Taran Killam’s NBC Cheerleading Comedy Stumble Has A Fun BTS Connection To Netflix’s Cheer

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This fall, NBC debuted the new mockumentary Stumble, a comedy series created by Jeff and Liz Astrof (known for their work on other successful shows) and starring Jenn Lyons and Taran Killam. Interestingly, it shares a connection with the popular Netflix docuseries Cheer. Monica Aldama, the coach featured in Cheer, is involved with Stumble, and Jeff Astrof has called her a fantastic addition to the comedic side of things.

I’ve watched the first three episodes of Stumble on Peacock, and let me tell you, just because it’s a mockumentary doesn’t mean the cheerleading isn’t the real deal. A lot of that is thanks to Monica Aldama – you probably know her from the Netflix docuseries Cheer back in 2020. She’s brought that same intensity and authenticity to Stumble as an executive producer, and according to Variety, Jeff Astrof is really impressed with what she’s done.

She’s been the most valuable addition to our team. I’m generally cautious about producers who don’t write, but we knew we needed her skills. The idea for the show came about when my sister and I were watching ‘Cheer,’ and I joked that it would be hilarious to set that world in the worst college possible. We held onto the idea for a few years before finally reaching out to Monica. She really brings credibility to the project.

The comedy series Stumble mainly takes place at Headltston State Junior College, where Coach Courteney (played by Jenn Lyons) faces challenges both on and off the field – from training her inexperienced students to even saying the college’s name correctly. Though only three episodes have been released, it’s already clear that Courteney is a talented coach who’s facing an uphill battle at what, as Jeff Astrof puts it, is “the worst college in America.”

Monica Aldama’s expertise as a cheer coach (and her time on Dancing with the Stars) is really shining through. The cheer team at Sammy Davis Junior College, now coached by the charismatic Tammy (Kristin Chenoweth), delivers performances that are captivating to watch. While the team from Headlston State Junior College is still developing, they’re getting better each week. You can definitely see Monica’s influence on the show, even when she’s not directly involved.

It appears the show is incorporating aspects of Monica Aldama’s personality and fashion sense into the character of Stumble. Here’s a closer look:

I’m really seeing NBC become the go-to network for mockumentaries this fall! I love that they’re showing St. Denis Medical and The Paper on Mondays, and now Stumble is airing with Happy’s Place on Fridays. I’m curious to see how Stumble does alongside Reba McEntire’s show. Happy’s Place seems to be doing well for them, but sadly, that wasn’t enough to save Lopez vs. Lopez. That show used to be on Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ET before it was cancelled after three seasons – now that’s where Stumble is airing.

It’s way too soon to worry about the show going downhill, especially since it’s just getting started and is now focusing on the sweet relationship between Courteney and Boon. And honestly, I’m holding out hope that the documentary crew will eventually find a reason to visit the candy button factory before the series ends.

You can watch new episodes of Stumble every Friday at 8:30 p.m. Eastern on NBC, and they’ll also be available to stream the next day on Peacock. If you enjoyed Monica Aldama’s coaching on Cheer, both seasons are currently streaming on Netflix.

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2025-11-22 17:38