Monica Aldama Inspires NBC's Comedy "Stumble"
When Jeff and Liz Astrof decided to create a comedy series inspired by Netflix's Cheer, they knew Monica Aldama, the celebrated cheer coach at Navarro College, had to be central to their project.
From Documentary to Primetime Comedy
The NBC series Stumble serves as a heartfelt tribute both to cheerleading as a sport and to the original Netflix docuseries Cheer, which brought widespread attention to the discipline through its portrayal of intense stunts, team dynamics, and colorful aesthetics.
Obsession with Navarro's Champions
Showrunners Liz and Jeff Astrof were captivated by the Navarro College cheerleaders and Monica Aldama, whose leadership was featured in Greg Whiteley’s acclaimed two-season documentary launched in 2020.
The show "broke the notion that cheerleading was simply made up of pony-tailed girls waving pompoms on the sidelines," highlighting the sport's athleticism, competitiveness, and diversity among participants of varied social, economic, and racial backgrounds.
Concept Development
Jeff Astrof, encouraged by his sister Liz to watch the documentary, was immediately inspired.
"I said, ‘You know what we should do? We should do a show where Monica goes down to the worst college in America. We’ll call it Stumble.’”
The idea lingered until it finally took shape and gained momentum.
Summary
Monica Aldama’s role in the documentary sparked a creative journey for the Astrof siblings, who transformed her story into a comedy celebrating cheerleading's intensity and cultural impact.
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