NBC Successfully Finds 30 Rock's Excellent Replacement After 13 Years

Published Nov 3, 2026, 3:30 PM EST Mads Misasi is an entertainment journalist and marketing content creator. Before joining the ScreenRant team they wrote for TellTaleTV for 9 years working their way up from contributor to Associate Editor. TV has been a passion of theirs since a very young age. Mads typically watches all of the things, especially dramas and sitcoms. When 30 Rock concluded its seven-season run in 2013, NBC lost one of its most inventive sitcoms. Tina Fey's workplace comedy stood apart from its contemporaries with its rapid-fire dialogue, absurdist humor, and willingness to poke fun at nearly every aspect of the entertainment industry. Although NBC has introduced plenty of comedies since, few have replicated that particular mix of intelligence and ridiculousness. 13 years later, NBC may have finally found the perfect successor to 30 Rock with The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. The new comedy reunites Tracy Morgan with several creative minds responsible for his previous sitcom success, delivering a series that feels familiar without simply recycling what made its predecessor popular. Starring Morgan as a disgraced former football star attempting to rehabilitate his public image, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins follows its titular character as he recruits documentary filmmaker Daniel Radcliffe's Arthur Tobin to help restore his reputation. Naturally, Reggie's larger-than-life personality and questionable decision-making make that process considerably more complicated than either man anticipates. However, what makes The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins particularly excellent is that it captures the comedic spirit of 30 Rock while establishing an identity of its own. With its eccentric ensemble, unconventional premise, and sharp writing, this comedy deserves recognition beyond its connection to one of NBC's best sitcoms. The Fall & Rise Of Reggie Dinkins Is The Perfect Replacement To 30 Rock One of the biggest reasons The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins feels like such a natural successor to 30 Rock is that the two comedies share much of the same creative DNA. Robert Carlock and Sam Means, who both worked on 30 Rock, created the new NBC sitcom, while Tina Fey serves as an executive producer. Their involvement helps explain why the show's particular brand of humor feels so familiar. Much like 30 Rock, the new comedy series thrives on absurd situations, rapid-fire jokes, and characters whose questionable decisions only make their circumstances worse. Rather than letting audiences settle into one joke, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins keeps building on its ridiculousness, finding humor in everything from celebrity culture to the desperate lengths people will go to protect their reputations. Tracy Morgan is particularly important to this connection. His portrayal of Tracy Jordan was essential to 30 Rock's success, and Reggie Dinkins allows him to channel that same unpredictable comedic energy into another self-absorbed celebrity. However, while Tracy Jordan's eccentricities were largely enabled by his fame, Reggie's antics often threaten the very comeback he is trying to orchestrate. Daniel Radcliffe's Arthur Tobin also provides a necessary counterbalance to Morgan's larger-than-life personality. Much like sitcom icon Liz Lemon, who often struggled to manage Tracy Jordan's behavior, Arthur must navigate Reggie's impulsive decisions while trying to maintain some semblance of professionalism. Their contrasting personalities create a comedic partnership that feels reminiscent of 30 Rock without directly copying its central relationships. Although The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins employs a mockumentary format rather than 30 Rock's traditional single-camera approach, both shows understand that the funniest television characters are often those who remain completely oblivious to their own absurdity. That shared comedic sensibility makes NBC's newest sitcom feel like the spiritual successor audiences have been missing. Why The Fall & Rise Of Reggie Dinkins Deserve More Praise While The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins has earned positive critical reviews, the NBC comedy deserves even greater recognition for what it brings to network television. At a time when familiar franchises, revivals, and spinoffs remain attractive options for television networks, the series demonstrates that an entirely original concept can still deliver something genuinely entertaining. More importantly, it accomplishes this without relying exclusively on the nostalgia surrounding Tracy Morgan's previous success. The show's premise is particularly interesting because it combines two familiar television formats in an unexpected way. TV workplace mockumentaries have been popular for decades, but The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins uses the format to explore celebrity scandals, professional redemption, and the complicated business of repairing a public image. The documentary itself also serves a narrative purpose, as Arthur has his own damaged reputation to repair, making his relationship with Reggie mutually beneficial. However, the show's greatest strength may be its ability to find genuine heart beneath its ridiculous comedy. Reggie's attempts to rebuild his career are frequently misguided, but his desire to regain his family's respect gives his story an emotional foundation. His relationship with his ex-wife, Monica, is especially important, as her continued involvement shows that Reggie is more than the public persona audiences initially encounter. Choose the movie with the higher Rotten Tomatoes score. Ultimately, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins succeeds because it understands what made 30 Rock special without becoming another version of it. NBC hasn't simply recreated one of its greatest comedies; it has found a worthy successor capable of building its own legacy. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins airs Mondays at 8:30 EDT on NBC. Release Date January 18, 2026 Network NBC Directors Rhys Thomas Writers Robert Carlock, Sam Means Cast Daniel Radcliffe, Susan Varon, Tracy Morgan, Bobby Moynihan, Erika Alexander, Jalyn Hall, Ronny Chieng, Michael Kosta, Chris Gethard, Jonathan Kim, Rick Crom, Rachel Marsh, Soledad O'Brien, Sharina Martin, Adriane Lenox, Precious Way Creator(s) Robert Carlock, Sam Means