Kym Whitley is helping keep one of the ’90s most hilariously egotistical TV personalities in check, and bringing her signature comedy along for the ride.
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More than 30 years after Varnell Hill first pulled up on Martin with a bright yellow suit, an even brighter personality, and enough ego to fill an entire soundstage, Tommy Davidson is asking one very important question: “Did ya miss me?”
The answer is YES!
The Varnell Hill Show is officially streaming on Paramount+, bringing Davidson’s unforgettable character from the classic ‘90s sitcom Martin back to television nearly three decades after his original appearance.
Premiering earlier this month, the new comedy takes what was once a hilarious two-episode storyline and asks a surprisingly relevant question: What happens when yesterday’s hottest late-night host has to survive today’s entertainment industry?
And chile, Varnell is finding out with a few friends helping along the way.
This time around, Varnell is navigating an entertainment industry that’s drastically different from the one he once dominated, while Kym Whitley stars as his loyal executive assistant, Kim, helping keep the late-night host—and apparently the comedians playing alongside him—under control.
According to Whitley, viewers should expect nothing less than comedic chaos.
The cast of The Varnell Hill Show is fire. And that’s what they’re going to expect. Everyone is great. Everyone stays in their lane. You can see their characters clear, Whitley told BOSSIP. Even though we did this quickly—maybe say Friday I got hired, we started Monday—we were ready and we were excited.
More importantly, Whitley said the ensemble understood that the series was an opportunity to give Davidson his moment.
We rallied around Tommy Davidson to make sure that he shined. This was his opportunity as a spinoff of Martin. But you got to think about all those comedians. Baby, we were laughing on that set. Just silly.
And apparently sometimes TOO silly. With that much comedic firepower in one room, we had to ask how anybody actually managed to get some work done.
Whitley explained that veterans like herself and Chris Williams already understood how to adjust their comedy for television, but every now and then, somebody had to reel them back in.
Source: Paramount+ / Paramount+
We know how to dial it in. But every now and then, let me tell you something, we would let go, and then Bentley Evans would say, “Hey, guys. Okay, all right. Okay, we got that.” Maybe that was the challenge, I would say, of being too crazy.
And Tommy?
Tommy’s jumping on the desk, dancing around. Cut. Out of control, Whitley joked. Out of control, but we are laughing. So it did take some time to reel us in.
Whitley has built a career playing some unforgettable women, but one role apparently worked a little too well.
When BOSSIP asked the actress about the biggest misconception people have about her, she immediately pointed toward her famously freaky Next Friday character, Suga.
The first one is that I’m Suga from Next Friday, for real. I am not that girl. Do you know how hard it was for Ice Cube to put me in those outfits? Very shy, she revealed. It’s interesting, because people saw that character and they thought that I was sexual and just all that raw. No, I’m an actress.
Whitley also laughed off assumptions about her romantic life.
Another one is that I’m married and got all these boyfriends. I’m alone right now, she joked before panning around her surroundings. Look, ain’t nobody here.
The legendary comedian’s honesty continued when the conversation shifted toward balancing relationships with being an ambitious woman, as she recalled some unforgettable advice given by her father.
My father told me a long time ago when I started off, he said, “Listen. You want a husband? You got to work on getting a husband just like you work on your career.”
His message didn’t stop there.
He said, “A lot of y’all work so hard trying to get that career, you forget about the other thing. You also got to work on that family that you want.”
Whitley admitted there’s another part of her dad’s advice she’s still working on: leaving the boss at the office.
“Bring the woman in, bring the mommy in, bring the wife in,” she recalled before laughing, “Yes, I still ain’t learned that. That boss still be coming in the house.”
When it comes to career longevity, however, Kym has definitely learned a few things.
Her biggest advice to those starting out: get a mentor and stop waiting for somebody else to make your career happen.
Have a plan. Find a mentor. That’s the one thing I did not do, Whitley told BOSSIP. Find you an actress that is ahead of you or a business person, whatever you’re in, and ask questions.
She also reminded aspiring entertainers that today’s social media landscape gives them tools her generation never had.
Back in the day, I was just sending out pictures to everybody. I was in the party giving out pictures of myself, little flyers of me, little cards. You have to be your own marketing person. Your own agent, your own manager.
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Even after decades in Hollywood, she isn’t waiting by the phone either; instead, she’s doing what she’s advising those under her to do—get to work but with a vision.
I don’t sit back and wait for my agents to bring me something, Whitley said. You’ve really got to push yourself in this industry and decide on what you want and how you’re going to do it.
The comedic baddie also shared some gems for those who have been in the industry for a while, noting that evolution keeps you employed.
Change your look. Don’t stay one way. We saw you at 25. You sitting here at 40 looking the same. I’m like, “Wait a minute.” You got to evolve, baby.
Whitley’s own evolution continues through live comedy, podcasting, her Whacked Out Wednesdays events in LA and, potentially, some long-overdue collaborations.
While discussing her dream collaborations, Whitley revealed she’d love to finally work in the comedy space with longtime friend Jamie Foxx and reunite creatively with members of the Wayans family.
I would love to do something with Jamie Foxx, Whitley said. I’ve been knowing Jamie for years, and I haven’t done anything with Jamie. I’m like, “Wait a minute, this is ridiculous.”
And after BOSSIP informed her about Kim Wayans’ latest sketch comedy work?
You know I’m going to text her right after we get off and be like, “Girl, what you doing?”
For now, however, Whitley wants audiences watching The Varnell Hill Show—especially if they want another season.
We want everyone to watch it. In order to get views and people to pick you up again, you got to watch it, she told BOSSIP. It is a funny show. This is not me just saying it because I’m on it, I am a fan of the show.
After decades of making audiences laugh, Whitley clearly isn’t interested in slowing down. From creating, collaborating, and evolving—as always—Kym Whitley is keeping us cracking up while she does it and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
The Varnell Hill Show is streaming now exclusively on Paramount+.
