Can you believe it has been 25 years since we last heard the words, “Wazzup, Wazzup, Wazzup!!!!”
The last episode of Martin aired in 1997 and in 2022, the cast came together again for Martin: The Reunion. The 90-minute reunion special premiered last month on BET+ and was hosted by Affion Crockett. It allowed us to go back in time to the iconic living room where all the magic happened.
It was where Martin dogged out Pam, Tommy and Cole always busted in the door for no apparent reason, and it is where Martin and Gina’s love story played out. It celebrated the five-season-long show and it reflected on the show’s funniest moments. The cast even paid tribute to the late Tommy Ford, who passed away in 2016.
Ode to the culture
Celebrity fans came from all over to honor the cast, as BET plus hosted the event. They showed their support for a show that impacted our community in a major way. Of course, you saw Martin Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, and Carl Anthony Payne II, several executive producers surrounding the show, Comedian Earthquake, DeRay Davis, and Garcelle Beauvais, among many others.
Some said the show was a big part of their lives while others said they wanted to be like Martin.
The show impacted many viewers’ lives as we saw an all-black cast, living out real situations and coming together in moments that really mattered.
A red-carpet premiere screening event took place last month at Hudson Lofts in Downtown Los Angeles with the cast and their families.
During the premiere screening, fans and viewers escaped through a Martin-curated exhibit. Philadelphia artist Chuck Styles recreated the show’s most memorable moments and spread them throughout the exhibit. Remember when Martin swelled up like a balloon? Or when Gina’s head got stuck in the headboard? What about any moment with Sheneneh?
Styles captured those scenes and turned them into a walking exhibit. Fans stopped, admired, and took pictures in front of these scenes for a snapshot they will never forget. Music filled the room and we even got to see the cast’s children, who hosted the “WZUP” booth.
They interviewed fans and guests, asking them about what the show and the reunion meant to them. The Reunion” also pays tribute to the late Thomas Mikal Ford, who played Martin’s best friend Tommy.
The impact
This show impacted a lot of our lives more than 20 decades ago. It’s such a powerful show that even youth in today’s time are watching Martin. Many millennials and Gen Zers are still quoting memorable catchphrases from the show. Carl Anthony Payne II, who played Cole in the series, spoke about the cultural impact of the show.
“I think when people would come up to me and tell me how our show helped me get through their time or how someone learned how to speak English using our show, I don’t know if that’s the best thing in the world,” said Payne at the June 15 premiere.
It captured the black experience and allowed the African American community to have a space to feel comfortable and at home.
Now, if you didn’t get a chance to see the reunion or the show for that matter, you can catch it exclusively on BET+, plus all five seasons of Martin.
