The world of Martin Payne is getting a new addition on BET+. The streaming platform has officially greenlit Varnell Hill, a spinoff of the iconic ’90s sitcom Martin. The new series will star Tommy Davidson, reprising his fan-favorite role as the titular flamboyant talk show host.
Davidson portrayed Varnell Hill in two episodes of the series, with many fans wanting more of the character over the years. Eight episodes of the spinoff series have been ordered, and the series is a workplace comedy set behind the scenes of the long-running sitcom. The show will give Varnell Hill a fresh take with original characters, new faces, and a range of surprise celebrity cameos. Martin Lawrence, who was the titular star of the original show, will serve as an executive producer for the long-awaited spin-off that is airing 30 years after Martin’s original run.
Martin originally aired from August 27, 1992, to May 1, 1997, spanning five seasons and 132 episodes. During the show’s original run, it was one of the Fox network’s highest-rated shows and became a cultural touchstone, celebrated for its authentic portrayal of love, community, and humor. At the time, Martin was the flagship primetime show of Fox’s Thursday night lineup, which went head-to-head with NBC hit shows like Seinfeld and their “Must-See TV” lineup.
The original series starred Lawrence, Tisha Campbell, Tichina Arnold, Thomas Mikal Ford, and Carl Anthony Payne. In 2024, the surviving cast members, Lawrence, Ford, and Payne, reunited during the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2022, BET+ also aired Martin: The Reunion, a special that brought the show’s cast members together. The influence of Martin persists, with reruns still airing on Paramount Networks, including MTV2, VH1, and BET. Martin is available to stream on platforms like BET+, Peacock, DIRECTV, and Netflix.
“Did you miss me? Well, now you don’t have to! I’m excited and honored to be a part of such a creative project with the brilliant mind of Martin Lawrence, over 30 years in the making. Fans have requested it, and now it’s coming to BET+!” Davidson said about reprising the role.
No release date for Varnell Hill has been announced yet, but fans can look forward to revisiting the world of Martin through this exciting new lens. Whether you’re on the go or at home, you can watch Martin on BET with Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, or any other compatible device via DIRECTV, Sling TV, Fubo, Hulu + Live TV, or YouTube TV.