Many are familiar with the term “soundtrack of our lives,” that personal playlist of defining songs that serve as markers for distinct periods of time. Just as music anchors memory, so too do films and television series. The filmography of my life is a long and distinct one, and this year marked the conclusion of yet another series worthy of its place on that list. As quickly as The Neighborhood and its characters became constant players in my life, it was with a bent head and somber heart that I watched them go.
Welcome to the Block
The final episode of the series that made its debut in 2018 aired this past May. For eight years, we got to know the Butlers and the Johnsons—two very different families connected by shared turf but bound together by camaraderie, mutual interest, and shared experience. When Dave Johnson, a bubbly personality unfazed by social norms and unspoken politics, was first dropped into the neighborhood, he made it his mission not only to make his new surroundings his home but also his next-door neighbor his best friend.
Calvin, a father to two young men and husband to a vibrant personality, found it difficult to adjust to Johnson, his mannerisms, and his striking lack of social awareness. It was that very awkwardness that made for great television, and it was precisely the cement needed for an odd coupling—the foundation upon which two very different people could build a genuine friendship.
There Goes the Neighborhood
The Neighborhood was the brainchild of Jim Reynolds, and it was an apt exploration of the old adage “Look Who’s Coming to Dinner” or, perhaps more on the nose, “There goes the neighborhood.” Of course, this is not new terrain. This narrative has been played out time and again: The Addams Family, Mork & Mindy, and The Jeffersons. The enduring idea of what happens when someone — or something — disruptive is thrown into the mix. In this case, that disruptive force is Dave Johnson, portrayed with charm and earnestness by Max Greenfield, moving into the hood.
The Thinning of the Line
At the beginning, the division was thick. But over time, the gradual thinning of those boundaries became undeniable, underscoring the timeless truth that people are people, regardless of the factors that divide us. No ensemble could have delivered that lesson more effectively than this comedic bunch: Cedric the Entertainer, Tichina Arnold, Sheaun McKinney, Beth Behrs, Max Greenfield, and Hank Greenspan. Each brought something irreplaceable to the block, and together they made it feel like home.
Welcome to Goodbye
Despite its long and celebrated run, the time came to say goodbye. The final adieu aired on May 11th. The series finale, appropriately titled “Welcome to Goodbye,” served as a beautiful bookend. Just as the series commenced with an eager Johnson moving into the neighborhood, it concluded with a more seasoned Johnson, wiser to the world, looking forward, and moving onward. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
The Johnsons, now far more expansive in number and still growing, remained right where we found them but with broader horizons and fuller hearts. Deep friendships start in the most unusual of ways. There is simply no way of determining when that one beautiful flint will appear, or when it will drift away once its work has been done.
The Door Left Open
Upon earlier news of the series’ impending conclusion, there was great hope that the end would not necessarily be the end for this brood. While we may no longer be able to hang out on the block, the thought was that we could still return periodically by way of Malcolm and Marty. That, unfortunately, was not in the cards. Now, the only remaining link is Crutch, Calvin’s cousin, portrayed by Tracy Morgan, running his own ship in his own neck of the woods.
A Doorway, Not a Dead End
Here are three cheers to a show that made itself at home in our homes. Much thanks to the creatives who had the spark to tell a story told so many times before but with a flipped concept and a fresh heart. If we remember nothing else from The Neighborhood, we leave with this understanding: endings are never really endings. They are simply doorways to new beginnings. Thank you.
Uncut Diamonds 