Overview
- The Varnell Hill Show premiered on Paramount+ on Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, as an eight-episode multicamera season with Tommy Davidson headlining the title role.
- The series revives Davidson’s Varnell Hill character from the 1990s sitcom Martin and was created by Kevin G. Boyd, Sherri McGee McCovey and Bentley Kyle Evans with Martin Lawrence listed as an executive producer who will make recurring cameo appearances.
- The show uses a show-within-a-show format with staged interviews and nightly musical performances and fills episodes with celebrity cameos from performers such as Damon Wayans, Mike Epps, Deon Cole, Omarion and Doug E. Fresh.
- Early reviews based on advance access to all eight episodes praise Davidson’s energy and comic timing but note uneven writing, awkward fourth-wall asides and inconsistent tone across episodes.
- The revival leans on Martin-era legacy to try to bridge older fans and new viewers, gives Davidson his first solo starring vehicle in decades, and signals streaming platforms’ renewed interest in short, multicamera sitcoms.