The Varnell Hill Show, a spinoff of the classic 1990s sitcom Martin, has set its Paramount+ premiere for 1 September, with Tommy Davidson returning to reprise the flashy talk-show host character he originated as a recurring guest star on the original series nearly three decades ago.
The eight-episode half-hour workplace comedy will debut with two episodes on its premiere date, followed by one new instalment weekly through 13 October.
Set behind the scenes of Varnell’s own fictional late-night talk show, the series follows the character as he fights to stay relevant amid a changing entertainment landscape, navigating network executives eager to modernise his format, a chaotic writers’ room, celebrity guests, family drama and an ego that remains as outsized as ever.
Martin Lawrence, who created the character alongside longtime collaborator Bentley Kyle Evans, returns in a recurring role while also executive producing, with Evans serving as writer, director and showrunner.
The supporting cast includes Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Emmanuel Hudson, Chris Williams and Nick Cafero.
Whitley shared some of the first glimpses of the new series on Instagram ahead of the official announcement, writing: “Y’all not ready for this one! #TheVarnellHillShow, premiering September 1st on #ParamountPlus.”
The original Martin, starring Lawrence as a Detroit radio DJ, ran for five seasons from 1992 to 1997 and remains one of the defining sitcoms of its era, with Davidson’s Varnell Hill standing as one of its most memorable recurring characters.
