By Nefertiti Austin
Special to the “Sentinel”

The highly anticipated “The Varnell Hill Show” not only celebrates the comedic genius of Tommy Davidson, who reprises his role from the classic sitcom “Martin,” but also honors the talent of three childhood friends who came together to create the spin-off.

Show creators Kevin G. Boyd, Sherri McGee McCovey, and Bentley Kyle Evans grew up in Baldwin Hills and View Park-Windsor Hills, located in South Los Angeles. In fact, Sherri and Kevin’s parents raised them as godbrother and godsister, and they still call Baldwin Hills home. Sherri attended Beverly Hills High School and then went on to Spelman College, while Bentley and Kevin attended Westchester High School; Kevin joined Sherri at nearby Morehouse College, and Bentley stayed local at Santa Monica College to pursue a career in entertainment.

The trio’s shared experiences encompassed college and professional collaborations that kept them connected over the years, culminating in late 2019 when “The Varnell Hill Show” was created. “Varnell was always such a memorable character from the ‘Martin’ universe,” says Boyd. “When Martin expressed interest in revisiting the character in a series, Sherri and I began exploring what Varnell might look like as the focus of a show.” As the project developed, Bentley joined in, contributing his own creative ideas to shape what would eventually become the series’ premiere episode, shot at his Harvest Studio in Northridge.

The three Hollywood veterans emerged during the early days of the Black Television Renaissance in the 1980s and 1990s, a period when Black writers, actors, directors, and those above the line found steady work. In fact, McCovey got her big break on “The Parkers,” where she got an Assistant job for creator Sara Finney Johnson and sold her first TV pitch, which became the pilot episode. “I remember the excitement of attending weekly live tapings of ‘Martin’ and ‘Moesha’ back in the day,” recalls McCovey, who started her career as a freelance journalist writing for Ebony, Essence, Black Enterprise, and InStyle magazines. “During that time, I would document the careers of my friends who were making headlines in Hollywood while also trying to build a television career.” When the opportunity to develop the Varnell Hill Show arose, McCovey was excited to work with Boyd and Evans, whom she had watched succeed in entertainment through “Martin” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.” “For the three of us to represent Baldwin Hills and View Park/Windsor Hills is a meaningful full-circle moment.” McCovey built a fifteen-year career working with Oscar-winning comedian Mo’Nique, co-writing three books, co-writing the film “Hair Show,” and serving as a writer and producer on multiple shows for ABC, BET, Comedy Central, YouTube, and Aspire TV. Her other credits include “Sunday Best,” hosted by Kirk Franklin; “Hart of the City,” with Kevin Hart; and the Emmy-winning series “Recipe for Change,” produced by NBA star LeBron James’ SpringHill Entertainment. Since 2022, she has worked as a content producer for Straight Shooter Media, the production company of ESPN star Stephen A. Smith.

Boyd transitioned into network television with credits on “The Jamie Foxx Show,” “Fastlane,” “Girlfriends,” and “One on One.” He also developed and sold original TV projects to Disney, FX, UPN, ALLBLK, and BET and has written branded character content for Beats by Dre.

Evans began his Hollywood career as an extra in the indie film “Hollywood Shuffle,” which became an industry classic. “When the time came for college, I planned to go to Morehouse with my friends, but my father said, ‘Do you want to chase your friends or your dreams?’” Evans recalls. “The rest is history.” During his acting days, Evans often ran into Martin while auditioning, often for the same roles, and the two became friends. Evans eventually shifted from acting to writing, and when he heard Martin was getting his own sitcom, he reached out for a job. Martin looked out, and Evans became a staff writer on the now-classic show, rising through the ranks to become an Executive Producer. It led to his next project, creating “The Jamie Foxx Show,” which aired for five seasons on the WB Network. It was on “Jamie Foxx” that Bentley hired Kevin. Evans also went on to create and write the shows “Love That Girl,” “Family Time,” Netflix’s “Dad Stop Embarrassing Me,” and the upcoming “State of Mind,” Aspire TV’s first-ever original scripted multi-camera sitcom.

Paramount+ is excited about “The Varnell Hill Show,” which features a star-studded cast including Wendy Raquel Robinson (“The Chi,” “The Game”), comedienne Kym Whitley (“Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Next Friday”), Chris Williams (“Silicon Valley,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm”), and Neil Brown Jr. (“Insecure”). Guest stars include Ms. Pat, Mike Epps, Deon Cole, Lavell Crawford, Damon Wayans, and more.

The pilot episode, “Did Ya Miss Me,” was written by the trio, with Bentley also serving as director and showrunner. Set behind the scenes of the fictional Varnell Hill late-night talk show, the series explores the chaotic world of television production and Varnell’s journey to stay relevant in an ever-changing television industry. “We sold the show in 2020, one week before the world shut down,” says McCovey. “It’s been a long time coming, and we’re excited for a new generation to enjoy one of Martin’s most memorable characters.”

Director Kenya Barris discusses his documentary debut with a film exploring the life and legacy of NBA legend Jerry West. In this interview with Keith Underwood for the Los Angeles Sentinel, Barris shares his creative journey from scripted television to documentary filmmaking.

Key topics covered include:
Creative Inspiration: Why Barris felt drawn to the “purity” of the documentary medium and the “lost art” of journalistic argument.
The Jerry West Connection: Barris opens up about his personal friendship with West and how he saw elements of his own father figure in the basketball icon.
Addressing Portrayals: A look at why Barris disagreed with West’s portrayal in the series Winning Time and how that project served as a catalyst for West agreeing to this documentary.
Behind the Scenes: The challenges of interviewing sports legends like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan while maintaining professional distance as a fan.
Aesthetic and Sound: How the film uses music and visual design to create a “conversational homage” that bridges the gap between historical periods and modern audiences.
A Lasting Legacy: How the project’s mission shifted from telling Jerry’s personal story to honoring a family legacy following his passing.
Now streaming on Prime Video.

It started as a simple idea during the pandemic and grew into a 4 million dollar economic engine. Black on the Block is proof that if you can envision it, you can build it. The founders share their advice for anyone looking to start small and dream big.

Check out the full story of their journey and their plan for the next five years.

Laney and Char started Black on the Block in 2021 with zero event planning experience. By 2025, they generated over 4 million dollars in consumer spending for Black owned businesses. This is what happens when vision meets community support.

Watch the full interview on our channel to see how they built this from the ground up and what they are planning next.

In 2025 alone, Black on the Block generated over 4 million dollars in consumer spending for Black owned businesses. This is what happens when we build our own spaces and support our own visionaries.

Watch the full interview with founders Laney and Char to hear how they turned a small idea into a massive national movement.

Subscribe to the Los Angeles Sentinel for more stories of excellence and equity.

In this exclusive interview, Nathan J. Lee from the Los Angeles Sentinel sits down with Lanie and Char Edwards, the dynamic sisters behind Black on the Block. What started as a simple idea in 2021 has blossomed into a massive traveling festival that supports hundreds of Black-owned businesses across the country.

Lanie and Char share the inspiring story of their journey from fashion designers to event organizers, the challenges of scaling a small team, and how they’ve built a safe, vibrant space for the community. They also discuss their incredible success—generating over $4 million in consumer spending for Black businesses in 2025 alone—and their vision for the next five years.

In this video, you’ll learn about:
* The Vibe of Black on the Block: How the founders created an atmosphere that attracts positive energy and a sense of safety.
* Starting from Scratch: Why Lanie and Char felt the need to create this space after the 2021 pandemic.
* Entrepreneurial Advice: Valuable tips for young founders on the importance of starting, even if it means failing early on.
* The Power of Family: The role their mother, Deborah, played as a mentor and CFO in turning their vision into a professional business.
* Future Goals: Their plans to expand into tech, global markets, and becoming an umbrella for all forms of Black creativity.

Follow the Los Angeles Sentinel:
Stay updated with more stories of Black excellence and community news at [https://lasentinel.net](https://lasentinel.net).

Learn more about Black on the Block:
Visit the official festival website to get tickets or apply as a vendor at [(https://www.blackxtheblock.com).