The ’90s Are Back as Paramount+ Reveals First Look at ‘Martin’ Spinoff [PHOTOS]
Groundbreaking sitcom Martin is finally getting a spinoff.
More than 30 years after the Martin Lawrence comedy series premiered on Fox, Paramount+ is preparing to launch a new show featuring one of Martin’s iconic characters.
‘The Varnell Hill Show’ coming to Paramount+ on September 1
The Varnell Hill Show stars original Martin cast member Tommy Davidson as talk show host Varnell Hill. The series, which is set behind-the-scenes at a long-running late-night talk show, picks up as Varnell steps back into the spotlight, determined to prove he’s still the star of the show. It follows the title character as he fights to stay relevant in a swiftly evolving entertainment landscape. Varnell must navigate executives who want to modernize his show, a chaotic writers’ room, celeb guests, family drama, and – of course – his own big ego. It doesn’t take him long to realize that maintaining his TV empire might be harder than building it in the first place.
In addition to Davidson, The Varnell Hill Show cast includes Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson, and Chris Williams. Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps, Omarion, and many more will all appear as guest stars. Viewers can also expect special appearances by Lawrence, who is an executive producer on the show.
The half-hour workplace comedy will have eight episodes in its first season. It premieres Tuesday, September 1 on Paramount+, with new episodes streaming on Tuesdays through October 13.
Tommy Davidson reveals origins of ‘Martin’ spinoff
Martin ended its run in 1997. Why revisit the show’s characters now? In a conversation with The Art of Dialogue, Davidson explained that it came out a lack of opportunities for up-and-coming Black comedians in the current TV environment.
“The way it came about is me and Kid – Kid [Christopher Reid] from Kid ‘n Play – we were mad because we were like, ‘Hey man, there’s no more Black late-night talk shows.’ So you’re going to miss a lot of Black talent, because they’re not going to be having it like we had it on Arsenio or we had it on In Living Color.’ You ain’t going to see any of these new acts,” he said. “So Kid said, ‘Man, why don’t you can Martin and ask him if you can do The Varnell Hill Show as a late-night talk show?’”
“I called [Martin], pitched him the idea,” Davidson said. “Five years later … we’re here.”
The Varnell Hill Show is not your typical comedy series. It blends traditional scripted elements with aspects of late-night TV, Davidson explained.
“It’s a TV show about a late-night talk show that’s really a late-night talk show,” he shared. “So when we go to the nighttime part, we got real guests … everybody showed up. The set was like, back in the ‘90s man. Everybody showed up just to see it.”
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