‘The Varnell Hill Show’ Review: Tommy Davidson in Paramount+’s Amiable Throwback of a ‘Martin’ Spinoff

“I got just one question for you: Did you miss me?” So goes the catchphrase for Varnell Hill ( Tommy Davidson ), the late-night talk show host who first graced our screens in Martin some 30-odd years ago. I’ll leave you to determine how much you personally have been longing to revisit a character who, for all his vivid personality, only ever appeared in two episodes of that earlier series.

But hearing that line again in his new spinoff, Paramount+’s The Varnell Hill Show , it feels easy enough to answer in the affirmative. If the workplace comedy works better as a reminder of times gone by than a breath of fresh air, it nonetheless makes for a pleasantly nostalgic time. Related Stories TV 'Martin' Spinoff 'The Varnell Hill Show' Sets Premiere Date Movies Dave Chappelle Pitches Eddie Murphy on Joining Potential 'Chappelle's Show' Reboot at AFI Gala The Varnell Hill Show The Bottom Line More nostalgic than fresh, for better or worse. Airdate: Tuesday, Sept. 1 (Paramount+) Cast: Tommy Davidson, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Chris Williams, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson, Kym Whitley Creators: Kevin G. Boyd, Sherri McGee McCovey, Bentley Kyle Evans

Despite its connection to Martin , no real knowledge of the earlier show is required to watch this one. Aside from a few passing references (“My cousin from Detroit told me to tell you, “Wazzup?”), creators Kevin G. Boyd, Sherri McGee McCovey and Bentley Kyle Evans rarely bring up past events or characters; even Martin star and creator (and Varnell Hill executive producer) Martin Lawrence guest stars only as a completely different character.

As for Varnell, not much seems to be different for the self-described “one-time radio king, two-time ex-husband — soon to be three — and eight-time Soul Train Awards presenter.” He’s still an outgoing, egotistical personality, and still played by Davidson with loads of charisma and a knack for big but precise physical comedy. He’s still hosting the same old talk show to the same old, now rapidly aging audience. His most loyal aides, yes-man/bestie Tre (Chris Williams) and assistant Kym (Kym Whitley), are ones who’ve been with him for ages.

But change is coming for Varnell, whether he likes it or not. (He very much does not.) The network CEO who once championed him has been pushed out, replaced by the useless nepo baby son (Nick Cafero’s Jonah) who despises Varnell precisely because the old man adored him. Jonah’s plan to oust Varnell involves installing an ambitious new executive producer (Wendy Raquel Robinson’s Rachel) ostensibly to help boost ratings, but in actuality to annoy Varnell into quitting over creative differences.

Despite the season primarily revolving around the efforts to freshen up the talk show for a wider (i.e., younger) demographic, not much about The Varnell Hill Show reads as particularly modern, for better or for worse.

Its format — multi-cam, laugh-tracked, with the occasional fourth-wall-breaking aside — is one that would have been in vogue when Martin originally aired.