Did you miss him?
Tommy Davidson is back as flashy talk show host Varnell Hill in first-look photos from The Varnell Hill Show.
Paramount+ unveiled the images Wednesday, Aug. 5, showing Davidson reprising the fan-favorite role he originated three decades ago on Martin.
Davidson is joined by Martin Lawrence in the photos from the eight-episode spinoff series, which premieres Sept. 1.
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Set behind the scenes of Varnell’s late-night talk show, the workplace comedy finds the over-the-top host fighting to remain relevant in a changing entertainment industry.
“Between network executives eager to modernize the show, a chaotic writers’ room, celebrity guests, family drama, and his own outsized ego, Varnell quickly discovers that keeping a television empire together may be harder than building one in the first place,” the official description reads.
Davidson leads the ensemble cast, which includes Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson, and Chris Williams.
Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps and Omarion will guest star, and Martin Lawrence is set to make special appearances throughout the season.
Davidson originally played Varnell on several episodes of Martin, which aired on Fox from 1992 to 1997. The character became known for his extravagant personality and the catchphrase, “Did you miss me?”
The half-hour spinoff series was announced in April 2025 as a BET+ project, as previously reported. But after the BET streamer was absorbed by Paramount+, the comedy has a new home.
Lawrence and Bentley Kyle Evans, who previously worked together on Martin, will executive produce the new series. Evans is also the showrunner, writer and director.
Additional executive producers include Davidson, Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, Stacy Lyles, Rae Proctor, Robert Lawrence, Mark Greenberg, and Andrew Horne.
The comedy is produced in association with BET Studios.
The Varnell Hill Show premieres globally with two episodes on Tuesday, Sept. 1, followed by one new episode every Tuesday through Oct. 13.
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