Sun Nov 09 06:20:00 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and rewrite of the provided text as a news article:
Summary:
The new NBC mockumentary series “Stumble,” created by Liz and Jeff Astrof, follows an elite cheerleading coach named Courteney (Jenn Lyon) as she attempts to whip a ragtag group of misfits at a junior college into a championship-caliber team. The initial episodes struggle to find a consistent tone, bouncing between underdeveloped humor and unearned sentimentality. While Lyon is well-suited for the role, the show has difficulty balancing her character’s plucky determination with her naïveté and delusion. The supporting characters, while broadly drawn, lack memorable qualities, and the jokes often fall flat, relying on obvious or random humor. Despite its flaws, “Stumble” displays an earnest effort, leaving some hope that it may improve as the season progresses and the characters become more developed.
News Article:
NBC’s Cheerleading Mockumentary “Stumble” Fails to Stick the Landing in Early Episodes
Hollywood Reporter — NBC’s new comedy series “Stumble,” a mockumentary about college cheerleading, is off to a shaky start, according to early reviews. The show, created by siblings Liz and Jeff Astrof (known for “Pivoting” and “Shining Vale,” respectively), stars Jenn Lyon as Courteney, an elite coach attempting to turn a team of underdogs at Heådltston State Junior College into champions. Kristin Chenoweth appears as a recurring guest star.
The Hollywood Reporter’s Television Critic Angie Han writes that the series struggles to find its footing in the first two episodes provided for review. “The comedy is a tonal mess, veering between underdeveloped jokes and unearned sentiment,” Han notes. While Lyon’s performance shows potential, the character of Courteney lacks a clear balance between determination and delusion.
The supporting cast, which includes Anissa Borrego, Arianna Davis, Jarrett Austin Brown, Taylor Dunbar, Ryan Pinkston, and Georgie Murphy, features characters who are described as broadly drawn but not particularly memorable. Jokes often miss the mark, relying on the obvious or the absurd, like a running gag involving a narcoleptic cheerleader or the blurring out of action figures owned by Courteney’s husband.
Despite its flaws, “Stumble” isn’t entirely without promise. Han suggests that the show’s earnestness and familiar underdog formula leave room for improvement as the season progresses. Whether the characters will develop deeper bonds and the humor will sharpen remains to be seen. For now, viewers may find “Stumble” a bit too clumsy to fully embrace.
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