Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast Season 3, Episode 1: "The Show Must..." Date: August 9, 2023 Host: Michael Cyril Creighton (and guest hosts Maggie Bowles & Ryan Tillotson)
Episode Overview
The official companion podcast dives into the Season 3 premiere of Only Murders in the Building, offering fans a peek behind the scenes of the hit Hulu series. With the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes restricting access to interviews with actors and writers, hosts Maggie Bowles and Ryan Tillotson pivot to insightful conversations with the show's directors, editors, and crew. This episode features an in-depth interview with John Hoffman—showrunner, co-creator, producer, and director of S3E1—who discusses bringing Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd on board, new thematic directions for the season, on-set anecdotes, and subtle clues about what’s next for the Arconia crew.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Season 3, Episode 1 Recap
[02:03-03:42]
- The episode opens with a 1962 flashback to Loretta’s childhood passion for theater, quickly cutting to her present-day audition for Oliver’s play, “Deathrattle.”
- The notorious cliffhanger from Season 2—Ben Glenroy dropping dead onstage—gets revisited, with the story rewinding four months to introduce a new ensemble of characters.
- Ben Glenroy, played by Paul Rudd, is established as a difficult star, gifting everyone a handkerchief for opening night.
- Loretta impresses neither Ben nor the producers, but Oliver is determined to keep her in the show.
- At Oliver’s after-party, Ben surprisingly reappears, seemingly resurrected. He apologizes to everyone, but notably snubs and insults Loretta ("calls her a snake"), only to meet his final end moments later as his body crashes through the elevator ceiling.
- Teaser: Mabel has remodeled her apartment, signaling possible major changes for her storyline.
2. Directing Day 1: Starstruck on Set
[05:13-08:08]
- John Hoffman describes the surreal experience of being on set with both Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd for the first time:
"I woke up that morning...and I kind of forgot in a way that I'd be directing Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd. Like that. That hit me that morning." (John Hoffman, [06:14])
- Meryl’s first scene was with Marty Short (Oliver) in Oliver’s apartment. Despite her legendary status, she confessed her own nerves to Marty, emphasizing the humanity even of cinema’s greats:
"Meryl, as she was stepping out to wait for us to set up the next setup, said to Marty, 'Oh, okay. It's always good to get the first one out. The nerves, you know?'" (John Hoffman, [07:45])
- Hoffman reflects on how greatness for Streep, Martin, Short, and Gomez lies in meticulous attention to the smallest details and their work ethic from costumes to set interactions.
3. Seasonal Focus: Shifting the Spotlight to Oliver & the Theater
[09:05-11:45]
- Season 1 centered Mabel; Season 2 focused on Charles. Season 3, Hoffman reveals, is Oliver’s time—using the world of the theater, a personal comfort zone for Hoffman, to shake up the stakes and maintain the show's freshness while keeping the Arconia building central to the mystery.
- A meta-joke was built in for fans regarding Ben’s initial onstage death not technically occurring “in the building”—promptly remedied the second time around:
"We couldn't have done the podcast anyway, because Ben didn't die in the building." (John Hoffman, [11:43])
- Cue the blood dripping—Ben is now officially an “Only Murder in the Building.”
4. How Paul Rudd & Meryl Streep Joined the Cast
[12:50-22:38]
- Paul Rudd's entry was facilitated by his friendships with Martin Short and Selena Gomez. The commitment required was significant—he had to film a cameo and then wait half a year to return as the season’s central victim.
"Paul will tell you he … utterly revered Steve Martin and … holds Marty and Steve on a Mount Rushmore of comedy for himself..." (John Hoffman, [13:44])
- Rudd agreed after a fortuitous late-night text from Marty at the Pickle Diner. When he instantly replied “I’m so excited,” the crew “let out a scream.”
- Meryl Streep proactively reached out for a Zoom with Steve Martin and Marty Short, expressing a desire to collaborate—right as the writers were inventing a character perfect for her: an overlooked actress finally given a shot.
"She said, 'I'm in.' Because she was a fan of the show." (John Hoffman, [17:58])
- Stunning coincidence: Hoffman’s script involved Loretta as a 10-year-old seeing her first Broadway show, “No Strings” starring Diahann Carroll. On Zoom, Meryl revealed:
"I saw that production." (John Hoffman, [20:11])
- She began singing the show's song—lyrics Hoffman had included in the script.
- Hoffman calls this synergy “fate” and sees Loretta’s arc as a tribute:
"...for our...greatest actress living today to honor anyone who hasn’t had a break by sort of being that artist she was right from the very beginning..." (John Hoffman, [22:22])
5. Paul Rudd’s First Day Embarrassment with Meryl Streep
[23:54-26:49]
- Ben's big “I’m alive” scene—apologizing (badly) to almost everyone—was Paul Rudd’s first day on set.
- The camera followed Rudd as he circled the party, delivering lines to the entire ensemble including his very first moment acting opposite Streep.
- Hoffman shares a personal anecdote:
"[Paul] wrote back, 'Oh my God, I'm so happy to receive this text because...it's all kind of a blur to me...All I've been focused on is...I said goodbye to Meryl and I kissed her on each cheek like I was French or something...Oh my god, I'm such an [idiot]. Why did I kiss her on each cheek?...'" (John Hoffman, [25:19])
- Rudd spent his drive home mortified, proving even A-listers get flustered around Meryl.
6. Clues & Set Details: Mabel’s Renovation
[29:01-31:58]
- The hosts suggest Mabel’s glamorous, modern apartment isn’t really her style and might signal her moving out of the Arconia.
- Hoffman keeps future storylines close, teasing only that the new design reflects both Mabel’s attempts to start fresh and possible emotional discomfort.
"It's not a place where she feels like she's at home. It's a home for a young family that might move in, which [is] sort of where we're going." (John Hoffman, [30:33])
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Directing Day 1:
"I kind of forgot in a way that I'd be directing Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd. That hit me that morning...For God's sake, how do I go about doing that?"
— John Hoffman ([06:14]) -
On Meryl Streep’s Nerves:
"It's always good to get the first one out. The nerves, you know?"
— Meryl Streep via John Hoffman ([07:45]) -
On Paul Rudd’s Reaction to the Cast:
"He had to literally run the room...We were all kind of bowled over."
— John Hoffman ([24:02]) -
On Paul Rudd Trying to Play It Cool:
"I said goodbye to Meryl and I kissed her on each cheek like I was French or something...Why did I kiss her on each cheek?"
— Paul Rudd via John Hoffman ([25:19]) -
On Loretta/Meryl's Connection:
"I saw that production...I must have been around 10. I insisted my mother take me. And I'll never forget it because Diahann Carroll was in it...She sang this beautiful song and she started to sing 'The Sweetest Sounds.'"
— Meryl Streep via John Hoffman ([20:11])
Episode Timeline & Timestamps
- [02:03] Episode 1 recap (flashback, auditions, Ben’s dual deaths)
- [05:13] John Hoffman on first day nerves and directing Meryl Streep
- [09:05] Thematic focus shifting to Oliver and the theater world
- [13:08] How Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep joined the cast
- [20:11] The stunning “No Strings” anecdote and Meryl's connection
- [23:54] Paul Rudd’s first (and awkward) scene with Meryl Streep
- [29:01] The new look of Mabel’s apartment; clues for the future
Final Thoughts
- The showrunners’ ability to recruit Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd reflects the series’ reputation and its cast’s camaraderie.
- Mabel’s apartment redesign is more than set dressing—it mirrors her internal state and may foreshadow where her arc is headed.
- The creative team leans into the show's meta-awareness, ensuring fans are always in on the joke (“wasn’t in the building!”).
- Even Hollywood’s best, from Paul Rudd to Meryl Streep, experience first-day jitters and embarrassing moments, adding to the show's relatable charm.
This podcast episode is a must-listen for fans who crave the inside scoop, thoughtful production details, and heartfelt, sometimes hilarious, cast stories that make Only Murders in the Building a show—and a podcast—unlike any other.