The series, which premiered in January 2026, quickly established itself as a must-watch, drawing an impressive 14 million viewers across platforms for its debut. According to Collider, this strong launch made it the most-watched comedy episode of the 2025-26 broadcast season and NBC's biggest comedy debut in three years, a significant win for a network looking to reignite its sitcom prowess.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins centers on Reggie Dinkins (Morgan), a former New York Jets player whose illustrious career imploded due to a gambling scandal. Years later, he enlists the help of Arthur Tobin (Radcliffe), a disgraced filmmaker desperate for his own career comeback, to craft a documentary that will restore his tarnished image and pave his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Reggie's unwavering desire for a flattering narrative often clashes with Arthur's initial aim for journalistic honesty, creating a comedic friction that drives the series. As Collider aptly puts it, "putting those two men in the same room is less a recipe for a thoughtful documentary than a recipe for disaster." This dynamic provides a rich ground for humor while exploring deeper themes of second chances and public perception.
Beyond Morgan and Radcliffe's compelling performances, the ensemble cast includes Erika Alexander as Monica, Reggie's ex-wife and business manager; Bobby Moynihan as Rusty, Reggie’s former teammate and best friend; Precious Way as Brina, Reggie’s fiancée; and Jalyn Hall as Carmelo, Reggie and Monica’s teenage son. The show’s creators, Robert Carlock and Sam Means, known for their work on 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, have successfully built a comedy around Morgan that allows his character, Reggie, to be complex—fun, vain, and lovable, yet deeply flawed.
The show's success isn't just in numbers; critics have also lauded its fresh take on the mockumentary format, with a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 76. Beneath the jokes about athletes, documentary filmmaking, celebrity culture, and Reggie’s enormous ego, lies a story about what it means to rebuild a life after making significant mistakes. Every character, in their own way, is trying to recover something they’ve lost, be it a career, a relationship, or simply a sense of direction.
Radcliffe, in particular, shines as Arthur, portraying his character's neuroticism and increasing inability to remain an impartial observer with nuanced humor. He gives the mockumentary format a clever twist by making the person behind the camera just as much a mess as those in front of it.
NBC renewed The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins for a second season in May, and new episodes will pick up with fresh challenges for Reggie and his family. A key plot point for Season 2 involves the revelation that Carmelo is secretly dating the daughter of Reggie’s football nemesis, Jerry Basmati (Craig Robinson), promising new headaches for Reggie. Carlock and Means have also indicated that the second season will continue to explore the theme of redemption across the entire ensemble, rather than solely focusing on Reggie’s journey.
Arthur’s elusive documentary also remains a work in progress, with the increasingly absurd premise of a film that seems perpetually unfinished. As the series returns in the fall, there's even talk of a Thanksgiving episode, ensuring that Reggie's ongoing quest for a comeback, and everyone else's pursuit of their own second chances, continues to unfold with plenty of laughs and heartfelt moments.
