What Made This Show Jump the Shark The Most?

[TMC]

*The radio station (WZUP) being sold and Martin becoming a TV talk show host.

*Martin and Gina getting married.

*The writing starting to degenerate into mostly being jokes regarding Martin and Pam dissing each other, Cole's stupidity, and Tommy "not having a job".

*Tisha Campbell leaving the show because Martin Lawrence allegedly sexually harassed her.

[Gabgirl]

Originally Posted by TMC

*The radio station (WZUP) being sold and Martin becoming a TV talk show host.

*Martin and Gina getting married.

*The writing starting to degenerate into mostly being jokes regarding Martin and Pam dissing each other, Cole's stupidity, and Tommy "not having a job".

*Tisha Campbell leaving the show because Martin Lawrence allegedly sexually harassed her.

More than any other change, I think this really cinched it because it was difficult going from a show where Martin and Gina's relationship was at the forefront to almost a completely different show. It was bad enough when they'd have Tisha Campbell still appearing on screen, but as if she was in other city. Then when she completely left, it just felt like the writers were trying way too hard to come up with antics for Martin and his crew to get involved in. It got REALLY bad. So those earlier years were just so much better....and just donwright Hilarious....

[TMC]

I was watching episodes from the final season a few days back on MTV2 and you can just tell that the "magic was gone". Gina not being around obviously made things feel empty, besides Martin Lawrence practically mailing in his performances. Also, somehow the humor didn't feel as natural as it had in the past. It didn't help that they brought in the idiot (but in a bad way) new girlfriend of Cole's.

And maybe it's just my imagination, but it seemed like Martin's insults went from being playful and kidding to coming across as truly malicious and ill-tempered. I've said earlier that the writing towards the end seemed to get lazier and by-the-numbers. Most of the dialogue between Martin and Pam for instance comprised of Martin cracking on Pam's breath her looking like an animal with Pam countering with remarks about Martin's shortness.

[TMC]

Another thing that really hurt the show were the episodes and their premises getting more over-the-top and really stupid (and too much about an extremely base concept). Thus, we have episodes about Pam's identical twin escaping the loony bin, Gina getting stuck in a stairway, Martin's annoying cuckoo clock, Martin really being technically married to Pam, etc.

All in all, Gina being gone really, really screwed up the dynamic. Thus, Pam had to carry the load since Martin Lawrence really wasn't trying anymore to be funny (most likely because he was high) and Tisha Campbell was gone. The problem is that since the bulk of the humor at this point involving Pam concerned Martin's sniping on her and vice/versa, it got even more formulaic and tiresome.

Another problem with the decline in quality I feel is the change from John Bowman to Samm-Art Williams as executive producer.

[ThomasE]

I agree with the comment about Martin not being "there". Tisha being on leave. The one that jumps the shark the most was the Martin and Pamela insults going back and forth. It got to be too much for me. I'm partial to the first season moreso than the rest.

[HHorseman]

Never could stand Gina, so honestly didnt bother me when she left.Martin insulting Pam every time they spoke was really tiresome, Cole being singled out as the moron kind off got old aswell.