NBC’s new Friday night comedy Stumble brings the fiercely competitive world of junior college cheerleading to life with a mockumentary style. The show, which premiered on November 7, 2025, features an ensemble cast led by Jenn Lyon as a disgraced coach rebuilding her career. A key part of the show’s dynamic is Broadway and television star Kristin Chenoweth, who appears in a recurring role as the scene-stealing rival coach, Tammy Istiny.
Kristin Chenoweth’s Role as Coach Tammy Istiny
In Stumble, Kristin Chenoweth plays Tammy Istiny, the assistant cheer coach at Sammy Davis Sr. Junior College. When the head coach, Courteney Potter (Jenn Lyon), is fired after a viral video scandal, Tammy is quickly promoted to take her place. This twist of fate sets up the central rivalry of the series, as Courteney is forced to start over at a much smaller school.
Chenoweth’s character is described as a “pint-sized nemesis” who dresses as if she is still living in her cheerleading heyday of the late 1980s. Despite initially appearing devastated by Courteney’s firing, Tammy rapidly adapts to her new power and secretly relishes the opportunity. Show creators Jeff and Liz Astrof confirmed that the character of Tammy was written specifically for Chenoweth and that the role was contingent on her joining the cast.
“That was written for her, 1000%,” said co-creator Liz Astrof. Her brother and co-creator, Jeff Astrof, added, “They were like, ‘Do you want us to find other people?’ I was like, ‘No, this is Kristin or not.’”
A Real-Life Cheerleader Playing a Coach
Interestingly, Kristin Chenoweth’s role as a cheer coach draws from her own past. She was a cheerleader during high school in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. In a past interview, she explained that cheerleading was another way for her to perform, alongside participating in choir and drama.
This real-life experience adds a layer of authenticity to her performance. In the show, her character Tammy boasts about her past skills, claiming, “Heck, back in the day, I made nationals,” before showing off some cheer moves.
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The Premise and Cast of ‘Stumble’
Stumble is a single-camera mockumentary that explores the high-stakes environment of junior college cheer competitions. After being fired, coach Courteney Potter moves to the tiny Headltston State Junior College to build a championship team from a group of unconventional and inexperienced students.
The main cast includes Jenn Lyon as the determined Coach Courteney Potter and Taran Killam as her supportive husband, Boon. The squad features actors like Anissa Borrego, Jarrett Austin Brown, and Arianna Davis. The series is executive produced by Monica Aldama, the real-life retired cheer coach from the hit Netflix docuseries Cheer, who ensures the show’s portrayal of the sport is accurate.
How to Watch the Show
Stumble airs on NBC on Friday nights at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT. New episodes are available to stream the next day on Peacock. The first three episodes of the season premiered on November 7, 14, and 21, 2025. After a brief break, Episode 4 is scheduled for Friday, December 5, 2025, though it will air in a special time slot at 9:45 p.m. ET. The show is set to return with more episodes in January 2026.
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Credits: NBC.com
