Tracy Morgan is experiencing déjà vu. Twenty years ago, he was playing Tracy Jordan – an erratic, child-at-heart celebrity who causes chaos on Tina Fey’s hit sitcom 30 Rock. Now he’s acting in another eccentric comedy backed by the same creative heavyweight. Only this time, the spotlight is squarely on him.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, a new mockumentary sitcom, reunites Morgan with 30 Rock writers Robert Carlock and Sam Means as showrunners, and Fey as executive producer. The comedian plays the titular star, a disgraced former pro footballer who hires a washed-up documentary director (Daniel Radcliffe) to film his life in a bid to redeem his reputation. Replete with absurdist one-liners and mad-cap pop culture references, it’s like watching an updated version of 30 Rock.
But what about the man behind these characters? As culture writer Nell Geraets learnt in this conversation, he’s just as eccentric. Despite 30 Rock being regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms of all time, he now has his sights set even higher.
NG: The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins has reconnected you with many of the creators and writers of 30 Rock – Sam Means, Robert Carlock and Tina Fey (the latter two who you also worked with a decade prior on Saturday Night Live). What was it like creating comedy with them again?
TM: We’ve always made beautiful music together. That’s my family, and we get each other’s voices. They get my voice, and they know exactly how to put me in a position to win. I love the things they have me saying. All of them are pure masterminds … It’s a labour of love. We’ve been proven to do great work together.
This show does feel like a blast from the past. It has been 13 years since the 30 Rock finale aired. There used to be waves of network sitcoms, but they’re much rarer these days. Did it feel like you were filling a gap in the market by making Reggie Dinkins?
I felt that immediately. When we first started this project, I just wanted to do good old-fashioned TV, and have everyone put something out there that everyone in the household can just watch together – put the phones down, let’s just watch some good old-fashioned TV like we used to.
But the industry’s obviously changed a lot since 30 Rock aired. Did you notice any differences between making a sitcom today versus making one in the 2000s?
I didn’t look at it like that. I didn’t see any difference. I said, ‘Let’s do the same formula, but let’s just update it’. And look what we’ve done. Nothing’s changed. You still like this? You like Reggie Dinkins just like you like 30 Rock? [Reporter nods, and Morgan relaxes into his seat, satisfied] There you go … It’s humanity. Nothing’s changed.
‘Tracy Jordan took me to the moon. Reggie Dinkins is going to take me to Mars.’Tracy Morgan
So many people know you as the hilariously out-of-touch Tracy Jordan from 30 Rock. What impact would you say that role has had on your career?
Tracy Jordan took me to the moon. Reggie Dinkins is going to take me to Mars. People used to refer to me as Tracy Jordan, now they’re referring to me as Reggie Dinkins. He’s a pretty funny guy. The thing that’s good about that is it’s the same sense of humour.
So, you feel like Tracy Jordan sent you on a trajectory that inevitably led you to Reggie?
Yes, you only get one sense of humour. You only laugh at one thing, you only laugh at one kind of funny. You don’t laugh at a million funnies. Everything ain’t funny to you, but this happens to be funny to you … Reggie Dinkins, Tracy Jordan: same one sense of humour.
It feels like everything Tina Fey touches turns to gold. What is it about her comedy that has managed to remain so relevant over time?
She’s a very smart lady. When it comes to showbusiness, she has the Midas touch. Everybody doesn’t have the Midas touch. She has found her Nirvana. You have to find your Nirvana. Do you understand what I’m saying?
Like find your peace?
Imagine. I can’t stand when somebody with no abracadabra is trying to tell me what to do with my magic. You ain’t got no abracadabra, and you’re trying to tell me what to do with my magic? I ain’t never seen you pull a bunny out no hat. [Tina’s] constantly pulling bunnies out of a hat. Magic. It’s all magic.
You’re obviously no stranger to sitcoms, having been part of 30 Rock, The Last O.G. and so on. What drew you to the mockumentary style this time around?
I just love looking down the barrel [of the camera]. I think that’s hilarious, when we’re directly in your home. And all of us know when to do it and how to do it. It makes it funnier because you [the audience] become a part of the show.
One of the greatest parts of Reggie Dinkins is the dynamic between you and Daniel Radcliffe. Your characters are so different, yet they have such great chemistry.
That comes from Robert [Carlock] and Tina [Fey], along their travels meeting people, and going, “hmm, how could we put this guy from the UK with this street guy from Brooklyn and make that funny?” And they did.
What was it like building that dynamic with Radcliffe?
Chemistry, it’s all chemistry. We’re not a team; we are family. The day before we started shooting, we had dinner at my house, so everybody could hit the ground running, and everybody could be comfortable with each other. And that’s how it turned out. By the time they turned the cameras on, we were already comfortable with each other. We were already having fun.
What’s your favourite thing about him?
Everything. He’s the sweetest person. He’s very generous, he’s kind, he’s helpful, and he’s always right there. We can’t wait to get back to work [together] now. This season is going to be hilarious for you … The thing about Reggie Dinkins is it gets funnier and funnier.
I can see how much you love this show and everyone in it.
It was like that with 30 Rock. We learnt so much from Tina Fey. Everybody did their job. We’re a family.
Season two has been green-lit. What are your hopes for the next season?
Keep doing what we’ve been doing. Keep being funny. That’s it. No expectations. That’s what I tell my whole cast: keep doing what you’re doing.
Can you offer any hints around what we can expect?
I wouldn’t do that. No way. I want you to be pleasantly surprised … I’m going to have this conversation with you again next year, and the only thing I will say is: “I told you”. We did seven seasons on 30 Rock. We’re going to do eight on Reggie Dinkins. Eight or nine or 10.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins airs 11.30pm Wednesdays on Seven and 7plus.
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