NBC’s upcoming comedy pilot Stumble has started production in Georgia, with filming taking place in and around Atlanta under the working title “STMBL.” The single-camera series, produced by Universal Television, explores the competitive and chaotic world of junior college cheerleading through a mockumentary lens. Casting for background roles is being handled locally by Casting TaylorMade.
The Cast
The cast continues to grow, with Taran Killam, Jarrett Austin Brown, and Georgie Murphy joining previously announced lead Jenn Lyon. Jenn Lyon, known for her role in Claws, stars as Courteney Potter, a decorated junior college cheer coach whose career takes a sharp downturn after a compromising video surfaces. The scandal forces her to accept a coaching job at a struggling program in a town with a name no one can pronounce. Taran Killam plays Boone E. Potter, Courteney’s husband and the football coach at the same junior college. Killam, a former Saturday Night Live cast member, currently appears in High Potential and recently made an appearance on The Residence.
Jarrett Austin Brown takes on the role of Dimarcus, the team’s starting quarterback known as much for his rushing yards as his penalty count. Brown previously appeared in Don’t Turn Out the Lights and Colin in Black & White, and brings years of professional dance experience to his acting roles. Georgie Murphy portrays Sally, a young woman with a rough upbringing in the foster care system who ends up living in her car at 18. While not a standout cheerleader, Sally catches Courteney’s attention as someone with hidden potential. Murphy stars in the Canadian series Small Achievable Goals.
Development
Stumble is created by Jeff Astrof and Liz Astrof—marking the siblings’ first writing collaboration. Both serve as executive producers alongside Monica Aldama, best known for her role in Netflix’s Cheer, and Dana Honor under her Defining Eve Productions banner. Jeff Blitz (The Office, Parks and Recreation) directs and executive produces the pilot.
The series is being developed at a time when opportunities for lead television roles are increasingly competitive. According to industry sources, several high-profile actresses tested for the lead role of Courteney Potter, reflecting the project’s strong appeal within the current market.
While Stumble focuses on junior college cheer, its underdog story and ensemble cast navigating dysfunction and redemption might feel familiar to fans of sprawling pop culture sagas. In fact, Taran Killam is a lifelong Star Wars fan and even voiced a character in Star Wars: The Bad Batch. His involvement in Stumble adds a subtle through-line to the franchise’s theme of unlikely heroes rising in the face of chaos—though this time, the galaxy in question is a cheer mat in rural Georgia.
