NBC’s New Mockumentary Comedy Stumble Brings Cheerleading Chaos to Friday Nights with Reba McEntire’s Happy’s Place

NBC is shaking up its Friday comedy lineup this fall with Stumble, a brand-new mockumentary-style sitcom diving into the unpredictable world of junior college cheerleading. The series, created by Jeff and Liz Astrof, premieres Friday, November 7, 2025, at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC, right after Reba McEntire’s hit comedy Happy’s Place, and will stream the next day on Peacock.

Stumble follows Courteney Potter, played by Jenn Lyon, a once-revered cheer coach whose career nosedives after a humiliating viral incident. Looking for redemption, she takes on a struggling cheer program at a small junior college, determined to lead a group of misfit athletes—or “athletes,” as she jokingly calls them—to victory. The show’s unique mockumentary format, reminiscent of NBC classics like The Office and Parks and Recreation, promises plenty of awkward humor, quick cuts, and laugh-out-loud interviews straight to camera.

Joining Lyon in the cast is Taran Killam as Boone, Courteney’s husband and the college football coach, and Kristin Chenoweth as Tammy Istiny, the cheer team’s overly optimistic assistant coach. The ensemble also includes Ryan Pinkston as Stevie, a dropout returning to school; Jarrett Austin Brown as Dimarcus, a troublemaking quarterback; Anissa Borrego as Krystal, the team’s flyer; Arianna Davis as Madonna, a tumbler with narcolepsy; Taylor Dunbar as Peaches, a kleptomaniac with spirit; and Georgie Murphy as Sally, a determined cheer hopeful with a tough past.

The series comes from the brother-sister duo Jeff and Liz Astrof, whose sitcom track record includes The King of Queens, 2 Broke Girls, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Trial & Error. According to TVLine, Jeff Blitz, known for his work on mockumentary hits, directed the pilot and serves as an executive producer. NBC officially ordered the show to series in July 2025, with production by Universal Television.

The show also adds a layer of authenticity with real-life cheer expert Monica Aldama, the celebrated coach from Netflix’s Cheer, serving as an executive producer. Her involvement ensures that the routines and team dynamics feel true to the high-energy, competitive cheer world—even as the humor leans into its lovable absurdity.

In a recent CinemaBlend interview, Jeff Astrof said the team was “thrilled” to land the Friday 8:30 slot right after Reba’s hit. He explained, “They told us we’re on then because it’s NBC’s biggest live audience, and the show tested really, really well in the middle of the country.” His sister Liz added that being scheduled after Happy’s Place was “so flattering” and that NBC was “setting us up for success.”

With the network comedy landscape thinner than ever—Stumble and CBS’s DMV are reportedly the only new sitcoms this fall—NBC is banking on a mix of heartfelt underdog spirit and fast-paced, mockumentary humor to attract audiences.

For those who miss the golden age of network sitcoms, Stumble could deliver a fresh reason to tune in live on Fridays—or rewatch on Peacock the next day to catch the “200 jokes” Jeff Astrof jokes viewers might miss the first time around. Whether it’s the quirky team, the small-town Texas charm, or the cheerleading chaos, Stumble looks ready to bring some much-needed laughs back to primetime.