Tisha Campbell joins Shawn Stockman for a powerful and deeply personal episode of On That Note, reflecting on her legendary career in television, film, music, comedy, motherhood, and the journey of finally unmasking who she really is.
From her unforgettable roles as Gina Waters on Martin, Sydney in House Party, Yvonne in Boomerang, and Jay Kyle on My Wife and Kids, Tisha looks back at the moments that helped define her career and the cultural impact of Martin. She shares behind-the-scenes stories about working with Martin Lawrence, Tichina Arnold, Carl Anthony Payne II, Tommy Ford, Damon Wayans, Eddie Murphy, Robin Givens, Regina Hall, and the cast of Boomerang and House Party.
Tisha also opens up about her journey as a singer and R&B artist, including her time with Capitol Records, her music career during the height of Martin, and her song “Push.” She explains why she struggled to fully embrace her music career at the time and how acting ultimately became the path she believed could help her family.
The conversation takes an even more personal turn as Tisha discusses her childhood growing up in Newark, New Jersey, her family’s gospel music background, her mother and aunts singing alongside Mahalia Jackson, and how performing became part of her life at an early age. She shares the incredible story of winning a car in a childhood talent competition and booking her first acting role in The Magnificent Major.
Tisha also speaks candidly about autism, ADHD, masking, motherhood, therapy, and her son Zen, explaining how her own recent diagnosis helped her better understand herself and her experiences throughout her life. She discusses her book The A Word: A Mother and Son’s Journey Through Autism and Love, the importance of autism awareness, and how sharing her family’s journey online helped create a community around her son.
She also reveals the next chapter of her career as a writer, producer, and storyteller, including her production company You Go Girl Productions, her work with writing partner Danny Wright, her Lifetime project One Last Shot, and her desire to create stories that explore grief, family, healing, and the experiences of Black women.
Shawn and Tisha also revisit some of the most memorable moments from Martin, including the show’s iconic catchphrases, characters, comedy, and cultural impact that continues to reach new generations.
And in a revealing rapid-fire finale, Tisha talks about Gina vs. Jay, Sydney vs. Yvonne, acting vs. singing, comedy vs. drama, Martin Lawrence vs. Damon Wayans, Anita Baker, Meryl Streep, Amy Schumer, and the role she wishes more people knew about: Uncoupled.
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