The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins

Jennifer Sure and Angela Kenzie, for all insider stories from the office,

and a podcast family, you'll love to be a part of. Find office ladies, everywhere you get your podcasts. The new comedy series, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkens, stars Tracy Morgan as a disgraced former football star, and Daniel Radcliffe as a documentary filmmaker who team up to make a movie.

The twist Radcliffe's filmmaker has also been publicly shamed, and the documentary we'll watch getting made, is his attempt to put the past behind him. I know what you're saying, another documentary sitcom. Well, what if I told you that the co-creators and showin'ers come from shows like 30 Rock,

“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Girls 5Eva, and that the joke density kind of bears that out?”

I'm Lin Weldon, and today we're talking about the fall and rise of ready-dinkens on pop culture

happy hour from NPR. Joining me today is one of the hosts of NPR's Codeswitch podcast, "Chink, Demby, welcome back, Jane." What's good with you, Glenn? It's so good to see you. And with this is culture writer, Margaret H. Willis, and also great to be seen.

Hey, Margaret. That's a joy to be here, Glenn. I'm glad you're here. In the fall and rise of Reggie Dinkens, Tracy Morgan is Reggie Dinkens, former New York jet, who was banned from the NFL for gambling. Daniel Radcliffe is Arthur Tobin, an Oscar-winning documentary

who's implosion on a major film set when viral destroying his career. The two men need each other, so Arthur embeds himself and Reggie's palatial mansion to make a documentary about him. Reggie's high-strong ex-wife is still his manager. She's played by Erica Alexander. Reggie's former teammate Rusty lives in his basement. He's played by the great end-good. Bobby Moynihan, Robert Carlock is one of the showrunners.

He was the showener on 30 Rock and Kimmy Schmidt. Sam means is the other. He wrote on 30 Rock, Kimmy Schmidt and girls' fight. Eva, the fall and rise of Reggie Dinkens airs on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock because that's the new normal. Margaret, what do you think?

“I loved this show so much. The only thing that's led me down when I was watching”

again is that I did have to keep stopping and looping other people into it. I'm a Carlock head, a Carlock head, and I'm locked in for Carlock. So, you know, I had a good feeling. I was optimistic. You tell me girls by that, and like, obviously, I'm going to watch all of that. That's my new personality. You tell me football player I'm like, well, I'll give it an episode or 10 in this case.

Because I certainly watched the whole season of watched a few episodes, multiple times. And two things here. I feel our exceptional one. There is the Carlock, joke density, and joke success. And the other thing that really, really, really delights me about the show is Daniel Radcliffe. I've known that he had something like this in him for a long time, because he's from the Carrie Fisher School of using FU money and cultural cachet from one

big franchise to sort of make whatever career you want for yourself. He's done an incredible job.

He's done so many cool projects. He's demonstrated that he's a very good comedy guy, but him and his commitment to a bit combined with the kind of bits of Robert Carlock led

“rating team can come up with is just delicious. Interviews are like jazz. You have to improvise.”

Feel it out, like, scat above a wow. There are some things that can't be clicked, because they are physical. But his skill in delivering this material and the quality of the material, we know that he is a documentary professor. He teaches documentary filmmaking at the University of Maryland. But what we don't know until he needs to send his postage back to his office is that he works at. You can mail my postage back to me at the University of Maryland Center for Documentary

Anime and pornography. That's a great joke. I'm dying. I'm weeping. I'm texting into my friends. Congratulations. You have a great new show ahead of you. There we go. Okay. That's Margaret. Jean, you are the closest this show is ever going to come to a sports guy. I mean Steven, Susan. I mean Steven Thompson, sure. But you are a football guy. What's your making this? So, we're quick. Do you think Daniel Rackliffe is doing his own stunts?

That was like the really dope one of the notes that I knew. I believe it of him. He jumps over a car one point and I was like, wait, did he jump over the car for him? Again, I believe it. So, I thought the show was a good hang. I don't think I was as high on it as you are Margaret. But I really dug it. I mean, it's one of those sorts. You both have commented on how joke densities. And every episode at one point I like cackled out loud as something.

Like I just laughed really, really hard. I was finishing up the last couple episodes last time. My wife had gone a bit and I was like, oh, that was really loud. There was also these sort of structures like, oh, this is fun. Like nothing sort of sort of stuck to me. Although like I have a lot of love for the cast. Like I love Erica Alexander so much, so much. She's like going to

this very strange way of reading lines that like, it's one of those things like absolutely like

our use to it now, but it's still like, it's just so like really like disconcerting. Sometimes it's so funny, right? It's funny because like if someone else said this, this would not work because it's like the way that words come out of his mouth that makes these things worse. I had to vote in my whole life to entertain me, you people. Are you not entertained?

“Glad you ate her. Nice. The only thing that's country loves more than a hero, is tear one down.”

Like a world y'all. Because it is like a very joked then show and it felt like sometimes there were these, I love a good stupid depression by the way. Yeah, I love that kind of stuff, but it also felt like the way the season ends that nothing really kind of happens. Like, you know, so, oh no, we got to do this all again and like we got to get the game back all the other and I was like, I didn't mind hanging out with these people, but it didn't feel like there was like,

it was making a compelling argument for like, it's done, done. Like, let's come back for this like crew of very like, you know, zany people like in their, you know, shenanigans next season. Although like, you know, again, like they all get moments to shine, like if I've been one hand is one of those people who just sort of like, he's like, like, flitter on the edges and makes things better, you know what I'm saying? I just, I don't know, like, I liked so much of the show and I felt like a good hang, but it didn't

like really like stick to my ribs, you know what I'm saying? Like, I get that, I get that. I'm very curious about how you felt. Well, I mean, like this show could have been from the premise, you think the overarching thing is that it's somebody going to be trying to rest control of the documentary that's being made about them. We're getting a lot of documentaries now where the subject is the executive producer and

“if it was about an overarching struggle, I think that might be a little less carluck, you know,”

because again, this is a joke engine that show and as opposed to an arc, right? And also, let's be real, like if we're going to still be doing sitcom mockumentaries in the year 2026, we should stop with the office Parks and Rec formula, pretending that the crew doesn't exist. And the fact that we're making the show explicitly about the interaction between the crew and the subject, I feel like that's what we do. I'm here for it. We pull this off. People see me in a whole new life.

Like they did at the crowd's movie. Did you know he grew up Lego? We've all mentioned Tracy Morgan. He is such a singular comic presence. Every comic has a Tracy Morgan, because you can, because again, he's lined delivery. His whole effect is so weird. It doesn't read his lines.

He declaims them. And here's the thing that me, as a comedy nerd, what fascinates me is that he will

often take a breath in the middle of a punchline, which shouldn't work. Comedy is all about timing, right? It depends on rhythm. And yet he breaks that fundamental comedy new rule. And what you end up with, he comes off as somebody in just about every role he plays. He's somebody who comes off as clueless, but not stupid. And I can't find what that distinction is for you.

“If you ask me to, I will just point at Tracy Morgan, because that's what I think he's doing.”

For thousands of times. And then your red gift can do comedy. You guys should check out a show miracle workers if you haven't. He's so good on that show. He's been doing this kind of comedy. This is the kind of comedy you've made for, which is kind of high status guy, brought low, but I'm going to take a little bit of exception with some of the things you said, I do think this show is a joke engine. I also think it's deliberately pitched to be a bit more grounded, a bit lower key.

Then thoroughly goofy shows like 30 rock and can be shipped. Now, every show in the history of existence is less goofy than 30 rock and can be shipped. Right. Because those are joke engines

first and character comedy second. They're cutting the joke density a bit with baking powder or

I don't know what you cut things. But like, but if Kimmy Schmidt is Greek yogurt, this is regular yogurt. And I wasn't buying that in the beginning, because pilot problems, right? There is clearly an attempt to give everybody a bit. Monica the ex-wife is uptight. Brena, the fiancee, played by precious way, is an influencer. Who's great? Where are the funds? She's great. But that's the extent of our character at first. But as a seasoned progresses, vibe with it. I got into the characters,

because they do the smart thing that sitcoms need to do with characters is pair them off in different combinations. So I can kind of bounce off each other. Yeah, you think it's going to be about resting control as doc, but that would be a little too much conflict, I think. And a little too, I think there'd be an edge that this show is interested in the show placed to the heart more than that. Mm-hmm. It's not just the fake documentary thing that it's sort of biting from Abbott Elementary.

I feel like it's also aiming for that type of heartworminess. And I think it's getting more like a heart-tepadness. Like, I'm a girl with these characters. I like them. But like, the emotional moments aren't what I'm there for. But maybe that could change with time. Like, I like all of them. And I do like that they're just like solidly decent people across the board. You know, nobody is craven. You know, and that's especially in the later seasons of 30 Rock.

A Craig Robinson's character, his name is his cartoonish league. But that's, that's fun.

Yeah, but it's true. Even though it's less joke dense, these jokes, Jane, I feel exactly the same way you do three or four times an episode for me. You get these precious diamond hard gems. These jokes that I couldn't imagine it's taken this long

in the woods with those knitted come up with. Because they feel like they've always been there,

they've just been discovered. So the jokes are one thing. The other thing that brought me back every time. Even when I, you know, we were getting some fake emotional scenes that weren't really doing it for me, then Bobby Moynihan's rusty would show up. Now, Reddy, let's me live in his basement. You know, best friend stuff. I was around all of his social media. We went viral last week, because I had a rash on my neck and a bunch of nurses reached out. And I think he is where I

heat in the most, because he strikes me as the kind of vestigial tail of 30 rock. Because you know, he's giving you so much more than what's on the page. He is written pathetic and sad and one hands to live in that. But he's just too insanely funny and charismatic. So, I mean, I think in the early going, some of the actors are heading their marks, delivering these lines. And there's these are very quick scripts. And so you have to kind of, you want to hit your marks

and deliver the lines. But Moynihan is just in his element here. I want to palat that guy with

“Emmys. I think this guy is doing exactly what you need to do in the situation. I think about Bobby Moynihan”

has his dude who has always done that thing. The very, very funny Tom Hanks get from SNL

of David S. Pumpkins. Yeah, the very funny David S. Pumpkins, Getsch. Getsch is a ridiculous sketch. Yes. And so much of that sketch works because Bobby Moynihan is just making stupid faces in the background and just like, like, it's just very weird and like, you think that works because of Tom Hanks, but it works because of Bobby Moynihan. Because like, Bobby Moynihan literally on the edges of the screen. And like, one of the things, like,

just to go back to Tracy Morgan again, is like, I just remember when he first popped up. Like, he was, you know, he's been around for a minute. But like, even way back in the day or Martin, like, he was playing the household man, his job was to come in and say completely outlandish stuff. And it was hilarious. And it's weird to see how like that's evolved as he's gotten older. Because that first, like, when he was with SNL, I was like, is he in almost, like, it feels like

it almost felt like something cute. Maybe he was, then laughed at and maybe wasn't in the gym. He was being laughed at. And now it's very clear that he, like, has, like, this is sort of, like, complete control of this thing that he's doing. This sort of very awful thing that he's doing that way, like, very used to. And so even in the early parts of 30

“rock, it's like, it's he the butt of the joke here. And does he know that he's the butt of the joke?”

It was like, very, it's sort of uncomfortable thing in place where he's living. And that is not, he's evolved to the point where it seems like that tension is, so places that he's very comfortable. Like, to your point, Glenn, he's close, but not dumb. You know, yeah, it's a very hard place to live, you know. I would clip a joke here, which is Arthur Estovian asking him, does he know what documentary means? Ready, you know what the word documentary means, right? Well, I assume it's

from Latin word documentary, meaning lesson or instruction. I took Latin and college, because I thought it will help me meet the American chicks, but then I'll like it. Yeah, that's that's a great line. It's one of those jokes. That's one of those diamond hard jokes. Like, yeah, there's anybody in the future. It is very special to be able to deliver all parts of that joke and have every bit of it feel equally plausible. Like, yes, you would think Latin would help you pick up

Dominican chicks, but you would come to love it because you've genuine intellectual curiosity. And, you know, 40 years later, he'd still remember it. I mean, him knowing Latin is a runner, turns out to be a runner that comes up to me. But he's called upon to do something. He hasn't really been called upon to do in like 30 rock. I mean, like, he has to act. He has to be in a scene

“with another actor. And so the chemistry between Morgan and Radcliffe, that's what the show is built”

around. I'll be honest, they didn't always feel it. They're coming from two very different places,

comedically, and theatrically, I guess, which is the one. But I sometimes feel like when they're not firing off jokes, and they just both need to be present in a scene together, I don't know if I was felt it. Was it there for you? No, I think that's true. I would, I would agree. I think it wasn't a distraction for me. But when I compare his dynamic with Arthur S. Tobin to his dynamic with the other actors on the show. Like, he's got such a natural way with Brina, precious way, the dynamic with

him and Erica Alexander is so good and well established. But there, yeah, there's a little bit less connection. Yeah, but that's the point. Right? That's why I can't fault it. True. Yeah, I just hope Robert Carlock's bid here for sort of like broadly network appealing show that still has jokes for me and Glenn and Gina in it. I really wish it success because I would love to see this continue. And also because so much of the show is based on what's happened in the past. We do get cutaways

to the past and we do. There is a wig budget. Thank God. There is a pretty solid wig budget in this show and there's stupid visual jokes, but they always get me. I'm a simple man and they always get me.

watching it alone. That's true. Absolutely. Well, we want to know what you think about the fallen

“rise of Rage Dickens. You heard us. We're on board. Find us at facebook.com/pch.h that brings”

it to the end of our show. Margaret H. Willis and Jean Debbie. Thank you so much for being here.

Thanks for having me Glenn. Appreciate you. Of course. And just a reminder that signing up for

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listen to all of our episode's sponsor free. So please find out more at plosent.net.br.org/happy hour.

Or visit the link in our show notes. This episode was produced by Liz Metzker and my cats have

“been edited by our sure-runner Jessica Ready and HelloCamin provides our theme music. Thank you”

for listening to pop culture happy hour from NPR. I'm Glenn Weldon and we'll see you all next time.