‘The Neighborhood’ Star Hank Greenspan Teases Series’ ‘Bittersweet’ Ending (Exclusive)

Having a present come to an finish that you just’ve labored on for greater than half your life is certainly bittersweet. Hank Greenspan, The Neighborhood‘s youngest cast member, shared what’s in retailer for Grover Johnson, his ending, and extra.

The CBS present is ready to end on Monday, May 11. With solely two episodes left till the Butlers and the Johnsons say goodbye endlessly, Greenspan shared that the final day of filming was “bittersweet.”

“It was more bitter than sweet, really,” he mentioned. “No one wanted The Neighborhood to end. No one was like, ‘Alright, looking forward to new opportunities.’ The industry is rough right now, so it isn’t ideal.”

“People would have wanted it to run a little bit longer, I think, but I think the ending that we did was really well written.” Greenspan additionally advised TV Insider that the series finale was rewritten. He and his castmates had a say in how it will finish after they did a table read and thought it “needed more punch.”

“That was the longest week of shooting ever,” he mentioned. “Because it was bittersweet. It was the final run-throughs we had. It felt like you savored it more. Everyone’s going to be excited to see the ending.”

The ending will characteristic each Marty (Marcel Spears) and Malcolm’s (Sheaun McKinney) weddings, in addition to “tearful goodbyes” and “old tensions.” But what’s in retailer for Grover?

Find out what else he needed to say about being the one little one actor on set, why The Neighborhood resonated with followers for therefore lengthy, and extra on his indie film, Ethan Bloom, which is slowly rolling into theaters nationwide.

TVI: Signing on as a baby, did you ever assume The Neighborhood can be greater than half of your life thus far?

Greenspan: No. I imply, I believe I didn’t even actually, as a child, I didn’t actually perceive what I used to be moving into, if that is smart. It was onerous to completely comprehend the total scale of what was occurring. I used to be solely six or seven years outdated, and I knew that I used to be on a present, nevertheless it was unattainable to grasp. I’d say solely about possibly in a few years in, did I notice thousands and thousands of individuals watch this every single day or each week. That’s an enormous deal. It’s not that I didn’t realize it, nevertheless it was that I couldn’t grasp it, if that is smart.

How did you sort out being a child, going to high school, and so forth., and dealing on a significant present?

Well, it was onerous at first as a result of I used to be nonetheless going to high school concurrently I used to be doing The Neighborhood for the very first 12 months. Basically, the best way we tried to work it out with my college was the concept was that I’d do The Neighborhood for half of the 12 months, after which go into public college for the remainder of the 12 months. Then, that was sort of a cluster. It didn’t actually work out. There had been loads of issues that weren’t matched as a result of, with this, you’re employed with a set trainer if you’re doing TV. All folks below 17 years outdated have to do college with a studio trainer for at the least three hours a day to meet the necessities. So, as a result of my studio trainer had principally no reference to the varsity, there have been a bunch of disconnects. There had been issues that they taught within the first half of the 12 months, however I didn’t be taught, so I didn’t know the basics.

Also, I simply don’t like going to high school personally, however finally, after that, we switched to doing on-line education, which is principally the identical curriculum, however you do it from a pc, which is what I did with my studio trainer, which was lots simpler as a result of it was extra constant. It wasn’t draining like I wasn’t ever tremendous wired over my quantity of labor I needed to do or something, or it was by no means overwhelming as a result of the character of the present is simply very calm and I labored with very good individuals who revered me and it was very good to work on that set. I by no means had any poisonous arguments or incidents on that set.

I talked to Amber Stevens West a couple of weeks in the past, and he or she mentioned, though she solely joined this season, the one factor that made her cry the most was fascinated with how a lot you grew up on the present. Was there something that made you emotional about The Neighborhood ending?

I used to be sort of was. She’s undoubtedly proper. I used to be the tangible means of displaying that the present has modified.I used to be a bit, little child once I first began, and now I’m a tall little one. [laughs]. But that was in all probability the commonest factor I obtained advised that week was how unhappy it simply was. Everyone would take a look at me and get all unhappy.

I don’t know the issues that made me unhappy had been in all probability taking pictures the ultimate scene, in all probability probably the most. I believe the ultimate scene was truly the primary scene of the final episode that we shot, and it was. It was additionally late; it was a late taking pictures day, and we had been all fairly exhausted. Then on the finish, they introduced out an enormous cake, and everybody celebrated, and it was actually unhappy however very, very cute, and I bear in mind Beth [Behrs] advised herself that she wouldn’t cry, however she did. I bear in mind earlier than the ultimate scene that we shot, everybody was crying. I believe Beth made like a guess with me on who would and wouldn’t cry. But, Beth cried on the desk learn and on the taking pictures of the particular closing scene, which wasn’t the very last thing we shot, however anyway, it was very cute, however I obtained a bit choked up on the finish.

Why do you assume that The Neighborhood has lasted for eight seasons? What made followers resonate with it?

It’s attention-grabbing as a result of I grew up at a time after sitcoms. A set producer, Patrick, requested me what traditional sitcoms I grew up with, and I couldn’t actually identify any. I didn’t develop up with any traditional sitcoms, or I grew up with Cartoon Network exhibits, like [The Amazing World of] Gumball, however that was previous everybody’s time. Everyone on that set grew up with Roseanne, or they grew up with a Nickelodeon one like iCarly or Victorious, or one thing like that.

Sitcoms appear to resonate with folks in a means that different exhibits can’t, simply due to their nature. The characters in a sitcom grow to be your lives, and if it’s a great sitcom, you’ll wish to see what they’re going to make it out of it, and it simply seems like a really cozy factor. In a world stuffed with chaos and uncertainty, sitcoms particularly resonate with folks as a result of they’re constant, however not in a boring means, in an attention-grabbing means the place the characters and it’ll all the time wrap round on the finish. It’s heartwarming. It’s a candy factor.

It’s a mix of very, excellent writing and only a very, excellent solid. Also, the set, I had no reference for it as a result of it was the primary set I’d ever labored on, however individuals who had been veterans of the trade mentioned that The Neighborhood was simply among the finest units, if not probably the most enjoyable set to be on that they’ve ever been on, simply due to how everybody appears out for one another. Basically, there’s nobody who will get particular remedy. I identical to the idea of that lots.

There’s no, “I’m extra necessary than you. There’s no superiority actually. I’ve to thank Cedric [The Entertainer] for that as a result of Cedric is the boss. So all of it principally comes down from the highest. I’ve heard of units the place if the individual on the high is like an a**gap or one thing, then everybody else is sort of going to comply with swimsuit in a means as a result of nobody’s having fun with themselves and since they’re not being regarded out for.

This was your first position. How did it really feel to work with veteran TV actors? Did they offer you any recommendation?

I believe they did, however actually, I can’t bear in mind loads of it. I’m somebody who learns by observing different folks and watching different people who find themselves good at one thing do it, and see their mannerisms and what habits they use. So, even simply being round all these good, good actors. It was actually, actually good performing coaching for me, and in addition, simply get to persistently work 5 days every week is nice follow.

I’m extraordinarily fortunate to have that as a result of performing isn’t all the time constant. I do know individuals who go from job to job, and it’s onerous to maintain it constant. That’s simply the character of the job, however I obtained fortunate on a present that was excellent and ran for a really very long time, and so I obtained loads of follow simply doing it persistently, and in addition being round all these legendary actors that had been on that set.

Ann Baggley

We know that Marty and Malcolm are getting married, and Dave misplaced his job. What are you able to tease about Grover’s ending?

Grover’s ending is, if there are solely three episodes left, they plant the seeds for what his ending goes to be early on in a few episodes earlier than. It’s principally grounding him as his metamorphosis from being a Kalamazoo child to principally turning into an L.A. child.

I bear in mind halfway by the present, the wardrobe folks advised us they had been altering it. We observed it, after which we requested them about it, and so they confirmed it that they had been altering the best way Grover dressed. They had been making him put on much less kind of kiddie striped shirts, and extra flannels, extra sweatpants. The final couple of seasons, the wardrobe folks knocked it out of the park for me. I believed I used to be fly. They principally dressed him extra so to represent the concept he’s being built-in into L.A. tradition and so the final episode goes to check his medal, in a means, on how on the 2 components of him which might be from Michigan and from LA as a result of it’s he spent the primary half of his life in Michigan, however I believe probably the most youth have been spent in Pasadena.

Now that The Neighborhood is over, are you specializing in highschool or looking for out extra tasks?

My present plan is to pursue performing, truly. I turned 16 this 12 months, so it’s across the time I’ll begin taking a look at school. There are loads of little one actors who do one present, then they notice they don’t like performing, like, “This isn’t for me.”

Even if they’re a fantastic actor, there are many nice actors who don’t take pleasure in it. They’ll normally get into one thing like writing or directing. I nonetheless take pleasure in performing lots. I nonetheless actually prefer it, and that’s what I wish to hold doing for the foreseeable future. I’m making use of to dramatic arts college and ones like Juilliard or the National Theatre School of Canada.

In Ethan Bloom, you weren’t the one teenage actor on set. Did working round folks your age make you’re feeling extra snug? Do you be taught extra from adults? What are the variations in working with adults and teenagers?

I believe that it was truly that’s a great query. It was about the identical, to be trustworthy, as a result of I believe I bear in mind on The Neighborhood at instances, a part of the problem was being the one child on the present. I didn’t actually have like somebody to hang around with.

All these folks on the solid and on set, we’re nice mates, however they’re twice my age, so most of them, I didn’t hang around with. That’s truly not true. Some of us have, my household and Michael, our studio trainer, have gotten fairly shut, and we’re principally household mates now. My grandma and his mother are actually good mates now.

But, I believe if you’re an actor, being a child, it’s a must to be an grownup, in the event you’re an actor, even if you’re not an grownup, as a result of it’s a must to have the duties of getting a job. It’s the identical as displaying as much as work and being answerable for your actions, and being on time. Obviously, you have got dad and mom there, you have got guardians who can look out for you. But it’s a must to be accountable.

That’s why children are onerous to work with loads of the time. That’s why folks don’t like working with children, as a result of, I imply, this isn’t their fault. They’re youngsters. Most children shouldn’t be anticipated to have a job, however I believe working with different children was good as a result of we did get to have that kind of camaraderie. When the adults sat on the resort bar, the youngsters huddled in a single room, and that was sort of good.

What was it like being the principle focus and being on display for 95% of the time, in comparison with The Neighborhood, the place the present isn’t targeted on you the entire time?

It was extraordinarily difficult, and there was a noticeable distinction. Not solely was I the principle character on Ethan Bloom, however The Neighborhood is shot with a fairly large price range. It’s on a sound stage. There’s no third get together.

You don’t should compromise on The Neighborhood, actually, for something since you all the time have a digital camera following you. There’s all the time a microphone above you. You’re on a set. You’re on location.

So, that was an enormous distinction, particularly as a result of on Ethan Bloom, if one individual is wired, it trickles right down to everybody. There was a neighbor operating a lawnmower in the midst of taking pictures, and the director principally jumped over the fence, and I didn’t see what occurred, however the lawnmower stopped operating after that. Planes would come overhead, and there have been far more traces.

You needed to be on time principally as a result of in an indie film, you’re additionally working with successfully borrowed time. You solely have a restricted period of time on every set, and you’ll’t simply hold taking pictures till you get it. Basically, in the event you don’t get it, then it’s going to fail. It’s a bunch of individuals shifting in a line. If one individual stops, everybody behind them can also be going to should cease.

Ethan Bloom was taking part in in festivals, however now it’s coming to theaters. Will or not it’s launched nationwide quickly?

Yes, it’s in theaters domestically in South Florida and throughout Delray. I do know I did a few Q&As on the motion pictures in Delray. So in the event you’re in Florida, you possibly can in all probability discover it, however it is going to be shifting throughout the U.S. We’ve seen a bunch of demand for indie motion pictures like Ethan Bloom. They sink or swim primarily based on phrase of mouth. So, all of the Q &A’s we did each single time, we obtained requested at the least as soon as, “When is this coming to New York? When is this coming to LA? When is this coming to whatever city?” And it’s going to. It’s principally simply reliant on whether or not folks need it to be there.

The Neighborhood, Mondays, 8/7c, CBS

Ethan Bloom, Opening in theaters nationwide, 2026