Tommy Davidson Talks The Varnell Hill Show and 30-Year Comedy Legacy
- Tommy Davidson is reviving his iconic Martin rival, Varnell Hill, for a brand-new series titled The Varnell Hill Show, scheduled to premiere on September 1, according to an...
- Set behind the scenes of a long-running late-night talk show, The Varnell Hill Show follows the larger-than-life host as he struggles to stay relevant in an ever-changing television...
- Varnell Hill first appeared on television in November 1993 during a two-part Martin episode titled Hollywood Swinging, where the host went toe-to-toe with Martin Payne at radio station...
Tommy Davidson is reviving his iconic Martin rival, Varnell Hill, for a brand-new series titled The Varnell Hill Show, scheduled to premiere on September 1, according to an interview.
The 62-year-old comedian and actor spent seven years developing the spinoff after receiving encouragement from Christopher “Kid” Reid to call Martin Lawrence, Davidson told the interviewer. It actually worked,
Davidson said with a laugh during the interview. It took seven years, but it actually worked.
What to Expect From The Varnell Hill Show
Set behind the scenes of a long-running late-night talk show, The Varnell Hill Show follows the larger-than-life host as he struggles to stay relevant in an ever-changing television industry. Davidson noted that the premise mirrors his own career adjustments. Varnell and I are almost in the same place,
Davidson told the interviewer. Just trying to keep up with the technology.
Alongside starring in the lead role, Davidson serves as an executive producer, giving him the ability to shape the character audiences first encountered over 30 years ago. I really get to shape the ideas,
Davidson said. I worked so much as an actor and had been in so many movies and worked with so many directors and producers, I have all of these skills under one hat. So, it became a high quality show because of our high quality experiences.
The ensemble cast for the new series features Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, and Emmanuel Hudson, among others. Guest stars confirmed for the project include Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps, and Omarion, alongside a special pop-up appearance by Martin Lawrence.
Origins on Martin and Career Longevity
Varnell Hill first appeared on television in November 1993 during a two-part Martin episode titled Hollywood Swinging, where the host went toe-to-toe with Martin Payne at radio station WZUP. According to Davidson, that television moment was largely unscripted. It was almost 100% improvised, because that’s how we rolled on In Living Color,
Davidson recalled. We rehearsed it as is, but one of the best things about comedy is you learn how to play the straight. If you don’t know how to play the straight, then you ain’t really that funny. If you can feed somebody and let them get the laughs, that’s a skill too. So Martin was feeding me, but then as you all saw, it went way beyond the feed.
Davidson’s entertainment career spans decades of film, television, and voice work, including roles in Strictly Business, In Living Color, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Booty Call, Bamboozled, and voice acting on animated projects such as Ren & Stimpy, The Simpsons, and Proud Family. Reflecting on his trajectory, Davidson stated that his return to the spotlight stems from continuous hard work. I never expected to have my own show,
Davidson told the interviewer. I wanted my own show, but I didn’t know it was going to come about like this. But ultimately, it came about from being involved in my whole career trajectory the whole way and working in a quality capacity. In other words, busting my behind and giving it all I got.