Martin Spinoff Starring Tommy Davidson as Talk Show Host Varnell Hill Gets BET+ Series Order
Tommy Davidson is set to reprise his November 1993 Martin role as Varnell Hill, a stand-up comic turned late-night talk show host who appeared in the Season 2 two-parter 'Hollywood Swinging.'
More from TVLine
Brooke Shields to Headline New Crime Drama Allie & Andi at Acorn TV
The Grapes of Wrath Adaptation to Launch New AMC Anthology Series
Juno Temple to Star in Apple Dramedy About Woman With a Mysteriously 'Infinite Supply of Husbands'
'Did you miss me? Well, now you don't have to!' said Davidson in a statement. '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+!'
Set behind the scenes of a long-running, late-night talk show, The Varnell Hill Show is described as a workplace comedy that delves into the chaotic world of television production. Co-created by Lawrence, who will serve as an executive producer, the series explores Varnell's journey to remain relevant in an ever-evolving industry and the corporate dynamics of network executives, business stakeholders and creative teams involved in the making of the show.
With a blend of satire, humor, cutaways and fourth-wall breaks, The Varnell Hill Show promises to 'engage audiences in a fresh and innovative way,' while showcasing a mix of new characters and celebrity guest cameos.
Lawrence is not confirmed to reprise his role as Martin Payne, but Deadline hears he likely will appear in multiple episodes.
Showrunner/director and fellow Martin EP Bentley Kyle Evans will also serve as an executive producer alongside Jesse Collins, Dionne Harmon, Andy Horne, Stacy Lyles, Robert Lawrence, Rae Proctor, Rose Catherine Pinkney and Jason Harvey.
Best of TVLine
Yellowjackets Mysteries: An Up-to-Date List of the Series' Biggest Questions (and Answers?)
The Emmys' Most Memorable Moments: Laughter, Tears, Historical Wins, 'The Big One' and More
'Missing' Shows, Found! The Latest on Severance, Holey Moley, Poker Face, YOU, Primo, Transplant and 25+ Others
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
36 minutes ago
- New York Post
Rachel Brosnahan's husband reacts to romance speculation about her and ‘Superman' co-star David Corenswet
Messy Metropolis. Rachel Brosnahan's husband, Jason Ralph, has created a stir online by 'liking' an Instagram comment about his wife's relationship with her 'Superman' co-star David Corenswet. The fan comment, which was recently made under Ralph's latest Instagram post from June, accused Brosnahan, 35, of having an affair with Corenswet, 32. Advertisement 9 David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan in New York City on July 9. / MEGA 9 Jason Ralph and Rachel Brosnahan at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Getty Images 'It's genuinely sad to see your career being tucked out to be remembered as a cuckold because your wife couldn't handle herself with her co-actor,' the comment read, per US Weekly. 'Like bro.. let's have some self love and stand up for yourself man, leave her to be with him if she wants that much at the end of the day.' Advertisement 9 Jason Ralph 'likes' a comment about Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet. Instagram After 'liking' the message, Ralph turned off the comments on his posts. However, a fan posted a screenshot of the comment on X, where Ralph got a mixed reaction from the online community. 'Married to Rachel, with a fairly steady career, and this is how you choose to spend your time online,' one person wrote. Advertisement 9 Jason Ralph, Rachel Brosnahan at the 2018 Emmy Awards. Getty Images 'The fact that he's also an actor makes this even weirder,' another fan said. 'Liking this comment 'as a joke' comes off SO weird,' a different user responded. But other fans defended Ralph for 'liking' the comment. 'Oh he's a 100% mocking that person,' an X user insisted. Advertisement 9 David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan in 'Superman.' ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection 'That's the kind of non ego you have to have to be a good spouse. If he's better, then have at it. I'm not sure why people would be angry?' someone else asked. The Post has reached out to Brosnahan and Ralph's reps for comment. The speculation surrounding Brosnahan and Corenswet appears to be stemming from a viral video, in which they continued kissing after the director yelled cut. 9 David Corenswet and Rachel Brosnahan in 'Superman.' ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection 9 Rachel Brosnahan kisses her husband Jason Ralph at the 2022 Venice Film Festival. Getty Images Brosnahan and Ralph met in 2013 while filming the indie movie 'I'm Obsessed With You: But You've Got To Leave Me Alone.' She confirmed they tied the knot in 2019, with a source alleging they secretly wed in 2018. Ralph notably worked with his wife in the final two seasons of her hit Prime Video series 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.' Advertisement In an interview with People in 2019, Brosnahan spoke about keeping her marriage to Ralph private. 9 Rachel Brosnahan and Jason Ralph at Milan Fashion Week in Feb. 2025. Getty Images 'Jason and I also noticed early on that, while we are both the leads of successful television series, he has almost never been asked about our relationship while I have been asked on almost every red carpet I have walked in the last two years,' she said. 'We both find this double standard problematic and frustrating and opted to redirect those conversations to our work.' Corenswet, for his part, has been married to Julia Warner since 2023. The couple has one daughter, born in 2024. Advertisement During the 'Superman' press tour in July, Brosnahan looked back on how she formed a close bond with Corenswet. 9 Rachel Brosnahan and David Corenswet in James Gunn's 'Superman.' ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection 'We'd had this brief but obviously impactful moment together during our chemistry read… but I think we both left feeling like we didn't remember anything about it, and wanted to spend some time together,' Brosnahan told People. 'We had a really lovely breakfast after we found out we were going to be playing the roles together… and got to know each other that way,' she added.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Breaking down the ‘Special Forces' season 4 cast — which celebs will survive the grueling test?
18 celebrities will push themselves to their limit on season 4 of 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test.' The Fox reality show puts contestants through a series of challenges designed to replicate the United States Special Forces selection course. It's physically, mentally, and emotionally exhausting, and most people don't have what it takes to make it to the end. During season 3, only two out of 16 recruits — Kayla Nicole and Brody Jenner — passed the course. The rest were disqualified, voluntarily withdrew, or were medically withdrawn due to injuries. Let's take a look at the 'Special Forces' season 4 recruits and see who has a chance at making it all the way. Kody Brown The 'Special Forces' Directing Staff (DS) tend to take issue with big egos, so I can't wait to watch them interact with Brown. The 'Sister Wives' star likes to have things his way, so I don't think he'll thrive in an environment where authority figures are screaming in his face and telling him what to do. Brittany Cartwright The 'Valley' star is certainly going into 'Special Forces' with determination. She and her husband and fellow 'Vanderpump Rules' alum, Jax Taylor, separated in 2024, and she's since been candid about his drug abuse and aggressive behavior. 'He threw my phone and broke it. He threw my laptop and broke it. He threw me into the rose bushes,' Cartwright said during the season 2 'Valley' reunion, which aired in July. Taylor denied the claims, but Cartwright said she had footage on her Ring camera. Cartwright will likely be seeking healing and transformation during her 'Special Forces' journey. The reality TV star is not the type who typically makes it to the end, but never discount a woman who's been to hell and back. READ MORE: Reality TV alum says costars got him kicked off show: 'My downfall' Randall Cobb Cobb is a former NFL wide receiver, who played for the Green Bay Packers, the Dallas Cowboys, the Houston Texans, and the New York Jets. It probably seems like a no-brainer that a pro football player would excel on 'Special Forces,' but history has proven otherwise. Season 1's Danny Amendola, season 2's Dez Bryant, and season 3's Golden Tate and Cam Newton all fell short of the 'Special Forces' finish line. Could Cobb be the one to break that pattern? Eric Decker Decker is another NFL alum. He was a wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, the New York Jets, the Tennessee Titans, and the New England Patriots. Despite NFL players' poor track record on 'Special Forces,' Decker has a leg-up on past competitors. Most contestants struggle with missing their loved ones on the show, but Eric is married to another season 4 star: country singer Jessie James Decker. Perhaps the duo will encourage one another to stick it out when the going gets tough. Jessie James Decker Jessie finds time to stay in shape despite having four kids — daughter Vivianne, 10, and sons Eric Jr., 9, Forrest, 7, and Denver, 17 months — with Eric. I could see her keeping up with her pro athlete husband on 'Special Forces.' However, the tight-knit couple seem like a package deal. If one of them ends up injured or wants to medically withdraw, I foresee them leaving as a unit. Andrew East Yet another NFL alum! East was a long snapper for the Kansas City Chiefs, the Seattle Seahawks, the Oakland Raiders, the Los Angeles Rams, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Washington Commanders. East has also competed on several seasons of 'American Ninja Warrior,' but he's never made it to the semifinals. Perhaps he'll be hungry to prove himself on 'Special Forces.' Like the Deckers, East is competing alongside his spouse, Shawn Johnson. READ MORE: See which Fox shows are canceled and renewed for the 2025-2026 season Gia Giudice Season 4 of 'Special Forces' is shaping up to be a family affair. Gia and her mother, 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey' star Teresa Giudice, will both put themselves to the test this season. Gia is only 24, and while she might be in better shape than some of the older cast members, her age could also work against her. She may find it harder to dig deep and push through the physical and mental anguish. Teresa Giudice Teresa served 11 months in prison for fraud, so she knows a thing or two about resilience. It'd be easy to count her out as a 'Special Forces' frontunner — she didn't make it past week two on 'Dancing With the Stars' — but reality stars often do better than expected. Bachelor Nation alums Hannah Brown, Tyler Cameron, and Nick Viall all passed the course, as did The Hills' Brody Jenner. However, I wouldn't be surprised if Teresa voluntarily withdraws like her fellow 'Real Housewives' stars Kenya Moore (season 1) and Denise Richards (season 3). Mark Estes The TikTok personality, known for his videos with his fellow 'Montana Boyz' Kaleb Winterburb and Kade Wilcox, is young (25) and in shape (he posts a lot of Instagram workout videos). I could see Estes making it far on 'Special Forces' — or going too hard during a challenge and getting medically withdrawn. Chanel Iman Iman is a supermodel, so we know she can perform under pressure. She's also spoken in the past about incorporating boxing into her fitness regimen, and there was a hand-to-hand combat challenge during season 3 of 'Special Forces.' It seems like Iman has a chance to do well on the strenuous reality show. Shawn Johnson The Olympic gold medalist is a legendary gymnast best known for her performances on the balance beam. She and East tied the knot in 2016, and they went on to welcome three kids: daughter Drew, 5, and sons Jett, 4, and Bear, 19 months. Johnson is one of the greats, but Olympic gymnasts strangely don't have a great track record on 'Special Forces.' Season 1's Nastia Lukin and season 3's Jordyn Wieber both voluntarily withdrew from the course. Brianna 'Chickenfry' LaPaglia Like Cartwright, LaPaglia is healing from a toxic relationship. She has accused country singer Zach Bryan, whom she dated from 2023-2024, of emotional abuse. She'll likely bond with Cartwright, as they've both called their past partners narcissists. LaPaglia, who is known for her Barstool Sports podcasting career, teased via Instagram that she 'cries a lot' on the show. Compared to the Olympians, LaPaglia may not be the most physically fit person on the show, but something tells me her emotional tenacity will take her far on 'Special Forces' season 4. READ MORE: 'Love Island' alum's costars call him out after messy split: 'A narcissist and a racist' Johnny Manziel Season 4 of 'Special Forces' is essentially an NFL reunion. Manziel was a quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. The only other quarterback who's been on 'Special Forces' is Cam Newton, who often frustrated the Directing Staff with his ego. He ended up getting disqualified from the show. Time will tell whether Manziel is more suited for the Special Forces than Newton. Eva Marcille You might known Marcille from 'America's Next Top Model,' 'The Young and the Restless,' or 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta.' She's a very determined person, and I could see her making it far on 'Special Forces.' 'I will always be my biggest competition. Fear has never threatened me enough to give up,' she wrote via Instagram while celebrating the season 4 cast announcement. My money's on Eva getting medically withdrawn or making it to the end, because I don't see her quitting. Ravi Patel Patel is an actor best known for the Fox sitcoms 'Grandfathered' and 'Animal Control.' While he seems like an underdog, Patel called the show 'one of the best experiences of [his] life' via Instagram. He also teased that he 'got jacked' in preparation and 'crushed' the course. Perhaps Patel will put all the athletes to shame? Christie Pearce Rampone I like Pearce Ramone's chances. She's an Olympic soccer champion, so we know she's physically fit and a team player. There's also already been a female Olympic soccer champion who passed the 'Special Forces' selection course: season 1's Carli Lloyd. Jussie Smollett Smollett is going into 'Special Forces' with something to prove, and I can already hear the Directing Staff using his past against him during an interrogation session. In Janaury 2019, Smollett told police that he'd been physically attacked by someone who called him homophobic and racial slurs. A police investigation later determined that Smollett had paid two work acquaintances to stage the assault. In 2021, Smollett was found guilty of five counts of felony disorderly conduct related to the false police reports. He was sentenced to 150 days in county jail and two and a half years on probation. READ MORE: Jussie Smollett will make rare appearance in new Netflix documentary It will be interesting to hear the 'Empire' alum — who has consistently maintained his innocence — tell his side of the story on 'Special Forces.' The DS may be eager to break him, so I'm skeptical that he'll make it to the end. Nick Young Young is a former NBA shooting guard who won an NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors in 2018. Despite his last name, he's one of the older male athletes on the season 4 cast at age 40. Is Young still in prime physical shape, or will he fall behind on 'Special Forces?' Season 4 of 'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test' premieres on Fox on Thursday, September 25, at 9 p.m. ET. Episodes will be available to stream on Hulu the day after they air. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Have a tip? Tell us at Solve the daily Crossword
Black America Web
9 hours ago
- Black America Web
Never Give Up: BET+ Releases The Official Trailer For Tyler Perry's ‘Zatima' Season 4 + Announces Premiere Date
Source: Courtesy / BET+ We got some exciting news in regards to the return of a fan favorite in the world of Tyler Perry today! Continue reading to find out when we can expect the series to be back on our screens and to check out the official trailer. Tyler Perry's Zatima is set to return for its highly anticipated fourth season on BET+. The series continues to follow Zac and Fatima as they prepare for parenthood while navigating deep emotional scars, complicated friendships, and explosive entanglements. Season 4 picks up with higher stakes, heightened suspense, and raw vulnerability, deepening its cultural relevance among Black millennial and Gen Z viewers. The show remains a fan-favorite for its honesty around modern relationships, accountability, and personal evolution — all with Tyler Perry's signature blend of humor and drama. The comedy drama series stars Devale Ellis ( It's Bruno!, Sistas, The Perfect Find ), Crystal Renee Hayslett ( Sistas, Praise This ), Nzinga Imani ( All the Queen's Men, Sistas ), Danielle LaRoach (Southern Hospatality, A House Divided, Cocaine Sisters), Guyviaud Joseph ( The Ave, Power, Blue Bloods ), Remington Hoffman ( Sweet Home, Days of Our Lives ), Jasmin Brown ( Double Cross, Caught Up, Sistas ), and Cameron Fuller ( The Last Ship, Mira Mira ). Courtney Glaude wrote this season of Zatima, which is a spinoff of the hit series Sistas. Additionally, Glaude served as director alongside Kyle Johnson. The series is produced by Tyler Perry Studios. Season 4A of the BET+ Original series will premiere with two episodes on Thursday, September 11th. The ten-episode season will continue with two episodes weekly, leading up to the season finale on Thursday, October 9th, 2025. While we patiently wait, check out the official Season 4 trailer below. The first three seasons of Zatima are now streaming on BET+. Share your thoughts on the trailer in the comment section. SEE ALSO Never Give Up: BET+ Releases The Official Trailer For Tyler Perry's 'Zatima' Season 4 + Announces Premiere Date was originally published on
