Varnell Hill Finally Gets His Own Show

A fan favorite from Martin is finally getting his own moment.

Tommy Davidson is bringing Varnell Hill back in The Varnell Hill Show, a new comedy series coming to Paramount+ on Sept. 1. The character first became a standout on Martin back in the 90s, and now, almost 30 years later, Varnell is stepping out from being a guest character and into the center of his own show.

The series is set behind the scenes of Varnell’s late night talk show, where he’s trying to stay relevant in an entertainment world that has changed a lot since his original run. That setup already feels like it could work because Varnell was always extra, smooth, dramatic, and completely sure he was the biggest star in the room.

Tommy Davidson is starring and executive producing, with Martin Lawrence and Bentley Kyle Evans also behind the project. That part matters because this isn’t just somebody using the Martin name for nostalgia. The people connected to the original world are involved, which gives fans a little more reason to trust it.

The cast is strong too. Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson, and Chris Williams are all part of the series, with guest appearances from names like Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps, Omarion, and Martin Lawrence himself.

For longtime fans, the question is simple. Can this bring back that same kind of loud, silly, Black sitcom energy without feeling forced?

That’s always the tricky part with spinoffs and reboots. People love the memories, but they don’t want the memory messed up. Martin wasn’t just a TV show for a lot of us. It was part of the culture. The sayings, the characters, the timing, the fashion, the living room feel. It all mattered.

But Varnell Hill might be one of the better characters to try this with because he doesn’t have to carry the exact same tone as the original show. He already feels like a character who belongs in entertainment chaos. Put him around producers, writers, executives, celebrity guests, and a changing media world, and there’s room for comedy that feels current without trying too hard to remake the past.

The first season will have eight episodes, with two dropping on Sept. 1 and new episodes coming every Tuesday through Oct. 13.

If the show respects what made Varnell funny in the first place while letting him grow into something new, this could be a fun win for fans who still quote Martin like it just came on last night.

Varnell Hill is back outside.