Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

S3 E9: Thirty (Part 1) – September 27, 2023

Hosted by: Maggie Bowles & Ryan Tillotson
Guests: Shariin Dabis (Director), Becky Chin & Cedric Vara (First ADs), Kyle Wolshlager (Director of Photography)

Overview

This episode offers a deep, playful, and insightful look behind the scenes of Only Murders in the Building’s penultimate Season 3 episode, “Thirty (Part 1).” Hosts Maggie and Ryan talk with the director, first assistant directors, and cinematographer about the episode's inventive storytelling, emotional beats, and on-set madness—especially the chaos of filming in New York City. Fans get juicy production stories and reflections on key twists, character dynamics, and the collaborative chaos that brings the mystery to life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Episode 9 Quick Recap (01:13)

• The trio (Mabel, Charles, Oliver) gather to piece together events leading to Ben Glenroy’s murder, focusing on reconstructing the critical thirty minutes.
• Discoveries: Dickie’s false confession, Ben’s relationship with his “five whores” (revealed to be seamstresses), and clues about the poisoned cookie/schmackery’s cookie from Donna.
• Climax: The group rushes to court in wedding attire to stop Loretta from pleading guilty, while Donna lurks in the background.

2. Dreamy Opening & Directing Choices (04:05)

• The episode begins with Mabel’s surreal dream of giving birth to podcasting “triplets”—a comical, meta scene reflecting the creativity of the show.

Quote:

“I laughed so much when I first read that. I was like, okay, I’m in. This is really fun. And I related just as a filmmaker... these are your babies. Like, you make movies, they’re your babies.”
— Shariin Dabis (Director), [04:20]

• Shariin shares anecdotes about directing Steve Martin and Martin Short as “babies” on a green screen, with funny improvisational moments that had the crew in stitches.

Quote:

“It was one of the funniest things to just stand there and watch these guys be a baby for 20 minutes until somebody said cut.”
— Kyle Wolshlager (DP), [05:00]

• Selena Gomez gamely handled the physical comedy of “giving birth” and wrangling baby dolls, supported by the director’s goofy sound effects on set.

3. Flashbacks and Timeline Puzzle (08:22)

• The structure required a seamless blend between present-day detective work and flashbacks. Shariin explains how the episode’s flashbacks dovetail into previous episodes and were even repurposed in the edit to seed clues without spoiling the reveal.

Quote:

“These are all kinds of the moments between the moments that we saw in previous episodes. But now you’re telling me that we actually see some of these moments in previous episodes. That’s so cool.”
— Shariin Dabis, [09:55]

• Editors dealt with the challenge of threading these scenes throughout the season while maintaining suspense.

4. The Poisoned Cookie Scene—Ben’s Emotional Depth (11:22)

• Discussion focuses on the pivotal dressing room scene, where Ben confronts himself in the mirror and binges the poisoned cookie, revealing his self-destructive tendencies.

Quote:

“What I love so much about what he did in that scene is... it's really funny, but at the same time it’s actually really moving... something so raw and so real but so funny at the same time.”
— Shariin Dabis, [12:44]

• Paul Rudd delivered a raw, visceral performance in one take, balancing humor and pain.

• This episode is highlighted as the turning point humanizing Ben, moving him from a comedic antagonist to a complex, sympathetic figure.

Quote:

“That was the first time I ever actually liked Ben.”
— Maggie Bowles, [15:40]

5. Reconstructing Reality: Trio’s Theories and Flashbacks (16:25)

• The style of flashbacks is intentionally subjective—showing what the trio thinks happened, not necessarily what actually took place.

Quote:

“...it’s not really reality. It’s a heightened reality that is their theory on what took place.”
— Shariin Dabis, [17:12]

• Shariin employed visual cues inspired by “Birdman”—using Steadicam, constant movement, and tight backstage spaces to amplify the chaotic energy leading up to Ben’s death.

6. On-Set Comedy: Michael Cyril Creighton, Howard and the Shredder (21:03)

• Spontaneous moments (like Howard bumping into a wall while “blind”) were happy accidents discovered during rehearsal. The hosts and Shariin adore Michael Cyril Creighton’s improvisational comedy.

Quote:

“He’s really so funny... we just kind of found it on accident. It was just, like, through the sheer fun of blocking the scene and... the happy accidents that happen.”
— Shariin Dabis, [21:23]

• Howard’s puzzle-solving hero moment with the shredder is celebrated as a highlight.

7. Wild Streets: Filming in NYC with Paparazzi Panic (24:01)

• First ADs Becky Chin and Cedric Vara recount the pandemonium of shooting wedding-dress and tuxedo scenes on the streets of NYC, leading to crowd surges and paparazzi madness.

Quote:

“The amount of chaos, it was literally we were being suffocated.”
— Becky Chin, [24:35]

• Selena Gomez managed the crowd with grace, suggesting, “Let them take the shot,” to placate fans and photographers before scenes resumed ([26:35]).

• Chaos aside, the crew found it exhilarating:

“It was chaotic, but I thrive in that chaos... just being on the streets of New York is always really fun.”
— Shariin Dabis, [29:44]

8. Behind the Courtroom: New York History with Meryl Streep (33:18)

• The final courtroom scene was filmed in an infamous real-life courtroom known for notorious 1960s bank robbery trials. Cast and crew were regaled by the presiding judge—Meryl Streep impressed everyone with her true crime knowledge.

Quote:

“Meryl actually had some—she knew the names of the robbers... It was pretty awesome, actually.”
— Shariin Dabis, [34:05]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “And he just brought something so raw and so real but so funny at the same time. I mean, what a combination.”
  — Shariin Dabis on Paul Rudd as Ben Glenroy ([12:44])

• “Nobody stops a man with a ladder.”
  — Running gag from the show, recapped by hosts ([02:15])

• “Selena goes, ‘Becky?’ and I go, ‘What?’ She goes, ‘You’re dying.’ I said, ‘I’m so dying here.’ And she said, ‘Tell them they can take the shot.’”
  — Becky Chin describing Selena Gomez’s poise with fans ([26:35])

• “I just was kind of looking for, how can we make this really fun? How can we heighten the comedy and the subjectivity and the drama of these moments?”
  — Shariin Dabis on directing reconstructions and flashbacks ([18:29])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:13 — Episode 9 recap: Key plot points, the evolving murder theory.
• 04:05 — Interview with director Shariin Dabis begins; dream birth scene.
• 05:00 — Kyle Wolshlager describes filming Steve and Marty as babies.
• 11:22 — Deep dive into Ben’s mirror/cookie scene, performance analysis.
• 16:25 — Trio’s flashbacks, subjective storytelling, “Birdman” inspiration.
• 21:03 — Howard’s shredder scene and comedic improvisation.
• 24:01 — Filming chaos with fans, paparazzi, and wedding attire in NYC (with Becky Chin & Cedric Vara).
• 33:18 — Shooting in a famous New York courtroom, history lessons with Meryl Streep.

Tone & Vibe

The episode brims with warmth, wit, and an infectious love of collaboration. Both cast and crew reveal themselves as whip-smart, self-deprecating, and improvisational—delighting in absurdities and challenges alike. The hosts and guests celebrate both the emotional complexity and the slapstick zaniness that define Only Murders in the Building and its fan community.

Summary

“Thirty (Part 1)” is a rollicking deep-dive into an episode where the show’s trademark blend of meta-humor, heartfelt character moments, and intricate storytelling comes to a head. Highlights include Paul Rudd’s vulnerable-yet-hilarious performance, the wild logistics of filming in New York, and intimate peeks into collaborative decisions that elevate the material. Fans learn fun trivia (like the infamous New York courtroom and Selena’s crowd-calming superpowers) and get excited for the grand finale, with even the director eager to binge the season herself.

Next episode: Part 2 continues the behind-the-scenes journey with co-creator John Hoffman and more inside scoop on the season’s climax.