The Neighborhood
The Neighborhood
Now Showing

The Neighborhood

"It pays to be nice."

7.6
Yr 2018
Rt 22m
Status Returning Series
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

The nicest guy in the Midwest moves his family into a tough neighborhood in Los Angeles where not everyone appreciates his extreme neighborliness. That includes their new next-door neighbor Calvin.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 42 /100

Critics generally gave The Neighborhood lukewarm to negative reviews upon its premiere, calling it a predictable and traditional sitcom. Many reviewers felt the show relied too heavily on a single joke—the culture clash of a white family moving into a Black neighborhood—without providing enough nuance or fresh material to sustain its premise.

Several outlets criticized the writing for relying on dated tropes and mild humor. Common Sense Media cited regressive racial jokes, while John Hanlon Reviews and The Pop Break argued that the setup limited the talented cast and resulted in a formulaic viewing experience. Variety similarly noted that the series often tried too hard to feel edgy and socially relevant rather than focusing on strong character dynamics.

However, a few reviews found minor merit in its retro appeal. Plugged In described the series as a cozy, family-friendly throwback reminiscent of sitcoms from 20 years prior, and Delmarvalife called it an overly nice take on neighborhood racial dynamics. Ultimately, critics agreed that while the show offered familiar comfort, it lacked the depth to rise above its basic concept.

“a predictable show with only one punchline: the white family moved into the black neighborhood”

“a mostly family-friendly offering from a bygone age”

“Regressive racial attitudes and bad jokes mar family sitcom.”

“tries too hard at times to be edgy and relevant”

Why fans love it

The sitcom format relies on the friction of opposite perspectives, and this series utilizes a move from the Midwest to Los Angeles to highlight the gap between two different ways of life. Cedric the Entertainer plays the anchor of a community that is skeptical of a newcomer with an unrelenting desire to be helpful. The show finds humor in the clash between a man who insists on friendliness and a next-door neighbor who prefers his privacy.

While the premise is grounded in the classic fish out of water trope, the series focuses on the daily effort required to build a connection with someone who has no immediate interest in being your friend. It treats the physical boundary of a property line as a negotiation between two stubborn personalities. Rather than aiming for immediate harmony, the writing leans into the territorial defense mechanisms and cultural adjustments that happen when a neighborhood dynamic shifts overnight.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 7
Longest run 155 eps
Show 67 more
Griffen Campbell as Colby 1 episode Juliette Goglia as Meadow 1 episode Nicole Sullivan as Alexis 1 episode Malik S. as Trey 38 episodes Maurice LaMarche as HandyRandy79 1 episode Gary Anthony Williams as Ernie 6 episodes Sloan Robinson as Miss Kim 8 episodes Danny Brown as Lisa 1 episode Denny Love as Young Man 1 episode Staci Lynn Fletcher as Lil’ Hatchet 6 episodes David Parkman as Teddy 1 episode Earthquake as Que 8 episodes Joshua Triplett as Jeremiah 4 episodes Marilu Henner as Paula 3 episodes Alexandra Chando as Chloe 1 episode Amir O'Neil as Jamaal 1 episode Duane R. Shepard Sr. as Abe 1 episode Jeris Poindexter as Tommy 1 episode Mandell Maughan as Lyndsay 1 episode Lauren Plaxco as Pyper 1 episode Erin Young as Greer 1 episode Dorothy Dillingham Blue as Nurse 1 episode Jim Meskimen as Dr. Bancroft 1 episode Daniela Nyffenegger as Fundraiser Patient 1 episode Brandon Claybon as Promoter 1 episode David Terry as Waiter 1 episode Marla Gibbs as Miss Simpson 1 episode Jordyn Curet as Kayla Watkins 2 episodes Mark Anthony Williams as Melvin 3 episodes Kym Whitley as LaTonya 2 episodes Cocoa Brown as Regina 2 episodes Edy Ganem as Sofia 3 episodes Deborah Baker Jr. as Brittany 2 episodes Ashleigh Crystal Hairston as Keira 2 episodes Greg Romero Wilson as Norm 2 episodes Sean Larkins as Randall 9 episodes Richard Gant as Walter 3 episodes Wayne Brady as Isaiah Evans 2 episodes Michel Estime as Victor 2 episodes Richard Whiten as Riley 2 episodes Kimberley Drummond as Ariel 2 episodes Chelsea Harris as Necie 10 episodes Alycia Pascual-Peña as Yoli 2 episodes Nefetari Spencer as Janelle 5 episodes Karla Sonnier as Kayla 3 episodes John Ross Bowie as Gregory 3 episodes Chris Aquilino as Mr. Ryan 6 episodes Courtney Nichole as Ms. Davis 6 episodes Kevin Pollak as Lamar Johnson 7 episodes Jay Phillips as Julian 7 episodes Dawn Drake as Croupier 2 episodes Garrett Bales as Derek 2 episodes Joseph DeBona as Cyclist #1 2 episodes Ruth Wilhoit as Rita 2 episodes Tracy Morgan as Curtis 2 episodes Ronin Lee as Jake 2 episodes Glynn Turman as Otis 2 episodes Mouzam Makkar as Sara 2 episodes Dhruv Uday Singh as Zak 2 episodes Sofia Hasmik as Allison 2 episodes Casper Smart as Chili Mangold 2 episodes Tyrone Batista as Zee 2 episodes Lucas Calzada as Photographer 2 episodes Angelique Cabral as Lisa 5 episodes Ashli Auguillard as Everette 2 episodes Amber Stevens West as Mercedes 8 episodes Micah Howard as Josh 2 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Assistant Editor
Script Coordinator
Unit Production Manager
First Company Grip
Script Supervisor
Construction Coordinator
Co-Executive Producer
Assistant Property Master
First Assistant Director
Assistant Costume Designer
In Memory Of
Production Design
Creator
Chief Lighting Technician
Costume Designer
Second Second Assistant Director
Post Production Supervisor
Hair Department Head
Set Decoration
Property Master
Costume Supervisor
Makeup Department Head
Signal Match

Similarity

Where The Neighborhood overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

neighbor fish out of water los angeles, california next door neighbor neighborhood
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
October 01, 2018
Status
Returning Series
Episode Runtime
22 minutes
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
167