Cheer’s Monica Aldama Makes Guest Appearance in NBC’s Mockumentary Stumble
Cheer‘s Monica Aldama is not only an executive producer on NBC’s mockumentary Stumble but also makes a surprise appearance.
In an exclusive clip from Us Weekly, shared ahead of the premiere on Friday, November 7, Aldama, 55, can be spotted in the background while Courtney (Jenn Lyon) declares her resignation as the college cheerleading team’s head coach.
“I have been asked to be fired,” she states, as assistant coach Tammy (Kristin Chenoweth) bursts into tears. “Come on, there’s no crying in cheer. I need you to be strong.”
As one of the students threatens to leave along with Courtney, the head coach doesn’t offer much support.
“Hey, no one is leaving. Well, I am,” Courtney continues. “In the meantime, our incredible assistant coach Tammy will be stepping up.”
The camera crew chats with Tammy about her new role, and she expresses uncertainty, stating, “I am still assistant coach. Of course, if asked to be the head coach, I will do it reluctantly.”
According to the official synopsis, NBC’s Stumble is a mockumentary focusing on the fiercely competitive arena of junior college cheerleading. Alongside Lyon and Chenoweth, the show also features Taran Killam, Ryan Pinkston, Jarrett Austin Brown, Anissa Borrego, Arianna Davis, Taylor Dunbar, and Georgie Murphy.
Aldama is an executive producer for this project, which is penned by Liz and Jeff Astrof.
“After years of discussions, our team has put in a tremendous effort over the past year and a half to make this happen!” she shared via Instagram in October. “We are just 3 weeks away from premiere night. I hope everyone will enjoy this whimsical show filled with heart as much as I’ve enjoyed its development.”
Before Stumble, Aldama appeared in Netflix’s docuseries Cheer as the coach of Navarro College’s cheerleading team in Corsicana, Texas. The series, premiering in 2020, followed Aldama and her squad during their preparations for the NCA & NDA Collegiate Cheer & Dance Championship.
Season 2 of Cheer, featuring Aldama along with Morgan Simianer, La’Darius Marshall, Gabi Butler, and Lexi Brumback, showcased the 2021 NCA & NDA championships and included Navarro’s rival, Trinity Valley Community College.
Aldama also competed on season 29 of Dancing With the Stars alongside Val Chmerkovskiy in 2020. Her memoir, Full Out! Leadership Lessons from America’s Favorite Coach, was published in January 2022.
“I believe that if you ask different individuals, the most significant chapter will depend on their current life situation,” Aldama told Us in 2022. “I wrote a chapter about positive self-talk. Believing in yourself is crucial. Unfortunately, many people enjoy watching failures. This past year was particularly challenging. I often encouraged myself during tough times. It’s vital to be mindful of what you say to yourself.”
Stumble premieres on November 7 at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC, with episodes available for streaming the next day on Peacock.
