The Stumble Cast on Combining Comedy with Cheerleading, Cast Friendships and Making a Mockumentary

The Stumble Cast on Combining Comedy with Cheerleading

The set of Stumble—a new NBC mockumentary about competitive junior college cheerleading—offered an exciting atmosphere. On a Brooklyn soundstage, the production recreated a full-size junior college gym.

Production Team and Creative Contributors

Words: Lauren O’Neill
Photography and Creative Direction: Lewis Vorn
Videographer: 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 in Popular Culture

By 2025, a show like Stumble felt long overdue. Cheerleading has steadily gained mainstream attention since 2020, when Netflix’s first season of Cheer became a global sensation. The series even inspired viewers to try back handsprings at home.

Netflix followed this success with another hit documentary, America’s Sweethearts, which focused on Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Both shows portrayed the real people behind the polished image, moving beyond stereotypes.

Cheer culture has gradually inched into the mainstream, showing cheerleaders as more than just the typical high school archetype.

Author’s summary: Stumble captures the growing mainstream appeal of competitive cheerleading by blending comedy with authentic stories from the cheer community.

Polyester Zine — 2025-11-07