More than three decades after Varnell Hill strutted onto Martin and became one of the sitcom’s most memorable guest characters, Tommy Davidson is bringing him back — this time with a show of his own.
The Varnell Hill Show premiered September 1 on Paramount+, turning a character who originally appeared in just a two-episode storyline of the classic ’90s sitcom into the center of a new eight-episode comedy series.
And for longtime Martin fans, this isn’t simply a reboot of an old character.
Martin Lawrence is behind the project as an executive producer and makes special appearances as Martin Payne, reconnecting two characters whose hilarious rivalry began more than 30 years ago.
From Two Episodes to His Own Series
Varnell Hill first appeared on Martin in 1993.
Played by Davidson, Varnell was the flashy, successful talk-show host who made Martin Payne question whether his own Detroit television career was big enough.
The character was loud.
Confident.
Over-the-top.
And completely convinced that he was the biggest thing on television.
Despite appearing in only a small portion of the show’s five-season run, Varnell became one of those characters Black audiences never really forgot.
Now he’s back.
But television has changed considerably since we last saw him.
Varnell Hill Meets the New Television Industry
The new series finds Varnell decades into his career as the host of a long-running late-night talk show.
There’s just one problem.
The industry around him has changed.
Network executives want to modernize his show. A new generation has different ideas about entertainment. His writers’ room is trying to keep up with the times.
Meanwhile, Varnell remains convinced that he’s still the biggest star in the building.
That conflict becomes the foundation of the series.
The workplace comedy takes viewers behind the scenes of Varnell’s talk show while also incorporating portions of the actual fictional show, including celebrity interviews and musical performances.
Davidson has described the format as something of a combination of In Living Color, The Arsenio Hall Show and Martin.
That combination makes sense.
All three shows represent an era when Black television wasn’t simply entertaining Black audiences — it was influencing American culture.
Some Familiar Faces Are Coming Along
Davidson isn’t making the comeback alone.
The ensemble includes Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Emmanuel Hudson, Chris Williams and Nick Cafero.
The guest list reads like a celebration of several generations of Black comedy and entertainment.
Ms. Pat.
Deon Cole.
Damon Wayans.
Mike Epps.
Omarion.
And Martin Lawrence himself.
Even Doug E. Fresh appears as part of Varnell’s television world.
The combination gives the series something that may resonate particularly strongly with longtime fans: familiarity without simply recreating Martin.
Martin Payne Is Back Too
Perhaps one of the biggest surprises is seeing Lawrence step back into the role of Martin Payne.
Lawrence has previously expressed little interest in simply rebooting Martin, the sitcom that helped define his career and became one of the most influential Black television comedies of the 1990s.
The Varnell Hill Show provides another route.
Instead of trying to recreate the original series, the creators have expanded its universe.
Martin can still exist.
Varnell can still exist.
But their characters are allowed to be older and living in a completely different entertainment landscape.
That’s an important distinction.
Because audiences aren’t being asked to pretend the last 30 years didn’t happen.
The passage of time is part of the joke.
It Took Seven Years to Make It Happen
Davidson says bringing Varnell back wasn’t an overnight idea.
The project took approximately seven years to reach television.
According to Davidson, the idea gained momentum after Christopher “Kid” Reid of Kid ‘n Play suggested turning Varnell into an actual late-night host.
The concept eventually developed into something bigger: a scripted workplace comedy that could also incorporate elements of a real talk show.
For Davidson and Lawrence, the timing also reflects where both men are in their careers.
They came out of the Washington, D.C. comedy scene, built successful stand-up careers, became television stars, moved into film and eventually became producers.
Now they’re using that experience to revisit something they created decades ago — but this time from a position of greater ownership and creative control.
Why Varnell Hill Still Matters
For Black audiences who grew up watching Martin, Varnell Hill represents something bigger than one funny guest character.
He comes from an era of Black television that produced characters people still quote today.
Martin.
Living Single.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
In Living Color.
The Wayans Bros.
The Jamie Foxx Show.
These weren’t simply television programs. They became part of the language, fashion, humor and cultural memory of a generation.
That’s what makes Varnell Hill getting his own show more than 30 years later so unusual.
Hollywood constantly revisits successful franchises.
But it’s rare for a character who appeared in only a couple of episodes to remain culturally recognizable enough three decades later to become the foundation of an entirely new series.
Varnell apparently had staying power.
“Did Ya Miss Me?”
The first season consists of eight half-hour episodes.
Paramount+ released the first two episodes September 1, with new episodes scheduled to arrive every Tuesday through October 13.
And appropriately, the first episode is titled Did Ya Miss Me?
For longtime Martin fans, the answer may already be obvious.
More than 30 years later, Varnell Hill finally has the spotlight all to himself.
