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Wendy Raquel Robinson on Bringing Tasha Mack to ‘The Varnell Hill Show,’ Why Women in the Industry Should Watch — and the Comic Who Made Martin Break

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Wendy Raquel Robinson is set to play Tommy Davidson’s straight-shooting counterpart in “The Varnell Hill Show.”

On Sept. 1, she will make her debut as Rachel Perkins, the executive producer of Davidson’s character, radio host Varnell Hill. 

The buzzing spinoff grew out of the hit comedy “Martin,” which showcased Hill in two popular episodes. 

Actress Wendy Raquel Robinson dishes on her new role in “The Varnell Hill Show,” alongside Tommy Davidson. (Photo courtesy of Paramount +)

As one of her generation’s most versatile and eccentric comedic actors, Robinson calls her new role a “hybrid” of the characters audiences know her best for.

In an interview with Atlanta Black Star, Robinson didn’t hesitate to share details about her role and working alongside comedy geniuses like Davidson and Martin Lawrence.

Tommy Davidson on ‘The Varnell Hill Show’ Taking 7 Years, the ‘In Living Color’ Skit That Wouldn’t Fly Today, and the One Comedian Who Makes Him Laugh

“Tommy Davidson takes funny to another level,” Robinson said. “He takes it to another place in time. He’s a genius. He really is. When you can make Martin break character, you know what I mean? And just like can’t control it.”

Robinson will play Rachel Perkins, known for keeping veteran host Varnell Hill in line “because he’s all over the place.”

The “Varnell Hill Show” follows the egos, rivalries and behind-the-scenes disasters that come with keeping a late-night institution alive. Between Varnell’s stubborn determination and a staff constantly trying to contain the chaos, every episode turns the business of television into its own punchline.

For Robinson, her character Rachel combines elements of her past acting roles on “The Steve Harvey Show” and “The Game.”

“Regina had to show up as the principal, put on her little white voice and deal with Steve and X, Y, and Z. Tasha Mack was Tasha Mac, she had no filter. Rachel, I would think, is almost a hybrid of all of that.”

Rachel has to navigate a professional world and find her place in it.

“When I talk to the audience and break that fourth wall and talk to the audience, it’s a whole other vibe,” Robinson told ABS about her character. 

“There’s Harvard, there’s Howard, and then there’s Inglewood and South Central that comes out. So you see all this whole concoction of all these different personalities wrapped into this one vivacious woman, and it’s a beautiful thing,” she adds.

The actress admitted “it wasn’t an easy show to do,” especially working under tight deadlines and filming two shows a week. But Tommy and Martin’s “dream team” pulled it off.

As Varnell battles shifting network priorities, ambitious executives, demanding guests and a younger generation of talent, his confidence never wavers — even when the people around him aren’t quite as convinced.

Robinson hopes viewers will get a glimpse of her and Davidson’s funny chemistry while also feeling inspired to “take up space.”

“Hopefully it’ll be a ministry to young women that are coming up in this business to know how you need to pivot, to stay relevant, how hard it is to really not only get to the top, but to stay there, without compromising who you are, what you are and where you want to go. So it’s a lot. Yeah. Alexa off.”

And with that, Robinson gave a playful nod to the characters who helped make her a comedy standout. During the interview, she jokingly yelled, “Alexa off!” in her iconic Regina and Tasha Mack voices.

She also imagined what would happen if those characters ever crossed paths.

“Tasha would take over because she has no filter and knows no right or wrong. But Rachel would definitely correct her and put her in check immediately,” Robinson shares. “And, Regina would probably be there and make the assessment of why neither of them should have done any of it.”

It’s that blend of confidence, chaos and sharp wit that Robinson brings to Rachel, a character she sees as a fresh combination of the women she’s played before.

“The Varnell Hill Show” also gives her a chance to play with the kind of larger-than-life characters that have made her a standout throughout her career.

The series, starring Robinson alongside Kym Whitley and Martin Lawrence, debuts Sept. 1 on Paramount.

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