‘Stumble’ Review: NBC Doubles Down on Mockumentaries With Spirited Sitcom About Junior College Cheerleading
Jenn Lyon, Taran Killam, and Kristin Chenoweth star in NBC's new mockumentary-style comedy series, Stumble. Fans who still remember the cheeky opening cheer from the 2000 cult classic Bring It On will appreciate this fresh take on cheerleading culture.
Show Premise
Stumble offers a quirky and spirited look at the competitive world of college cheerleading, including the intense injuries and emotional setbacks it involves. The show centers on Courteney Potter, played with delightfully dry humor by Jenn Lyon (known from TNT’s crime drama Claws).
Courteney is abruptly fired from her position as cheerleading coach at Sammy Davis Sr. Junior College in Wichita Flats, Texas, due to a viral victory-party video involving alcohol, the squad, and her awarding a “Best Booty” honor. She soon lands a new coaching job at a junior college in the fictional town of Heådltston, Oklahoma — a place famous only for its candy-button factory and a name no one can pronounce.
New Challenges and Characters
- Heådltston doesn’t even have a cheer team, so Courteney starts her search for potential champions from scratch.
- Jeff Hiller, an Emmy winner for Somebody Somewhere, will guest star as Augustus, the candy-button factory owner.
Episodes and Availability
Only the first two episodes were available for review, but the show promises a sharp, humorous look at underdog cheerleading and small-town quirks.
“I’m sexy, I’m cute! I’m everything you’re not…” — iconic chant from Bring It On
Author’s summary: Stumble reinvigorates the mockumentary genre with a witty, heartfelt comedy about a fired cheer coach building a new team in an unlikely town.