This article contains spoilers for ‘The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins.‘
When you ask someone to name the greatest comedy series of the 21st century, many will point to 30 Rock. Despite ending in 2012, it remains endlessly quotable, with entertainment-industry satires still attempting to fill the gap it left behind. Few, however, share the sensibility of its creators, Robert Carlock and Tina Fey. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins brings the pair back together with frequent collaborator Sam Means and reunites them with Tracy Morgan.
The series originally debuted on NBC on January 18 after an NFL playoff game. An encore of the pilot episode airs alongside the second episode on January 23. It then runs weekly through to April 13. While it’s certainly a show you will get maximum enjoyment out of if you have watched 30 Rock and other Carlock and Fey creations, such as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Girls5eva, Great News, and Mr. Mayor, it’s not content to solely repeat old tricks despite the obvious influence. If anything, its pacing feels closer to Parks and Recreation’s first season: slightly uneven but brimming with promise.
That promise largely rests on Tracy Morgan, who plays the disgraced former football star at the centre of the series. Twenty years after a career-ending scandal in which he bet against himself, former running back Reggie Dinkins enlists disgraced filmmaker Arthur Tobin (Daniel Radcliffe) to make a documentary on his family life in New Jersey. He hopes it will rehabilitate his image and secure his induction into the Hall of Fame. However, it quickly becomes clear that this will not be as straightforward as Reggie hopes, and not just because he has never received a single vote.
Reggie’s rival, Jerry Basmati, appears throughout the season to hinder their work. Played by Craig Robinson, who is excellent here, Jerry easily gets under Reggie’s skin. Reggie feels he has stolen his life, with Jerry appearing as a commentator, morning show host, and regular on teleshopping. Introspection and accountability are needed from Reggie if his documentary idea can ever work.
Arthur also has a habit of turning the documentary into a self-focused project. A viral clip reveals Arthur’s meltdown on the set of Marvel’s Professor Squeeze, ultimately ruining his career. He blames ex-girlfriend Narcissa (Anna Camp), but given his pretentiousness, one wonders how much of his downfall he brought on himself. His obsessive nature, particularly in pursuit of a perfect documentary, hints at something darker beneath the surface. At least, for a sitcom. Think Ben Wyatt’s Claymation project, Requiem for a Tuesday, which he compared to Avatar. Executive producer Tina Fey’s Liz Lemon was also revealed to have been the bully all along in 30 Rock.
Morgan and Radcliffe share a genuine, oddball chemistry, built largely on mutual need. Arthur needs Reggie’s story, while Reggie depends on Arthur’s perspective to cement himself as a legend of the sport. They are never better together than in the third episode, where they face their fears at the Lincoln Center Documentary Film Festival.
Beyond its central pairing, the show fills out a supporting cast that also does a lot of heavy lifting. Among them is Rusty, Reggie’s longtime friend, played by Bobby Moynihan. Rusty lives in Reggie’s basement, runs his social media, and displays a level of loyalty that borders on concerning, particularly given that, as of the first season, he appears to have no life of his own. Moynihan is consistently hilarious, and the role feels long overdue, particularly given that he left Saturday Night Live in 2017, at the tail end of an era when departing cast members often moved straight into their own sitcoms or studio comedies, with little of either added to his work.
Other members of the ensemble include Reggie’s ex-wife and agent Monica (Erika Alexander), with whom he shares his son, Carmelo (Jalyn Hall). His fiancée Brina (Precious Way), a young influencer with financial independence and her own ambitions, rounds out the main cast.
The show initially frames Brina as a potential point of tension from Monica’s perspective. Monica clearly doesn’t understand why the two are together. After dating an internet prankster, Reggie’s niceness and support draw Brina to him. Monica, knowing how easy Reggie is to love, backs off. From this moment, rather than competing against each other, the two women settle into a pragmatic alliance. As the season progresses, Monica becomes an unlikely mentor, helping Brina navigate contracts and career decisions. Alexander and Way are a delight together, forming a pairing that future seasons should explore more fully.
With a focus on Reggie and Arthur, Rusty, Monica, and Brina form a trio. Carmelo’s appearances are more sporadic, suggesting the show is still figuring out what to do with him. While the Hall of Fame goal is the reason for the mockumentary format, not all ten episodes revolve around this endgame. These moments allow The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins to make room for Brina and Rusty recording diss tracks, Monica re-entering the dating scene, and Arthur falling into Denise’s web. Megan Thee Stallion plays Denise, a postal worker who captures Arthur’s attention. Stallion has genuine comedic chops, never feeling out of place opposite Radcliffe or Morgan. Her arc is unfortunately brief, but it remains a welcome addition.
The series also borrows heavily from the 30 Rock playbook, particularly with its fake in-universe media and cutaways. Highlights include a Love Island spoof titled Ex Peninsula and a Law and Order SVU rip-off called FDNY Chicago. Its cultural references are biting, with laugh-out-loud moments such as a nod to the Grammy’s Best Traditional Country Album category. New for 2026, the category was created following Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter‘s wins. At one point, a panicked Arthur asks Carmelo, “Did you invite her in? Haven’t you seen Sinners?” in reference to Narcissa. It’s clever, poking fun at culture. Yet it never feels as if co-creators Robert Carlock and Sam Means are relying on social media to influence scripts.
Despite a slow start, the show hits its stride as the season progresses. Season 1 ends on a hopeful note, giving every reason to welcome Arthur and his documentary crew back into the Dinkins household. Overall, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins offers a refreshing take on the mockumentary format through the world of sports, led by an ensemble to love. It’s a series well worth rooting for – and one that can only get better from here.
