‘There Goes the Neighborhood’ finale recap
Cameron, Regina, Carliegh & Theresa
The “core” held. And the Johnstons were able to take advantage.
Five of the eight Kennesaw families in “There Goes the Neighborhood” on CBS were considered so close, they called themselves “the core.” Though an “outside” family the Schindlers made it to the final two, the Johnstons’ connection with most of the other families helped them pocket the $250,000 prize
So by a whoppingly lopsided vote of 21 to 3, the Johnstons took home the cash in Sunday night’s finale of the CBS show, which was taped in June and July.
Another added advantage for the Johnstons: Cameron Johnston had been unemployed for two years and really needed the cash.
“The financial problems we had, we don’t have to sweat for awhile,” said Cameron Johnston after winning. “It’s a load off our shoulders.”
Compared to most other reality shows, this one was largely drama free without much “Extreme Makeover”-type uplift either. That combo didn’t make for a great reality show.
The families seemed nice enough. There were a few alliances, some backstabbing and tears galore. But riveting TV? Kim Zolciak of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” would have called it a “[bleepin'] snoozefest.”
The numbers don’t lie: the series brought in some of the lowest ratings ever for a CBS series. Last week, it didn’t even bring in three million viewers.
The Upshaws, after dominating three straight weeks, knew they had to win the final challenge to guarantee a spot in the top 2.
In the most elaborate challenge to date, the Johnstons finally won, just beating out the Upshaws. It included water slides and a major game of Concentration.
Although the Johnstons were close to the Upshaws, they didn’t bring them to the final two. It was purely strategic. They knew if they were up against the Upshaws, they’d lose. So they picked the Schindlers. The Upshaws did not take it personally.
The final two families both played the game under the radar. The Schindlers were able to latch onto the Upshaws and stay viable even though they were considered outside “the core” group of five families.
The Schindlers didn’t know the other families as well. But they were charming and friendly. Their adorable six-year-old daughter Olivia always provided a laugh when she’d ask to stay.
But even after winning the final challenge, the Schindlers did not schmooze with the other families when they had a chance to campaign for themselves. They felt uncomfortable doing so. Regina Johnston, on the other hand, didn’t shy away from asking everyone who they were voting for.
Given the final vote, it was probably a foregone conclusion anyway.
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40 comments Add your comment
Lucy Bloom
September 14th, 2009
6:58 am
Thank GOD this show is finally OVER!!!!!
George
September 14th, 2009
7:37 am
Hope they can all be friends again, after the episode I watched, there might be a few FOR SALE signs going up.
SGa
September 14th, 2009
7:54 am
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Lisa
September 14th, 2009
8:34 am
The only good thing on the show were the Schindlers. I’m sorry they lost. If this is about giving money to someone who has been laid off then there are a million other families who should get the money too. The Schindler’s children were well behaved and kind throughout the whole show. If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t have watched past the first half of the first episode. Sorry Schindlers…you are the neighbors to have.
Joe
September 14th, 2009
8:43 am
Joe has no comment
Dawg
September 14th, 2009
8:56 am
Very boring show.
JDJ
September 14th, 2009
9:26 am
Yes, there were uncomfortable moments to watch — I felt badly for several people, but the overall “Luv ya’, Man” attitude will win out. These ARE nice people — any of whom I’d love to have as neighbors. I wish each of them well, and much success.
no value
September 14th, 2009
9:31 am
Pitting neighbor against neighbor for money? Ultimate in bad ideas. Nothing about this show felt right. No feel goods here.
Bored
September 14th, 2009
9:33 am
This is one show I hope will never be repeated. BORING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
azcat225
September 14th, 2009
9:34 am
According to a co-worker who is a resident of the subdivision but wasn’t in the show, there are several families that are not talking to one another now that were talking before the show. Guess they forgot it was a game…
GayBlackCripple
September 14th, 2009
9:43 am
aside from the Upshaws, the Core appeared to be a bunch of self-involved a-holes…
really hated the fat family that got kicked out first and the redneck in the goatee… the gay ladies were a pair of beyotches the whole time and the winners were a conceited bunch of losers – no wonder the dad is unemployed…
Stu
September 14th, 2009
9:48 am
250K aint playin’.
Shanda
September 14th, 2009
9:52 am
I liked this show. People who said it was boring were evidently watching. It may not be like the other reality shows, but for some of us thats a good thing.
Woodstock
September 14th, 2009
10:47 am
I don’t see a second season. I only watched because the neighborhood was in Kennesaw. Very boring and no drama. Can’t wait for Survivor and Amazing Race!
Mr. Smith
September 14th, 2009
10:51 am
I watched this show in painful agony. Only because it was filmed locally. Vows renewed to abandon realty based television. Another local travesty of epic proportion is the long suffering “RHOA”. Now that this one has expired hopeful the other will also die quickly. In the future, I will spend my time counting my stock of bathroom Q-tips rather than subject myself to likes of any local realty programs.
Scott Anderson
September 14th, 2009
10:57 am
After the first show I could not watch it anymore.
Pitting neighbors that were good friends against each other is not a good premise. No one wants to watch that deteriorate into for sale signs. Money truly is the root of all evil.
Chief Wiggum
September 14th, 2009
11:21 am
So, I take it that Larry Wachs didn’t win? Peteetong.
Maretta
September 14th, 2009
11:44 am
The low ratings are unfortunate — CBS didn’t promote the show enough; why wasn’t someone on The Early Show or some other show promoting There Goes the Neighborhood. I loved the show and enjoyed all the families. Kudoos to you all. Thanks for some wholesome entertainment that my entire family could watch this summer.
Joyce D.
September 14th, 2009
12:17 pm
Entire show was boring. There was more action watching TCM old movies that watching this. CBS needs to regroup for the next season and do better.
Jessica
September 14th, 2009
12:23 pm
I actually liked this show. I realized that it was the MEN who cared so much for one another…the thought of hurting a friend made them actually sick to their stomaches. I am happy that the Johnstons won. They played the game without making alliances, lying or hurting anyone! I hope the neighborhood can recover and they all learn a lesson about what money can do to a person. I hope they do a reunion show so we can hear what everyone has learned about themselves and their neighbors.
ROBN
September 14th, 2009
2:04 pm
I THINK IT WAS WRONG THE SCHIDLERS WON THE LAST CHALANGE SO THEY SHOULD OF GOT THE MONEY. THE GAME WAS ALL ABOUT CHALLANGES NOT POPULARITY
DVR and fast forward
September 14th, 2009
4:27 pm
The show started late and DVR’S did not record all of the show. Sounds like by the above comments I did not miss much. I did think most of the shows were boring. Does anyone know which family originally contacted the show in order for them and their neighbors to be picked? I am happy that in the economy crisis we are in that a network is picking average families for a chance to win money.
Carol
September 14th, 2009
4:54 pm
I enjoyed the show very much and those who thought it was boring or zzzzzzzzzzz, well don’t watch it instead of critizing it. I’m glad the Johnston’s won. It was a game, only a game and it went to a deserving family. You could see who were the poor sports and it’s tooooo bad.
REALITYJUNKIE
September 14th, 2009
5:02 pm
I liked the show,it made families bond n communicate better. My wish was for the Upshaws,oh well the kids were too cute,it was great seeing family men bond,I hope they can all stay n their homes. Loved it!!!
Mary T
September 14th, 2009
5:08 pm
I liked the show. I thought it was good, wholesome entertainment. For once while watching a reality show, I wasn’t sitting on the edge of my seat wondering what flith would come out of the contestants mouths. I just hate that my DVR only recorded half of the finale. As a loyal viewer, it would have been nice to actually see the finale in its entirity instead of reading about it.
Congratulations Johnston Family!
linda
September 14th, 2009
5:54 pm
i hope the schindlers got some money too for being in the final 2
i liked their family; i think the schindlers had more class by not going around asking whow were voting for them.
BC
September 14th, 2009
6:54 pm
all I have to say , and its my OP that the schindlers got ripped off ! they won the last one , they should have got the money . why the heck would they leave it to a vote ? did they think the core would not vote for one of their own or what . if I was the schindlers, after winning and then hearing that others where voting who wins. I would know I lost and would be so mad , and that is putting it nice as I can . again My O P I am just glad its over
Lives in the neighborhood
September 14th, 2009
7:09 pm
I am just glad the whole fiasco is over. It has brought disgrace to a beautiful neighborhood. We live in a covenant ruled community, so I can’t even put a birdbath in my front yard without permission from the covenant committee, yet our community can be portrayed on nationwide TV like this? Supposedly, the homeowners voted to agree thatthis show would be filmed here. So far, I have not spoken to anyone in this community who had even heard about the show prior to the walls going up. The mayor, who also lives in Legacy Park (on the other hand) was estatic about the publicity and money this would bring to his city…Great going mayor. You won’t have my next vote. I guess being in the public eye so often, you are used to being made a mockery of.
Dave Martin
September 14th, 2009
10:09 pm
This was not a very entertaining reality series. Dry as unbuttered toast and after watching the last few eps I could only wonder when did CBS become an acronym for Can’t Buy Sh*t.
deanna
September 15th, 2009
11:22 am
the fact that CBS cancelled The Unit and put this type of entertainment on, makes me wonder what good tv really is.
EJ
September 15th, 2009
2:50 pm
Sad that in the end it came down to popularity. I enjoyed watching the show for the most part. Probably would not be interested in a second season unless it was also based in this area or another part of the country that I have a connection to. That was the primary draw for me.
EJ
September 15th, 2009
2:52 pm
And for those people with DVR issues. CBS has a lot of their programming online for free. When i saw my box didn’t record the whole episode, I switched over to CBS for the ending.
Tamara
September 15th, 2009
6:36 pm
I was hoping the Schindlers would win. They have a sweet family. But now its over. I hope to see another show like this soon.
Dave H.
September 16th, 2009
12:13 am
I liked it. Considering the premise of the show – a competition of real neighbors – there were actually a lot of storylines and unique personalities to follow.
BKL
September 16th, 2009
8:02 am
I liked the show but it did get boring at times. It seem to me that the core was running the game. I would have liked for the underdogs to have won.
tmoney
September 16th, 2009
5:01 pm
i think upshaws should have won, they won most of the competitions. anyway good job johnson,u deserve it, u played the game and won.shindlers are kinda sneaky and im glad they lost. now lets see how u guys remain friends.or if u even keep each other in ur everyday lives>>>>>>>>>>>
tmoney
September 16th, 2009
5:05 pm
just goes to show u money is not everything but it helps,as long as u have your families u will be just fine>may you all havea the best of success………….
Carolyn Crawford-Scott
September 17th, 2009
5:39 pm
This show was awesome and wolesome. I loved it and hope that it is on every season, too bad it had such low ratings and reviews. I was looking forward to seeing it weekly, I taped them afraid that I would miss it. I loved the neighborhood and the freindships they had.
Thanks, Carolyn
Lily
September 18th, 2009
4:08 am
This show was fairly entertaining. I probably watched it mostly because I live in Kennesaw, so it was interesting to see a show based in my town. I wish CBS would have brought back Greatest American Dog instead of creating There Goes The Neighborhood however. I loved that show, and the Neighborhood show replaced it this summer. Boooo!
pauly
September 20th, 2009
2:38 pm
I liked it. I thought it was alright. It wasn’t the great american road trip, but it was good clean family fun. A show for ages 8 to 80 and we didn’t feel embarrassed about the shows content.