The World Moved On While Varnell Stayed the Same
“I got one question: did ya miss me?”
The Varnell Hill Show, starring Tommy Davidson, lands its own spinoff series after nearly three decades since audiences first fell in love with him.
The new half-hour comedy already feels current and relevant, adding quite a few colorful words and jokes that never would’ve cleared the FCC in the 90s, affording the type of comical freedom reminiscent of Def Comedy Jam while also capturing the attention of younger viewers who are just now being introduced to the iconic character.
The hilariously star-studded ensemble cast includes Kym Whitley, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Nick Cafero, Emmanuel Hudson, and Chris Williams.
Guest stars include Ms. Pat, Deon Cole, Damon Wayans, Mike Epps, Omarion, and MANY, many more, including the series’ executive producer, Martin Lawrence.
The Varnell Hill Show wastes no time creatively summarizing the time jump—the board getting younger bosses with fresh views to replace the outdated content that Varnell has relied upon.
And the costume department has a huge hand in visually representing where Varnell’s creativity peaked—evident in his loud monochromatic zoot suit against the fashion of everyone around him, who represent new and fresh ideas as well as a new audience.
While the writing and directorial approach smartly reaches multiple generations without pandering to potential new fans or neglecting the core fanbase, the series takes you behind-the-scenes of Varnell’s late-night talk show and his fierce battle to remain relevant in a world where information is at the tip of everyone’s fingertips.
Varnell must not only find ways to be creative—modernizing his efforts in a way that may not be agreeable to his traditional standards—but also battle multiple egos and family drama.
The Fight for Relevancy is an Uphill Battle
What’s interesting about the show is its dual-filming method, combining traditional studio audience performance with mockumentary moments—creating a unique push-and-pull formula that makes you feel like the person in the room who has to pretend they just found out about the big secret.
“Oh my god, really? I didn’t know.”
The production formula allows audiences to see a TV show but also feel as though they’re watching a real late-night talk show, especially with stars such as Doug E. Fresh and Kirk Franklin appearing as themselves as guests on the segments.
The creators have perfectly combined multiple filming styles while still feeling as if these characters are tangible and real.
But one thing that surprised me was the clever injection of the state of television and the lifeline of shows.
Rachel (Wendy Raquel Robinson) confronts Varnell about his reluctance to change, informing him that one day the show will go away, putting everyone involved, including him, at professional and financial risk.
Adapt or disappear.
It’s a reality that permeates cable, network, and streaming platforms, as we’ve witnessed over the last few years the meteoric rise of some of the best TV shows ever written, only for them to be axed before ever gaining true momentum.
This revelation is the heart of the series, highlighting how many people it takes to drive the vehicle that is entertainment and how the industry has treated them as disposable.
Thus, Varnell and his team must find a way to reach a broader audience without sacrificing morals and core values to do so.
In the quest for relevancy and youthful relatability, one thing that stands out immediately is the excessive use of modern colloquialisms.
Then it flips on its head when Varnell uses slang from his era that completely misses the landing—further highlighting the juxtaposition between the old audience and the new.
While this approach comes with its mishaps with the producer and the new writing team, it also comes with its wins when everyone realizes they share the same goal.
But above all, The Varnell Show is a comedy, and the series has some comedic heavyweights, both old and new, that use the show’s stage to platform their talents while the show itself serves as a love letter to comedy.
The first 2 episodes will premiere Tuesday, September 1, then weekly thereafter on Paramount+.
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Kivonshe—founder of So There’s That—is a film & TV critic who explores compelling storytelling, fandom relationships, character psychology, and the impact of entertainment media through film reviews, episodic recaps, and in-depth theme analysis.
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