Podcast Summary: Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

S3 E4: The White Room (Part 1)

Date: August 23, 2023
Host(s): Maggie Bowles, Ryan Tillotson
Guests: John Hoffman (Co-creator, Showrunner, Producer), Dana Covarrubias (Costume Designer)

Episode Overview

This episode takes fans behind the scenes of Only Murders in the Building's Season 3, Episode 4: "The White Room." Host Maggie Bowles and co-host Ryan Tillotson welcome showrunner John Hoffman and costume designer Dana Covarrubias for a lively and detail-rich discussion. Topics include Steve Martin’s unique musical moment, Mabel’s iconic fashion, the evolution of Cinda Canning, and the hidden layers that make the show’s mystery and comedy tick.

"We’re still mining for clues and trying to figure out who the killer is, before all is revealed in the season finale."
— Maggie Bowles (00:33)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Episode 4 Breakdown

• Episode Recap (01:38 – 03:23)
  • Cinda Canning (Tina Fey) returns, now blonde and self-described as "enlightened."
  • Mabel searches for a very expensive, all-white apartment; she’s bombarded by mysterious calls and texts.
  • Joy (Charles' partner) moves into Charles’ apartment—with 62 fish, a trampoline, and exercise balls—while Charles struggles to learn a challenging patter song for the play.
  • Oliver plans a perfect date for Loretta.
  • Charles enters a surreal "White Room" while performing—the onset of stage fright—leading to lost memory and awkward mishaps, like accidentally proposing to Joy.
  • The trio investigates at the theater, uncovering secrets about Ben’s endorsement and a threatening lipstick message in Ben’s dressing room.
  • Big reveal: The lipstick used to write “fucking pig” on Ben’s mirror belongs to Joy.
  • Mabel is approached by Cinda to co-host a true crime podcast titled “Bloody Mabel.”
  • Howard delivers the memorable line: "Nothing I hate more than an incomplete set." (03:25)

Musical Comedy Meets Murder Mystery

The Patter Song & "The White Room"

• Why music is different this season:

  • Songs are purposefully integrated into storylines and character arcs, not just used randomly for spectacle.
  • Charles’ (Steve Martin) struggle with the patter song mirrors his real-life anxiety: stage fright and commitment issues.
  • The patter song—titled "Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?"—brings together Broadway legends Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Marc Shaiman, and Scott Whitman for the first time.
  • Anticipation builds for fans to hear the full song later in the season.

  "Steve was tasked now in his 70s, to do a song that is very, very challenging ... to keep it very Steve Martin, but also very Charles Hayden Savage, but also very Oliver Putnam, who would have written it for Death Rattle Dazzle."
  — John Hoffman (05:32)

  • Loretta’s connection to "Little Shop of Horrors" and the idea of bringing heart to eccentric musical theater are discussed as inspirations.

  "Making this into a musical is odd, Oliver, but ironically, that might be what makes it accessible."
  — Howard (06:36)

• "The White Room" explained:

  • It’s a term describing an actor’s out-of-body experience from stage fright or anxiety, leading to a total blank during a performance.
  • John Hoffman and other actors, including Matthew Broderick, have personally experienced it.
  • For the episode, this becomes a visual manifestation of Charles' panic about Joy moving in and his role in the musical.

  "You can zone out ... and there are moments when either—it's usually in fear or a bit of stage fright takes over—and you lose your mind."
  — John Hoffman (08:46)

Costume Design: Pop Culture, Theater, and Sweater Obsession

How Season 3’s Looks Evolved

• Charles:

  • His wardrobe features deeper reds and purples, symbolizing his attempt to step out of his comfort zone and facing personal change. Livelier hat bands and louder shirt patterns hint at his attempts to adapt.
  • When he "breaks," he literally and metaphorically loses color—ending up in the pure, colorless White Room.

• Oliver:

  • Inspiration comes from 1970s Broadway director vibes—vests, rolled shirt sleeves, and a lively, participatory look. His costumes reflect a "hands-on director" rather than a leisure-loving Broadway eccentric.

• Mabel:

  • This is her “detective arc”—with the guys distracted, she steps into the sleuth role, and her wardrobe leans heavily on detective aesthetics.
  • All of Mabel’s looks this season are inspired by specific Broadway shows or musical films—a hidden challenge for eagle-eyed fans.

  "Almost every look of hers directly correlates to some Broadway show or musical theater piece."
  — Dana Covarrubias (17:16)

• Cinda Canning's Transformation:

  • Heavily inspired by the concept of being "goopified" (a nod to Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP brand).
  • Costume notes called for her to be "dripping in cashmere," hence the all-white, luxurious, Santa Fe/Coastal Grandma aesthetic—mirroring Charles’ white, anxiety-induced mental space.

  "It's like Coastal Grandma meets, like, Santa Fe hippie who does ayahuasca but also is a millionaire."
  — Dana Covarrubias (19:50)

  • Fun detail: Cinda's minions also echo her look—posing in blonde wigs and white.

Sourcing Character Wardrobes

• Mabel’s Sweaters:

  • Highly curated from vintage shops, especially for their 70s/80s flair.
  • Many pieces also come from The Outnet and The RealReal for high-end, discounted finds; some costumes are vintage scores from travels.
  • Fast fashion sometimes necessary for multiples, but the team strives for sustainability and unique finds.

  "The sweaters then just had a lot of character ... You can walk in a store and it's just like the Mabels come out to you—they appear from the rack to you."
  — Dana Covarrubias (23:12)

Notable Fashion Quotes

• Howard (on Mabel’s sweaters):

  "Let me guess. A fluffy number, vaguely shapeless splashes of yellow and orange that have no business working, but somehow they work. My god, do they work. Jesus H. Christ." (22:36)

• On Cinda's Goop Look:

  "Cinda has been goopified … dripping in cashmere." — Dana Covarrubias (18:28, 18:44)

Behind the Scenes & Production Challenges

• Keeping Designs Straight:

  • The show’s non-linear shooting schedule and complex overlapping plots make costume tracking a challenge.
  • Dana relies on a dedicated team of assistants and personal cheat sheets to maintain continuity.

  "There's like 10 plots going on at once."
  — Dana Covarrubias (22:27)

• Vintage Shopping as a Team Sport:

  • Both Maggie and Dana bond over their love of thrifting and buying secondhand clothes, mirroring the on-screen fashion sensibility.

  "Every time I travel, I'm like, take me to the thrift store."
  — Maggie Bowles (25:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Steve Martin’s Musical Challenge:

  "Steve was tasked now in his 70s, to do a song that is very, very challenging … and he performs it unbelievably well."
  — John Hoffman (05:32)

• Howard fangirling over Mabel’s sweater game:

  "My god, do they work. Jesus H. Christ." (22:36)

• On Cinda’s “Goopification”:

  "That alone was such inspiration. I think it did also say that she was, quote, dripping in cashmere."
  — Dana Covarrubias (18:28 + 18:44)

• Behind the white room concept:

  "You have to roll with what’s happening. Sometimes people just go off ... People have a moment of, 'What the hell did I just do out there?'"
  — John Hoffman (09:36)

Timestamps of Significant Segments

• Episode recap: 01:38 – 03:23
• Discussion of musical elements & the patter song: 03:59 – 08:21
• Origin and meaning of 'The White Room': 08:34 – 12:03
• Interview with costume designer Dana Covarrubias: 13:35 – 25:57
• High fashion & sourcing Mabel’s sweaters: 23:12 – 25:25
• Details on Cinda Canning’s 'goopified' look: 17:14 – 20:37
• Fashion trivia & personal vintage stories: 24:24 – 25:25

Episode Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is playful, hyper-detailed, and full of mutual admiration between hosts and guests. The team’s love for both the comedic and the mysterious elements of "Only Murders in the Building" permeates the episode, while their nerdy enthusiasm for musical theater and vintage fashion adds layers of charm.
The episode invites fans to look more closely at the clues, costuming, and performances that make the show both a genre sendup and a heartfelt ensemble.

For fans:
Consider re-watching episodes to spot Broadway-inspired outfits or to catch Cinda’s mimicking minions. And if you love Mabel’s sweaters, vintage shopping is the way to go.

Next episode:
The conversation continues in Part 2, featuring director Adam Shankman and hilarious outtakes with Tina Fey, plus fan theories from across the Only Murders community.