Monica Aldama's Role in NBC's "Stumble"
Jeff and Liz Astrof chose to include Monica Aldama, the renowned cheer coach from the Netflix docuseries Cheer, when adapting it into the comedy series Stumble. The show serves as a tribute both to cheerleading and the original documentary that brought the sport into mainstream attention.
A Tribute to "Cheer" and the Sport
“Stumble,” NBC’s new primetime comedy, honors the spirit of cheerleading portrayed in Cheer. The Netflix series spotlighted Navarro College’s champion cheerleaders and their disciplined coach Monica Aldama, capturing their athleticism, intense competition, and diverse backgrounds.
The Astrof Siblings’ Inspiration
Liz and Jeff Astrof, the showrunners, grew fascinated by the Navarro team and Monica Aldama’s leadership. They embraced the show's challenge to change stereotypes about cheerleading, demonstrating that it is more than just simplistic sideline activity.
Jeff Astrof said, “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.’”
Though the concept lingered for some time, it eventually gained momentum and became the foundation for their series.
Reimagining Cheerleading on Television
- The original Cheer series broke stereotypes around cheerleading, showing its athletic demands.
- The cast featured athletes from diverse racial, economic, and social backgrounds, both male and female.
- “Stumble” transforms this inspiration into a comedic story, mixing homage with new creative elements.
“Like much of America, the siblings say they became obsessed with the champion cheerleaders of Navarro College and their no-nonsense coach Monica Aldama.”
The series reflects the Astros' appreciation for the sport’s complexity and Monica Aldama's significant influence.
Author’s summary: NBC’s “Stumble” creatively reimagines the spirit of Cheer, highlighting Monica Aldama’s inspired coaching and the sport’s true grit through a comedic lens.