The Breakfast Club: Carl Anthony Payne II Interview

Podcast: The Breakfast Club (The Black Effect Podcast Network & iHeartPodcasts)
Air Date: February 12, 2026
Guests & Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha God, Lauren LaRosa, and Carl Anthony Payne II

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Breakfast Club welcomes actor and comedian Carl Anthony Payne II—best known as “Cole” from Martin and “Cockroach” from The Cosby Show. Carl discusses his career’s evolution, the legendary Black sitcom era, classic Hollywood fame, and the personal, creative, and cultural pivots that have shaped his journey. He touches on the enduring impact of his iconic roles, his ventures into stand-up, mentorship, and upcoming projects—including his comedy tour and a one man show. The conversation is candid, reflective, and peppered with classic Breakfast Club humor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Height of Black Sitcoms & Shifting Media Landscape

• Fame in the '80s/'90s vs. Today

  • Carl recalls the visceral, unmatched level of fame during the Cosby Show years.
  • [03:04] Carl: “I never forget, I was at a New Edition concert… all these people started coming down and it was pointing in my direction… But it was me.”
  • Charlamagne and Carl agree the collective experience of broadcast TV and Black-led shows fostered a sense of true community that rarely exists today.
  • [04:57] Carl: “The ‘80s was the best time ever... It was like a revolution. Everything was about fun, everything was happy… it was a movement.”

• How Social Media Changed Fame

  • Carl feels mass accessibility and social media’s constant exposure “killed the celebrity” and eliminated the mystery that once surrounded stars.
  • [06:37] Carl: “It used to be a club... you had to be talented… it was an elite club.”

• The Impact of Black Representation on TV

  • Cosby changed the game, inspiring Black viewers toward HBCUs and prestigious careers, showing images seldom seen before on primetime.
  • [07:26] Carl: “I was just blessed to be a part of it. It broke all kinds of color lines and barriers.”
  • Charlamagne positions this as a golden era whose disappearance left a void in mainstream Black representation.

On the Evolution and Value of Comedy

• Why Carl Started Stand-Up

  • He describes stand-up as the “scariest thing,” a direct act of vulnerability without the comfort of a script or character.
  • [13:10] Carl: “It was… reinventing. The next level... tackling my fears. Because you can get beaten down by this industry.”
  • He feels a deep responsibility to honor the craft, refusing to “just jump out there” because he’s a known name.

• What Makes Great Comedy

  • The authenticity and vulnerability comedians show on stage connects personally and universally.
  • [11:47] Carl: “I learned early on that people really do want to know. Like, you have to be vulnerable.”

Creating “Cole” and the Art of Characterization

• Developing a Classic Sitcom Role

  • Carl explains how “Cole” came to stand out among the ensemble cast on Martin.
  • [21:32] Carl: “I felt like... Martin and I [were] very close in terms of the characters… I gotta do something to separate us… There was a certain innocence about Cole, a certain naivety… [not] dumb, just innocent.”

• Chemistry & Improvisation on ‘Martin’

  • The cast would take from real life, improvise, and put their finger on the pulse of the culture, contributing to the show's authenticity and timelessness.
  • [10:26] Carl: “We get to speak how we want to… we bring the culture to the culture… that’s why certain people will be more impactful.”

• Iconic Support Characters

  • On Shanise and Big Shirley: Carl and Jess hilariously break down the relationships and the humorous depiction of larger-than-life personalities on the show.
  • [23:52] Carl (on Big Shirley): “She held him down… Big girl, big heart.”

Reflections on Loss, Legacy, & Industry Lessons

• Losing Friends & Colleagues

  • Carl shares deeply personal stories about the deaths of Martin co-star Tommy Ford and Cosby co-star Malcolm-Jamal Warner, touching on grief, maturity, and the tightening of his social circle.
  • [32:05] Carl: “The older I get, the tighter my circle… That person doesn’t exist anymore in my circle.”

• Big Lessons & Mentorship

  • He credits Tommy Ford with instilling business savvy and the importance of generational wealth and responsibility.
  • [28:25] Carl: “He put me up on being incorporated... No, you get the whole check. Pay yourself as a company.”

• Navigating Typecasting and Identity

  • While grateful for iconic roles, Carl is intentional about asserting his own identity and evolving beyond “Cole” or “Cockroach.”
  • [42:20] Carl: “That’s another reason I started doing stand up… people need to know who Carl Payne is.”

• Being Fired from The Cosby Show

  • Carl addresses widespread rumors about leaving the Cosby Show, clarifying it was not over hair or ego, but a misunderstanding—and admits the abruptness taught him about Hollywood’s unpredictability.
  • [46:46] Carl: “He thought I did it… like I put a perm in it… There was more going on at the time. But, you know, sometimes when you’re being rejected you’re really just being redirected.”

On Reboots, Legacy, and Giving Back

• On Martin Reboot Debates

  • Both Jess and Carl agree some moments can’t be replicated and “lightning in a bottle” like Martin would need specific, timely, contemporary context to be revived.
  • [26:13] Carl: “Some things you definitely just need to [leave alone], because you can’t capture the same lightning in a bottle.”

• Mentorship and Impact

  • Payne speaks about the importance of giving back, mentioning how speaking to youth—sometimes even in prison—becomes the most meaningful “legacy.”
  • [60:40] Carl: “Stuff like that... tells me I’m on the right path… God blessed me, giving me a craft that ties into my purpose... If I can use this platform to heal somebody, to impact positively, that’s legacy.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On old-school fame:
  Carl (04:57): “The 80s was the best time ever… It was like a revolution... Everything was about fun.”

• On community & TV:
  Charlamagne (07:05): “All of America gathering around the television when it’s only like three, four channels to watch one show... one episode of Cosby Show had 65 million viewers.”

• On transitioning to standup:
  Carl (13:10): “I gotta face [my fears]. I gotta do everything I set out to do in this business... I said, nah, this is gonna be— I gotta do this. And if I do it, I’m gonna do it at the highest level.”

• On the evolution of Black sitcoms:
  Carl (09:46): “It won’t [hit the same] because it’s oversaturated now… But the cream will always rise to the top.”

• On the legacy of his characters:
  Carl (25:00): “I feel like it was just representative of a time… it was relativity... I know him, I know her, that’s— it was relativity.”

• On grief and lessons learned:
  Carl (32:05): “The older I get, the tighter my circle… What it did teach me was how random and how short life is, man… You gotta cherish these moments.”

• On Martin & Tommy Ford:
  Carl (27:01): “Like, he was my best friend in real life, so, y’know, the timing of all of that was crazy.”

• On representation, impact, and legacy:
  Carl (61:52): “I did my thing, I did my thing thing… I left a positive impact on the world… my name is going to stand for something.”

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [02:48] — Carl recalls realizing his fame during the Cosby era.
• [06:37] — On the exclusivity and talent requirement of celebrity pre-Internet.
• [07:26] — The Cosby Show’s cultural and collegiate impact.
• [13:10] — Why Carl began stand-up.
• [21:30] — Creating the character of Cole.
• [23:50] — Big Shirley: legendary supporting character discussion.
• [26:13] — Can Martin be rebooted?
• [27:01] — Losing Tommy Ford and lessons on mortality and friendship.
• [46:46] — Setting the record straight on leaving The Cosby Show.
• [59:40] — Payne’s mentorship and giving back.
• [61:52] — On how he wants his legacy to be remembered.

Carl Anthony Payne’s Upcoming Projects

• Stand-Up Comedy Tour: Hitting cities across the US, including Comedy in Harlem and Jersey Love Comedy Show ([64:09]).
• One-Man Show: In the style of John Leguizamo and Mike Tyson, combining acting/crafting comedy with personal storytelling, set for Broadway ([64:53]).
• Martin Trivia & Bingo Brunches: Fun, interactive events for fans ([65:30]).
• Website: Call Anthony Payne Entertainment (details at end of show).

Closing Remarks

Carl Anthony Payne II’s interview is a powerful tribute to authenticity, growth, and the enduring influence of Black sitcom history. From “Cockroach” to “Cole” to pop-pop and mentor, Carl’s journey testifies to resilience, talent, and heart. The episode is both a walk down nostalgia lane and an insightful look at what makes the culture, careers, and community thrive—past and present.

Listen and watch full interviews and more on Netflix and YouTube
Follow Carl’s work at: Call Anthony Payne Entertainment

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