‘Martin’ Spinoff ‘The Varnell Hill Show’ Sets September Release Date, Drops First Look Photos — SkimNews
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- Paramount+ set "The Varnell Hill Show" for a Sept. 1 premiere with two episodes, followed by one new episode every Tuesday through Oct. 13, in an eight-episode debut season.
- Tommy Davidson returns as the titular character nearly 30 years after "Martin" ended in 1997; the series follows his fictional late-night talk show host fighting to stay relevant against network executives, a chaotic writers' room, celebrity guests, family drama, and his own ego.
- Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson, and Chris Williams co-star alongside Davidson, with guest appearances by Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps, and Omarion.
- Martin Lawrence, who starred in the original "Martin" (1992-1997 on Fox), serves as executive producer on the spinoff; original castmates Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, and Carl Anthony Payne II reunited in 2022 for a 90-minute BET+ special.
- Bentley Kyle Evans is director, writer, showrunner and executive producer; BET Studios, Jesse Collins Entertainment, Runteldat Entertainment, and Harvest Studios are also executive producing.
Why it matters: Paramount+ is betting on a nostalgia-driven property tied to a Fox sitcom that ended nearly 30 years ago, with Martin Lawrence — the original show's star — moving behind the camera as executive producer. The Sept. 1 launch with a two-episode drop gives the streamer a stacked premiere week against Tuesday competition, while Davidson gets a rare starring vehicle after decades as a supporting player.
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