CBS’s The Neighborhood adds another star in a recurring role: Find out who

The long-running CBS sitcom, The Neighborhood, has cast actress Amber Stevens West in the show's final and eighth season in a recurring role. Season 8 will kick off on October 13, 2025.

According to the Deadline report, West will join the ensemble as "Mercedes," a character who will enjoy plenty of on-screen time alongside cast member Sheaun McKinney.

With earned credit for appearances in The Carmichael Show and Run the World, the arrival of Amber Stevens West brings additional star power and fresh narrative possibilities for the last season of the long-running show.

The personality of Mercedes is reported to be self-centered as well as business-savvy, a mixed personality who will provide lively interactions among established stars. Her fresh personality will shake the neighborhood's long-established dynamics just as The Neighborhood itself will bring the curtain down after seven seasons of success.

Amber Stevens West joins The Neighborhood's final season

Amber Stevens West plays Mercedes, who has been referred to as being "high-drama, high-maintenance, fabulous and self-absorbed" by Deadline.

In a report by Blex Media, West plays an accomplished reality television star on a fictional Trophy Divas of Brentwood, and at first, only thinks about her celebrity image. Mercedes brings in Malcolm (Sheaun McKinney), whom she wants to ghostwrite her novel of romance, and complains it isn't "spicy" enough for the fans. But off-camera, Mercedes is a down-to-earth, astute businesswoman, an interesting contrast to the on-screen extravagance.

Amber Stevens West has a seasoned sitcom credit sheet, having been involved in comedies like The Carmichael Show and credits on Krapopolis, Run The World, as well as Ghosted. Her capacity for showcasing both humorous and heartwarming moments complements the blend well for the final storyline arc on The Neighborhood.

With the addition of Mercedes, fans might anticipate the return of the main cast, who have been vital for the success of The Neighborhood. Regular cast returnees announced for the show are Cedric the Entertainer portraying Calvin Butler, Max Greenfield playing Dave Johnson, Beth Behrs as Gemma Johnson, Tichina Arnold in the role of Tina Butler, Sheaun McKinney as Malcolm Butler, Marcel Spears portraying Marty Butler, and Skye Townsend as Courtney Pridgeon.

The series will also include recurring actors Hank Greenspan as Grover Johnson, Chelsea Harris as Necie, Malik S. as Trey, and Kevin Pollak as Lamar, among others.

What is The Neighborhood about?

Since it started in 2018, The Neighborhood has tracked the life of Calvin, his wife Tina, and their neighbors Dave and Gemma. In the seasons it has run for, the series has achieved a balance between humor and emotion as it has tackled matters of racial tensions, friendship, family, and social activism. Its core has been the building of the characters' relationships, built on acceptance and understanding in the face of difference.

By Season 7, they have been through it all. Malcolm, who started as the lovable underachiever, is finally getting his groove at work. Tina, meanwhile, is the poster child for “it’s never too late,” picking up new hobbies. Sometimes it’s inspiring, sometimes you want to tell her to maybe slow down, but you have to respect the overall hustle.

The community is a character in its own right. Gentrification debates, squabbles over the new coffee shop, or whether the annual block party needs a DJ or just Uncle Lou and his karaoke machine… it’s all there. And through every mess, every argument, there is this undercurrent of sticking together.

And then there’s Calvin: the man, the myth, the barbecue king. He is like the neighborhood’s unofficial therapist, even when he has his own things bubbling under the surface. Sometimes he is the voice of reason; sometimes he is the reason everyone is losing their minds.

The finale is not warm fuzzies. Malcolm has big choices to make, especially with Mercedes showing up and shaking things up. Tina and Gemma are both staring down what it means to be moms and women with dreams that don’t always fit the “mom box.” We expect laughter, ugly crying, and at least one scene where we yell at the screen, “Don’t do it!”

And the neighborhood faces the same messes we all do: change, nostalgia, and fighting for what matters. But through it all, they keep showing up for each other. The Neighborhood never pretended life was simple; it just made you laugh (and sometimes wince) along the way.

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The eighth and last season will be released on Monday, October 13, 2025. It will be aired on CBS at 8:00 PM Eastern / 7:00 PM Central Time. The first episode is called Welcome to the New Normals, and it will be a continuation of the plot lines of the Johnson and Butler families as they experience changes and other surprising circumstances.

To the audience outside the United States, or those who prefer streaming, Season 8 will be released on Paramount+ one day after it airs on CBS, both to Premium and Essential subscribers.

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