Martin fans will be overjoyed to learn that a brand new 90-min reunion special is finally coming together this summer.
Martin: The Reunion will appear on BET+ on June 16, according to Variety. The original cast members Tichina Arnold and Carly Anthony Payne II will join Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell, for a celebration of show’s five-season history.
The show is hosted by Affion Crockett and takes place in the classic Martin living room set.
“The cast will look back on the show’s most hilarious moments, revisit the iconic characters Martin made famous and pay an emotional tribute to the late, great Tommy Ford,” BET+ said. “Complete with musical performances and drop-ins by celebrity super fans, ‘Martin: The Reunion’ brings back the wazzup wazzup wazzup passion fans have been waiting for.”
Lawrence starred as Martin Payne, a Detroit DJ for WZUP radio (and eventually a TV show host), with his girlfriend Gina (Campbell) in the 1990s Fox sitcom Martin, which ran from 1992 to 1997. Lawrence has also appeared on the show as various other characters over the years.
“To be able to sit here thirty years later with this amazing cast that has had such an impact on pop culture is truly a blessing. I am always humbled that the fans still want more of the show and its characters,” Lawrence said when the news of the Martin special was first announced earlier this year.
From clothes and music to movies and vocabulary, Martin defined an era of Black culture. The show also depicted the deep friendship between three Black males and the frequently humorous romantic relationship and marriage of Martin and his boo Gina.
Through interviews with the actors and original directors, the reunion special wil look back at the show’s inception and evolution. Special musical performances will be featured, as well as behind-the-scenes commentary on the show’s impact.
“Martin is one of the most beloved sitcoms in our community, both because it is hugely entertaining and because it played a pivotal role in changing the narrative of Black voices in entertainment and in culture through the portrayal of young, ambitious Black leads and healthy Black relationships,” Scott Mills, CEO of BET said. “Decades later, that representation is still just as important, which is why we’re so excited to honor a series that put Black culture front and center on our platform that embraces Black culture every day.”