Fans of the Martin universe have a new reason to get excited: Wendy Raquel Robinson has revealed she is part of the upcoming BET+ spinoff The Varnell Hill Show. The actress made the announcement during her episode of TV One’s Uncensored, which also served as the show’s season finale. While candidly speaking, Robinson shared she has wrapped filming and that eight episodes have been produced.
“I just wrapped the Varnell Hill Show and we got eight episodes in the can,” Robinson said. “The Varnell Hill Show is a spinoff of The Martin Show. So I’m really looking forward to that. We shot eight episodes and I’m just praying that, you know, in this ever-changing climate that we are in this industry, you’ll be able to see that work. It’s some of the best work that I’ve done.”
Strong words from an actress with a résumé that includes iconic roles like Regina “Piggy” Grier on The Steve Harvey Show and Tasha Mack on The Game. What role Robinson will be portraying in the series has not yet been disclosed, but her enthusiasm alone makes this one of the more exciting updates the project has received.
Robinson joins a previously announced cast that includes Tommy Davidson, who leads the series in the title role, and comedian Kym Whitley, who was tapped as a series regular earlier this year.
Behind the Scenes of Late-Night TV
The eight-episode multi-camera comedy is set behind the scenes of The Varnell Hill Show, a fictional long-running late-night talk show. The series delves into the chaotic world of television production, exploring Varnell’s journey to stay relevant in an ever-evolving industry while navigating the messy politics of network executives, corporate stakeholders, and the creative teams that keep the machine running.
Tommy Davidson reprises the beloved role of Varnell Hill, the eccentric and flamboyant talk show host who first appeared in the two-part Season 2 Martin episode “Hollywood Swingin’.” Though Davidson only appeared in that arc, his performance made Varnell a cult favorite — a character whose catchphrases and quotable moments have endured for over three decades.
Joining him is Kym Whitley, who plays Kim Jones, Varnell’s loyal assistant who serves as his fixer, emotional shield, and the show’s unofficial executive producer.
A Martin Lawrence Legacy Project
The spinoff is co-created and executive produced by Martin Lawrence alongside longtime collaborator Bentley Kyle Evans, who served as showrunner on the original Martin series. Evans wrote the pilot, will direct, and returns as showrunner. Lawrence is also expected to reprise his iconic role as Martin Payne in multiple episodes.
The Varnell Hill Show is part of a broader expansion of the Martin universe, which also includes Young Martin, a prequel drama reimagining a teenage Martin Payne navigating ambition and adolescence in present-day Detroit.
No official premiere date has been announced, but with Robinson’s revelation and eight episodes produced, the show appears to be on its way to Paramount+. Stay tuned.