Interview: Stumble Stars Jarrett Austin Brown and Taylor Dunbar on Chemistry Why NBC’s Cheer Comedy Just Works

NBC’s Stumble has quietly become one of those shows that sneaks up on you. You tune in expecting a light mockumentary about a college cheer team, and suddenly you’re invested in flying baskets, unhinged side characters and a cast that feels less like coworkers and more like a group chat that refuses to mute itself. That energy isn’t accidental and if you talk to stars Jarrett Austin Brown and Taylor Dunbar, it becomes very clear why Stumble works as well as it does.

In a recent interview with The TV Cave, Brown and Dunbar broke down the chemistry behind the series, the freedom that comes with its mockumentary style and why the show only gets more ridiculous (in the best way possible) as the season goes on.

At its core, Stumble follows a struggling college cheer team clawing its way toward relevance, success and maybe basic functional teamwork. Shot in a mockumentary format, the series thrives on awkward pauses, sharp cutaways and characters who absolutely believe in themselves, even when they probably shouldn’t. Brown and Dunbar play teammates whose personalities don’t always align neatly, but that friction is part of the fun.

And according to them, that chemistry starts long before the cameras roll.

“We love each other so much,” Dunbar said, without hesitation. “We’re obsessed with each other. We all want to be together all the time. It feels like a real cheer team.”

Brown echoed the sentiment, admitting the cast might be too close. “We’re always attached at the hip,” he joked. “Even on set, Taylor’s dressing room is right across from mine. I’ll play music and everyone just ends up in my room. It’s insane.”

That closeness translates directly onscreen, giving Stumble a lived-in authenticity that’s hard to fake. The show doesn’t feel like actors pretending to be a team, it feels like a team that happens to be filmed.

For Brown, the role was a natural fit. With a background in dance and gymnastics, stepping into the physically demanding world of competitive cheer felt less like a stretch and more like a return. “When I read the pilot, the words just came off the page,” he said. “It’s really rare you get a script like that. I got to use so many different skill sets, it was kind of a no-brainer.”

Dunbar’s journey was a little less straightforward. She initially auditioned for a different role before landing Peaches, one of Stumble’s most unpredictable and morally flexible characters. “I remember thinking, ‘I’m not a kleptomaniac—how am I gonna do this?’” she laughed. But what ultimately won her over was Peaches’ unapologetic confidence. “She goes for what she wants. I don’t always agree with her choices, but that kind of fearlessness is admirable.”

Peaches also embodies one of Stumble’s quieter strengths: character growth without sanding down the edges. “She’s a loner, does her own thing,” Dunbar explained. “The people who see her, see her. She doesn’t change to belong but she does learn how to be part of a team.”

The mockumentary format gives the cast room to play and Brown confirmed that improvisation is baked into the DNA of the show. “We take risks,” he said. “You only see 21 minutes, but we have so many outtakes. It’s chaos.” He specifically shouted out castmate Ryan Pinkston, whose scenes reportedly come with “100 bloopers of us trying not to laugh.”

That freedom extends beyond the main cast. Cheerleaders on the show blend real athletic skill with comedic beats, creating performances that feel both impressive and ridiculous. “We learn from them, they learn from us,” Brown said. “We push it—right to the brink.”

As for what fans can expect as Stumble continues, both stars promise escalation. “The cheer performances just keep getting better,” Dunbar teased. Brown added that the absurdity ramps up fast. “We’ve got a guy throwing a fish. We’ve got a pig. It just keeps coming.”

Which is exactly why Stumble works. It understands its tone, trusts its cast, and commits fully to the chaos. Brown and Dunbar’s offscreen camaraderie is the secret sauce, one that turns pratfalls into character moments and ridiculousness into something oddly heartfelt.

For a show about stumbling, Stumble has found its footing and thanks to this cast, it’s sticking the landing.

Check out our full interview below.