Remembering "Bruh-Man From The 5th Floor", The Iconic Character From The 1990s American Television Series "Martin"

@UyleesBoutique, April 2, 2025 "Remember “Bruh Man” from the 5th flo’? 😂😂 #Martin #90stvshow

Bruh Man from the 5th flo’—played by Reginald Ballard—always brought the laughs on the classic 90s sitcom Martin! 😂 Who can forget those iconic moments when he’d sneak in unannounced? 🍔

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III of a four part pancocojams series about the use of the words "Bro, "Br'er", "Bruh", "Bruhz" and "Bra" (particularly in the United States).

This post showcases two YouTube videos of the character "Bruh-man from the 5th floor", a recurring character in the 1990s television series Martin.

Information about the television series Martin and information about Reginald Ballard, the actor who portrayed the character "Bruh-Man from the 5th floor" are included in this post along with information about that character.

This post also presents comments about that character from the discussion thread for Showcase video #2.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/06/amplifying-african-american-influences.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents excerpts of various internet articles and AI Overview write-ups about the use of those words. These excerpts are presented as a timeline. 

That timeline and the other posts in this pancocojams series strive to amplify the historical and cultural record as a way of helping to correct what I perceive to be the scarcity of details and/or the minimization of the tremendous role that African American culture has had and continues to have on the use of the words "bro" and "bruh" in American English and in the use of the English language throughout the world. 

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/06/omega-dear-bscut-feb-20-2008-founders.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post showcases three YouTube videos of the historically Black Greek letter fraternity Omega Psi Phi, Inc.. These videos exemplify the singing that Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is known for.

That post also includes selected comments from these videos' discussion threads which document examples of the use of the words "brother", "bruhs", and "bruhz" by members of Omega Psi Phi fraternity and by other commenters. 

Click __ for Part IV of this pancocojams series. That post presents comments from two internet  discussion threads about the use of "bro" as a referent for females as well as males. 

The content of this post is presented for historical, linguistic, socio-cultural, and aesthetic  purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners

Thanks to Reginald Ballard, the actor who played the character "Bruh-Man from the fifth floor. Thanks also to actor Martin Lawrence and all others who were associated with that 1990s American television series for their contributions to American culture. Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all the publishers of these showcased YouTube videos. 

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PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
"Bru-Man from the 5th floor" from the Martin television series is an iconic character in African American culture who-among other things- increased awareness about and the use of the vernacular word "bruh" in the United States. However, I haven't come across any mention of that character in internet articles and discussions about the word "bruh". 

This pancocojams post helps to rectify this omission.  

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE TELEVISION SERIES MARTIN
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_(TV_series)
"Martin is an American television sitcom that aired for five seasons on Fox from August 27, 1992, to May 1, 1997. The show stars comedian Martin Lawrence as the titular character. Lawrence also played several other characters. Martin was one of Fox's highest-rated shows during the sitcom's run. In 2024, the cast reunited at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.[1]

Premise

Martin Lawrence played the role of Martin Payne, originally a disc jockey who lived with his girlfriend Gina Waters (Tisha Campbell) in the city of Detroit, Michigan. Martin worked for the fictional radio station WZUP; in later seasons, he became the host of the talk show Word on the Street.[2]

[…]

Supporting characters

Reginald Ballard as Bruh-Man (Brother Man) (seasons 2–4)’…

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INFORMATION ABOUT REGINALD BALLAD, THE ACTOR WHO PORTRAYED "BRUH-MAN FROM THE FIFTH FLOOR" IN THE TELEVISION SERIES "MARTIN"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Ballard
"Reginald Ballard (born October 13, 1965) is an [African American] character actor and comedian from Galveston, Texas, who is best known for his recurring roles as Brother Man in the sitcom Martin and W.B. on The Bernie Mac Show, which both aired on Fox. …
-snip-
Reginald Ballard confirms in online interviews that he patterned the character "Bruh-Man from the fifth floor" drawling speech pattern and the way that he pronounced certain words on the way that some people in Galveston, Texas and Houston, Texas talk[ed]. Some commenters in various YouTube discussion threads confirm this point.   

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From https://www.facebook.com/sistercircletv/videos/reginald-bruh-man-ballard-talks-martin-comedy-and-more/1752489324885490/  "Sister Circle Live", January 13, 2020
"Reginald Bruh Man Ballard came into our homes weekly— coming through the window from the “fifth flo” on Martin TV. Now he’s tearing up the mic on comedy stages across the country.

Check it out!"

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INFORMATION ABOUT THE CHARACTER "BRUH-MAN FROM THE FIFTH FLOOR"
From https://martintv.fandom.com/wiki/Bruh-Man
"Bruh-Man

…Vital information

Gender- Male

Character description

Upstairs neighbor of Martin and Gina who always arrives unannounced and "borrows" things from them

Character information

Appeared on Martin (TV series)

Episodes appeared in 13 in Seasons 3 & 4

Bruh-Man, Martin's upstairs neighbor, is a recurring who debuts in Season 3 of Martin. The part of Bruh-Man is played on the series by Reginald Ballard.

About "Bruh-Man"

Bruh-Man lives on the fifth "flo" (yet he always puts 4 fingers up when relating this fact), directly upstairs from Martin. Whenever Martin asks what he is doing, Bruh-Man replies, "Nuttin'…just chillin'." He often climbs down the "f-a-a-a-ah 'scape" (fire escape), to enter Martin's apartment, taking food, borrowing assorted items, and generally lounging around as if he lives there. At first, this greatly annoyed Martin but he eventually got used to it. In fact, fire escapes seem to be his only means of movement throughout buildings—he is seldom seen entering or exiting the apartment through the front door. When he attended Martin and Gina's engagement party at Gina's apartment, he went as far as climbing the building since there was no fire escape."...

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From AI Overview
"Bruh-Man always wears badly fitting clothing a size or two too small (frequently, items he's "borrowed" from Martin), and has a characteristic gait consisting of a slow and lazy, rather limping, plodding walk, with his head cocked to one side. Martin, as Bruh-Man was heading toward the window to make his exit, once referred to it as his "slow bop". Bruh-Man speaks in a deep voice and with a long drawl, like that of Shaquille O'Neal.

Despite being a popular character, Bruh-Man was quietly phased out of the series after Season 3. His last appearances were in the Season 4, and he explains his absence by stating that he only comes around when Martin and Gina are away out of respect for their marriage. This is proven true as he is absent throughout the fifth and final season of the series, however he is mentioned once albeit briefly. In episode 13, "Ain't That About a Ditch", when Gina's mother locks Martin out of his apartment, he pauses to think, then whispers "Bruh-Man" to himself as he walks off to climb in through the fire escape, then Martin shows up in his apartment.

Trivia

Bruh man becomes a recurring character in Season 3

He does not make an appearance after Season 4

He made his official debut in Season 2 Episode 4 Beat it"...

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SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Martin - Best of Bruh Man

Throwback Nation, Feb 12, 2018

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD OF SHOWCASE VIDEO #2

These comments are given in chronological order, except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bDJgIv6O2U

2019

1. @jacobbranch9862
"From Galveston Tx, but he got that 5th Ward swag to him!!!"

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2. Reply
@sugarbaby547, 2020
"In Galveston they have their own way of life..."

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Reply
3.@woezacardoza5659, 2020
"He's got that silver back swag lol"

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4. @Bobmob25
"He be in that small ass jacket 🤣🤣🤣"

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Reply
5. @sostdm617, 2024
" "we got a muscled up bruh man what are you doing here" "i was going to ask y'all the same question ain't y'all supposed to be at work "😂😂😂😂😂😂😂"

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6. @EvilSinReaper
"That look on Martin face brah 0:36🤣🤣🤣"

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7. @vegetasolo1221
"Why doesn't he just call the cops on this fool lol" 

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Reply
8,@andrewsohene5283
"He didn't cause any harm lool"

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Reply
9.@marcusmagice
"You clearly never grew up in the hood . Guys like this pop up all the time ."

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Reply
10. @donnyrob3642
"@marcusmagice  that's not tru mabe where you from speak for yourself"

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11.@cheechsantiago5832, 2020
"@marcusmagice  😂😂😂 That's how you get shot"

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Reply
12, @951octm 2020
"Maybe Martin knows he's special so he let's him slide."

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13. jacobbranch9862
"Bruh Man is from Galveston Tx, I guess that is why I call him Bruh-Man from the 5th Ward. He reminds me so much of an ld school 5th Ward gangsta!!!"

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14, @TestubeBB
"That guy was a genius whatever happened to him"

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Reply
15, @hi-xf7cj, 2022
"Played Bernie Mac's friend on the Bernie Mac show."

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2020

16. @therealdannyfenton
"Ayyeee... Bruhmann from the ✌🏾floor."

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17. @koreysylver9276
"The best character on the Martin show not played by Martin"

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18. @rayyana.8538
"Bruh Man was the sweetest and funniest neighbour....lol....always at Martin's place uninvited...lol"

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19. @theedumone8890
"Bruhman a whole mood😂"

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20. @NikoBellic555
"The walk😂😂😂"

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Reply
21. @albundy6008, 2024
"He was working the slow bop."

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22. @mccown2690
"Why doesn’t Martin just keep his windows locked?

😂😂😂"

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23. @deynna45
"Y'all notice how he drags the last word of every sentence"

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Reply
24. @princeekeson12
"Dat southern drawl. 😂"

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25. @johnw5403
"Bruh man talk like he from TX, frfr"

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26. @kingpinsmith22
"Honestly, the only way you can understand bruh man, is being from the hood in the USA, greatest country ever."

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Reply
27. @ChaseK004
"Im white from the Burbs and i understand v

Everyry word.. grew up watching Martin"

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Reply
28. @troylee76, 2021
"I’m from Texas! I understood every word!"

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Reply
29. @anonimato1987,2021
"@troylee76  there are hoods in TX"

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Reply
30. @SaveYourSelfBlackMan, 2021
"You don’t have to be in the hood to understand where’s he from lol 😂"

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31. @keithbridges2144
"The fella didn't mean any harm.  Just didn't know his boundaries that well.  That's why Martin tolerated and even befriended him.  However, folks be careful who you let into your home - especially the ladies."

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32. @TheBreezyBabes
"The head nod kills me every time 😂 we all know a ni-ga* like this"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled in this comment.

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33. @msufan590
"Im mad they dont show my favorite part after he ate their Thanksgiving food and invited them to his moms house is that they followed him right out to the fire escape lmaoo"

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34. @micmaliss
"I had a Bruh Man in my life. This dude named Poppa who used the fire escape and everything."

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35. @chopsavant
"bruh man deserves all the emmys"

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36. @kao380
"2:38 yo the way he's bopping while he walks off has me crying 🤣🤣🤣🤣"

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Reply
37. @thomasgooden
"😂"

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38. @terranceforeman5116
"I wish he acted like this in Bernie Mac"

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Reply
39. @hi-xf7cj, 2022
"He probably didn't want to be typecasted. But he will always be known as Bruh Man on the 5th flo..🙂"

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2021

40. @shunpreek
"Bruh Man From the fif flo  😂😂😂"

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41. @edwardwatson7218
"Bruh man was 1 of the funniest & most underrated supporting charecters in tv history! How he wasnt a permanent cast member was beyond me!!"

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Reply
42. @paulevans6066, 2024
"The way how he just randomly popped up out of nowhere made his character even funnier. It was an event when Bruh Man came through that window"

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43.@40h66
"In all reality...bruh man was part of the family💯"

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44. @Studio-eu2bz
"YOU. Would you allow a "bruh man" in your apartment?...I would. If he was exactly like him, I would."

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45. @asahnwyatt6947
"He has a strong resemblance to Radio Raheem from do the right thing.  Martin was in it"

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46. @brboy8307
"Bruhman just crack me up 😂😂😂"

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47. @darkmatter5940
"Bruh man means no harm"

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48. @oloruntoadebenjudahdawotol7531
"Bruh man and them tight ass shirts lol"

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Reply
49. @xcaluhbration, 2023
"I didn't even realize until now that Bruh Man was always wearing them tight shirts cuz everything he had on was someone else's 🤣"

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50. @septimusheap925
""Dis ni-ga * embodies the word bruh on so many levels I don't know where to start😂😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣👌👌"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

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51. @somethingcool1143
"Bruh man really the only dude I know that can nonchalantly walk to your house and make a sammich and say "nothin, just chillen"

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52. @juancaminante8078
"Player of the Year. Straight Gangster."

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53. @lucy661000
"Bruh man was radio Raheem without the radio"

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54. @Touchit1958
"That head nod when he leaves always kills me!! ☠️"

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55. @datboyphil
"Bruh man was probably the funniest   cast member that wasnt a main cast member 😭😭🤣🤣🤣 he made some of the episodes memerable 🤣🤣🤣"

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56. @litoknows268
"Bruh man man is the most savage chill and coolest person all in one lol and he get away with it lmao 😂"

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57. @marilynmalcolm9920
"You know things are bad when Bruh Man exits out of the front door. 💔"

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2022

58. @RoyalCam9
"One of the many best Characters on Martin😂❗️ That’s why this show will always be the best. Everyone was funny & had they own moments, I be watching this like a mf on HBO Max 💯"

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59. @michaelscott181
" "nutin, just chillen"  ever since I head bruh man say it, been using it since.  Iconic"

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60. @jobytamrat7297
"5th floor and 5th street with fo fingers....iconic sh-t"*
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in that comment. 

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61. @tobyrichardson5317
"One of the best characters in tv show history"

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Reply
62. @Bongo_Fury, 2024
"Met him at Central Middle School in Galveston TX. His moms was a teacher there."

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63. @Chicken_Wing91
"I love how even though everyone knows he’s there he still leaves through the window 😂"

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Reply
64. @hi-xf7cj
"I've always wore house shoes and shorts.  Loved me some Bruh Man...😍"

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65. @nathan2497
"Bruh Man was a cool character 😂😂

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66. @hi-xf7cj
"The Bruh Man head nod is a classic."

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67. @FalconsFanForever
"bruh man was funny give this brotha his props while hes still living. Lol"

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Reply
68. @joelshalom7100
"Definitely the most underrated"

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69. @koolbreez9865
"Bruh man speech is so  H-TOWN! 😂😂"

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Reply
70. @7South1Park3, 2024

"I knew he was from Texas soon as I heard how he said House at 4:38😂"

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Reply
71. @dunkirk9319
"That head nod from bruh man was a killer…😂😂😂😂😂… still watching in 2021….😂😂😂😂😂😂"

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Reply
72. @pitt8274,2023
"This will never get old 😅"

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2023

73.@lamontpeanutmillerjr
"LMMFAO Bruh Man was a straight up G"

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74  @TooSkinnyKenny
"that is one country brother"

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75. @Luisgar1234
"Bruh man the funnies character bruh😂"

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76. @lesliespringer9816
"A Texas natural.👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽😂😂😂

Damn sho wish i had sum milk duds 😭🤣🤣🤣"

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77. @philiptucker7590
"One of the greatest sitcoms of all time! Love how they had these crazy recurring characters like Bruh man lmao 🤣"

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78.  @charltonlee20
"The addition of the character was brilliant"

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79. @Shockwave117yt
"Bruh man was ahead of our time"

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80. @flakito163
"Absolutely love bruh man and his sammiches 🤣🤣"

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81. @hazemcdanill
"Bruh man: I thought we was tight man

Martin: yeah we tight about as tight as this sweater was on your ass

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂"

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82. @Deadpool_64
"I love how Martin is mad at first but comes to accept that Bruh Man is gonna roll in his house and eat his food and chill."

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Reply
83. @TheTehrancarroll, 2025
"It’s inevitable really!😂"

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84. @matthewporras3815
"My favorite part was when they all rolled to bruh mans moms crib for thanksgiving lmaoo"

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85. @bulletspenetrate503
"Bruh man the first ni-ga* to say “Yoooooo” @5:17 😂😂"
-snip-
* This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

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86. @haimavraham23
"The way bruh man talk is  hilarious "Full'o ssammiches" ll, "Fraud and nem" (zigmond fraud) he say that like he grew up with dem 🤣🤣🤣 funny character."

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87. @jaylenlenear7850,
"I like how Martin never calls the cops. First he was shocked then just got use to it lmao"

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88. @rah7866
"You gotta love Bruh Man even Martin just came to realize. Bruh Man didn't mean no harm he just didn't know no damn better!

 Then like a good friend the one time they needed some food they got invited to his mom's house lmao"

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89. @LarrytheKing16
"In his first appearance, at least Bruh Man used the door and not the “fffaaaarrr escape”.

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90.  @Under_Sky_Third_Gaia
"The best bruh"

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91. @donniebrasco1364
"It's amazing how humble bruh man is about his physique.  He acts like an average Joe despite being as big and muscle bound as a marvel character.  I'm surprised with his skill he didn't act in action movies.  Goes to show that image is fake."

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92. @tinycoco520
"So it's December 1st 2023 until this day I did not know Brah man Wes from Galveston Texas so close to me😂😅😂❤ .. and now that I think of it he did give off Texas vibes that Texas slang and everythang LOL"

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2024

93. @josephpollard2725
"Bru man, one of the Best of Martin's comedy series. Bru just trynna survive.😅"

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94. @therealSouljaMan
"This character was a gem, national treasure  🤣"

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95. @sleepnomore6065
"Bruhman was the OG of squatters  & freeloaders😂"

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Reply
96. @islandlife3371, 2025
"He was one of the funniest characters on the show"

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97. @thefearofg0ds758
"I like how Martin eventually just caved in and accepted Bruhman as a roomate and they started to become cool lol"

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98. @hhl316delta
"Who leaves their window open in Detroit in the winter?"

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99. @ZJIGGA
"Bruh Man should of had his own spin off show"

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100. @Rockymarciono731
"Bru man is the black Kramer “Michal Richard’s from Seinfeld” or Kramer can be the white Bru man lol"

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101. @fuzzybutkus8970
"Reginald Ballard. Dude was this character. Loved it."

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102. @HampETX903
"4:40 that Texas came out 😂"

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103. @Karateka888
"We had a Bruh-Woman named Dottie. Constantly popping up uninvited. RIP Dottie with your crazy self.

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2025

104. @kendallrivers1119
"Bruh Man: one of the greatest characters in tv history!"

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105. @ballack1884
"Bruh Man timelessly legendary"

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106. @boredstudent
"Martin is on Netflix and I've been watching it. Bruh man doesn't appear very much but when he does, it's awesome."

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107. @JamesAngler
"When he quoted Sigmun Freud I lost it 😂😂😂😂"

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108. @staxmantim
"Before there was Kramer"

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109. @youtuber234ps5
"Bruhman was the black Kramer 😂"

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Reply
110. @Zcam-y8i
"Um no"

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111. @cappy2282
"Bruh man a good guy 👍"

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112. @Silkyjohnsonjr
" "Sorry a brotha couldn’t come through the window, Martin. There’s a few snow flurries out there” 😂😂😂😂 8:55"

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113. @orlandokincaide7344
"Bruh man was the only guy we know that will come in home take your stuff and still get away with it time and time again"

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114. @neekyboo77"
"This character was freaking HILARIOUS! LOVE SOME BRUH MAN!"

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115. @EdWedgie
"Him coming out the bathroom with the air freshener killed me 😂😂"

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2026

116. sheldonsanders9214
"Bruh-Man reminded me of home everytime... Texas stand up"

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117. @ALLOFYAHSPEOPLE
"🎉😂 I came here today because I was in the mood for some old school Bruh Man.😂😂. Martin is one of the best shows EVER!!!❤"

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118. @SexyplexiGT
"Man bruh man was my favorite character. Man those were the days. Family getting together to watch shows like Martin. We white as hell from the country but damn we loved some Martin.  Sitting here watching bruh man from the 5th flo missing my uncle who used to watch it with me. Bout to make me a saaaaaamich"

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This concludes Part III of this pancocojams series.

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