In its eighth season, “The Neighborhood” will mark the end of the CBS sitcom’s run. However, the cancellation of its spinoff means that the final season may not offer a clean conclusion. Ending a sitcom is always challenging, but it can be especially tough to wrap up family sitcoms gracefully due to their extensive, multi-generational casts. Family sitcoms like “The Conners” or “Modern Family” have numerous characters, and providing a satisfying resolution for everyone’s storylines by the series finale is nearly impossible.
In contrast to other shows, “The Neighborhood” season 8 has a unique advantage: it was announced as its final season way back in March 2025, giving the creators ample time to plan the ending. Even though a spinoff featuring Tracy Morgan is still in the works, this foreknowledge allows the creators to provide a more intentional and heartfelt farewell to the beloved characters, rather than ending abruptly.
The Neighborhood Season 7 Finale Sets Up Marty & Malcolm’s Spinoff (But CBS Scrapped It)
“Welcome to Venice” Was Intended To Be Malcolm and Marty’s Spinoff Pilot
To put it simply, the cancellation of the spinoff for “The Neighborhood,” titled “Welcome to Venice” (episode 20 from season 7), poses challenges in this situation. Originally, this episode was meant to introduce a new series starring Marty and Malcolm, who were moving to Venice Beach and planning to renovate a fixer-upper they had purchased. However, their ambitious plans were hindered by the constant bickering of their neighbors.
On one side of Malcolm’s house resided Justin Long’s tech entrepreneur, Bruce, who aimed to purchase Malcolm’s property to demolish it and construct an extension for himself. Across the house lived Hunter King’s activist Bellamy and her aspiring social media influencer friend Matisse, who opposed Bruce’s gentrification of Venice Beach and countered his plans with boisterous parties as a form of protest. The spinoff series of “The Neighborhood” featuring Malcolm and Marty was intended to introduce both the brothers and the new Venice Beach residents, with these characters serving as the main attractions.
| Actor | The Neighborhood Role | |
|---|---|---|
| Cedric the Entertainer | Calvin Butler | |
| Max Greenfield | Dave Johnson | |
| Tichina Arnold | Tina Butler | |
| Beth Behrs | Gemma Johnson | |
| Hank Greenspan | Grover Johnson | |
| Marcel Spears | Marty Butler | |
| Sheaun McKinney | Malcolm Butler | |
| Skye Townsend | Courtney |
Although the spinoff has been terminated, it doesn’t imply that “The Neighborhood” can casually overlook characters like Bellamy, Matisse, and Bruce in season 8. Given that these characters were introduced in the season 7 finale of “The Neighborhood”, their significance to the show’s broader narrative now necessitates their reappearance in season 8. Malcolm’s choice to retain the house instead of selling it to Bruce for a substantial profit underscores his dedication to Venice Beach. Consequently, characters such as Hunter, Bellamy, and Bruce are expected to feature prominently throughout season 8, much like they would have in the canceled spinoff.
How The Neighborhood Season 8 Is Burdened By Marty & Malcolm’s Scrapped Spinoff
The Neighborhood Season 8 Must Give These New Characters Screen Time
In its eighth season, “The Neighborhood” must now continue the storyline initiated by Malcolm and Marty’s spinoff series. However, this could pose a challenge for the sitcom as it wraps up, given that it already has numerous characters to handle, ranging from Calvin and Dave’s families. The latter group was scarcely seen in “Welcome to Venice,” which could provide more space for introducing new characters. Essentially, the finale of season 7 suggested that Marty and Malcolm’s show would center around a different neighborhood, specifically Venice Beach.
In the upcoming Season 8 of our show, it’s crucial to manage the screen time and narrative focus effectively between the fresh storylines and characters, and the original cast that viewers have grown fond of over the years. I find it challenging because fans will naturally want updates on Marty and Malcolm, but their story shouldn’t overshadow the original protagonists. However, Dave and Calvin ended Season 7 on a strong note in their neighborhood, so their narrative arc may not be as captivating this time around.
The Neighborhood Must Prioritize Its Pasadena Characters Than The Ones In Venice
The Neighborhood Season 8’s Plan Has To Balance New Characters And Existing Stars
In “Welcome to Venice”, Bellamy and Marty initially set up a playful rivalry which eventually led to the formation of Marty’s relationship with Courtney in “The Neighborhood”. This was because Bellamy, who had previously shown an interest in Marty, suddenly became more attentive towards him when she noticed another woman vying for his attention. With Malcolm and Marty’s spinoff being terminated, it seems that characters like Bellamy and Bruce may take a supporting role in the series. Nevertheless, this plot twist demonstrates how introducing fresh elements can rejuvenate a stale narrative and give it a new direction.
In summary, The Neighborhood’s eighth season serves as its final hurrah, so it should primarily emphasize the stories of Dave and Calvin’s families rather than introducing new characters. This is a delicate balance that the show must navigate, but the established Pasadena characters should take center stage over the fresh faces, despite their potential appeal. Unfortunately, The Conners season 7 made the same mistake by giving preference to new characters over the original cast of the Roseanne spinoff, and this decision weakened the emotional resonance of the show’s series finale due to the disproportionate screen time given to these fresh faces.
How The Neighborhood Can Still Have A Satisfying Ending While Also Fulfilling Marty & Malcolm’s Spinoff Promise
Cedric The Entertainer Confirmed Season 8 Will Reuse The Pair’s Planned Plot
Luckily, lead actor Cedric the Entertainer has confirmed that The Neighborhood’s eighth season will pick up on the incomplete spinoff storyline involving Marty and Malcolm, while still focusing on the main characters. Given that Cedric is not only a star but also a co-writer of “Welcome to Venice,” it makes sense to consult him for details. Since Calvin’s actor was involved in crafting the spinoff, it seems likely he won’t want the freshly created characters he helped create – like Bruce and Bellamy – to vanish without a trace immediately.
Instead of focusing solely on a spinoff featuring Malcolm and Marty that was canceled, The Neighborhood season 8 could incorporate the most appealing aspects from it while leaving behind the rest. This would allow for the introduction of new characters to provide amusing B-stories and subplots without dedicating an entire season to them. Dave, Calvin, and their families will still receive significant screen time in season 8, but the inclusion of Marty and Malcolm in Venice Beach brings new characters into the storyline and offers a fresh setting as well. Thus, The Neighborhood season 8 could strike a balance between exploring new elements and staying true to its original characters, ensuring it delivers the best of both worlds without neglecting its core heroes.
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2025-05-29 16:50