Comedy nostalgia meets modern satire as Neil Brown Jr. (SEAL Team, Insecure) boards BET+’s Varnell Hill, the new spinoff set in the universe of the classic ’90s sitcom Martin. He joins the previously announced Tommy Davidson, who reprises his fan-favorite role as Varnell Hill, along with Kym Whitley. With an eight-episode order and production underway in Los Angeles, the series sets its sights on the wild, competitive ecosystem of late-night television — and the personalities who power it.
A Workplace Comedy Behind the Curtain of The Varnell Hill Show
Varnell Hill takes place backstage at the long-running late-night program, The Varnell Hill Show — a show within a show — where ratings, reputations, and egos collide. Designed as a workplace comedy, the series leans into satire, rapid-fire humor, cutaways, and knowing fourth-wall breaks. Its central engine is Varnell’s quest to stay relevant in an ever-shifting media landscape, all while navigating the push-and-pull of network executives, business stakeholders, and creative teams.
Expect a fresh roster of original characters circulating through the writers’ room, production offices, and soundstage, along with celebrity guest cameos that amplify the series’ send-up of late-night culture. The result is a zippy, behind-the-scenes comedy that lampoons the industry without losing its heart.
Who’s Playing Whom
Neil Brown Jr. as Thad Metcalf
Brown Jr. steps into the role of Thad Metcalf, a former SNL writer whose resume sparkles as brightly as his social skills are lacking. Thad is the guy who mentions The Harvard Lampoon within minutes of meeting you — not to brag, but because he assumes you’ll find it irresistible. He’s razor-sharp, excessively literal, and delightfully awkward, armed with a deep bench of obscure comedy references that often outpace his charm. In a high-pressure writers’ room, those impeccable credentials and limited people skills promise equal measures of friction and comedy.
Kym Whitley as Kim Jones
Whitley portrays Kim Jones, Varnell’s longtime assistant and trusted confidante. She’s the emotional bodyguard, the crisis whisperer, and the unofficial executive producer who keeps the trains running on time. When tensions rise, Kim is the problem-solver everyone turns to — the one person who can decode Varnell’s instincts and rally the team.
Tommy Davidson Returns as Varnell Hill
Davidson brings back the charismatic Varnell Hill, the larger-than-life talk show host whose charm and ambition fuel both the chaos and the comedy. As the centerpiece of the series, Varnell faces the modern realities of fame, the relentless churn of content, and the challenge of staying fresh without losing himself.
A Fan-Favorite Character Steps Into the Spotlight
Varnell Hill first appeared in a beloved two-part episode during Martin’s second season and has remained a cult favorite ever since. The original series — created by Martin Lawrence, John Bowman, and Topper Carew — aired on Fox from 1992 to 1997, becoming a defining comedy of the decade. By elevating Varnell from memorable guest to leading man, BET+ taps into both deep nostalgia and a timely lens on media celebrity.
Martin Lawrence Is Back — And Not Just Behind the Scenes
In a move sure to excite longtime fans, Martin Lawrence is set to reprise his iconic Martin Payne character in multiple episodes. His on-screen return bridges the legacy of the original series with the fresh storytelling of Varnell Hill, further anchoring the spinoff in the world that made it a hit in the first place. Production has commenced in Los Angeles, signaling momentum toward a highly anticipated premiere on BET+.
Creative Team Steering the Series
Varnell Hill is co-created by Martin Lawrence and Bentley Evans, the executive producer and showrunner behind Martin. Evans penned the pilot, will direct, and serves as showrunner. The project is executive produced by Evans through Bentley Evans Productions, alongside Lawrence, Stacy Lyles, Robert Lawrence, and Rae Proctor for Runteldat Entertainment, as well as Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, and Andy Horne. With this seasoned team at the helm, the series blends legacy talent with contemporary sensibilities.
Neil Brown Jr.’s Track Record in TV and Film
Brown Jr. is widely recognized for his seven-season run on the CBS military drama SEAL Team and for his standout work as Chad Kerr in HBO’s hit comedy Insecure. He recently recurred in the final season of CBS’s The Equalizer opposite Queen Latifah and previously appeared with Elijah Wood in the BBC’s Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. His range — toggling between drama and comedy — makes him a compelling fit for a satire-driven workplace series.
On the film side, Brown Jr. will next star opposite Nicky Whelan in the independent feature Last Night in Rozzie. He led opposite Johnny Depp in the indie crime drama City of Lies and played a supporting role in the Netflix comedy Naked opposite Marlon Wayans and Regina Hall. Additional credits include Universal’s Straight Outta Compton, Netflix’s Sandcastle, Universal’s Fast and Furious, and Columbia’s Battle Los Angeles. He is represented by Artists First, Buchwald, and Yorn, Levine, Barnes.
What Viewers Can Expect From Varnell Hill
The series promises a sharp, contemporary look at the mechanics of late-night TV — from the grind of the writers’ room to the high-wire act of live taping. With its mix of satire and sincerity, Varnell Hill will explore how a charismatic host, a meticulous fixer, and a brilliant but socially clumsy writer butt heads and ultimately collaborate to keep a show on the air. Celebrity cameos will heighten the meta-comedy, while structural flourishes — cutaways and fourth-wall nods — keep the pace brisk and the laughs layered.
For fans of Martin, the spinoff offers a nostalgic bridge to a comedy classic without leaning too hard on the past. For new audiences, it’s a smart, character-driven workplace comedy that speaks to today’s media realities: relevance as a moving target, virality as currency, and the unending pressure to top yesterday’s headline.
Why This Matters
Varnell Hill arrives at a moment when late-night itself is reinventing — fragmented audiences, streaming-first strategies, and a constant news cycle have reshaped the format. By focusing on the machine behind the monologue, BET+ positions the series to comment on the business of comedy and the precariousness of fame with both bite and heart. The casting of Neil Brown Jr. adds a dynamic layer to the ensemble: a performer adept at grounding high-concept comedy in human stakes.
Whether you’re here for the Martin universe, for Tommy Davidson’s bravura turn, or for a fresh workplace comedy with real industry insight, Varnell Hill is poised to deliver. The energy of Los Angeles production, the return of Martin Lawrence on screen, and a creative team fluent in the franchise’s DNA all suggest a series ready to make noise — on stage, backstage, and across the cultural conversation.