Reality Star Mercedes Makes Awkward First Impression on Malcolm Butler

LOS ANGELES, CA — A new character joins the cast of CBS’s popular sitcom, The Neighborhood, as reality TV star Mercedes encounters Malcolm Butler, a ghostwriter, for the first time. This scene unfolds in the episode titled “Welcome to the Walk of Roses,” slated to air on November 17, 2025.

Mercedes, known from the show Trophy Divas of Brentwood, meets Butler at her restaurant, The Forq. According to the episode’s logline, Calvin receives an unexpected honor, while Butler’s ghostwriting experience takes an unexpected turn after an outburst from his celebrity client.

<pTheir first meeting does not start off smoothly. Upon entering the restaurant with her assistant, Mercedes greets Butler with, "Malcolm Butler, we meet at last. Am I late? Are we late?" Butler replies, glancing at his watch, "Only 45 minutes." Mercedes reacts, expressing her concern, "Oh, great. I was afraid I was keeping you waiting."

Butler’s pleasant demeanor quickly shifts when Mercedes dismisses her assistant’s need for a chair, declaring, “She’s not hungry. She ate yesterday.” The awkward tension escalates when Mercedes questions the waiter why they were seated in a prominent location. “Am I the owner or the entertainment?” she asks, to which Butler clarifies that they were free to sit anywhere.

As the conversation continues, Butler apologizes for the uncomfortable situation. He explains his confusion regarding the notes on her project titled Brown Sugar Nights, saying, “I just got turned around by the notes on Brown Sugar Nights.” Mercedes disputes, “I never said it should be aspirational,” leading to more confusion between the two.

Fans can watch this tense encounter unfold on CBS, as the sitcom airs its final season. Mercedes’ role promises not to be a one-time appearance, ensuring viewers will see more of her antics in the coming episodes.