Martin Lawrence stuns former “Martin” co-star Tichina Arnold with a surprise reunion and fans are speechless

Decades after the final episode of The Martin Show, comedians Martin Lawrence and Tichina Arnold reunited in another hit comedy sitcom. The two casually reunited in other films and on red carpets over the years.

This time around, each of their roles is very different than Pam and Martin’s – but just like old times, the connection between these two triggers feelings of nostalgia among fans.

Somehow.

In addition to playing Cedric the Entertainer’s wife on the CBS series The Neighborhood, Arnold was recently hired to direct a season 7 episode.

To celebrate his on-screen wife’s last day of filming, Cedric turned to Martin, his former Def Comedy Jam pal and her former boss, to surprise Arnold.

The “Bad Boys” box office star detailed what happened on his Instagram, writing, “When I got the call from my fraternity @cedtheentertainer to meet @tichinaarnold on the last day she directed an episode of @theneighborhood. To surprise you, I had to do it!” I’m so proud of you and everything you continue to do. Lots of love #Family.”

Additionally, Lawrence shared a video showing him entering the set while Ced looked like he was filming a gambling scene before shouting, “Wait, Tichina… I want my money.”

The Kings of Comedy star pretended he didn’t know the gag, turned to Lawrence and said, “What are you doing here, man? This is the wrong show.”

Within seconds, the cast and crew burst into laughter and clapping.

In the comments section, a shocked Arnold couldn’t stop chatting.

“I’m still in shock. I love you man,” she wrote in one post. Added another: “Thanks again Ceddy! @cedtheentertainer You created a moment in my life’s journey that I will NEVER forget. Love and respect to you both. Just wow. God is great.”

“Soooo… THIS happened today, on my last day directing an episode of @theneighborhood. It’s very hard to surprise me, but @cedtheentertainer REALLY shocked me with this,” Arnold continued in a separate post, sharing an Instagram video from her perspective. “I love these two great men for life. Wow. Just wow. @martinlawrence.”

Fans flooded Arnold’s comments section with fire emojis and words of joy at seeing the two together again.

“Awww!! Inch High Private Eye and Phony Braxton back together!!! I love it!” one person commented.

Citing more names they called each other, another wrote: “Beadie B and Ole Marty Mar!”

A third comment read: “I love this sooooo much! Impressive! This is Legacy!”

Martin vs Pam 😂🤣 pic.twitter.com/yzSF3BfDft

— Shawn K The King  (@SKTheKingYT) September 22, 2024

Someone else wrote, “I love how close you all stayed,” while another fan asked rhetorically, “Why did you bring us here to chop onions?” Because why do you all feel like family? The 90s really felt like home.”

Reflecting on the bond they shared, a fan added: “Some people will never be friends again… #foreverfamily Congratulations Tichina! We all love you and are proud of you!”

This isn’t the first time Lawrence and Arnold have gotten back together since the series finale on May 1, 1997.

In 2022, all of the living “Martin” cast members gathered on BET+ for a special hosted by Affion Crockett. They all gathered at radio presenter Martin Payne’s home, where much of the show was filmed.

In addition to Lawrence and Arnold, Tisha Campbell and Carl Anthony Payne II also attended the reunion. Missing was her late co-star Thomas Mikal Ford, who died in 2016 at the age of 52 from a ruptured abdominal aneurysm.

This wouldn’t be the last time they all got together.

The quartet met again in 2024 at the 75th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards in a model of the Detroit apartment and announced the nominations for Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.

During the skit, they joked that despite 132 episodes and being in syndication, “Martin” was never nominated or won an Emmy.

The show ended after five seasons, which many attributed to the sexual assault lawsuit Campbell filed against Lawrence. However, Arnold believes the business went to Lawrence’s head after he became an executive producer of “Martin.”

“Martin, you know, unfortunately, at a certain point in his life, show business got the best of him, and when that happens, you see it happen and there’s nothing you can do about it,” she explained in an episode of TV One from 2018 “Uncensored” documentaries.

“Just pray for that person. It’s almost like watching a car crash that you can’t stop,” she added.

The reunion special and Emmy clip didn’t seem to quench the thirst of fans longing for a true spinoff.

For now, they may have to enjoy these occasional pop-ups, as the “Run Tell Dat” comedian and other cast members have gone on record saying there won’t be a traditional reboot of the show. Some, like Tisha Campbell, noted that it wouldn’t be the same without the return of one of the series’ most popular characters, Tommy, played by Thomas Mikal Ford.

However, Lawrence has hinted at a different kind of spin-off, similar to Will Smith’s Bel-Air, which airs on Peacock.

Lawrence is currently working on a drama called Young Martin, based on his character’s early teenage years. According to Deadline, the hour-long series from his production company RunTelDat will follow the “origin story surrounding Martin Payne, a charismatic teenager navigating the complexities of the transition from adolescence to adulthood.”

There’s no word on whether the show will air on TV networks and streaming platforms or if any of the original cast members will be asked to appear.

All fans know that they are excited to see something from the comedic actor and that they would be thrilled if Arnold also starred alongside the comic giant.