It was May 1, 1997. If you were around back then, you remember the vibe. Fox was the king of edgy, urban comedy, and Martin was the crown jewel. But by the time the Martin season 5 finale aired, things felt... different. The energy had shifted.
The show didn't go out with a massive, star-studded party or a predictable clip show. Instead, we got a two-part episode titled "California, Here We Come." It was a weird mix of bittersweet departures and the very obvious, lingering elephant in the room: the massive legal rift between Martin Lawrence and Tisha Campbell.
The Reality Behind the Martin Season 5 Finale
Most sitcoms end with a big group hug. This one ended with the two leads literally unable to be in the same room. Seriously. If you go back and watch the Martin season 5 finale today, it's almost jarring to see how the directors had to frame the shots.
Because of the sexual harassment lawsuit filed by Tisha Campbell against Martin Lawrence—which was settled out of court—a core condition of her returning for the final episodes was that they could not be on set at the same time. Think about that for a second. The greatest TV couple of the 90s, Martin and Gina, couldn't even stand in the same zip code to say goodbye to the fans.
It’s honestly impressive they pulled it off at all.
The plot itself is pretty straightforward. Martin gets a talk show job in Los Angeles. Gina gets a big promotion at her marketing firm that also requires a move to the West Coast. It’s destiny, right? They’re moving on to bigger things. But the execution was a logistical nightmare. Every scene featuring both of them was a product of clever editing, body doubles, or green screens. When you see Gina talking to the group, Martin is gone. When Martin is cracking jokes, Gina is "in the other room."
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Why the "California" Move Felt So Sudden
For years, the show was rooted in Detroit. It was part of the DNA. The 80, the WZUP radio station, the apartment—it all felt lived-in. Then, suddenly, everything is being packed into boxes.
Tommy and Cole are left standing there, and you can see the genuine sadness on the actors' faces. Carl Anthony Payne II and the late, great Thomas Mikal Ford weren't just acting. They knew the ride was over. They were losing their jobs, their routine, and their friend group all at once.
The episode tries to maintain the classic Martin humor. We get appearances from the iconic side characters. But the "funny" feels a bit forced because the stakes were so high. Fans weren't just watching a show end; they were watching a cultural phenomenon fracture in real-time.
The Characters We Lost and the Legacy They Left
Let's talk about the supporting cast in the Martin season 5 finale.
Pam, played by the incredible Tichina Arnold, was always the foil to Martin’s ego. In the finale, her farewell to Gina feels like the most authentic part of the whole hour. Their friendship was real. Even with the behind-the-scenes drama, Tichina and Tisha remained tight, and you can feel that bond.
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Then there's the mystery of Tommy’s job.
For five seasons, it was the show’s best running gag. "You ain't got no job, Tommy!" In the finale, he finally "gets" a job, but it’s almost an afterthought. The showrunners knew they couldn't leave that thread hanging forever, yet they didn't want to give a boring, corporate answer either. It stayed true to the spirit of the show: keep 'em guessing.
Breaking Down the Final Moments
The very last scene is Martin walking through the empty apartment. It’s a trope, sure. Every sitcom does it. Fresh Prince did it. Friends did it later. But when Martin Lawrence looks around that room, you aren't seeing "Martin Payne." You're seeing the man who built an empire from a stand-up routine.
He writes "Thanks for the support" on the wall. Or rather, he signs it. It wasn't just a character leaving a house; it was an era of Black television coming to a screeching halt.
Some people hated it.
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They felt the Martin season 5 finale was a betrayal of the romance. How can you have a finale about a couple where the couple doesn't touch? No final kiss? No holding hands as they walk into the sunset? It felt cold to some. To others, it was a miracle the show got a proper ending at all considering the legal firestorm happening backstage.
Lessons from the 1997 Farewell
Looking back from 2026, the finale serves as a masterclass in "the show must go on." It’s a testament to the crew and the writers who had to rewrite entire scripts to accommodate a legal restraining order.
If you're revisiting the series, keep these things in mind:
- Watch the eye lines. Notice how characters rarely look directly at where the other lead should be standing. It’s a fascinatng bit of technical TV history.
- The tone shift. The first four seasons are chaotic and loud. Season 5, especially the end, is much more subdued.
- The "New York" Factor. Even though they were moving to LA, the show never lost its gritty, East Coast/Midwest comedic timing, even in the final minutes.
The Martin season 5 finale wasn't perfect. It was messy, complicated, and a bit sad. But in a way, that makes it more human. Life doesn't always end with a perfect bow. Sometimes, you just pack your bags, sign the wall, and move to California because you have to.
How to Experience the Finale Today
If you want to dive back in, don't just watch the episode in a vacuum. Watch the "30th Anniversary Reunion" special first. Seeing Martin and Tisha sit on that yellow couch together decades later provides the closure the finale couldn't offer in 1997. They healed. They apologized. They grew up.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Stream with Context: Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of "California, Here We Come" on Max or BET+, specifically looking for the "split-screen" moments where Martin and Gina are supposedly in the same room.
- Compare the Departures: Contrast this finale with The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air finale. Both involve moving away, but notice how the lack of physical chemistry in Martin changes the emotional weight.
- Research the Settlement: If you're a TV history buff, look up the 1997 court filings. It adds a layer of complexity to every "joke" made in the final season.
- Support the Cast: Follow Tichina Arnold and Martin Lawrence on social media; they often share behind-the-scenes stories that clarify why certain creative choices were made during that final, turbulent year.