Stan is getting busted by the IRS for 20 years worth of back taxes, so he must sell the radio station. The new owner takes over and turns it into a country & western station. Martin tries to adapt. He buys a big cowboy hat, boots and tight jeans, but he's just not good at country & western.

The Hoedown in Motown

Martin Lawrence

Tichina Arnold

Tisha Campbell

Carl Anthony Payne II

Thomas Mikal Ford

Garrett Morris

Jon Gries

Gerren Keith

Martin's on the Move

No Love Lost

Martin struggles with coming up with a new topic for his talk show.  In desperation, he finally accepts some ideas from the gang.  Finally, Gina suggests that he use as a topic, the circumstances of how they first met and fell in love.  As they go around the room, each of them has a different remembrance of the events of that night.

Do You Remember the Time?

After a painful toothache, Gina has a bad experience at the dentist's office.  She has had novacaine, her face is swollen and bruised all over, she's drooling uncontrollably, and her speech is badly slurred. She looks like a mess!  But Martin is determined to win the Man of the Decade award at his high school reunion that evening. His pride makes him want to brag to all his old schoolmates that he is rich and famous, and has a beautiful fashion model girlfriend.  If anyone saw what his girlfriend really looked like, it would completely shatter his contrived image.

Really, Gina's Not My Lover

When Martin finds out that Gina has to go out of town on business, he, Tommy & Cole decide they will go out and have some fun while she is away.  Meanwhile, Gina & Pam are having fun of their own at a company party in her hotel room, complete with a surprise male stripper.  When Martin calls the room to talk to Gina, Bob, the white guy, answers the phone and tells Martin they are having a wild party, with strippers. Martin then drives the 500 miles in the middle of the night, and tries to catch Gina in the act of being unfaithful to him.

Got to Be There

Martin invites a crowd of friends over to watch boxing on TV, but can never get to watch it, because he is constantly interrupted by his guests. Cole's new girlfriend Tasha, takes a liking to Tommy, and comes on to him in the back room, causing friction with Tommy and Cole. Pam and Sheneneh argue in the hall, and Bro' Man irritates Martin as well.

Beat It

Martin agrees to help host a baby shower for some of Gina's expecting girlfriends at his apartment. But he doesn't expect one of the expectant mothers to go into labor. With the help of Tommy and Cole, Martin safely delivers the baby.  Meanwhile Gina and Pam can't make it to the shower because they're broken down in an alley, while a lyrically challenged mechanic sings to them and works on their car.

Baby, It's You

Martin decides to become more macho after Stan, as well as Tommy and Cole, convince him that Gina has been controlling his life, and that he is 'whipped'.  So to prove it, he decides to work double duty at the station just because Gina told him not to.  And as usual, Martin takes things overboard and his antics to prove that Gina is not in control of his life cause other men to disrespect their women also, which leads to a big show-down at the radio station.

Workin' Day & Night

Gina accidentally throws away Martin's tickets to a very important professional basketball game.  She tries to get them out of the trash chute and replace them before Martin finds out, but is unsuccessful. She later finds out that Sheneneh also has a pair of tickets to the same game, and begs Sheneneh for them. Sheneneh, who doesn't like Gina and enjoys watching her suffer, decides to make it difficult for Gina to get the tickets.  She compels Gina to work off the debt in her beauty salon.

Control

Gina starts to hang around with a new male friend. They go shopping together alot. Martin gets suspicious. So he threatens the guy and drives him away. But after getting rid of him, Martin realizes he made a mistake when Gina drags him along to shop for ladies shoes.

You've Got a Friend

Mama Payne leaves her beloved talking parrot at Martin's apartment for the weekend. The talking bird constantly insults Gina, which infuriates her. Gina tries to keep her cool, and cares for the bird anyway. But the bird dies and Mama Payne believes Gina killed the bird intentionally.

To Kill a Talking Bird

Gina convinces Martin that he's putting on weight. So he, Tommy and Cole go on a diet and attend Gina's aerobics class where they meet a tough physical trainer. Martin then decides that he will give up all the rich foods he used to enjoy, and in true Martin tradition, he takes his dieting and exercise to the extreme. Now Gina must figure out a way to bring the old Martin back.

Fat Like Dat

After Gina and Pam get promotions, Martin realizes his job is going nowhere. Especially after he meets Varnel Hill -- the successful TV talk-show host.  So Martin decides to chase his dream of having a successful career by quitting his job, and heading to Hollywood.

Hollywood Swinging: Part 1

In Los Angeles, Martin takes steps to ensure that he gets on Varnel Hill's talk show. During a performance by Jodeci, Martin crashes the stage and tries to join the group in singing. Then on the street, Martin runs into Michael Jackson and gets beat down. Elsewhere, Pam believes that she has tracked down Denzel Washington.

Hollywood Swinging: Part 2

Martin's crazy relatives and Gina's parents arrive at Martin's house for Thanksgiving dinner.  When Mama Payne hears the news, she panics trying to get away fast, and jumps out of the window. Gina can only watch from the window as Mama Payne soars to the ground.

Thanks for Nothing

After Pam catches Martin and Gina sneaking out of her party to have quickie sex, Pam challenges them to see if they can abstain from having sex for two weeks.  Martin and Gina decide to make a bet to see who will be the first one to give in to their primal urges.  Martin tries lure Gina into giving in by using soft music & candles, but Gina wears her sexiest blue dress to entice Martin to give in.

Whoomp! There It Ain't

It's Christmas time and Martin is ready to spend the holidays with Gina, but Gina isn't happy. She wants to be with her family in Philadelphia. Pam convinces Martin to take Gina home. But instead of flying out of Detroit, Martin decides for them to take the bus. While waiting, the bus gets snowed in, Martin fights with Miss Gerri, Gina beats up the station attendant, and the couple gets their luggage stolen.

Holiday Blues

Martin gets a simple traffic ticket for running a stop sign. But he turns it into a Federal case when he decides to fight it in court and accuses the officer of civil rights violations, etc. As usual, Martin ends up botching the case and tries to resort to an insanity plea.

No Justice, No Peace

Martin's new CD Walkman disappears. Stan convinces him that one of his friends must have taken it since they all have keys to his apartment. Martin goes around to each of his good friends and accuses them. Then it turns out he's wrong when the real taker of the Walkman innocently returns it to Martin.

Suspicious Minds

Gina is offered a job in New York and Martin, taking advice from Stan, tells her to take it. Meanwhile Gina, taking advice from Pam and Sheneneh, decides to leave on the assumption that Martin will stop her from leaving and ask her to marry him.  Part 1 of two.

Love Is in Your Face: Part 1

With Gina out of his life, Martin reconsiders his decision to let her go to New York to move on with her life, and he sets out to win her back. (Part 2 of 2)

Love Is in Your Face: Part 2

Martin and Gina admit that they are fighting and arguing too much. So they seek the help of a church Minister for counselling to help them resolve their issues. They end up being invited by the Minister to a weekend Marriage counsel session with other troubled couples at a mountain retreat.

Arms Are for Hugging

After winning a charity boxing match, Martin thinks he is as good a fighter as anyone.  And after Tommy Hearns makes advances towards Gina, Martin challenges the boxer to a 10-round grudge match, with potentialy disastrous results.

Guard Your Grill

When the small screen TV in the apartment needs replacing, Martin is enticed into buying a big-screen TV, and uses the money from Martin & Gina's combined checking account to purchase it.  This infuriates Gina, who makes him take it back, only to later be discovered buying items of her own in the same way.

Yours, Mine and Ours

Pam starts dating an older, wealthy man who eventually asks her to marry him.  Initially, the gang was concerned about he and Pam, because of the age difference.  But as time went by, they began to enjoy the perks that go along with being in the entourage of a wealthy industrialist: skybox tickets to games, New shoes for Martin, exotic trips to far away places.  But once Pam breaks her engagement, Martin's hope of winning fame and fortune are dashed.

I Don't Have the Heart

While sleeping in bed with Gina, Martin repeatedly finds himself at the center of his worst nightmare: a night of passion with Pam.

Crunchy Drawers

Pam throws Martin and Gina an engagement party attended by Snoop Dogg, but the couple's childish argument threatens to make them miss it.

Martin has quit his job at the new country radio station. He tries his had at working odd jobs to make money to make ends meet, but nothing seems to work out.  Sad and depressed, he leaves Detroit. But he doesn't tell Gina where he's going. He only says that he will return when he finds himself. She can only contact him via his pager, but . . .    This is a season ending cliffhanger.

Sassy sitcom centering on radio and television personality Martin Payne. Series focuses on his romantic relationship with girlfriend Gina, her best friend Pam and escapades with best friends Tommy and Cole.

The Hoedown in Motown

Seasons5

Season 2 Episodes27

Cast7

Crew1

Discussion

Episode Summary