Martin Lawrence Speaks On His Return To Television In New Show 'Partners'

In an exclusive interview with TheNYTimes, Martin Lawrence talks to Dave Itzkoff about returning to television and good health — and letting his daughters in on his past.

Check out some excerpts from the Interview below:

Your new FX series, “Partners,” stars you and Kelsey Grammer as mismatched lawyers working together. Had you ever met him before this project?
I first met Kelsey at a Christmas dinner over at Tim Allen’s house. We just met in passing and said hello. I had no idea we would ever work together, because we’re more of an odd couple. I never saw us together.

Have you found that television has changed since the ’90s, when you were making “Martin”?
Well, yeah, the demands are greater now. It’s not as easy to get on TV. Just to get ratings, it’s very hard. The paychecks are not the same anymore.

Do you think that “Martin” helped create opportunities for other black performers to get shows?
Maybe. I don’t know that it’s gotten better. I think we’re in a hole right now, and so whoever is working — black or white or whatever — there are many more people that ain’t working, that just don’t have a job, that are struggling, that are just trying to get their hustle on.

In “Runteldat,” you say, in effect, that people should ride life until the wheels fall off. Do you still feel that way today?
Yes, I do. Live life to its fullest, to its grandest, and ride it until the wheels fall off, man. You only get one.