THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 18, 1995 TAG: 9501180029
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: LARRY BONKO
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
MARTIN LAWRENCE hobbled into his meeting with TV writers on a right knee that he had twisted playing backyard basketball. Lawrence and his bride, Chesapeake's very own Pat Southall, haven't found time to take a real, get-away-from-it-all honeymoon, what with Lawrence busy as the star and executive producer of his Fox sitcom.
Word that the Lawrence-Southall wedding in Norfolk earlier this month was a grand affair soon reached Southern California. So it was no surprise that the first question Martin heard from members of the Television Critics Association was about the cost of a wedding that had Hampton Roads spellbound for days.
``It cost a lot,'' said Lawrence. ``I enjoyed my time in Norfolk and I enjoyed meeting the people there. I had no idea that so many people would turn out to greet us.
``It was nice that so many came. And it was also nice to have such a large wedding and give back something to the people who have supported me in my career.''
Southall and Lawrence met in 1992 at one of his concerts, said a member of Lawrence's entourage, which is a nice-sized group by Hollywood standards. Lawrence was helped along, up and down stairs and into his limousine by his wide-shouldered bodyguard.
The no-shows at the Norfolk wedding included Arsenio Hall and Eddie Murphy, one guest Lawrence really wanted to attend, according to a Lawrence spokesman. ``They didn't make it,'' she said.
It upsets Lawrence a tad to suggest that he is mellowing in his late 20s, that he is no longer the brash, you-so-crazy comic he was when ``Martin'' signed on three seasons ago.
Mellowing? No. Maturing? Yes, said Martin as well as those who work with him, including co-star Tisha Campbell. ``We've both grown as individuals,'' Campbell said.
Campbell attended the Norfolk wedding but didn't have time to visit her relatives in Portsmouth.
She says Lawrence is a great boss.
``He fights many battles for the actors and the crew,'' she said. When ``Martin'' premiered, Lawrence was the star and creative consultant. Now he's calling the shots.
That will mature a person in a hurry, suggested Martin's co-executive producer, Samm-Art Williams.
``With the title of executive producer comes the responsibilities. You're responsible for the careers of cast and crew, the budgets and many other things I didn't hone in early on in the series,'' Williams said.
Lawrence admits that he's had skirmishes with Fox executives about what he wants his show to be - almost as edgy and as outrageous as his stand-up comedy. He isn't happy with Fox's decision to move the show from Sunday to Thursday night, before ``Living Single.''
But he didn't rant about it before the TV press the way he would have a few years back. Lawrence could not have been more cordial, ending his meeting with the writers on a philosophical note, saying that we'd all be better off if we listened to our mothers' advice.
Some of that advice from mom was not to try to do everything while filming ``Martin.''
``In the beginning, I was like Michael Jordan trying to carry the Chicago Bulls on his shoulders alone,'' Lawrence said. ``Because the show is named `Martin,' I felt I had to introduce you to Martin at first. But now it's time you got to know Martin's friends and family better.''
Lawrence has been controversial in the past, including the moment on ``Saturday Night Live'' when his language offended NBC brass. His concerts are raw, with four-letter words spilling out.
That's the real Martin Lawrence, not the one viewers see on Fox. ``My anger got me into some of these situations,'' he said. ``I've found out that being angry isn't always the best way to handle problems. When tempers flare, you say things that hurt people.''
Lawrence showed up before the TV press on a painful leg to present the new Martin Lawrence, an actor and producer who says he has learned what it takes to keep a TV show on the air for years - assemble a strong ensemble cast and provide great scripts.
``I think the best is yet to come,'' he said.
It would be nice, the comic said, if Fox gave him bigger budgets and promoted the show with more vigor. But that's not a complaint. New bridegroom Lawrence is happy to have a show on TV in prime time after three seasons.
That's a long time in TV terms, he said. It is indeed. MEMO: Television Columnist Larry Bonko is in Los Angeles for the twice-yearly
Television Critics Association meeting. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Martin Lawrence enjoyed being in Norfolk for his wedding.
by CNB