Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

S1 E3: How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors?

Host: Hulu, Michael Cyril Creighton (Howard)
Release Date: September 1, 2021

Episode Overview

This episode dives into episode three of "Only Murders in the Building," focusing on Howard, the enigmatic cat-loving neighbor played by Michael Cyril Creighton. With hosts Elizabeth Keener and Kevin Lahn, the show offers a blend of behind-the-scenes insights, playful banter, and a closer look at the cast and the intricacies involved in creating the Arconia's mystery-laden world. The discussion blends show analysis, personal anecdotes from Michael, costume and set secrets, and even a whodunit guessing game reflecting the podcast-within-a-podcast premise of the series.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Meet the Cast: Michael Cyril Creighton as Howard

• Gallery Wall Intro:

  • Michael calls in from New York, sitting in front of an art-filled wall.
  • Shares details: “That's a painting of Madeline Kahn... there is a drawing I did of my husband and me and our dog.” (01:32)

• Howard vs. Michael:

  • Despite playing a cat devotee, Michael is "a dog person" but appreciates all animals.
  • “There was some substitution in my acting, but I am a dog person. I do have a dog. I do like cats.” (02:04)
  • Jokes about never having a portrait of his pet above the fireplace, “No portraits of Olivine, but I think in the freezer.” (02:23)

2. True Crime Fandom

• Michael isn’t a listener of true crime podcasts but enjoys true crime documentaries, especially those about cults.
  • “I don't listen to any true crime podcasts or any of Dateline 2020, but I do love true crime documentary shows like Cult Ones.” (02:38)
  • He binged "I'll Be Gone in the Dark": “I was like, I'm just gonna start one episode... by the next day, I had finished the whole thing.” (02:57)

3. Casting and Auditioning During COVID

• Michael’s path to the role involved a connection (Jamie Babbitt, director/EP) but was mostly a traditional process, albeit virtual:
  • “I auditioned for it on Zoom because it was, you know, in the heat of it all, fell in love with the part immediately…” (03:15)
• He preferred Zoom auditions over self-taping:
  • “I really thrive off of other people... the fact that this one was specifically on Zoom, I think really helped me sort of give the performance I wanted to give.” (04:08)

4. Exploring Howard’s Character

• “The writing of the character is such a gift. Because he's not just one thing... very sweet and sour... very emotional, very gentle in some ways, but has a sharp, sharp temper." (04:59)
• Howard’s grudge against Tim Kono is acknowledged and central to his interactions:
  • “He has a lot of rage for someone in particular… Tim Kono, her neighbor. Dead man walking.” (05:24-05:31)
• While the character seems odd, Michael layered the performance based on the script, staying true to the writers’ vision.
• He shares a “lost” monologue about Evelyn the cat that meant a lot during his prep:
  • “There was a longer monologue about Evelyn the cat... she would lick the salt off my fingers... very touching, very bizarre…” (05:47)

5. On Set Stories: First Days and Stunt Work

• Michael’s first scene was the memorial, where Howard is introduced in tears:
  • “The very first time we meet you, you're crying... It's not about Tim, it's about Tim.” (06:40)
• Starstruck moments with the cast:
  • "A room of people I admired... ranging from people I grew up watching to Selena Gomez, who I've danced poorly to her music for a lot of my adult life.” (06:56)
• The infamous fainting scene:
  • Multiple falls were needed, with a stunt coordinator and Michael’s former stunt double on set to assist, but Michael did all the falls himself.
  • “I ended up doing the fall, but he was helping me do it safely with the stunt coordinator.” (07:59)
• Costume fun:
  • Michael relished how frumpy and sad Howard appears: “This long, sad cardigan is the greatest thing I've ever seen. Let's put him in a mock turtleneck. Do you have it in brown?” (09:28)
  • “There was another guy there who was, like, a stronger version of me in the very exact costume. So there was two mes walking around.” (09:33)

6. Filming During COVID

• New norms on set: frequent tests, distancing, lack of hugging, seeing only half of people’s faces.
• "You want to connect. It took some adjusting... Steven, Marty, do impressions of what it's like to be directed by someone who has a mask on and a helmet, and you can't really hear a lot of what they're saying. So you just kind of nod..." (10:29)
• Gratitude for the effort to keep things running:
  • “The amount of work... from the PAs to John the showrunner... I can't. I'm so grateful that the show got made and that I got to do it.” (11:46)

7. New York Vibes, Broadway Moments, and Apartment Envy

• The theater "audition" scene, with its “flash dance” style, was a highlight:
  • “That sweatshirt was a dream again, Dana [the costume designer]... I was approaching it from a sense of Real Housewives catchphrase.” (12:27)
• Performing on a stage was thrilling for Michael after a long hiatus:
  • “It was really exciting to one be on a stage, since I hadn't been on a stage in a couple years.” (13:04)
• Michael is jealous of Howard’s (enormous) apartment, poking fun at New York real estate and set design:
  • “There's, like, a cat playground... what I'm most jealous of is that kitchen is enormous.” (14:09)
  • The exterior and lobby of the Arconia are real locations, while apartments are sets. (14:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On auditioning during the pandemic:

  "I really thrive off of other people... the fact that this one was specifically on Zoom, I think really helped me sort of give the performance I wanted to give." — Michael Cyril Creighton (04:08)

• On Howard’s sweet/sour nature:

  “I kind of found him to be very sweet and sour. So he's very emotional, very gentle in some ways, but has a sharp, sharp temper.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (04:59)

• Costume confession:

  “This long, sad cardigan is the greatest thing I've ever seen. Let's put him in a mock turtleneck. Do you have it in brown?” — Michael Cyril Creighton (09:28)

• On set under COVID protocols:

  “You want to connect... It took some adjusting... So you just kind of nod and... I got that. Yeah, exactly.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (10:29)

• Apartment envy:

  “What I'm most jealous of is that kitchen is enormous. I mean, the apartment is enormous compared to, like, what really happens in New York.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (14:19)

Whodunit Summit — The Hosts Guess

Segment starts at: 16:00

• Hosts Elizabeth and Kevin participate in their “Whodunit Summit,” guessing the killer after episode three.
  • Kevin’s guess: Sting.
  • Elizabeth’s guess: Nathan Lane’s character’s son, the deaf deli guy’s son — “Because of all the clues so far... the ones you've known for so long might be the ones that you don't know at all. So that could be…” (17:53)

Important Timestamps

• 01:32 — Michael describes his art wall and pets
• 02:04 — Discussion on being a cat vs. dog person
• 03:15 — Origin story: how Michael was cast as Howard
• 04:59 — Exploring the character of Howard
• 05:47 — The "lost" Evelyn the cat monologue revelation
• 06:40 — Filming the memorial scene, first day on set
• 07:59 — Stunt/fainting scene details and the role of the costume
• 10:01 — COVID protocols on set and adapting
• 12:27 — The Broadway “flash dance” scene and costume highlights
• 14:19 — Real vs. set apartments and the envy of Howard's kitchen
• 16:00 — Whodunit guessing game begins

Tone and Style

• Friendly, witty, and enthusiastic—a blend of genuine behind-the-scenes revelations and playful sleuthing.
• Michael is self-deprecating and candid; the hosts are diehard fans who relish the meta layers of the show and podcast.

For Fans and Listeners

This episode is a must-listen for fans of Howard, cat lovers, and anyone curious about acting and filmmaking during COVID. The cast’s love for the material and the camaraderie on (and off) set shines throughout. The guessing game keeps the energy light and interactive, perfectly mirroring the whodunit fun of "Only Murders in the Building."