‘Martin’ Spinoff ‘The Varnell Hill Show’ Sets September Release Date, Drops First Look Photos
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- Paramount+ released first-look images and confirmed "The Varnell Hill Show" premieres September 1 with two episodes, followed by one new episode every Tuesday through October 13.
- Tommy Davidson returns as the titular Varnell Hill nearly 30 years after the original "Martin" wrapped on Fox in 1997, leading an eight-episode debut season.
- The series is set behind the scenes of Hill's fictional late-night talk show, following Varnell as he battles network executives, a chaotic writers' room, celebrity guests, family drama, and his own ego to stay relevant.
- Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson, and Chris Williams join the cast, with guest spots from Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps, Omarion, and executive producer Martin Lawrence.
- Bentley Kyle Evans serves as director, writer, showrunner and executive producer, with BET Studios and Jesse Collins Entertainment co-producing alongside Lawrence's Runteldat Entertainment.
- Original "Martin" cast members Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold and Carl Anthony Payne II reunited in 2022 for a 90-minute BET+ special filmed on the sitcom's original set.
Why it matters: The spinoff hands Tommy Davidson his first lead role in roughly three decades and gives Paramount+ a nostalgia-driven sitcom property tied to one of Black TV's most enduring franchises, with Martin Lawrence attached as executive producer to bank the legacy.
