Created by Liz and Jeff Astrof, and executive produced by Monica Aldama, star of the Netflix docuseries "Cheer" and former cheerleading coach, the new NBC comedy "Stumble" is a hilarious mockumentary about the competitive world of college cheerleading. For viewers who loved the "Cheer" docuseries and Aldama's no-nonsense approach as a coach, this comedic take on that world features a cast of quirky characters and a woman determined to win, no matter the cost.
Set in the fictional Wichita Flats, Texas, the series introduces Courteney Potter (played by the perfectly cast Jenn Lyon), one of the most successful coaches in college cheerleading history. A workaholic and passionate about the sport, Courteney is ready to secure her fifteenth championship and officially surpass the coach who made her life miserable during her own cheerleading years.
Unfortunately, Courteney's plans are thwarted when she's fired from Sammy Davis Sr. Junior College (SDSJC) for drinking with her team at the victory celebration party and handing out awards for best butt. Courteney's husband, Boone (Taran Killam), encourages her to use her newfound freedom to relax, but she can't give up on that elusive final championship. As a result, she takes a job 80 miles away in Oklahoma at Headleston Junior College, home of the Buttons.
Unlike the award-winning SDSJC, now run by Courteney's former assistant and new rival, Tammy Istiny (Kristin Chenoweth), Headleston's cheerleading program leaves much to be desired. Although the team's only member, Madonna (Arianna Davis), is exceptionally talented, her narcolepsy often causes her to pass out on the mat at any given moment. Still, Courteney doesn't give up and puts together a team so that Headleston can qualify for the Daytona National Cheerleading Championships. After assembling a group of cheerleaders who became famous for a rather daring TikTok routine, stealing from one of Boone's football players, Dimarcus (Jarrett Austin Brown), confronting Peaches (Taylor Dunbar), a kleptomaniac Courteney caught stealing from her car, and trying to convince SDSJC star Krystal (Anissa Borrego) to join the team, the cheerleading coach begins to see the possibility of forming a team. However, getting to Daytona, let alone winning a championship, seems beyond Courteney's reach. Still, she'll do everything she can to make it happen for Headleston.
"Stumble" stands out because the series knows exactly what it wants to be. The writers have mastered the pacing and comedic style that make shows like "The Office," "Parks and Recreation," and, more recently, "Abbott Elementary" so beloved. Furthermore, while the series features some familiar tropes and themes, all the characters are distinct and add a new dimension to the narrative and the charms of this world. Steven (Ryan Pinkston) is a thirty-something car salesman who was part of Courteney's first team over a dozen years ago. Sally (Georgie Murphy) is a terrible cheerleader with a tragic backstory, and even Boone, the football coach, is as obsessed with his wife as she is with her job.
Lyon's magnetism permeates the entire cast, but her scenes with Boone, played by Killam, and Tammy, played by Chenoweth, are truly brilliant. Tammy is a fascinating antagonist for Courteney. While the Headleston coach is all pep, professional blouses, and high-heeled boots, Tammy dresses like she's still doing gymnastics in the gym. From a full cheerleader uniform to sequined tracksuits and a plethora of thick, 80s-style scrunchies, she's a pint-sized nemesis, barely able to contain her glee at Courteney's misfortune and immediately switching to a tone of playful/malicious banter with her former boss.
Critics only received two episodes for review. However, the pilot episode and episode 2, "Media Day," are packed with witty dialogue and details that someone who has been immersed in this world for a long time, like Aldama, would know to include. Viewers who have never seen “Cheer” will be able to follow the storylines without a problem. However, familiarity with the documentary series set in Corsicana, Texas, will allow for a deeper analysis and greater understanding of the show.
Comedies can be tricky. Humor is subjective, and when the context is as specific as that of cheerleaders at a community college, it can be difficult to create a series with universal appeal. “Stumble” has none of these problems.
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