Tommy Davidson is stepping back into the spotlight, this time as the lead of his own show. The Varnell Hill Show, a long-in-the-works spinoff of Martin Lawrence’s beloved ’90s sitcom Martin, premieres September 1 on Paramount+ with two episodes, followed by new installments weekly through October 13.
Davidson stars as Varnell Hill, a late-night talk show host trying to stay relevant in a fast-changing entertainment landscape while wrangling demanding network executives, a chaotic writers’ room, unpredictable celebrity guests and his own outsized ego. Martin Lawrence executive produces the eight-episode first season and also guest stars, reprising his iconic role as Martin Payne. The series is written, directed and showrun by Bentley Kyle Evans, produced by BET Studios in association with Paramount+.
The supporting cast includes Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson and Chris Williams, with guest appearances from Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps and Omarion.
In the interview below, Davidson opens up about the seven-year road to getting the show made, what it was like reuniting with Lawrence on set, and how the series carries forward the legacy of In Living Color and Martin while building something new. He also gets candid about navigating fame in the social media era with his own kids watching, and where he sees the show’s comedy fitting into today’s landscape.