Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe shine in the hilarious, heartfelt mockumentary series The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins.
As a die-hard fan of 30 Rock, the moment I heard about The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins I was all the way in. There is a specific kind of comedy that occurs when you let Tracy Morgan loose in a world built on absurdity and heart and after watching the entirety of the first season, I can safely say this is the feel-good show we desperately need right now.
Tracy Morgan is, quite simply, a comedic force of nature. In this series, he plays disgraced football star Reggie Dinkins with a chaotic brilliance that feels like a spiritual successor to Tracy Jordan. There’s that familiar, unpredictable energy where you’re never quite sure if he’s about to say something profoundly philosophical or deeply ridiculous. Usually, it’s both.
But the real secret sauce of the show is the undeniable chemistry between Tracy Morgan and Daniel Radcliffe. Radcliffe plays Arthur Tobin, an award-winning filmmaker trying to capture Reggie’s path to redemption. While we’ve seen the mockumentary style used in everything from The Office to Modern Family, this series adds a unique flare: the director isn’t just a fly on the wall; he’s a character we see grappling with Reggie’s antics in real-time.
The dynamic between Reggie’s unbridled ego and Arthur’s high-brow artistic flair is easily the standout of the series. They are the ultimate odd couple, and watching them navigate Reggie’s tarnished legacy is pure gold. Plus, without spoilers, there are quite a few things that Arthur has to deal with and confront, as well.
While the leads are spectacular, the supporting cast provides the backbone the show needs to stay grounded. Bobby Moynihan is a comedic genius who can honestly make me crack up with a single raised eyebrow or a well-timed smirk. His facial expressions are everything in The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins.
Equally impressive are the women of the series. Erika Alexander and Precious Way bring a necessary power and inspiration to the screen. In a show centered around a man trying to fix his reputation, these characters ensure the narrative isn’t just about Reggie – it’s about the family and the community he impacted. They aren’t just there to react to Reggie; they have their own agency and strength, making the stakes of Reggie’s redemption feel genuine.
What surprised me most was the pacing. The first season absolutely flies by. It manages to maintain a laugh-out-loud frequency while weaving in a sincere story about confronting the ghosts of one’s past. The guest stars are curated perfectly; they don’t feel like cameos for the sake of cameos, but rather like organic pieces of the world Arthur Tobin is trying to document.
The finale episode is, in my opinion, pure perfection. It sticks the landing by balancing the humor with a poignant reminder that growth is messy. It left me begging for more. This is the kind of television that reminds you why you fell in love with sitcoms in the first place – it’s hopeful, hysterical, and deeply human. If this series doesn’t get picked up for a second season, I’m ready to riot. Who is with me?
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins aired a special premiere on Sunday, January 18th. The series will return on Monday, February 23 at 8 p.m. ET/PT with an encore of the pilot followed by a new episode at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT.
The following week, it will continue in its regular timeslot on Monday, March 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET.
