The Stumble Cast on Combining Comedy with Cheerleading
I stepped onto the set of Stumble — a new NBC mockumentary centered on the competitive world of junior college cheerleading — and it was quite an exciting experience. On a Brooklyn soundstage, the production constructed a full-size replica of a junior college gym.
Production Team and Creative Roles
- Words: Lauren O’Neill
- Photography and Creative Direction: Lewis Vorn
- Videography: Marie Koury
- Makeup: Anissa, Arianna – Mikey Clifton, Georgie, Taylor – Erin Acker
- Hair: Taylor – Michael Zambrano; Anissa and Georgie – Beth Rolon; Arianna – Gayette Williams
- Styling: Georgie solos – Zoe Gofman; Arianna solos – Venetia Kidd; Anissa solos – Marissa Pelly; Cheer costumes – Leah Katznelson and Angel Peart
Cheerleading’s Rise to Mainstream Culture
In 2025, a series like Stumble was eagerly anticipated. Over recent years, competitive and professional cheerleading has gained significant public attention. Since 2020, when Netflix’s Cheer premiered and became a global sensation — inspiring viewers to attempt back handsprings in their living rooms — cheer culture has steadily entered mainstream awareness.
Netflix followed Cheer’s massive success with another hit documentary, America’s Sweethearts, featuring the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
Both shows humanized cheerleaders beyond the stereotypical high school archetype, revealing the real people behind the sparkly uniforms.
Author's Summary
Stumble reflects the growing popularity of cheerleading by blending humor with authentic stories, capturing the culture’s rise to mainstream recognition.