Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand-Up
Starring: Doug Williams (host), Biz Markie (DJ), various comedians
Created By: Martin Lawrence
Premieres: Wednesday, July 9, 2008 at 10:00 pm EST on Starz
Martin Lawrence Presents 1st Amendment Stand-Up is a stand-up comedy series that features various comedians as they share their perspectives on life, politics, marriage, sex and everything in between. I had the opportunity to check out a couple of episodes from this season and I have to say, I was definitely entertained by what I saw.
Host Doug Williams and DJ, Biz Markie both serve their purpose in warming up the audience (and the viewers). Lawrence is often shown up in the balcony laughing at the comedians as they perform their acts but that appears to be the extent of his on-screen involvement in the show.
Standup comedy is kind of a crapshoot for me. Usually I either get the comedian or I don’t. Such was the case with this show as I found myself merely smiling through the first episode, not entirely on board with what everyone in the audience was laughing at. On the other hand, the second episode was much more enjoyable. Comedian Deon Cole had me rolling all the way through his set. Between his thoughts on quotable porn stars to pondering whether or not it’s appropriate to say grace over leftovers, this guy delivered every joke with excellent timing. Like with all comedy though, some of it is going to appeal to some people while not-so-much for others. This will probably be the case for viewers of Martin Lawrence Presents. Some people with less discriminating senses of humor will probably find every act laugh-worthy but even if you’re a bit pickier about your comedy, the comedians featured on this show all appeared to be fairly seasoned in their craft so there’s sure to be at least a few acts that’ll get you laughing.
Much of the comedy is adult-oriented though, so if you’re offended by blatant sexual jokes and some foul language, I’d steer clear. If you’re a fan of stand-up comedy and looking for some big laughs, this 30-minute Starz program delivers the laughs.
