Beloved comedian and actor Martin Lawrence was born in Frankfurt, Germany, 58 years ago to Flora and John Lawrence. Happy birthday to the prolific, funny man who helped shape what a Black sitcom could be. There’s no other sitcom like “Martin.”

By 1992, Lawrence was in America, shifting the history of television. A very short three months after “The Cosby Show” bid farewell to TV screens, “Martin” was ready to debut. Bill Cosby was infamously none too pleased with the show’s liberal use of language and sexual jokes he’s always avoided in his career. But that didn’t stop Martin Lawrence from setting TV sets ablaze.

“Martin” was a departure from the family values Cosby instilled in his viewers. The title character, Martin, played by Lawrence, was a pompous radio host in Detroit named Martin Payne who was dating Gina, played by Tisha Campbell. Their friends Pam (Tichina Arnold) and Martin’s two besties, Cole (Carl Antony Payne) and Tommy(the late Thomas Mikal Ford), constantly came over to their apartment and/or went out with Martin and Gina to keep the shenanigans high.

Speaking of shenanigans, one of the best nuggets from “Martin” is that Martin played many characters who became fan favorites, like Martin’s nosey neighbor Sheneneh with the sky-high weaves, or Jerome, a playboy with a yuck mouth who is stuck in the 1970s; Martin even played his mother, Momma Payne. Lawrence created a show that was a sitcom/sketch comedy hybrid. He’s a genius. A genius who deserved a couple of Emmys, but a genius nonetheless. 

It’s been over 30 years since “Martin” lit up Thursday nights, and to celebrate Martin Lawrence’s accomplishments from his show “Martin” as well as his 58th birthday, here are the top 5 one-liners from “Martin.”

“Gina’s out of control! I’m out of control! This whole damn party’s out of control!” -Bob from Marketing: Before there was Corporate Erin, there was Gina’s white co-worker Bob who was always ready to party but never invited. 

“Oh what? So you got Indian in your family?! Woooooooo!” -Sheneneh: this neighbor may have been a lot, but she always had Martin and Gina’s back.

“I say Jerome’s in the house! Watch yo mouth!” -Jerome: This playa from the Himalayas always had something to say that rhymed.

“You got too much head to be stupid!” -Momma Payne: Ain’t nothing like a mother’s love and Martin’s momma never liked Gina and she showed it every chance she got.

“Boy I said take off your dilly dally in the court room!” -Otis: This security guard didn’t secure anything, but the laughs.