Tracy Morgan has returned to what he does best: making people laugh, loudly and unapologetically. NBC’s new comedy The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins centers on disgraced former football star Reggie Dinkins (Morgan), who is determined to rehabilitate his public image with the help of award-winning filmmaker Arthur Tobin (Daniel Radcliffe).
But as Reggie works to win back the admiration of fans and regain the respect of his family, he’s also forced to confront the ghosts of his past. The series is a story about redemption, celebrity culture, and the messy work of starting over. Alongside Morgan and Radcliffe, the cast includes Erika Alexander, Bobby Moynihan, Precious Way, and Jalyn Hall.
And for Morgan, the goal of this series is to bring back to television. When asked what he hopes audiences take away from Reggie’s journey, Morgan didn’t overcomplicate it. “Ah, good old-fashioned TV back once again on NBC. That’s what I hope they say. Fun TV,” he told The Quintessential Gentleman.
Morgan shares that the spirit of the show is rooted in pure enjoyment, the kind of comedy that defined eras of network television. “What are the first three letters of the word funny? fun! We want people to enjoy watching it and have fun watching it like they did 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live and all those things.”
Morgan also praised the creative team behind the show, including Tina Fey, Robert Carlock, and Sam Means, for believing in him and assembling the right ensemble. “I’m glad Tina Fey and Robert Carlock and Sam [Means] believed in me. So I can have this opportunity to make you laugh,” he said.
He describes the cast as united in purpose. “We, as a cast, are conspiring to make those laugh.”
One of the standout dynamics comes from Alexander, who plays Reggie’s ex-wife and manager. Morgan made it clear that while he didn’t have input on casting, the creators knew exactly what they were doing, praising Alexander’s comedic instincts.
“Erica is very super fast with comedy. I say she’s like Lucille Ball. It’s like Carol Burnett.”
Fans can also expect a guest appearance from Craig Robinson, which Morgan teased with excitement. “I can tell you that… it is fun and I love him. He loves me and we love working together and you’ll see the chemistry when you see it.”
Morgan joked about working with the former Harry Potter star and how surreal it feels for his kids. “Now I get to work with them. And my kids see it and they say, ‘That’s super cool!’ ‘That’s cool, dad,” he shared. “So it’s not too many opportunities you get to be a cool dad. I’m the cool dad, you know what I’m saying? Holla!”
With The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, Morgan isn’t just returning to TV; he’s returning to the kind of comedy that feels communal, nostalgic, and necessary.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins‘ premiere encore airs Monday, February 23, at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with the second episode debuting immediately after 8:30 p.m. ET.
Photo Credit: NBC
