There’s no debating that Martin is a classic sitcom. Every Martin episode is funny in its own right and some episodes not only made us laugh but created cultural phrases. And over 20 years later, the classic moments of certain Martin episodes are constantly being remade time and time again. From fashion to music videos.
READ: 12 Favorite Martin Lawrence Characters of All Time
5 seasons, 132 episodes, 11 different Martin characters, and countless laughs. Check out the 17 best Martin episodes, ranked, and let us know if your favorite episode is listed.
17. All the Players Came | Season 3, Episode 18
Air date: February 16, 1995
Plot: Martin organizes a fund-raiser to save a neighborhood theater. Guest appearances by Outkast (who perform Player’s Ball during the credits), Coolio, Rudy Ray Moore, Antonio Fargas, Pam Grier, Ja’net Dubois, Whitman Mayo and Dick Anthony Williams.
16. D.M.V. Blues | Season 4, Episode 25
Air date: April 25, 1996
Plot: After Martin’s driver’s license expires, his insurance company cancels his policy. So he goes down to the DMV to get it renewed, and experiences first hand the horrors of a day spent waiting on long lines, filling out reams of paperwork, DMV clerks with bad attitudes, and meeting up with an assortment of strange characters. Guest appearance by Sherman Hemsley.
15. C.R.E.A.M. | Season 3, Episode 22
Air date: April 6, 1995
Plot: Martin and his old friend Stan (Garrett Morris) invest in a restaurant but they bite off more money than they can chew. Guest appearance by MC Hammer.
14. Martin’s On The Move & In Search of… Martin | Season 2, Episode 27 & Season 3, Episode 1
Air date: May 15, 1994 & September 1, 1994
Plot: Martin gets fired from his job at the new country radio station. He tries ways to make ends meet, but nothing seems to work out. Feeling hopeless, he decides to leave town to get his life back on track.
Plot: With Martin still missing, Gina continues searching for him. Through a cancelled check, the group finds Martin in another state, where he has joined a cult under the name “Shaquille Sunflower”.
13. Why Can’t We Be Friends | Season 4, Episode 26/27
Air date: May 2, 1996
Plot: An argument breaks out between Tommy and Martin over the condition of a loaned suitcase and results in Tommy and Martin ending up not speaking to each other, and eventually deciding to end their life-long friendship. Martin is determined not to have Tommy in his life as a friend, until Cole comes by to deliver some bad news.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOSwOM4UWE0
12. Blow, Baby, Blow | Season 4, Episode 3
Air date: September 25, 1995
Plot: The Notorious B.I.G. has asked for Martin’s help in finding a new background vocalist.
11. Baby, It’s You | Season 2, Episode 5
Air date: September 19, 1993
Plot: Martin agrees to help host a baby shower for some of Gina’s expecting girlfriends at his apartment. But he doesn’t expect one of the expectant mothers to go into labor.
10. Really, Gina Is Not My Lover | Season 2, Episode 2
Air date: August 22, 1993
Plot: Martin is going to his high school reunion and he wants Gina to be ready for the big day. So he sends her on a day of beauty, but it ends disastrously. But Martin is determined to win the Man of the Decade award at his high school reunion that evening. His pride makes him want to appear to all his old schoolmates that he is rich and famous, and has a beautiful fashion model girlfriend. Guest appearances by Miguel A. Nunez, Jr. and Wendy Raquel Robinson.
9. Got to Be There | Season 2, Episode 3
Air date: September 5, 1993
Plot: When Martin finds out that Gina has to go out of town on business, he, Tommy, Shawn & Cole decide they will go out and have some fun while she is away, Meanwhile, Gina & Pam are having some fun of their own at a company party in her hotel room, complete with a surprise male stripper.
8. Momma’s Baby, Martin’s Maybe | Season 3, Episode 8
Air date: November 3, 1994
Plot: Martin is excited when Gina’s mother (Judyann Elder), comes to visit them. This is his opportunity to impress Gina’s mom and get to know her better. But things go awry when a young boy named Marvin (Marcus T. Paulk) shows up, claiming to be Martin’s long lost son. After a DNA test though, Marvin apologizes to Martin for lying to him, admitting he just didn’t want to go to Arizona.
7. No Justice, No Peace | Season 2, Episode 16
Air date: January 9, 1994
Plot: Martin gets a simple traffic ticket for running a stop sign. But he turns it into a Federal case when he decides to fight it in court and accuses the officer of civil rights violations, etc. As usual, Martin ends up botching the case and tries to resort to an insanity plea.
6. Suspicious Minds | Season 2, Episode 17
Air date: January 16, 1994
Plot: 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2NFrOGITiQ
5. Guard Your Grill | Season 2, Episode 21
Air date: February 27, 1994
Plot: After winning a charity boxing match, Martin thinks he is as good a fighter as anyone. Thomas Hearns, who was a celebrity judge at the fight, is friendly to Pam and Gina but Martin thinks Hearns is making a pass at Gina and trash talks him. After Hearns is not heard from after the party, Martin thinks Hearns has brushed it off and left town, only to get a surprise in the ring
4. Control | Season 2, Episode 7
Air date: October 3, 1993
Plot: Gina accidentally throws away Martin’s tickets to a very important professional basketball game. She later finds out that Sheneneh also has a pair of tickets to the same game, and begs Sheneneh for them. She compels Gina to work off the debt in her beauty salon. After she gets the tickets, she discovers they’re Martin’s.
3. Headin’ For Trouble | Season 4, Episode 12
Air date: December 10, 1995
Plot: Gina accidentally gets her head stuck in their new brass bed headboard while making love to Martin. They try everything to get her head unstuck; Tommy uses a welding torch to get most of it off. But Gina must still attend an important board meeting with the brass headboard, still stuck around her head, but hidden under a big wig and shawl.
2. A Romantic Weekend | Season 3, Episode 24
Air date: April 27, 1995
Plot: Gina is envious when Tommy and Pam plan to celebrate their six month anniversary of being together by going to 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 inadvertently run into Tommy and Pam who also are vacationing at the resort.
1. Ain’t Nuttin’ Goin’ on But the Rent | Season 3, Episode 16
Air date: February 2, 1995
Plot: Martin becomes angry when his landlord, Mr. Lopez (Luis Antonio Ramos), increases his rent. As a result, Martin refuses to pay the rent which leads Mr. Lopez to send him an eviction notice, and also cut off the heat during a terrible blizzard.