I haven’t been all that kind to NBC comedies in this decade. Maybe it’s because I hold them to the high standard that the must-see TV components of the 80s and 90s set as a bar. And no, I’m not being so unrealistic that I’m insisting everything be as massive and broad-appeal as the more legendary spikes like FRIENDS, CHEERS, FRASIER and SEINFELD. I fully respect the enduring popularity of nichier properties like THE OFFICE and PARKS AND RECREATION. I rewatched–well, actually, watched mostly for the first time–the entire series of 30 ROCK during the pandemic when I was algorithmically drawn to it after I breezily binge-watched the dizzily addictive UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT. I even have warm fuzzies about a few of the otherwise more forgettable efforts like BOSTON COMMON, CAROLINE IN THE CITY and VERONICA’S CLOSET, which were perfect examples of “coattails” shows that got pretty decent ratings despite less-than-critical reviews. If nothing else, they were satisfying enough to keep someone from tuning out, and I was definitely in that bucket.
That said, the ones they have attempted more recently I have personally found to be far less than satisfying, and some downright abhorrent. I was dead set against the reboot of NIGHT COURT, although by relative standards it kinda worked, and I absolutely loathed LOPEZ VS. LOPEZ. And while I’ve yet to muse about them I’ve been anything but impressed with HAPPY’S PLACE and ST. DENIS MEDICAL, both to me quite formulaic and unoriginal despite having some really decent people as part of their casts and crews. And please don’t even bring up SUNNYSIDE and especially INDEBTED, two efforts that ultimately destroyed any vestige of the Thursday night juggernaut that propelled the network to top status back in the day. I still have nightmares about taping nights of the latter extending well past 1 AM ,which each ensuing rewrite prompting more eyerolls and derisive tantrums from the clearly agitated cast.
But if the ensuing nine episodes of THE FALL AND RISE OF REGGIE DINKINS are even close to the level of originality and quality that the first has provided I actually think I will have a reason to add something new to my must-see queue. Tracy Morgan is another performer I want to like; I’m a fan of his from SNL and his rally from a near-death experience is personally relatable. Yet his more recent sitcom efforts, especially the abhorrent LAST O.G. that inexplicably was renewed by TBS for four consistenly weaker seasons, have failed to take advantage of his most endearing qualities–the exaggerated but somehow endearing overly successful schmuck that was best defined by his award-winning turn as Tracy Jordan in 30 ROCK. Reggie Dinkins is the closest cousin we’ve seen yet to Jordan, and once you’ve uttered a few WTFs at his outrageousness, you’re hooked.
Morgan on his own is a reason to watch, but as we’ve noted on his own he’s been somewhat lacking; proof positive was the recently quickly aborted NEIGHBORHOOD spin-off CRUTCH, which was a dismal failure even by Paramount Plus standards. But as COLLIDER’s Tania Hussain eagerly gushed, this time he’s got a most surprising comrade in arms who’s far better known for his Qidditch acumen:
(W)ith the addition of Daniel Radcliffe’s pretentious and self-conscious filmmaker Arthur Tobin capturing every moment behind the lens, the single-camera comedy is anything but. With both carrying their own versions of reputational baggage, the half-hour sitcom thrives on the chaos of watching two men who love controlling the narrative get trapped inside the constant replay.
And as MASHABLE’s Belen Edwards added, they’ve got some pretty decent backup singers as well:
Morgan and Radcliffe are joined by a cast of comedy heavy hitters, including Bobby Moynihan as Reggie’s best friend Rusty and Erika Alexander as Reggie’s ex-wife and manager Monica. Moynihan is perfect as a lovably daffy wild card, and Alexander works wonders as a savvy businesswoman whose competitiveness is ready to jump out at any moment. Rounding out the main cast are Precious Way as Reggie’s fiancée Brina and Jalyn Hall as Reggie and Monica’s son Carmelo. The two younger actors fit right at home in this cast of more established names, and the result is an ensemble that blends brilliantly right off the bat.
As a bonus, it’s set in a world that’s both aspirational and absurd. The very idea of a New York Jet of this century being successful enough to warrant sympathy after his career imploded due to a gambling scandal is pure fantasy and farce. Just seeing him in uniform is reason enough to give the man sympathy, his personal demons notwithstanding.
On top of all this, NBC has actually gone back to a recently successful playbook to give REGGIE DINKINS a legitimate shot at success. It was previewed a month ago adjacent to a massively-viewed NFL playoff game and wound up with nearly 6 million linear same-night viewers, an episode that has been incubated on Peacock ever since. It’s a similar strategy to how NBC launched SUPERSTORE adjacent to the then-t0p-tier numbers of THE VOICE, ultimately creating an upfront presentation nugget of all time where the network’s research czar Alan Wurtzel casually triumphed as “live-plus-119” audience. SUPERSTORE ran for more than 100 episodes. 
This is exponentially better.
As of this writing, it’s merely “live-plus-33”, for DINKINS, but tonight’s one-hour premiere will be repeated at 1 AM Sunday morning after SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, which will benefit from having HEATED RIVALRY’s Connor Storrie as host. And that Peacock nesting has been adjacent to all of that high-rated Winter Olympics coverage with algorithms and home page placement targeting driving sampling. I have to believe REGGIE DINKINS has enough tentacles to all those audiences to have aggregated an audience that will actually make it a legitimate player for Peacock. Considering it will eventually be nested behind ST. DENIS MEDICAL as a “mocumentary” block that will attempt to undermine CBS’ final few episodes of THE NEIGHBORHOOD and its banal DMV “:30 show” getting as much help from the time-shift world as possible will be more than welcomed.
REGGIE DINKINS is on my playlist. It should also be on yours. Tracy, NBC and the Jets deserve a win at least once a decade.
Until next time…