Jenn Lyon Had No Experience With Competitive Cheerleading Before ‘Stumble’: “I Never Did A Group Sport In My Life Unless You Count Theater”

Anyone who is familiar with Jenn Lyon knows that she is a force to be reckoned with. With showy roles on ensemble shows like Dead Boy Detectives, Sirens, The English Teacher and 4 seasons of TNT’s vastly underrated Claws, Lyon was ready to step into the spotlight with NBC’s hilarious mockumentary, Stumble. Set in the world of competitive cheerleading, Lyon plays Coach Courteney Potter who is fired from her longtime role after a video is leaked of her partying a bit too hard with her team. Determined to regain her reputation and win her 15th trophy at the NCAA College Nationals in Daytona, Potter gets a new job at Headltston State Junior College and must recruit a band of misfits to form a new squad.

Lyon didn’t know much about the sport before signing on, but was very familiar with series EP and Cheer star, Monica Aldama. “I was obsessed with Cheer on Netflix during the pandemic, like all of us were,” said Lyon. “It was really cool to get to work with her, [series choreographer] Dahlston Delgado and the pro and past competitive cheerleaders on set.” Lyon also got to see the legendary Aldama make her acting debut. “She was so nervous,” remembered Lyon. “It was so interesting to see a different side of her, but she killed it.”

In addition to working with screen vets like Taran Killam (whom Lyon called “my dream husband”) and Kristin Chenoweth (whom Lyon called “a phenomenon”), Lyon is frequently “in awe” of the young group of actors who make up Coach Potter’s Headltston State Junior College Buttons squad. “I’m crazy about them” said Lyon sincerely. “They are kind, they are compassionate, they are weird on a cellular level.” One of her co-stars, Taylor Dunbar, recently completed her studies at Juilliard. “We shot the pilot and then she graduated the next week,” said Lyon. “I can’t believe how good these kids are at this age.”

Lyon dropped by the Decider studio to chat about the series, share who on the cast has the most natural cheerleading ability, and reveal just how many candy buttons she consumed on set.

DECIDER: Jenn, Stumble is exactly the show we need right now. Besides your being a comedy queen, what drew you to the role of Courteney Potter?

JENN LYON: Unemployment. That’s what really sort of lights my fire in terms of roles–my needing to keep the lights on and food in the fridge [laughs]. Also, the writing is so sharp and so good. [Creators] Jeff and Liz Astrof are geniuses. I love getting the chance to play a role that is so funny and so heartfelt. The pace is fast, which I love. I get to flex every muscle.

How much about the world of competitive cheerleading were you familiar with before signing on?

I was obsessed with Cheer on Netflix during the pandemic, like all of us were. That’s all I knew. After I had watched Cheer, I sunk deep into a rabbit hole of Daytona clips. I knew these Olympic level athletes were doing incredible feats with almost no oversight. I also read Monica’s autobiography. It was cool to get to work with her, [series choreographer] Dahlston Delgado, and the competitive cheerleaders on set. I had to rely on them a lot.

As an EP on Stumble, Monica is very involved. She also got to act on the show as Monica, Tammy’s turncoat Assistant Coach! Do you feel like you eventually got her stamp of approval?

I think I eventually did. Her approval is hard won. She’s going to make you work for it. I just adore her. She is maternal but gruff. She makes you want to do your best job every day. Her own work ethic is so inspiring.

What was it like to see her get to act?

I was so excited! This is the first time she has ever acted and she was so nervous [laughs]. When she walks into a room, the temperature changes. She has this aura of absolute authority. It was so interesting to see a different side of her, but she killed it. She takes direction so well. She worked so hard. Did you see her slurp that Slurpee? Unstoppable.

Your surprise nemesis Kristin Chenoweth—who plays Courteney’s former Assistant Coach Tammy—is such a delight to watch. What was it like working with her?

Terrible [laughs]. It makes me upset how talented she is, how kind she is, how generous she is. You’re just like this, this goodness can’t all exist in this little, tiny, carry-on sized person and yet it does! We should all be so lucky to get to be in her presence. She’s really a phenomenon.

I am fascinated by the dynamic between Courteney and Tammy. Who do you think is to blame there? Did Courtney not give her a chance to step up? Did Tammy ever ask?

Courteney is like a dog with a bone, right? She’s got an objective to pursue, and she will pursue it at any cost. I don’t think she noticed that Tammy wanted more. We all have those friends that are absolutely goal oriented, and that makes them kind of steamrollers. They might not see what is on the other side of them. And also she’s a smaller person; so she’s hard to see [laughs].

Another dynamic I love is Courteney and her husband Boone. I think they have one of the most supportive relationships in recent tv history. Is Taran Killam as supportive off-screen as he is on-screen?

Taran is the best. He’s warm; he’s collaborative. He will roast you within an inch of your life, which is how I give and receive love. So, he’s like my dream husband.

I saw that he said it was easy to play a supportive husband on-screen because he is a supportive husband off-screen to wife Cobie Smulders. It was easy for him channel that energy into Boone.

He’s little bit “improv comedy;” I’m a little bit “rehearse it until it’s dead.” He has to give a little bit because I want to rehearse stuff. If there’s a bit to do, I want to work on it until I’m comfortable. He has to rehearse with me a little more than he would want to, but he has such a giving spirit about it.

How do you find the balance between the script and the improv work on set?

The writers are so generous. First of all, the writing is fantastic, but they do let us improv within it. I don’t really know the percentage , but we try to get a couple of takes that are as written, and then they just wind us up like toys and let us go. So that’s nice.

There have been so many great guest stars, but Jeff Hiller as Augustus Blimpfh, the Candy Button Factory, owner really stands out. How difficult was it to keep a straight face opposite him?

It’s terrible. Have you seen him? It was so awful. The faces that he’s able to make? He played that character so straight while making the most ridiculous choices. It was like watching a masterclass in comedy. When I was in scenes with him, I was like, “is this how Carol Burnett felt working with Harvey Korman?” I wanted to break all the time. He’s a genius.

Over the course of production, how many candy buttons did you and your cast mates consume?

Dude, so many. There’s an episode coming up where Courteney might get a little depressed, and she might consume a level of candy buttons that requires medical attention.

Anissa Borrego, Jarrett Austin Brown, Arianna Davis, Taylor Dunbar, Georgie Murphy, and Ryan Pinkston are just a few of the actors who make up Courteney’s Headleston Junior College Buttons cheerleading squad. What’s it like getting to work with this talented group?

I’m crazy about them. We call them “the babies,” even though they’re all firmly ensconced in their 20s. I can’t get enough of them. I wish I had some really curly gossip to say about them, because that would be so much more interesting, but I don’t. They all understand comedy and drama. They have great set endurance. They are kind, they are compassionate, they are weird on a cellular level. They are the best.

I saw that Taylor, who plays Peaches, recently graduated from Juilliard!

This show is the first thing she’s ever done! Girl, we shot the pilot and then she graduated from Juilliard the next week. Like, I can’t believe how good these kids are at this age. I certainly was not.

Which of them has the most natural cheerleading ability?

This is hard because Arianna, who plays Madonna, is a dancer. She’s so good. Jarrett, who plays DeMarcus, is a dancer too. He’s also a supernatural athletic. Ryan, who plays Stephen, our middle aged cheerleader, is so athletic and he can also tumble. I think I’m telling the truth here when I say he invented a sport in his youth called “hip-hop karate” and won Ed McMahon’s Next Big Star contest.

That sounds wild! How has the feedback been from the world of competitive cheerleading?

I imagine they all are watching. I think they like it. Everybody that I have heard from in the cheer community has been positive. They are glad that Monica is on set to make sure we have our terminology correct and that we are staying true to that world. The cheerleaders and their families devote so much time to the sport. I don’t know what exactly drives their commitment to excellence, but I’m in awe of it. I never did a group sport in my life unless you count theater [laughs].

Stumble might be set in the world of competitive cheerleading, but it’s really a show about teams. We like to say our show is like Mel Brooks and Friday Night Lights had a baby and that baby was raised by Parks and Rec. I think that is such a good pitch.

Finally, what can you tease about the rest of the season to come on Stumble? What can I tease?

NBC has threatened my life if I give anything away [laughs]. I’m taking my own life into my hands right now, but I think I can say the Buttons are making our way towards Daytona and we might get there. We can, we will, we might.