Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast — S1 E6: “To Protect and Serve”

Date: September 22, 2021
Host: Hulu / Michael Cyril Creighton
Guests: Writers Madeline George and Kim Rosenstock
Episode Focus: Behind the scenes of Episode 6, themes of friendship and loneliness, writing process insights, and new story developments

Episode Overview

In this installment of the official companion podcast, hosts Elizabeth Keener and Kevin Lon take listeners behind the scenes of “To Protect and Serve,” Episode 6 of Only Murders in the Building. They’re joined by the episode’s writers, Madeline George and Kim Rosenstock, for a lively discussion that explores how the episode was crafted, the balance of comedy and emotion, character arcs, and the ongoing whodunit speculation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Breakdown of Episode 6

• Status of the Police Investigation ([00:28]–[02:19])

  • The podcast kicks off with the hosts considering whether the police might be covering up Tim Kono’s murder, after it’s revealed the toxicology report was never processed and his phone was never sent for analysis.
  • Quote: “Is there someone in the police trying to cover this up?” — Kevin Lon ([01:29])

• The Green Ring Mystery ([02:24]–[02:49])

  • The hosts discuss the significance of Zoe’s green ring, missing after the night she died. Did someone steal it?

• Suspects and Red Herrings ([02:49]–[03:29])

  • The possibility that Teddy (Nathan Lane’s character), who sponsors the podcast and has a suspicious side business, could be the elusive “Angel” is raised.
  • Quote: “Our prime sponsor has become our prime suspect.” — Kevin Lon ([03:05])

• Tim Kono’s Phone as a Key Evidence ([03:56]–[04:28])

  • Mabel receives Tim’s phone, adding a new potential trove of evidence—but they need to crack the code to unlock it.

2. Insights from the Writers’ Room

• Creative Pairing & Playwright Backgrounds ([05:22]–[07:44])

  • Madeline George and Kim Rosenstock share their mutual admiration, playwright backgrounds, and how they were paired for this episode.
  • Quote: “I just couldn’t believe my good fortune... I got to learn at the feet of Kim Rosenstock, who is an extremely experienced and skillful comedy writer.” — Madeline George ([07:25])

• Remote Collaboration & Pandemic Writing ([09:10]–[10:21])

  • The duo wrote the script from different coasts (NY & LA) via late-night Google Docs and virtual meetings, juggling parenting and work in the height of the pandemic.
  • Quote: “I have had a four-year-old and no childcare... I would do a lot of my work between midnight and four am.” — Kim Rosenstock ([09:14])

3. Balancing Comedy, Drama, and Mystery

• Finding the Tone ([11:08]–[12:11])

  • The writers highlight the challenge and iterative process of threading heartfelt moments into a comedic murder mystery.
  • Mabel’s family dinner was a key emotional anchor for the episode, showing her vulnerability.
  • Quote: “It kept needing to serve different purposes...a process of layering things in and recalibrating.” — Kim Rosenstock ([11:52])

• Diverse Writers’ Room Dynamics ([12:37]–[13:37])

  • The room blended backgrounds: classic comedians (Steve Martin & Martin Short), drama (This Is Us), and playwrights, leading to the show's signature tone.

4. Character Deep-Dives

• Mabel’s Inner Life & Friendship Themes ([13:40]–[14:17]; [24:10]–[25:22])

  • Mabel’s backstory and emotional growth anchor the episode, especially her journey from isolation to belonging.
  • Quote: “[Mabel] actually now does have a real relationship...she hasn't had friends in a really long time.” — Kim Rosenstock ([24:56])
  • The ongoing theme of loneliness versus found family is traced throughout both this episode and the season.

• Detective Williams’ Perspective ([23:13]–[24:10])

  • The episode opens and closes with monologues from Detective Williams, shifting the narrative viewpoint.
  • Quote: “We were interested...in getting into the head of someone who, by trade, is an investigator, since our trio are passionate amateurs.” — Madeline George ([23:13])
  • Brings up the significance of seeing the wider impact of the investigation and the podcast.

• Jan the Sexy Bassoonist ([14:26]–[16:04])

  • Writers share the “New York” realism behind her character and the humor and beauty in having a bassoonist love interest.
  • Behind the scenes: Amy Ryan’s commitment to authentically handling the bassoon.

5. Gut Milk: Iconic Gag and Creative Process

• Naming the Show’s Weird Beverage ([16:26]–[22:26])
  • Madeline George came up with “Gut Milk,” spending hours brainstorming disgusting-yet-lighthearted names.
  • Quote: “I just was like, what is the most disgusting and also light-hearted name of a fermented energy drink that could possibly exist?” — Madeline George ([21:43])
  • Listeners learn the origin was NOT the “Got Milk?” campaign, surprising the writers themselves.

6. Working with Iconic Leads (& Selena Gomez)

• Childhood Fandom and First Impressions ([17:15]–[19:47])

  • Both Kim and Madeline reminisce about their childhoods watching Three Amigos and Roxanne, and the surreal experience of working (virtually) with Martin Short and Steve Martin.

• Selena Gomez’s Performance ([19:47]–[20:42])

  • Praise for Selena’s blend of wit and sincerity: “She’s got a lot of heart ... but she’s also super funny and she’s not just a straight man opposite them” — Madeline George ([19:55])

7. Themes: Morality of True-Crime and Personal Stakes

• Exploring Moral Quandaries ([26:37]–[28:36])

  • The episode wrestles with the moral implications of making true crime entertainment at the expense of real people’s trauma.
  • Quote: “Should we continue before [Mabel] comes back? ... Is it right to keep exploiting this tragedy that happened?” — Kim Rosenstock ([27:00])
  • The writers almost added more NYPD procedural details but opted to “humanize” over going too deep into dry detail.

• Blurring Lines Between Amateur & Professional Investigation ([28:44]–[29:12])

  • The show highlights how amateurs can sometimes achieve what professionals (bound by rules and bureaucracy) can’t. The writers emphasize the value of “wild west” sleuthing.

8. Loaded Details, Red Herrings & Hidden Clues

• The Monologue about Greek Coins ([30:10]–[30:43])

  • Teddy’s family lore story was contributed by showrunner John Hoffman; not everything is a direct clue, but “everything is significant.”
  • Quote: “Everything is significant. Sounds like a clue, right?” — Kevin Lon ([30:46])

• Hints from the Writers ([31:00]–[31:33])

  • Teasing listeners, the writers reveal: “The clue to whodunit has been said in a lie already on your podcast.” — Madeline George ([31:00])
  • Quote: “Everything is connected to everything. I mean, there isn’t anything in the show that isn’t.” — Kim Rosenstock ([31:24])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Our prime sponsor has become our prime suspect.” — Kevin Lon ([03:05])
• “I just couldn’t believe my good fortune ... I got to learn at the feet of Kim Rosenstock…” — Madeline George ([07:25])
• “This episode went through many, many drafts ... it kept needing to serve different purposes.” — Kim Rosenstock ([11:15]–[11:52])
• “She [Selena Gomez]’s got a lot of heart and ... she’s not just a straight man opposite them.” — Madeline George ([19:55])
• “The clue to who done it has been said in a lie already on your podcast.” — Madeline George ([31:00])

Whodunit Summit: Hosts’ Episode 6 Suspect Picks ([31:52]–[33:05])

• Kevin’s pick: Oscar’s father, the Super

• Elizabeth’s pick: Theo (Teddy’s son)

  • Reasoning: “Only a few people knew about the podcast when Oliver got the note saying, ‘stop the podcast or die,’ and he was one of them.” — Elizabeth Keener ([32:48])
  • Humorous conclusion: “Do you feel it in your gut? — In my gut milk!” ([33:00])

• Listener Theories:

  • Anna: Thinks the killer is Teddy (Nathan Lane), possibly hiring Ursula for the job.
  • Jennifer: Also suspects Teddy, noting the “Demas” (deli name) connection to St. Demas, patron saint of repentant thieves.

Key Timestamps

• 00:28–03:29: Red herrings, prime suspects, and podcast plot speculation
• 05:22–07:44: Writers’ backgrounds and collaboration story
• 09:10–10:21: Pandemic writing and late-night Google Docs saga
• 11:08–14:17: Layering dramatic and comedic tones, writing the dinner table scene
• 16:26–22:26: “Gut Milk” origins and naming process
• 23:13–25:22: Exploring Detective Williams’ perspective and Mabel’s loneliness
• 26:37–29:12: Moral stakes and procedural vs. amateur detective work
• 30:10–31:33: Greek coin monologue, “everything is significant” hint
• 31:52–33:05: Whodunit Summit and listener theories

Conclusion

This episode is a treasure trove for fans who love peeling back the layers on the show’s creation. The writers’ warmth and camaraderie mirror the heartfelt yet sharply witty tone of Only Murders in the Building itself. Through stories of creative collaboration, behind-the-scenes trivia (“Gut Milk!”), and playful speculation about suspects and clues, listeners get a richer sense of both the show’s complexity and its central themes: found family, loneliness, and the blurred lines between comedy and tragedy.

Final Thought:
As the writers tease, clues are everywhere—sometimes in lies, sometimes in laughs, and always, everything is connected.