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The Varnell Hill Show Review – Tommy Davidson’s Martin Spinoff Has Charm but Needs Sharper Jokes
Early review: Episodes 1–2
There is something appealing about a television character getting a second chance nearly 30 years later. Varnell Hill was one of Tommy Davidson’s most memorable creations on Martin: vain, flamboyant, needy for attention and hilariously certain that he was the biggest name in every room. The Varnell Hill Show gives him his own stage at last, turning that oversized personality into the host of a struggling late-night programme and placing him in a workplace that is not always convinced he still belongs there.
The Paramount+ comedy arrives with a premise that practically writes its own tension. Varnell is a man built for applause, but he now works in an entertainment business run by younger executives, streaming expectations, online clips and corporate pressure. The question is whether he can adjust without losing the showmanship that made him Varnell in the first place. In its first two episodes, the series is most entertaining when it lets Tommy Davidson attack that contradiction with full confidence.
This is not a complete-season review. Paramount+ released the first two episodes on September 1, 2026, with the remaining episodes arriving weekly on Tuesdays. That matters because the show is still finding its balance: the opening half-hour episodes establish an ensemble, a business threat and a generational divide, but they do not yet prove how deep the comedy’s larger story can go across all eight episodes.
Davidson is the reason to try it. He makes Varnell’s ego feel amusing rather than exhausting, even when the scripts lean on familiar jokes about social media, younger audiences and old-school television stars struggling with change. Varnell can be petty, reckless and deeply self-involved, but Davidson gives the character enough rhythm and insecurity that he rarely becomes unbearable. You understand why people would keep him around, even while questioning every decision he makes.
The supporting cast also gives the series room to grow. Wendy Raquel Robinson brings useful steel to Rachel Perkins, the executive producer hired to impose some order on Varnell’s chaotic world, while Kym Whitley has an easy comic warmth as Kim Jones. Chris Williams and Emmanuel Hudson provide a broader workplace-and-family orbit around Varnell, and Nick Cafero’s Jonah represents the network’s younger corporate agenda. The ingredients for an entertaining behind-the-scenes comedy are all present; the early issue is that the jokes do not always hit with the same confidence as the casting.
There is a good show inside The Varnell Hill Show, especially for viewers who miss the energy of classic multi-camera Black sitcoms and want to see Davidson leading a series again. It has affection for its central character, a colourful television-world setting and a premise with genuine modern pressure behind it. But the first two episodes sometimes depend too heavily on nostalgia and obvious culture-clash punchlines when a more specific, sharper comic point of view would make Varnell’s comeback feel essential.
So, is The Varnell Hill Show worth watching? For Martin fans, Tommy Davidson fans and viewers craving an easygoing workplace comedy with an old-school sitcom spirit, yes. For everyone else, it is a cautious recommendation so far: charming, uneven and still very much a work in progress.
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What Is The Varnell Hill Show About?
The Varnell Hill Show is an eight-episode workplace comedy built around Varnell Hill, the attention-loving talk-show host first played by Tommy Davidson on Martin. Decades after that character’s original appearance, Varnell has a late-night show of his own, though it is no longer operating from a position of effortless cultural dominance. His ratings, budget, relevance and professional future are all vulnerable.
The series moves behind the scenes of the fictional talk show, where Varnell has to handle network executives, creative staff, celebrity guests, business concerns and the people closest to him. He wants to preserve the larger-than-life persona that once made him a star. Everyone around him is asking whether that persona can survive an industry that now rewards speed, flexibility and digital attention.
Episode 1, “Did Ya Miss Me?,” establishes that friction quickly. A new executive structure threatens Varnell’s control, and he has to prove that he is still more than a fading television relic. Episode 2, “Pay the Piper,” raises the stakes through financial and personal trouble, pushing Varnell to decide whether his pride matters more than the practical compromises needed to keep his show alive.
The premise has real potential because late-night television is such a useful setting for comedy. It naturally creates egos, deadlines, performance anxiety, backstage disasters and constant battles over what an audience wants. The best version of this show could find humour in the distance between the polished TV image Varnell sells and the absolute mess required to maintain it.
For now, The Varnell Hill Show plays like a reunion-driven sitcom that is trying to become a commentary on the entertainment business. It does not always merge those two sides cleanly, but the idea of an old-school performer confronting a new-school media machine is strong enough to keep the series watchable.
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The Story So Far
The opening episodes keep the story relatively simple: Varnell is under pressure, and he hates it. He has built a career on believing that rooms, cameras and audiences naturally belong to him. That belief becomes difficult to maintain when the people controlling the network do not see him as the automatic centre of their plans.
Jonah, the son of the show’s former studio head, represents that threat. He wants more control and seems ready to treat Varnell as a problem to be managed instead of a personality worth protecting. Rachel arrives with a more practical role, tasked with helping the show function while negotiating the difficult reality of its star.
This gives The Varnell Hill Show a clear comic engine. Varnell wants reverence; the business wants results. He thinks instinct and star power should settle every argument, while the people around him are concerned with costs, workflow and whether his approach makes sense for contemporary viewers.
The show’s problem is not a lack of story. It is that the first two episodes occasionally announce the conflict more often than they develop it. The generational divide is understandable from the first few scenes, yet some jokes feel like broad statements about “old versus young” rather than character-based comedy that could only come from Varnell, Rachel or Jonah.
Still, the early narrative has enough forward movement to suggest the season could improve as it narrows its focus. Varnell’s professional decline, his family pressures and his volatile relationship with the people producing his programme give the show several avenues beyond a simple workplace sitcom. If later episodes let those threads collide more naturally, this could become a more satisfying comedy about legacy and reinvention.
Cast and Performances
Tommy Davidson carries The Varnell Hill Show with the ease of someone who knows exactly how this character moves. Varnell’s speech, posture and need for attention are heightened, but Davidson never plays him as a one-note fool. The performance works because Varnell believes his own mythology completely, even when the audience can see that reality has moved ahead without him.
Davidson also understands when to let Varnell’s confidence crack. The funniest moments are not necessarily the loudest ones; they are the beats where Varnell’s certainty briefly gives way to panic, embarrassment or wounded pride. Those flashes make the character more human and give the series something useful beneath its punchlines.
Wendy Raquel Robinson is a welcome counterweight as Rachel Perkins. She has the difficult job of playing someone competent in a show designed around Varnell’s incompetence and ego, yet she does not disappear into the straight-person role. Robinson brings brisk timing and enough patience-wearing-thin energy to make Rachel feel like a person rather than simply an obstacle.
Kym Whitley’s Kim Jones adds warmth to the supporting ensemble. Whitley can sell a reaction better than many performers can sell an entire joke, and she gives the show a needed sense of affection for Varnell even when he is impossible. Chris Williams also brings a laid-back comic presence as Tre, while Emmanuel Hudson’s AJ expands the personal stakes around Varnell’s life.
Nick Cafero’s Jonah is still more of a function than a fully formed character in these early episodes. He represents the blunt corporate challenge to Varnell’s authority, which works for the plot, but the series will benefit if it gives him motives and comic quirks beyond being younger, ambitious and frustrating. The ensemble is capable; the writing just needs to give each performer more precise material.
Martin Lawrence is also set to appear in the series as Mr. Dupree, not as Martin lead Martin Payne. That distinction is important: this is connected to the world of Martin, but it is not simply a revival that recreates the original sitcom’s old structure.
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What Works Best
The strongest thing about The Varnell Hill Show is its star. Tommy Davidson does not need to force Varnell into being funny; the character’s entire view of himself creates comedy before the dialogue even begins. That confidence gives the show an immediate identity and makes the early episodes pleasant even when individual jokes are uneven.
The setting is another asset. Television comedies about television can become smug or overly insider-focused, but this one keeps the business stakes understandable. Varnell wants to keep his programme, preserve his status and avoid becoming irrelevant. You do not need to know anything about late-night production to understand why that matters to him.
The series also has a pleasingly traditional sitcom rhythm. It is bright, quick and built around a character who reacts to every inconvenience as if it were an attack on his legacy. For viewers who enjoy broad comedy, familiar archetypes and fast verbal sparring, that old-school energy is a feature rather than a flaw.
Rachel and Varnell have the beginnings of an effective comic pairing. He approaches every challenge through instinct and ego; she has to make his instincts workable in a professional environment. When the show lets their differences create a specific scene rather than a generic argument, it finds the kind of friction that could sustain a full season.
There is also value in giving a beloved supporting character the opportunity to age. Varnell is not frozen in the 1990s; he is now a man confronting a changed industry and the uncomfortable possibility that charisma alone may not be enough. The show could push that idea further, but it already gives Davidson more to play than a straightforward nostalgia cameo.
Finally, The Varnell Hill Show has an ensemble with clear potential. Whitley, Robinson, Williams and Hudson all bring enough presence that a stronger run of episodes could build enjoyable side stories around them. The early episodes are largely about reintroducing Varnell, but the show should become richer once it trusts its supporting players with more distinct comic space.
What Doesn’t Quite Work
The main issue is inconsistency. Some jokes are playful and character-specific, while others lean on familiar references to phones, online culture and “kids today” attitudes. A show about a veteran entertainer learning to survive modern media should have a sharper perspective on what has actually changed.
The nostalgia is similarly mixed. It is enjoyable to see Tommy Davidson return to Varnell Hill, but the series occasionally treats the recognition itself as a punchline. Viewers who already love Martin may happily go along with that. New viewers, though, need the comedy to work even if they have never seen Davidson’s earlier appearance.
Jonah is the clearest example of a character who needs more nuance. It makes sense that Varnell would see him as a threat, but the show has not yet made him interesting enough in his own right. The funniest workplace comedies give every character a strange, specific way of making a bad situation worse; so far, Jonah is mainly there to make Varnell angry.
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The episodes also feel caught between two formats. There are traces of mockumentary-style commentary and a broader traditional sitcom tone, but the approach is not yet fully settled. That is not fatal in a premiere, though a more confident visual and comic language would make the series feel less like a promising pilot stretched into a season.
Critics have also been divided on the early run. TheWrap’s review praised elements of the cast while describing the series as a mixed bag that leans heavily on nostalgia, while Rotten Tomatoes currently lists only a small number of early reviews. That response feels fair: there is enough charm here to keep watching, but not yet enough precision to call it a fully successful comeback.
If you want another workplace comedy built around a tight ensemble, try 10 Shows to Watch If You Love Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
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Characters and Relationships
Varnell is the show’s central contradiction. He is both the person most likely to destroy his own future and the person whose talent makes everyone reluctant to write him off. Davidson makes that contradiction believable because Varnell’s arrogance is clearly part performance, part defence mechanism and part sincere self-love.
Rachel has the potential to become his most important relationship on the show. She is not simply there to tell him that he is wrong; she understands how to operate in the current television landscape and seems to recognise that Varnell still has value if he can stop sabotaging himself. Their conflict works best when it feels like a negotiation between two professionals with completely different instincts.
Kim offers a more forgiving presence. Where Rachel challenges Varnell, Kim often helps reveal the loyalty that keeps people in his orbit. Varnell may take that loyalty for granted, but the show hints that he genuinely needs it. That gives the relationships a little more emotional texture than the loud premise initially suggests.
AJ also introduces the possibility of family complications. His presence means Varnell’s problems are not limited to ratings and corporate meetings; his choices affect a smaller personal circle too. Episode 2 begins to draw from that pressure, though the show still has plenty of room to explore how Varnell behaves when he cannot simply perform his way out of trouble.
The series should be careful not to let every relationship become the same argument in different clothes. Varnell versus Jonah, Varnell versus Rachel and Varnell versus modern television all draw from the same basic conflict. Giving each connection a more individual emotional purpose would help the season feel bigger and funnier.
Visuals, Music and Atmosphere
The Varnell Hill Show has a bright, glossy television-world look that fits its lead character. The backstage setting, studio environment and on-camera/off-camera contrast give the series a visual language built around performance. Varnell wants every room to feel like his stage, even when he is standing in an office being told that his future is uncertain.
The production design does not reinvent workplace comedy, but it communicates the show’s central idea clearly. This is a place where public image matters, even if everything behind the curtain is held together by stress and improvisation. The colourful atmosphere supports Davidson’s heightened performance without making the series feel completely cartoonish.
The music and pacing are similarly designed to keep the mood light. Episodes move quickly, which helps when a joke does not land, because the show rarely lingers too long. The downside is that some promising emotional or character beats pass before they have time to become meaningful.
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Themes: Legacy, Relevance and the Cost of Staying the Same
The best theme in The Varnell Hill Show is relevance. Varnell is not merely worried about losing a job; he is worried about losing the version of himself that once seemed unquestionable. For someone who built his identity around being noticed, the idea of becoming optional is terrifying.
That anxiety is especially useful because it is not limited to celebrity. Anyone who has watched their workplace, creative field or social circle change can understand the discomfort of realising that old methods no longer earn the same respect. Varnell’s response is funnier because it is so extreme, but the insecurity underneath it is recognisable.
The show is also interested in the gap between legacy and nostalgia. Legacy means having something valuable to offer in the present. Nostalgia means asking people to remember why you mattered in the past. The first two episodes suggest that Varnell wants both, but he may have to decide whether he is willing to adapt enough to earn the first.
There is a potentially strong story about Black television history here too. Varnell comes from a beloved sitcom world, and the series understands that viewers bring cultural memory to his return. The opportunity is to use that history as a foundation, not a substitute for new comedy. If the show can make Varnell’s past inform his present rather than overwhelm it, the season could become much more distinctive.
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Is The Varnell Hill Show Worth Watching?
Yes, with the right expectations. The first two episodes are not a knockout, but they are easy enough to watch and have a charismatic lead who makes the series more enjoyable than its roughest jokes. If you have affection for Martin, this is an obvious curiosity and a welcome chance to see Tommy Davidson take centre stage.
It is also a reasonable pick for viewers looking for a short, accessible comedy. The episodes are around half an hour, the stakes are clear and the workplace setting does not require a huge investment in mythology. You can start with the premiere without worrying that you have missed a complicated backstory.
The caveat is that the show has not yet earned a broad recommendation as one of the year’s best comedies. It needs more original jokes, more layered supporting characters and a more confident approach to its old-school-versus-new-school conflict. The potential is there, but the early episodes feel like an introduction rather than a fully realised statement.
Fans of personality-driven sitcoms will likely have the best time. If your ideal comedy is built around an actor with big reactions, sharp outfits, career chaos and a reliable group of people trying to keep the lead from detonating their own life, The Varnell Hill Show has enough to offer. Those looking for biting industry satire may want to wait and see how the rest of the season develops.
Where to Watch The Varnell Hill Show
The Varnell Hill Show streams exclusively on Paramount+.
The first two episodes premiered on September 1, 2026. Season 1 has eight episodes in total, with new episodes released every Tuesday.
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Final Verdict
The Varnell Hill Show earns goodwill because Tommy Davidson is still terrific as Varnell Hill. He has not lost the character’s timing, audacity or particular gift for treating a minor inconvenience like a career-defining betrayal. The show also wisely surrounds him with performers who can either challenge his energy or let it bounce somewhere useful.
But charm is not the same as a finished comedy. The opening episodes often know the broad idea of a joke before they find the sharpest version of it, and the series sometimes relies on recognition of Martin rather than building a fresh comic identity. The generational conflict is real, but it needs more specificity than a few familiar complaints about changing culture.
There is still plenty of time for the season to improve. The workplace has built-in tension, Rachel and Varnell could become a strong comic partnership, and the wider ensemble has more to offer. A few more surprising stories and a clearer sense of what Varnell uniquely sees about this modern media world could make later episodes much stronger.
For now, this is a friendly but qualified comeback. The Varnell Hill Show is worth sampling for Davidson’s performance and the comfort of its sitcom format, but it has not yet become the essential Martin follow-up it could be.
Early review score: 6.5/10
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Conclusion
The Varnell Hill Show has a smart reason to exist: Varnell Hill is still funny, and Tommy Davidson is still more than capable of making the character feel alive. The first two episodes do not fully solve the challenge of turning a beloved sitcom figure into a modern series lead, but they establish enough personality and promise to make the weekly rollout worth following.
If the writing becomes more confident about the world around Varnell, this could grow into a satisfying comedy about ego, television and the strange work of remaining visible. Until then, approach it as a nostalgic return with genuine comic potential rather than a complete reinvention.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Varnell Hill Show a Martin spinoff?
Yes. The series centres on Varnell Hill, Tommy Davidson’s memorable talk-show-host character from Martin. It expands his story into a workplace comedy set behind the scenes of his own late-night television programme.
Do I need to watch Martin before The Varnell Hill Show?
No. Familiarity with Martin adds context and nostalgia, but the new series introduces Varnell’s current professional situation clearly. New viewers can understand that he is a once-major personality trying to remain relevant in a changing industry.
Who stars in The Varnell Hill Show?
Tommy Davidson leads the cast as Varnell Hill. The principal ensemble includes Wendy Raquel Robinson, Kym Whitley, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson and Chris Williams.
How many episodes are in Season 1?
Season 1 has eight episodes. Paramount+ launched the series with two episodes, followed by weekly Tuesday releases for the rest of the season.
Are all episodes of The Varnell Hill Show available now?
No. As of September 7, 2026, only Episodes 1 and 2 are available on Paramount+. The remaining episodes are scheduled to arrive weekly on Tuesdays.
Where can I watch The Varnell Hill Show?
The series is available exclusively on Paramount+. Availability may vary by territory, so check the Paramount+ service in your region for the current release schedule.
Is Martin Lawrence in The Varnell Hill Show?
Yes, Martin Lawrence is set to appear as Mr. Dupree. He is not reprising Martin Payne, the lead character from Martin, but his appearance further connects the new show to that comedy world.
Is The Varnell Hill Show suitable for children?
Paramount+ lists the series as TV-MA. Parents should check the programme’s content guidance before watching with younger viewers, as the humour and language are aimed at adults.
Is the show a traditional sitcom or a mockumentary?
It is mainly a workplace sitcom, though the early episodes use occasional mockumentary-style moments. The series is still establishing how consistently it will use that approach.
Has The Varnell Hill Show been renewed for Season 2?
There has been no official Season 2 renewal announcement at the time of writing. The current focus is the eight-episode first season on Paramount+.
For the official synopsis, cast details and episode availability, visit Paramount+’s The Varnell Hill Show page.
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The Varnell Hill Show review: Tommy Davidson’s Martin spinoff brings charm to Paramount+, but its early episodes need sharper, fresher jokes.
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Alternate Titles
The Varnell Hill Show Review: Is Tommy Davidson’s Martin Spinoff Worth Watching?
Tommy Davidson Returns as Varnell Hill in a Charming but Uneven Paramount+ Comedy
The Varnell Hill Show Early Review: A Nostalgic Comeback Still Finding Its Voice
Is The Varnell Hill Show the Martin Spinoff Fans Have Been Waiting For?
The Varnell Hill Show Review: Varnell Takes on Late-Night TV and Modern Culture
Tommy Davidson’s Varnell Hill Is Back, but Can the Comedy Keep Up?
The Varnell Hill Show Episodes 1–2 Review: Big Personality, Mixed Results
Paramount+’s The Varnell Hill Show Review: A Familiar Character Faces a New Era
The Varnell Hill Show Review: A Fun Return for Martin Fans
Does The Varnell Hill Show Need More Than Nostalgia to Succeed?
The Varnell Hill Show Review: Tommy Davidson Makes This Spinoff Worth Sampling
The Varnell Hill Show Is a Promising, Uneven Workplace Comedy
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