Tommy Davidson's talk-show host character from Martin is getting his own series. The Varnell Hill Show premieres on Paramount+ on 1 September with two episodes, then drops one new episode every Tuesday through 13 October. Deadline

The eight-episode, half-hour multi-camera comedy is set behind the scenes of a long-running late-night talk show, following Varnell Hill as he fights to stay relevant in a changing entertainment landscape. Davidson originated the character as a guest star on Martin, the hit 1990s sitcom led by Martin Lawrence — who executive produces the new series and appears in a recurring role. Deadline

Bentley Kyle Evans, a longtime Martin collaborator, serves as showrunner, writer and director. The producing team also includes Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, Stacy Lyles, Rae Proctor, Robert Lawrence, Mark Greenberg and Andrew Horne. The series comes from BET Studios. Deadline

The show's journey to Paramount+ involved a platform switch. It was originally ordered by BET+, the streaming service that has since been phased out, with its slate of titles migrating to Paramount+. Deadline

The ensemble cast features Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson and Chris Williams. Cafero plays Jonah Michaelson, described as a "nepo baby CEO" — a well-connected executive whose family name got him the job. Neil Brown Jr. was also cast in the series during its development phase at BET+. Deadline

Guest stars lined up for the first season include Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps and Omarion, with special appearances by Martin Lawrence himself. First-look photos from the series were released on a Wednesday in August 2026. Deadline

For fans of Martin, the appeal is straightforward: a familiar character in a new setting, with Lawrence involved both behind and in front of the camera. The workplace-comedy format — a multi-camera setup shot in front of a studio audience — keeps the rhythm that sitcom viewers tend to expect from this creative team. The move to Paramount+ also gives the show a larger potential audience than its original BET+ home would have offered.

The full eight-episode season runs from 1 September to 13 October on Paramount+.