Podcast Summary: Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast – S2 E9: Sparring Partners
Date: August 17, 2022
Hosts: Elizabeth Keener & Kevin Lan
Featured Guests: Shirley MacLaine (Rose Cooper/Leonora Folger), John Hoffman (Showrunner/Co-creator), Kirker Butler (Writer), Michael Cyril Crichton (Howard), Divine Joy Randolph
Episode Overview
Episode 9 (“Sparring Partners”) unpacks the penultimate chapter of Season 2, with hosts Keener and Lan recapping twists, dissecting character arcs, and joining cast and creators—including Shirley MacLaine—for candid stories from set. Focus centers on the unveiling of Detective Kreps’ role, the Rose Cooper/Leonora Folger revelation, shifting suspect lists, and the tangled themes of parenthood and identity at the Arconia.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Recap of Episode 9 Events
[01:27–03:55]
- Detective Kreps’ corruption comes to light with evidence theft and possible romantic entanglement.
- The Arconia trio realize Kreps is not working alone—a mastermind is at play.
- Charles, Oliver, & Mabel discover the original Rose Cooper painting under Mrs. Gambalini’s cage.
- Alice gifts Mabel a puzzle; Charles investigates the mysterious Leonora Folger and finds Rose Cooper’s address.
- Mabel discovers Kreps’ employee file at Coney Island and confronts him at the “Excessive Force” gym.
- Oliver tells Will he’s his biological father—later revealed to be a lie.
- Major reveals: Kreps is “glitter guy”; Poppy admits she’s Becky Butler (from the “All Is Not OK in Oklahoma” podcast).
2. The Multiple Perspectives Structure
[05:13–06:09]
- John Hoffman explains the show’s hallmark of opening each episode with different character narration for layered New York perspectives.
“We’re actually building this tapestry of New York characters…we’re gaining new insight on how the world is seeing them.” — John Hoffman [05:13]
3. Detective Kreps & Michael Rapaport’s Performance
[06:09–10:11]
- Kirker Butler and John Hoffman discuss writing Kreps as a classic tough, corrupt New York cop, not initially knowing Rapaport would play him.
- Rapaport’s naturalism with swearing and streetwise humor brings authenticity and unexpected charm.
- The sparring scene between Kreps and Mabel was intense and satirical, but grounded.
“He just brought that New York authenticity…He’s so good around a cuss word. And it really just works.” — John Hoffman [08:07]
4. Mabel’s Agency & Emotional Arc
[10:11–12:16]
- Mabel’s bold confrontation with Kreps at the gym is a pivotal moment of agency and fearlessness.
- Hoffman reveals care in balancing Mabel’s ongoing trauma with her empowerment:
“Once you clear this…you’re going to be tough as hell…She feels empowerment after having faced the really hard stuff…” — John Hoffman [11:58]
5. Emotional Journeys: Fatherhood & Identity
[12:16–16:49]
- Parallel stories: Oliver’s DNA lie about Will’s paternity, leading to a cathartic fight and subsequent honesty with Teddy Demas.
- Charles’s journey reframes his father’s legacy through the secret painting, moving from pain to healing:
“We still wanted it to have some kind of positive ending …that all of his memories about his father weren’t terrible.” — John Hoffman [14:33]
6. Behind the Revelations: Rose Cooper & Fan Theories
[16:49–17:30]
- The Rose Cooper/Leonora Folger twist was widely guessed by fans (“Probably the easiest one to solve.” — John Hoffman [16:44]).
- Writers often read Reddit threads and are “blown away” by fan investment and deductions.
7. Shirley MacLaine’s Take: Legends On Set
[18:00–30:51]
- Shirley MacLaine joins to reflect on filming, her rapport with Steve Martin, and on-set improvisations.
- Candidly admits to not understanding the script’s full intricacies:
“Absolutely not. I don’t understand it. It’s too complicated for me… I just played what I felt that day, I guess. You think I’m kidding. I’m not.” — Shirley MacLaine [24:34]
- Shares funny behind-the-scenes stories: concern for Michael Cyril Creighton’s knees, cheese-eating improvisation, and dancing with the crew.
- Describes pandemic-era filming challenges—missing social connection with the masked crew.
8. Critical Reveals & Narrative Decisions
[32:38–35:04]
- Confirmed: Kreps is glitter guy and directly involved in the central murder case.
- Poppy’s final confession: she is Becky Butler, the missing woman from the other podcast—a major twist setting up the finale.
- The writing team’s challenge was staging reveals so “it was satisfying and didn’t feel like it was too much at once.” — John Hoffman [33:03]
9. The Whodunit Summit: Theories & Suspects
[40:37–42:29]
- Keener and Lan both independently select Cinda Canning as their prime murder suspect.
“She did not like the trio stealing her thunder…this is a murder she could control.” — Elizabeth Keener [42:18]
- Shirley MacLaine playfully claims to have “no idea” who the murderer is—or even that a murder occurred. [32:21]
- Listener fan mail introduces wild theories: Kreps as a long-lost sibling, painting mysteries, and more.
10. Creative Process, Soundtrack, and Looking Ahead
[35:41–38:32]
- Love for Siddhartha Khosla’s evocative soundtrack, which is now available for fans.
- Teases for the finale: “There will be a show within a show” next season, hinting at deepening layers in format and story.
11. Shirley MacLaine’s Parting Wisdom
[38:39–39:50]
- Encourages self-reflection and solitude for personal peace and creativity:
“If we knew ourselves better, I think we would have a more…creative and happy world…I would recommend spending more time alone…” — Shirley MacLaine [38:41]
Memorable Quotes & Moments
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On Acting Through Confusion:
“I don’t understand it. It’s too complicated for me… I just played what I felt that day.” — Shirley MacLaine [24:34]
-
About Steve Martin:
“He’s an intellectual…and so we talk about things like what’s going on in the world and should we continue?…Then we go from optimism to, well, that’s too unrealistic. He’s a very nice man. And Very smart.” — Shirley MacLaine [21:15]
-
On Mabel’s Power:
“Once you clear this, once you get that out of the way, you’re going to be tough as hell…She feels empowerment after having faced the really hard stuff…” — John Hoffman [11:58]
-
On The Show’s Fan Base:
“Oh, my God, I’m blown away by the fans of the show.” — John Hoffman [16:56]
-
About Behind-the-Scenes Fun:
“I sat in a theater and watched a wonderful musical and thought about how close the seats were. You do that, you know, when you’re in the middle of a kind of a deeply depressing time.” — Shirley MacLaine [29:15]
Key Timestamps
- [01:27] Episode 9 Recap
- [05:13] John Hoffman on the show’s narrative device
- [06:09] Writing Kreps & casting Michael Rapaport
- [10:11] Mabel’s confrontation at the boxing gym
- [12:16] Oliver & Teddy elevator fight; Charles’s father storyline
- [16:49] Fan theories and painting twist
- [18:12] Shirley MacLaine joins for candid behind-the-scenes
- [24:34] MacLaine on acting and the show’s complexity
- [32:38] Episode’s big reveals dissected
- [40:37] The “Whodunit Summit” (Murder theories)
- [38:39] Shirley MacLaine’s closing thoughts on solitude and creativity
Tone & Language
- Irreverent, playful, and self-aware, in line with the show’s own blend of comedy and mystery.
- Shirley MacLaine’s dry wit, candidness, and ability to poke fun at her own confusion about the script stand out as highlights.
- The conversation is peppered with heartfelt admiration among cast, writers, and hosts, giving the episode a warm, communal feel.
For Fans & Newcomers
This episode is a treasure trove for fans seeking backstage stories and character motivations, as well as for newcomers wanting an engaging, spoiler-rich rundown of S2 E9 before the finale. If you’re following the whodunit, theorizing along, or just love hearing Shirley MacLaine riff on acting and life, this episode delivers both depth and delightful chaos.