Martin
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Martin fans were treated to a heartwarming reunion last year and proved that the popular 1990s sitcom still has its fair share of fans in the 21st Century. Now, it’s being announced that Tommy Davidson will reprise a beloved character in a Martin spinoff series, Varnell Hill, which will be coming to BET+.
Deadline reports that BET+ has ordered Varnell Hill to the service with Martin Lawrence serving as an executive producer, along with Bentley Evans in the shared role. Jesse Collins is also named as one of the executive producers for the series. The outlet adds that while Lawrence hasn’t been announced to be a part of the show, it’s believed he’ll show up for some cameos.
The series will feature eight episodes and will examine the behind-the-scenes happenings at The Varnell Hill Show, the late-night talk show helmed by Davidson’s character. The series is promising celebrity cameos and will examine Hill’s attempts to keep his show going and some of the pitfalls that come along with running the shop.
“Did you miss me? Well, now you don’t have to! I’m excited and honored to be a part of such a creative project with the brilliant mind of Martin Lawrence, over 30 years in the making,” Davidson said about Varnell Hill. “Fans have requested it, and now it’s coming to BET+.”
Congratulations to Tommy Davidson!
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Photo: Michael S. Schwartz / Getty
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Source: iOne Digital / iOne
Kid Capri is coming for his coin. He says he was never compensated when his voice was sampled for the Martin show.
As spotted on HipHopDX, the legendary DJ paid a visit to the Bag Fuel podcast. While he discussed a variety of topics regarding his storied career, it was his reveal regarding the iconic comedy series that soon went viral. The introduction to the Martin show features his voice screaming “MARTIN LAWRENCE” throughout. He explained how he was never asked about it before it went to production nor was he ever paid for the usage. “They took my voice from Def Comedy Jam, sampled it, put it on the Martin show,” he said. “Never got no permission from me, never asked for my rights, nothing. This show been on eight different networks for 30 years. Now, if it was a money thing for me, I woulda been like, ‘Yo where’s my bread?’ I ain’t never did that.”
Originally premiering in 1992, the television sitcom would go on to run for five seasons. It also produced some of the most beloved characters in comedic history including Bruh-Man, Hustle Man, Sheneneh, Dragonfly Jones and Jerome. In 1996, Tisha Campbell (Gina) left the show citing that Martin Lawrence sexually harassed and threatened her. She returned to the show but requested that she film her scenes without Martin Lawrence being on set. The two have since reconciled.
You can see Kid Capri discuss the sample clearance issue below.
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Source: Christopher Polk / Getty / Martin
The Emmys were indeed very Black this year, and if you tuned in, you got a treat when the cast of the iconic Fox sitcom Martin hit the stage.
Before hitting the stage, Martin’s cast members teased that something big was coming on television’s biggest night. Forty minutes into the show, the award show that aired on Fox, Sunday night, January 15, Martin Lawrence, Tichina Arnold, Tisha Campbell, and Carl Anthony Payne II hit the stage to present.
It wasn’t a typical awards presentation, and it had that Martin flavor we all love from the classic sitcom episodes that play every night on BET and VH1.
The trio did a bit where Payne II, in character as Cole, believes the trio is there to accept an Emmy, not give one out, leading Martin, Pam, and Gina to correct him hilariously.
In the middle of the bit, Campbell said the one thing fans of Martin have been screaming about for years, even well after the show’s final episode.
“Carl is not all the way wrong, you guys. I mean, we should have won an Emmy during our run,” Campbell said, receiving a large applause from the audience.
Immediately after, Lawrence presented the Lead Actor award in a Comedy Series that went to The Bear’s lead man, Jeremy Allen White.
The Bear as a show had itself a night, winning six Emmys, including Allen White’s Lead Actor win, Best Comedy, Comedy Supporting Actress Ayo Edebiri, Comedy Supporting Actor Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Directing For A Comedy Series and Writing For A Comedy Series.
HBO’s hit drama Succession also had a big night with six wins, followed by Netflix’s limited series Beef, which won 5 Emmy awards.
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