Nearly 30 years after audiences first met him, Varnell Hill is back. Paramount+ has dropped the trailer for The Varnell Hill Show, the long-awaited Martin spinoff starring Tommy Davidson, premiering September 1 on the streamer.
Set behind the scenes of Varnell’s long-running late-night talk show, the eight-episode comedy finds the larger-than-life host fighting to stay relevant in a rapidly changing entertainment landscape. Between network executives eager to modernize the show, a chaotic writers’ room, celebrity guests and his own outsized ego, Varnell remains convinced of one thing: he is still the biggest star in the building. The series blends workplace comedy with satire, cutaways and fourth-wall breaks.
Davidson leads an ensemble cast that includes Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson and Chris Williams. Guest stars include Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps and Omarion, with special appearances by Martin Lawrence.
The series reunites Davidson with Martin creator Bentley Kyle Evans, who serves as showrunner, writer and director. It is executive produced by Lawrence, Davidson, Jesse Collins and Dionne Harmon for Jesse Collins Entertainment, Stacy Lyles, Rae Proctor and Robert Lawrence for Runteldat Entertainment, and Mark Greenberg, Andrew Horne and Evans for Harvest Studios. The series is produced in association with BET Studios.
The Varnell Hill Show premieres September 1 on Paramount+ with two episodes, followed by one new episode weekly through October 13.