Stumble Premieres on NBC as Cheerleading Comedy Starring Jenn Lyon and Taran Killam
Stumble debuts on NBC this Friday night, led by Jenn Lyon as Courteney Potter, a once-celebrated cheer coach whose career collapsed after a viral scandal. The new mockumentary-style comedy co-stars Taran Killam as her supportive husband.
Plot and Background
The series, inspired by Netflix’s acclaimed documentary Cheer, explores the world of high-pressure competitive cheerleading through a comedic lens. Monica Aldama, one of the key figures from Cheer, joins the team as an executive producer, ensuring an authentic yet humorous portrayal of the sport.
The Underdog Story
Once tied as the winningest coach in junior college history with 14 championships, Courteney Potter loses her job at Sammy Davis Sr. Junior College after a video of her partying with her squad surfaces online. She’s forced to start over at the much smaller Headltston State Junior College, where her new “team” includes a single cheerleader named Madonna — a performer prone to dozing off mid-routine.
“When I look at this team, I see grit, determination, heart. That’s what people want to be a part of.”
Rebuilding the Team
Courteney begins to rebuild from scratch, recruiting an unlikely mix of misfits:
- DiMarcus, a flamboyant football player with a showman’s flair.
- Stevie, a former cheerleader who walked away from the sport 16 years earlier.
- Peaches, a small-time crook whose stunning parkour moves prove unexpectedly useful.
- Sally, an accident-prone optimist always caught in strange mishaps.
The ensemble gives Stumble the feel of a classic sports underdog comedy while capturing the vibrant energy that made competitive cheerleading a cultural sensation after the success of Cheer.
About the Genre
By blending heartfelt moments with deadpan humor, Stumble turns the intensity of real-life cheer competition into a playful satire — a story about resilience, reinvention, and the hilarity of falling before you fly.
Author’s Summary: A mockumentary-style comedy, Stumble transforms cheerleading’s high-stakes world into a witty redemption story led by Jenn Lyon’s determined coach and her eccentric new squad.