NBC is upping the stakes for its new Tracy Morgan-led comedy The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins with a major guest star addition and an accelerated debut tied to the NFL playoffs.
Craig Robinson is set to guest star as Jerry Basmati, a former football player and longtime rival of disgraced ex-NFL star Reggie Dinkins, played by Tracy Morgan. The rivalry dates back to Reggie’s glory days with the New York Jets and has only grown more personal over time, with Jerry determined to outshine Reggie in every arena—professionally and personally.
Jerry isn’t arriving alone. His wife, Tisha Basmati, portrayed by Heidi Gardner, appears in a two-episode arc and quickly becomes entangled in the tension. Tisha harbors her own feud with Monica, Reggie’s ex-wife, agent, and business manager, played by Erika Alexander, adding another layer of chaos to Reggie’s already complicated comeback attempt.
The series centers on Reggie Dinkins, a former football superstar who was permanently banned from the league after exposing that he bet on his own games—an act that contributed to his team’s collapse. In an effort to reclaim his legacy, Reggie hires acclaimed filmmaker Arthur Tobin, portrayed by Daniel Radcliffe, to document his life in hopes of restoring public respect and reviving his long-shot dream of Hall of Fame recognition. The process forces Reggie to confront past decisions he’s spent years avoiding.
NBC is giving the comedy an early spotlight with a special premiere airing Sunday, January 18, immediately following the NFL playoff game between the Los Angeles Rams and Chicago Bears. The show will then return on its previously announced date, Monday, February 23, with an encore of the pilot followed by a new episode. Beginning March 2, the series will settle into its regular Monday 8:30 p.m. time slot, with episodes streaming the next day on Peacock.
In addition to Morgan, Radcliffe, Robinson, Alexander, and Gardner, the cast includes Bobby Moynihan, Precious Way, and Jalyn Hall, with additional guest appearances throughout the season.
The series reunites Morgan with Tina Fey, who serves as an executive producer. Robert Carlock and Sam Means act as co-showrunners, writers, and executive producers alongside Morgan, Eric Gurian, and David Miner.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins is produced by Universal Television in association with Little Stranger, Inc., 3 Arts Entertainment, Bevel Gears, Means End Productions, and Streetlife Productions.