The Best of Martin: Top 10 funniest episodes of all time.

When we think of the most iconic, hilarious and beloved sitcoms of all time the Fox network’s 1992–1997 mega hit Martin is usually at the top of the list. It’s certainly always in my top 10 and more often than not my top 5 favorites. This series is still so revered today as it was in its initial run because its humor is so timelessly funny and the show paved the way for black led comedies as well as hip hop influence on television. Here are the top 10 Martin episodes that I feel was the show at its funniest and its best.

10. The Beauty and The Beast aka the Pilot episode.

It’d be a crime not to have the classic first episode on this list, which started the show off perfectly with the characters and their dynamics already perfectly in place from the start. It also happens to be one of the funniest pilot episodes ever made, which is rare because as I’ve noted before in a previous articles, making a great sitcom pilot that’s already really funny is the hardest thing to accomplish and ole Marty Mar and company did it so well out of the gate.

9. Dead Men Don’t Flush.

A homerun first season episode that was hilarious from start to finish with Martin and the gang trying to deal with a “dead” plumber that came to fix Martin’s toilet. The most memorable and hilarious scene from this episode is Martin calling 911 and trying to pass off as white to get them to come help. The gang end up playing White Jeopardy to hilarious effect.

8. Thanks For Nothing.

Families can be a joy but also a pain and Martin and Gina find that out the hard way when Gina hosts Thanksgiving dinner at Martin’s with his Uncle and Cousin and her parents. This one had some of the best use of guest stars in the series history with legend John Witherspoon, Reno Wilson, Judyann Elder, JA Preston and Reginald Ballard as Bruh Man all turning out great performances and sometimes stealing the show from the main cast.

7. Snow White.

One of the very few episodes of Martin that dealt with an “issue” but this being Martin it was nowhere near preachy or after school special saccharine like. This episode dealing with the gang going on a ski weekend and meeting Tommy’s “friend” Aquanetta a white woman was hilarious from start to finish. What’s even better is how amazing the guest cast was in keeping up with the main 5. Cole’s even dumber then he is new girlfriend Shanese played by Maura McDade and Pam’s date the uber blacker than black militant brother Taheem played by Sean Baker giving a tour de force performance.

While most fans know that the 5th and final season was the weakest out of the lot, especially in the second half when Tisha Campbell’s role was reduced to small appearences without Martin in the scene, this episode was one of the few really strong and funny ones that redeemed some of the 5th season for me personally.

6. DMV Blues.

A long day at the DMV for Martin and Tommy gives us some of the funniest moments and scenes in Martin history including showrunner and producer Bentley Kyle Evans’ appearence as the flamboyant Titus who tries to rap to “Almond Brown”.

Throw in the classic fight between Martin and his mortal enemy Ms. Jerry and you got an all around hilarious episode.

5. The Tooth Shall Set You Free.

When Pam gets hypnotized during her dentist appointment whenever she hears a clap she’ll turn into Martin. Not only one of the funniest episodes but a true tour de force for Tichina Arnold who showed out in this episode and the chemistry between her and Martin Lawrence was at an all time high.

4. No Justice No Peace.

A favorite among most Martin fans and certainly one of mine. A truly hilarious episode playing with the classic courtroom antics formula. Marty Mar becomes Perry Mason in court when fighting against a traffic ticket. The absolute most memorable part though is the iconic “GTD: Got The Draws” part with Tommy that is the episode’s most shining glory.

And who could forget Martin going nuts in court to plead insanity? PRICELESS!

3. C.R. E. A. M.

In sitcoms, the episode where the characters invest in a restaurant and chaos ensues has been done to death and a bit cliche but two shows that used this formula to brilliant and hilarious effect are Frasier’s The Innkepers and Martin’s C. R. E. A. M. Martin gets a huge tax refund and invests in a restaurant with Gina, Tommy, Cole, Pam and old boss Stan (Garret Morris) but the gang gets stuck running it and it all runs to the ground, but thanks to Cole’s dumb behind with his five for one coupons they’re forced to go out of business in one day. The episode is hilarious throughout but is best remembered for three simple words: Rent Em Spoons!

2. Suspicious Minds.

Martin Payne channels his inner Nino Brown in an episode centered on Martin’s very expensive new CD player turning up missing and he plays detective investigating and interrogating Pam, Tommy and Cole.

This episode is a definite fan favorite and Martin Lawrence was at his comedic best. It would’ve been my number 1 if not for the one that ended up taking the number 1 spot by edging this gem out just a tiny bit.

1. Romantic Weekend AKA “Chilligan’s Island”.

To compete with Tommy and Pam, Martin and Gina go on a getaway vacation to Chiligan’s Island which they won from the back of a cereal box. Everyone and their momma knows this one and I have no doubt that this is most fans’ number 1 favorite episode if not in the top 3. A show as near perfect as Martin is always hard to pick the funniest and best episode of the series but I had to dig deep and I had to go with this iconic episode that had two of the funniest moments of the entire series and sitcoms as a whole. Thanks to a certain “Puppy”.

I die laughing every time I watch these two scenes and we all have Guy Torry, famous comedian as well as a former member of the Kings of Comedy for it as he co wrote the episode with Matt Diamond. The two as well as this amazing cast created true magic in this episode that would go on to become a comedy classic.

Honorable Mention:

Girlfriend.

Martin and Pam team up to take down Gina’s phony stuck up sorority sister and give us a talk show take down like no other.

’Til next time, folks!