Martins (with synopses by TV.com…have I mentioned that I LOVE this site? LOL):

—> Things I Did For Love (Season 1, Episode 3)
TV.com: Tommy’s new relationship with his new girlfriend Danice prompts Martin to take Gina out for a romantic evening at a dance club, called the Savoy club. Meanwhile, Martin makes insensitive remarks and, as a result, receives numerous calls from his listeners stating that he isn’t romantic enough.

IMWM: This is our first introduction to Jerome, as he hits on Gina while they’re at the club. Just hilarious. The line that got me was, “You need to get with a winner… and dump that chicken dinner.”

—> Baby You Can Drive My Car (Season 1, Episode 26)
Everybody pools together to get a raffle ticket from Roscoe the snot-nosed kid, and wind up winning a brand new SUV. They decide to share it, by assigning each of them to drive on a different day of the week. Tommy ends up giving a ride Sheneneh, and her 2 friends, Bonquisha and Keylolo. Gina ends up fighting with Jerome, the player, trying to wash her window at an intersection, and breaking off the side view mirror. Cole ends up driving his mother, Mama Payne and a friend around, and crashing into the curb. Pam takes the car to a drive through bank window and gets hassled by Otis the security guard, who takes out his frustrations on the car. They all wind up running the vehicle into the ground and have to get rid of it.

Three scenes got me with this episode that turned out to be classic: Sheneneh and her girls in the car with Tommy… Jerome chasing Gina while trying to wash the windshield… and Old Otis telling Pam to “Move ya car, gurl!!! What…do you want me to change the sign from bright red to blind as a bat red?!?!?”

—> Beat It (Season 2, Episode 31)
Martin invites a crowd of friends over to watch boxing on TV, but can never get to watch it, because he is constantly interrupted by his guests. Cole’s new girlfriend Tasha, takes a liking to Tommy, and comes on to him in the back room, causing friction with Tommy and Cole. Pam and Sheneneh argue in the hall, and Bro’ Man irritates Martin as well.

Lawd… the ridiculous hat that Cole wears is an added extra, but the highlight of this episode–hands down–is the introduction of Bro’ Man…upstairs, 5th flo’. In the refrigerator, taking his shoes off, wearing Martin’s sweater… straight up comedy.

—> Control (Season 2, Episode 34)
Gina accidentally throws away Martin’s tickets to a very important professional basketball game. She tries to get them out of the trash chute and replace them before Martin finds out, but is unsuccessful. She later finds out that Sheneneh also has a pair of tickets to the same game, and begs Sheneneh for them. Sheneneh, who doesn’t like Gina and enjoys watching her suffer, decides to make it difficult for Gina to get the tickets. She compels Gina to work off the debt in her beauty salon.

Sheneneh buffing Myrah’s feet… and Gina and Pam going to Jerome for da hookup… I swear both of those scenes are sooooo rewindable. LOL

—> Suspicious Minds (Season 2, Episode 44)
Martin’s new CD Walkman disappears. Stan convinces him that one of his friends must have taken it since they all have keys to his apartment. Martin goes around to each of his good friends and accuses them. Then it turns out he’s wrong when the real taker of the Walkman innocently returns it to Martin.

One of the funniest episodes of the entire run. Period. Martin interrogating his friends one by one, the entire scene with everyone in black and lawd…the stuffed dog…haaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

—> Guard Your Grill (Season 2, Episode 48)
After winning a charity boxing match, Martin thinks he is as good a fighter as anyone. And after Tommy Hearns makes advances towards Gina, Martin challenges the boxer to a 10-round grudge match, with potentialy disastrous results.

Classic episode… Martin’s confrontation with Hearns (”The Hit Man, huh? According to Sugar, you’re the GET Hit Man…”), the training where Cole has to be tied down while “Punks Jump Up to Get Beat Down” plays in the background, and the match itself with the ringside announcer, and Martin delirously ordering a bucket of sunflower seeds; telling Gina after his literal knock out: “Babyyyy… I don’t wanna fight no’ more.”

—>I Don’t Have the Heart (Season 2, Episode 50)
Pam starts dating an older, wealthy man who eventually asks her to marry him. Initially, the gang was concerned about he and Pam, because of the age difference. But as time went by, they began to enjoy the perks that go along with being in the entourage of a wealthy industrialist: skybox tickets to games, New shoes for Martin, exotic trips to far away places. But once Pam breaks her engagement, Martin’s hope of winning fame and fortune are dashed.

Martin being nice to Pam in order to keep going back to the skyyboooooox! So damn funny.

—> I’ve Got Work To Do (Season 3, Episode 57)
Martin goes looking for a good job, but his pride won’t let him take just any job. He has his reputation to maintain. As the bills begin to pile up, and he begins to get more desperate for work, he lands a series of low-paying, part-time positions.

“Welcome to Hoochie Burger, may I take your order?“… Martin as a postal worker, showing Gina all his bills: “Look Gina…this one here is a “don’t let me catch your ass out in the street” notice… and that one’s from Mama.”

—> Get A Job (Season 3, Episode 64)
Martin and Gina attempt to discover information about Tommy’s mysterious job. Nobody knows what Tommy does for a living, and when asked direct questions about his occupation, Tommy gives evasive answers, and questionable body-language. So they decide to go undercover and stake him out, only to discover him on the runway at an uptown strip club! Could this be what Tommy does for a living?

Martin and Gina undercover is some of the most hilarious stuff I’ve seen since back in the heyday of Lucy and Ethel. Martin telling Gina to use her “cat eye”…LOL And in this episode, we are introduced to Hustle Man and ummm…his cousin Bobby. LOL Hustle Man: “Look here chief, I’m just trying to watch yo’ back.” Martin to Hustle Man: “Watch my back and watch my duuust.”

—> The Romantic Getaway (Season 3, Episode 78)
Gina is envious when Tommy and Pam plan to celebrate their six-month anniversary at a luxurious resort. When she complains to Martin about why they never do anything special, Martin takes Gina on a vacation to Chilligan’s Island, a dreadful and low-rate resort that was advertised on the back of a cereal box. As the two try to make the best of their stay, they inadvertantly run into Tommy and Pam who also are vacationing at the resort.

Martin fighting with the creature… neither my mother OR Pam could keep their composure. I remember the first time I saw that episode, even my mother–who could take Martin or leave it–was cracking up. Sealed it as a classic for me. LOL

Those are ten of my favorite episodes. Honorable mentions include Episode 23 when Pam hooked up with Jerome instead of Cole (Jerome to Cole: “Look at you… breath still smellin’ like Similac!”), Episode 24 when Bushwick Bill flattens Tommy and Martin confronts him at the little person’s bar (Bill: “I’m too short for a long conversation…”), Episodes 38 & 39 with Varnel Hill (”catfish…delicious!”), and Episode 106 with Martin renewing his drivers license (”starting from scratch”).

Is there any doubt that this series should be out on DVD? Wouldn’t it make a great stocking stuffer for the holidays?!?!? Who would argue with this? We here at IMWM feel it needs to happen.

However, I don’t ask that you sign a petition or make any phone calls. Nope. It’s summer time. We’re all trying to avoid work. Nonetheless, it IS fun to reminisce. So tell us some of YOUR favorite Martins. Maybe the good vibrations will let the powers that be know WZUP.

Hey… it worked before. LOL