The 5 Best Gina Episodes Of Martin.
You may know her as “Damn, Gina!” or “Ginaaaa, babyyy!” etc. But Gina Waters, later known as Gina Payne, was Martin’s best girl who played the long suffering yet die hard loyal girlfriend and later wife to that wild boy Martin Payne. Gina may have mostly played the straight man to Martin and everyone else on the show, but every now and then Tisha Campbell got to show just how remarkable her comedy skills really were and are in a handful of iconic episodes and moments that proved that Gina was the perfect woman for Martin. She was a very well developed character with many complex layers to her: On one hand she was the sweet natured, sophisticated business woman, but on the other hand, when provoked she’d put all that to the side and her no nonsense hood side comes out. She was the classic long suffering girlfriend who served as the voice of reason to her more outlandish lover, but as the series went on, Gina absorbed a lot of Martin’s hilarious traits and she could go toe-to-toe with him in the comedy, even stealing a scene or two. Every facet of Gina was played to perfection by Tisha Campbell. Here are my five choices of Gina centric episodes that showed her at her very best.
5. The Beauty and The Beast. Gina’s established as the ultimate girlfriend.
Synopsis: Gina threatens to leave Martin after hearing some insensitive things about women on his radio show. Martin tries to regain his pride.
In the pilot episode of Martin, we are introduced to Detroit Radio DJ Martin Payne, his friends & co-workers, and most importantly the love of his life Gina Waters. The pilot is one of the series’ strongest episodes and one of the best pilots of any tv show in my humble opinion. One of the things it gets so right is the well done establishment of the Martin\Gina relationship that we as the audience would come to love and root for. Tisha Campbell’s Gina was very well introduced to us as a level headed, beautiful, smart and tough chick who could both be playful and loving with Martin and put him in check when needed, so when we get the classic moment where Martin tries to play it tough and throw Gina out and before she gets out the door and he screeches her name we know that Gina is a woman worth begging for.
4. Headin’ For Trouble. Gina gets her giant dome stuck between her and Martin’s headboard.
Synopsis: Gina’s new bed becomes uncomfortable when her head gets stuck in the headboard.
Who doesn’t remember this iconic episode? After years of classic big head jokes directed at Gina, we finally get the big, hilarious pay off. Gina getting her head stuck in the headboard is hilarious enough when you hear it, but the acting of Tisha and the rest of the cast took it to a whole other level of comedy genius. This is one of the episodes that gave Tisha a chance to really show off her physical comedy skills ala Lucille Ball.
3. The Closer I Get To You. Gina discovers that Tommy and Pam are together.
Synopsis: Things don’t go quite as planned when Martin gives Tommy advice on how to get a woman.
Many fans consider this Gina’s finest hour as she goes nuts in pure joy when she discovers that Martin’s best friend and worst enemy have hooked up. Tisha obviously had a ball in that iconic scene. What must also be noted is how remarkably in sync she and Martin were in the physical moments. One can tell that by this point Tisha absorbed a lot of what made Martin, Martin.
2. Really, Gina’s Not My Lover. On the night of Martin’s high school reunion Gina goes from beauty to the beast.
Synopsis: Gina’s face is swollen up and bruised after a trip to the dentist. While Martin is determined to win Man of the Decade award at his high school reunion, so he can brag in front of a high school big shot, Ricky Fontaine.
It takes a person so purely dedicated to their craft to completely throw vanity out the window and just go for the pure, unadulterated comedy of unattractiveness. Ms. Campbell just went for it at the very worst she has ever been on film, but also at her absolute funniest. This episode really felt like it took a page out of I Love Lucy with Gina as the Lucy Ricardo to Martin’s Ricky Ricardo, especially in the scene where Martin discovers how jacked up his beloved is before his big reunion.
- Blackboard Jungle Fever. Gina fights Miss Trinidad for her man.
Synopsis: When Martin returns to his elementary school to participate in Career Day, he meets up with his old third-grade teacher who starts making the moves on him.
Up until this episode we’ve mostly seen Gina as the sophisticated, classy, beautiful, sweet, and educated sister that Martin adores, but in this episode and in that specific iconic scene, we saw a whole other side to Gina Waters when Miss Trinidad not only made a play for her man but also lied right to her face about it. Like Claire Huxtable from The Cosby Show and the Original Aunt Viv from The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Gina was a classy chick but the moment someone messed with her or what was hers, that hood came out real fast and she was not the one to mess with.
After Martin, Tisha Campbell went on to great success on My Wife and Kids for five seasons as well as many appearences on various television shows and movies. But despite all the other great work she has done and is still doing now, I think most of us will always know her first, best, and foremost as Ms. Gina Waters\Gina Payne.
Till next time, folks!