Michael Kosta, known for hosting The Daily Show, will guest star in Tracy Morgan's new NBC comedy series The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. He plays Brett Mann, the smug host of a SportsCenter-style show. The series premieres January 18.
Background
Tracy Morgan stars in and produces The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, a comedy about a man's ups and downs. NBC picked up the show for a full season. It comes from Morgan's work after his past series like 30 Rock and The Last O.G. The network wants to build on his fan base with fresh stories.
Michael Kosta brings a real sports past to the role. Born in 1979 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, he played tennis in college at the University of Illinois. He made four Big Ten Championship teams there. After school, Kosta turned pro. He played on the ITF and ATP tours for two years and reached world ranking 864. Later, he coached men's tennis at the University of Michigan.
Kosta shifted to comedy in 2005. He moved to Los Angeles full time. He built a career with stand-up shows. He appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan, Chelsea Lately, and Late Night with Seth Meyers. In 2011, Comedy Central aired his half-hour special Comedy Central Presents: Michael Kosta. He released a comedy album in 2015 called Comedy For Attractive People. His one-hour special Michael Kosta: Detroit. NY. LA. came out in 2022 and streams on important+ and YouTube.
On TV, Kosta hosted The Comment Section on E! with Joel McHale. He co-hosted Crowd Goes Wild on Fox Sports 1. He worked on Fox Sports Detroit's CCHA: All Access, winning two Michigan Emmys for hosting. Kosta joined The Daily Show in 2017 as a correspondent under Trevor Noah. He became a senior correspondent and rotating host. In 2023, he was the most-watched guest host. He hosted full weeks in October 2023 and February 2024, and more in 2024. The show won him an Emmy.
His tennis roots stay strong. Kosta hosts the podcast Tennis Anyone?, talking tennis, politics, and life. He contributes to Tennis Channel. In 2025, Harper Influence published his memoir Lucky Loser: Adventures in Tennis and Comedy. The book covers his shift from courts to stages. Kosta lives with his wife and two children.
Key Details
Kosta's character Brett Mann runs a sports highlight show like SportsCenter. Mann acts smug and full of himself. This fits Kosta's background as a former athlete and sports TV host. The role lets him play a different kind of anchor from his Daily Show work.
Kosta's Sports and Comedy Path
Kosta's pro tennis days give him insight into sports media. He knows the world of anchors and highlights. His Fox Sports roles add layers. Crowd Goes Wild had him co-host with Regis Philbin. That show mixed sports talk with fun segments. Kosta's Emmy wins show his skill on camera.
The Daily Show role sharpened his news parody skills. He covers politics and culture with sharp takes. Guest hosting weeks drew big audiences. Fans saw his command of the desk. Now, he steps into scripted comedy on NBC.
The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins marks NBC's push into multi-camera sitcoms. Tracy Morgan leads as Reggie Dinkins. The story follows Reggie's journey through failures and comebacks. Morgan's style brings real-life grit to laughs. Past shows like The Last O.G. mixed humor with tough topics.
Production wrapped key episodes ahead of the premiere. NBC schedules it for prime time slots. The network eyes strong ratings from Morgan's draw.
"It's fun to play a character who thinks he's the king of sports TV, especially with my background." – Michael Kosta
What This Means
Kosta's guest spot links late-night satire to network comedy. The Daily Show fans may tune in for him. His sports cred makes the role authentic. Brett Mann could pop up in more episodes if ratings hold.
For Tracy Morgan, adding Kosta boosts the cast. Morgan builds ensembles with known faces. This series tests NBC's comedy revival. Viewers get a mix of Morgan's energy and Kosta's dry wit.
Kosta expands beyond Comedy Central. NBC reaches wider homes without cable. His tennis podcast listeners might cross over. The role nods to his past while showing range.
NBC plans a full season push. Premiere night sets the tone. Early buzz points to solid interest. Morgan's return draws loyal watchers. Kosta's addition freshens the lineup.
The show taps into sports comedy trends. Fans love jabs at anchors and highlights. Kosta's real experience sells it. This could lead to more crossovers between news parody and sitcoms.
Morgan's projects often reflect his life. Reggie Dinkins faces real struggles. Laughs come from resilience. Kosta's arc fits that. His character clashes with Reggie's world.
Broader TV shifts favor versatile talents. Kosta moves from host to actor smoothly. His book success shows storytelling skill. More roles may follow.
NBC competes with streamers. Network TV needs hits. This series aims to deliver. Guest stars like Kosta help. Premiere week will show early numbers.
Kosta keeps Daily Show duties. Balancing acts tests schedules. His team manages bookings tight. Live comedy tours continue too. Fans see him across platforms.
The entertainment world watches. Success here could spark similar pairings. Comedians with sports ties stand out. Kosta proves that mix works.
