NBC’s Stumble turns its lens on the world of junior college cheerleading, focusing on a program defined as much by its unpredictable personalities as its athletic pressure. Among the most compelling are Dimarcus, a former quarterback for Sammy Davis Sr. Junior College turned Buttons cheerleader, and Madonna, a confident and driven power tumbler with her own challenges. Actors Jarrett Austin Brown and Arianna Davis bring both humor and intensity to their roles.
In this Exclusive Q&A with Cheer Daily, they talk about learning cheer, building their characters, and navigating the real physicality behind the performances.
As a bonus, Cheer Daily readers can catch an exclusive first-look clip below from tonight’s episode, courtesy of NBC.
Arianna Davis (Madonna), also known as Ari, is a dancer from Indianapolis, Indiana. She has been a technically trained dancer since the age of two, studying ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, and modern. In 2022, she appeared in Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.
Madonna was the only member of the Headltston cheer squad when Courteney took over as coach. She impressed quickly with her talent, but later revealed she lives with narcolepsy and can fall asleep at unpredictable moments—including during routines.
Q: Madonna’s narcolepsy is part of the comedic fabric of the show, but it still impacts how she fits into the team. How were you able to balance those moments while keeping Madonna grounded as a serious cheerleader?
Arianna: Madonna is an overcomer. She is a strong, fierce, and unstoppable athlete. Living with narcolepsy doesn’t hold her back, it fuels her resilience. Her energy on the squad is unmatched and her journey speaks to her determination and ability to defy any limits others may place on her. I hope that Madonna shows people that they can achieve anything.
Q: Before working on Stumble, what was your impression of college cheer—and what surprised you once you stepped into Madonna’s shoes?
Arianna: The only knowledge I had of college cheer was from watching CHEER the docuseries on Netflix. Before that, all I knew was high school cheer. I loved learning about it after the docuseries came out because the athleticism reminds me so much of the athleticism of dance. I respect the hell out of cheerleaders. I’m so excited to step into this world of competitive cheer. The thing that surprises me the most is how bold Madonna is. I thought I was strong but phew. I’m learning a lot from her.
Q: How was working with Jarrett to develop your onscreen energy? How much fun did you have playing that push-pull dynamic?
Arianna: Jarrett and I have such a great friendship outside of work. We tease each other all the time. It is such a joy to get to bring our dynamic outside of work to the characters. I love me some Jarreby.
Jarrett Austin Brown (Dimarcus) is both an actor and professional dancer. He has appeared in Euphoria, Broad City, Gazer, and Smile 2, and also starred in the short film Buick. Brown wrote and directed the short Fallen Trees.
Dimarcus was the starting quarterback for Sammy Davis Sr. Junior College but left the team after his unsportsmanlike conduct became too much. Known for showboating with backflips after touchdowns, he caught Courteney’s eye—and soon found himself trying out for the cheer team. His raw ability is there, but he has to prove he can work within a real team dynamic to be successful.
Q: What would you say is the hardest part of learning the basics of college cheer?
Jarrett: Cheerleading is an exhilarating challenge, and the physical demands are thrilling. When it comes to the basics, I’d say perfecting the proper way to shift my weight and momentum through the movement has at times been tough but rewarding. There are many similarities to dance, which I have a vast background in, but learning to translate from the verbal as well as physical language used in dance to cheer has been quite fun.
Q: Has filming Stumble altered how you see college cheerleading—or cheerleading in general?
Jarrett: My view of cheerleading remains unchanged: cheerleaders are elite athletes combining Olympic-level gymnastics with high-stamina dance requiring precise timing. Working beside pro cheerleaders has only deepened my respect for this craft.
Q: Your skills in the show look effortless. How many of the stunts and tumbling skills did you do yourself? What was the most surprising aspect of learning how to stunt?
Jarrett: So far, I have performed all of my tumbling stunts myself. We only use doubles when lifting the ladies. The most amazing part of learning stunts is discovering how flyers balance their weight on their bases’ palms to ease the pressure. This allows the bases to better their endurance and pace themselves through routines. The skills of a flyer are truly incredible.
Stumble doesn’t treat cheer as an accessory to the story. It puts the routines, the prep, and the personalities front and center. That choice pays off thanks to performances from Davis and Brown, who understand that every eight-count tells you something about who’s holding the formation—and who’s holding everything together.
Stumble airs Fridays at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on NBC and streams the next day on Peacock. Tonight’s episode, “In Sync,” takes the team to their first football game of the season—where Dimarcus and Madonna give a heckling group of football players a front-row seat to what real cheer looks like.
Watch the exclusive clip from NBC, only on Cheer Daily:
