An exciting year is propelling Martin Lawrence to new, extraordinary heights. The legendary comic and actor was recently bestowed a truly momentous honor: the city of Detroit has dedicated a day in his name, officially labeling August 30th as “Martin Lawrence Day.” Lawrence’s ascent has been nothing short of unstoppable, from the successful release of “Bad Boys 4” to an electrifying stand-up tour that has audiences laughing all the way from one coast to the other.
Lawrence catapulted to stardom thanks to iconic turns in “Big Mama’s House” and the beloved sitcom “Martin.” But if the Detroit native’s latest tour is any indication, he remains as unbeatable as ever. “You All Know What It Is” is the somewhat mischievously titled show currently drawing standing-room-only crowd after standing-room-only crowd across the nation. According to Lawrence, his way of expressing what he finds funny has matured since the last time he toured. “It’s on a different level,” he told his hometown paper, “The Detroit News.”
It’s not only professional accomplishments that are making waves right now. A Hollywood-esque plot twist sees Martin’s daughter linked romantically to Eddie Murphy’s son, of all people, in a high-profile pairing that has tongues wagging. Who won’t be vying for the title of the funniest wedding speech at a potential Murphy-Martin union? When last we heard, the funny business was still up for grabs, and Lawrence was still talking “paid” speech — with comedy royalty at an all-time high.
While the entertainment world continues to be mesmerized by Martin Lawrence, talk of a possible “Bad Boys 5” persists. Until and if that movie comes to fruition, fans (and I) can enjoy Martin’s stand-up tour, his first since 2001. You Know What Time It Is, a riff-filled romp through Martin’s brazenly absurd worldview, has been delighting audiences in various cities this fall. At stop 10 on the 11-stop tour, in an intimate 700-seat theater at the Jimmy Kimmel comedy club in Las Vegas, Lawrence gave as good as he got from a packed house of ever-obsessed fans.
