Although The Neighborhood’s showrunners changed back in 2022 with season 5, while the family dynamics of Cedric the Entertainer's eternally exasperated Calvin Butler transform with each ing season. Although the show was originally about Calvin's struggle with his earnest, cheery Midwestern neighbor Dave, The Neighborhood’s focus moved to Calvin’s children over the years.
Now, The Neighborhood’s spinoff doesn’t focus on Malcolm, but instead on guest star Tracy Morgan’s character. However, there was a planned spinoff that would have prioritized Malcolm’s story.
The Neighborhood Season 7, Episode 20 Sets Up Marty & Malcolm's Scrapped Spinoff
Bruce, Bellamy, and Matisse All ed The Sitcom’s Cast When Malcolm Moved
Season 7, episode 20, “Welcome to Venice,” introduces new characters like Justin Long’s odious tech bro Bruce, Hunter King’s well-meaning hippie Bellamy, and Kara Royster’s glamorous influencer Matisse. If this seems like a lot of new characters for one episode, this is likely because CBS planned for Marty and Malcolm's move to start a spinoff series. The antics of the Butler brothers as they revamped Malcolm's new fixer-upper would have been the canceled show’s main focus, but it is clear to see how the rest of the new characters could have been incorporated into future storylines.
The Neighborhood’s spinoff would have had plenty of conflict as the neighbors on either side of Malcolm’s home had diametrically opposed visions for the future of their shared neighborhood.
Long’s obnoxious Bruce repeatedly attempted to buy Malcolm’s home from him so he could expand his massive mansion. Meanwhile, Bellamy sought Malcolm and Marty's signatures for a petition that would maintain Venice Beach’s unique aesthetic. Immediately, it was clear that The Neighborhood’s spinoff would have had plenty of conflict as the neighbors on either side of Malcolm’s home had diametrically opposed visions for the future of their shared neighborhood. Malcolm brokered some uneasy peace at his barbecue, but the two warring factions seemed likely to start fighting again in no time.
However, since The Neighborhood’s Marty and Malcolm spinoff wasn’t picked up, the show won’t focus on this plot alone going forward. Instead, The Neighborhood season 8 will reportedly incorporate the plots of Malcolm and Marty’s spinoff into the series proper. This is arguably even better for the series since it means that Dave, Tina, Gemma, and Calvin can be involved in the story of the Venice Beach plot line, instead of just Malcolm, Marty, and Marty’s love interest Courtney.
Marty & Malcolm's Scrapped Spinoff Storylines Will Be Incorporated Into The Neighborhood Season 8 Instead
The Neighborhood Season 8 Can Now Include Malcolm’s Venice Beach Subplot
Malcolm’s move was originally planned to be an entire spinoff series of its own, and it had a lot of comedic potential. The Neighborhood season 7’s Malcolm move flips the show’s original premise on its head as Malcolm is an outsider in the wild world of Venice Beach. Filled with tech bros, Instagram models, and hippies, the neighborhood is as unfamiliar to him as Malcolm and Calvin’s titular neighborhood was to the outcast Dave back in season 1. This provides an appealing contrast, allowing the sitcom to playfully re-envision its own set-up seven years later.
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 |
Malcolm’s relationship with his new neighbor Bruce even mirrors Calvin and Dave’s early interactions, although Bruce is the one bringing the antagonism this time around. Their dynamic prompts the ever-clueless Dave to ask Calvin “Is it just me or is that Bruce guy kind of a lot?!” with Max Greenfield’s character completely missing the similarities between himself and Long’s character. While The Neighborhood is ending after eight seasons, the final outing can now focus on all of its existing main characters, instead of leaving Marty and Malcolm behind as they embark on a new adventure.
The Johnsons & Butlers Can Have A Bigger Role In Marty & Malcolm's Venice Arc In The Neighborhood Season 8
Malcolm’s Plot Opens Up The World of the Sitcom
Speaking to TVLine, The Neighborhood’s star and executive producer Cedric the Entertainer said: “We love the fact that we can have Malcolm going back and forth (between Venice Beach and his old home.” The actor and comedian went on to say that viewers would soon see more of the setting as “We feel like we’ve got great stories [to tell] in that space — and, of course, the opportunity to use that [Venice] set from time to time to be able to go tell stories there.”
CBS ordered a spinoff of The Neighborhood starring Sheaun McKinney and Marcel Spears that was set to premiere during the 2025–2026 TV season, but the network ultimately decided not to move forward with the series.
This proves canceling Malcolm and Marty’s spinoff is a surprisingly good choice for The Neighborhood season 8. The final outing of the sitcom can now bring back Max Greenfield’s character and Cedric the Entertainer’s perpetually put-upon antihero instead of relying solely on Malcolm and Marty for laughs. In a spinoff, the show would have to work harder to justify bringing Dave and Calvin back, lest the show feel too much like The Neighborhood. Canceling the spinoff but keeping the storyline negates this issue completely.
How The Neighborhood Should End Marty & Malcolm's Venice Arc Now That The Spinoff Has Been Scrapped
The Neighborhood Season 8’s Malcolm Story Is Better Than A Spinoff
“Welcome to Venice” alone makes it clear that there are both pitfalls and potential joys in Venice Beach for Malcolm and Marty. Marty immediately hit off with Bellamy, but Courtney swiftly stepped in to ensure their flirting didn’t go too far. Similarly, Malcolm initially turned down a new writing job but ended up taking on the challenge to spite his new neighbor Bruce’s attempts to buy him out. Marty and Malcolm should not just go back to Pasadena at the end of The Neighborhood season 8, since these are rich opportunities for the pair.
The always underemployed Malcolm could find out whether writing really was the right career for him by working on ghostwriting a Real Housewife’s memoir.
By sticking out the challenges and joys of Venice Beach, both Butler brothers could potentially learn a lot and grow in the show’s final season. Marty could finally force Courtney’s hand by dating Bellamy, bringing their inconclusive romance to a more definitive place. Meanwhile, the always underemployed Malcolm could find out whether writing really was the right career for him by working on ghostwriting a Real Housewife’s memoir. These challenges could give the ing stars of The Neighborhood season 8 some real growth, making the move to Venice Beach well worth the trouble as the sitcom reaches its end.
Source: TVLine
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The Neighborhood - Season 7
- Release Date
- October 21, 2024
- Network
- CBS
- Series
- The Neighborhood
- Episodes
- 20
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