Tracy Morgan Revives Brian Fellow Legacy Ahead of NBC Comeback With New Comedy

There’s a reason fans still talk about Brian Fellow. Tracy Morgan’s hilarious animal-loving talk show host from Saturday Night Live remains one of the most unforgettable characters to ever grace Studio 8H. Loud, unpredictable, and full of misguided passion, Brian Fellow wasn’t just a sketch — he was a moment.

First introduced as a sports correspondent on Weekend Update in Season 24, Morgan quickly realized he had something special. Brian Fellow made his full debut in the season finale on May 15, 1999, with “Brian Fellow’s Safari Planet.” It featured a suspicious monkey, a box turtle named Henry, and a host who clearly had no business around animals.

Though he was introduced as having top-tier animal experience — including fake jobs like Director of Animal Operations at the San Diego Zoo — viewers were quickly clued in. Soon, the show corrected its course with a new opener that said it all: “Brian Fellow is not an accredited zoologist, nor does he hold an advanced degree in any of the environmental sciences. He is simply an enthusiastic young man with a sixth-grade education and an abiding love for all God’s creatures.”

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And that was the charm. Brian Fellow asked questions no one else would. Often wild, sometimes paranoid, and always loud, he had a unique way of talking to his animal guests that kept audiences howling with laughter.

Classic Sketch Highlight: A Porcupine, A Pig, and a Paranoia-Fueled Breakdown

One of Brian Fellow’s most iconic sketches aired in 2002 during SNL’s 28th season. The setup was simple: a porcupine named Willy, a miniature pig named Zivon, and two very confused handlers played by Horatio Sanz and Matt Damon.

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Brian takes one look at Willy and calls him “a rat who needs a haircut.” It only gets funnier when handler Dale tries to discuss the porcupine’s mating habits. Brian shouts, “Hush up, that dirty talk!” firmly declaring that his show doesn’t discuss the birds and the bees unless literal birds and bees are present. “Keep it clean, please!” he commands, then boots both Dale and the porcupine off the stage.

Matt Damon enters next with a sweet pig named Zivon, who Brian immediately suspects of harboring offensive religious views. The host mocks the pig’s belly, gets lost in a bizarre porcupine hallucination, and tries to recruit Sean and Zivon to take down the imaginary threat. The chaos ends with Brian yelling, the music kicking in, and the audience in tears from laughter.

Only Brian Fellow could turn a simple animal segment into a showdown with his own imagination.

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Get Ready for Tracy Morgan’s Return to NBC

Tracy Morgan is getting ready for a big comeback. This fall, he’s teaming up with Tina Fey for a brand-new NBC comedy titled The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins. Morgan will star as a disgraced former athlete trying to get his life back on track. Fey, who worked with Morgan on 30 Rock, will executive produce the series with her longtime writing partner Robert Carlock.

The show also stars Daniel Radcliffe as Arthur Tobin, a filmmaker who moves in with Reggie to document his redemption journey. Bobby Moynihan joins as Reggie’s former teammate, while Erika Alexander plays Reggie’s ex-wife and agent.

This new comedy will mark Morgan’s return to scripted network television, and fans of his sharp humor and unforgettable characters are already excited.

Love SNL? Revisit More Brian Fellow Sketches Online

Though only 12 official “Brian Fellow’s Safari Planet” sketches aired, each one is comedy gold. From suspicious parrots to weird alpacas, Morgan gave life to a host who asked the questions no one else would dare.

Now’s the perfect time to rewatch some classics. They’re not just hilarious, they’re a throwback to a time when live sketch comedy wasn’t afraid to be completely absurd.

Can’t Wait for the Reggie Dinkins Premiere?

Mark your calendar for fall 2025. The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins is shaping up to be one of NBC’s most talked-about premieres of the season. With Morgan in the spotlight and Tina Fey at the helm, this could be another big hit for the network.