CBS’ long-running comedy The Neighborhood is heading into its eighth and final season with a new face joining the block. Amber Stevens West has signed on for a key recurring role opposite Sheaun McKinney, bringing fresh energy to the farewell run of the series.
The Neighborhood, led by Cedric the Entertainer as Calvin Butler, centers on the unlikely but ultimately warm friendship between the Butlers and the Johnsons. Calvin, the self-appointed mayor of his Pasadena neighborhood, lives with his wife Tina (Tichina Arnold) and their two adult sons, Malcolm (McKinney) and Marty (Marcel Spears). Next door, Dave Johnson (Max Greenfield), his wife Gemma (Beth Behrs), and their son Grover (Hank Greenspan) initially struggled to adjust as newcomers. Over seven seasons, the families’ cultural clashes evolved into deep bonds, though Calvin will never fully admit just how close he is to Dave. The ensemble also includes Skye Townsend as Marty’s fiancée, Courtney.
In Season 8, Stevens West steps in as Mercedes, a high-drama and fabulously self-absorbed star of the reality show Trophy Divas of Brentwood. Mercedes hires Malcolm to ghostwrite her romance novel but worries it’s not risqué enough to satisfy her audience. While her onscreen persona screams over-the-top diva, behind closed doors she proves to be far more grounded — and a shrewd businesswoman.
The comedy, from executive producers Bill Martin, Mike Schiff, Aaron Kaplan, Wendi Trilling, Cedric the Entertainer, and Eric Rhone, is produced by CBS Studios. The final season premieres Sunday, Oct. 13, at 8/7c on CBS.
West was most recently seen in BET+’s action-thriller To Get Her. She is best known for her breakout role on NBC’s The Carmichael Show and has also appeared in Run the World, Krapopolis, and Ghosted.
Meanwhile, the franchise is preparing to branch out with Crutch, a Paramount+ spinoff starring Tracy Morgan as Francois “Frank” Crutchfield, a Harlem widower whose plans for an empty nest get upended when his adult children return home.
As CBS closes the door on The Neighborhood, the network is juggling decisions on other comedies and dramas in its lineup. But for fans of the Butlers and Johnsons, the final season promises a proper sendoff filled with laughs, growth, and maybe a few surprises.