Kym Whitley has been tapped as a series regular opposite Tommy Davidson in The Varnell Hill Show, the highly anticipated BET+ spinoff of Martin Lawrence’s classic ’90s sitcom Martin.
Behind the Scenes of Late-Night TV
The eight-episode multi-camera workplace comedy takes viewers behind the scenes of The Varnell Hill Show, a long-running late-night talk show that’s just as unpredictable off-camera as it is on-air. The series dives into the chaos of television production while exploring Varnell’s fight to stay relevant in a constantly evolving industry. Along the way, it highlights the messy politics of network executives, corporate stakeholders, and the creative teams that keep the machine running.
Davidson reprises his beloved role as Varnell Hill, the eccentric and flamboyant talk show host who made his first appearance in a two-part episode of Martin. Whitley will play Kim Jones, Varnell’s fiercely loyal assistant who doubles as his fixer, emotional shield, and the talk show’s unofficial executive producer.
From Guest Spot to Fan Favorite
Though Davidson only appeared once on Martin, his performance as Varnell Hill was unforgettable. The character quickly became a cultural staple, inspiring memes and quotables that have lasted for decades. Fans will remember Varnell boasting about his Hollywood success on Martin Payne’s Detroit-based radio show before Martin hilariously crashed his Los Angeles set.
This new series picks up with Varnell in his element, running his talk show with the same wild energy — cutaways, satire, fourth-wall breaks, celebrity cameos, and plenty of quotable moments included.
A Martin Lawrence Legacy Project
The spinoff is co-created and executive produced by Martin Lawrence and longtime collaborator Bentley Kyle Evans, who also served as showrunner on Martin. Evans wrote the pilot, will direct, and serves as showrunner for the new series. Lawrence is also expected to reprise his iconic role as Martin Payne in multiple episodes.
The producing team includes Evans via Bentley Evans Productions, Lawrence with his RunTelDat Entertainment banner, Stacy Lyles, Robert Lawrence, Rae Proctor, and Jesse Collins alongside Dionne Harmon and Andy Horne. Production is currently underway in Los Angeles.
Expanding the Martin Universe
The Varnell Hill Show comes on the heels of Young Martin, a prequel drama that reimagines a teenage Martin Payne navigating ambition and adolescence in present-day Detroit. With both projects in motion — plus the 30th anniversary reunion special that reminded audiences just how influential Martin remains — Lawrence is clearly intent on building a larger sitcom legacy.