Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

S4 E2: "Gates of Heaven" (Part 1)

Date: September 4, 2024
Host: Maggie Bowles & Ryan Tillotson (Straw Hut Media, for Hulu)
Featured Guests: Kristen Newman (Writer), Daphne Rubin Vega (Ines), Lillian Rebelo (Anna)

Episode Overview

This behind-the-scenes episode dives into Season 4, Episode 2 ("Gates of Heaven") of "Only Murders in the Building." Hosts Maggie Bowles and Ryan Tillotson explore the introduction of colorful new characters from the mysterious West Tower, discuss the process of casting and writing with family members of the Sauce family, and unpack the episode's big narrative pivot. They are joined by the episode’s writer Kristen Newman and Westies actors Daphne Rubin Vega and Lillian Rebelo, who share insights, on-set stories, and playful anecdotes that deepen the themes of community, mystery, and quirky New York charm.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Episode 2 Recap & Turning Point

• Opening Scenes: The episode opens with documentary footage of Saz Pataky, Charles (Steve Martin) is dealing with Saz’s ashes—awkward and humorous in classic Charles fashion.
  • “Me being dead is the least of your problemos. Also, get your hands off my boobs.” – Saz Pataky (Jane Lynch ghost, 01:26)
• Suspect Focus Shift: Suspicion moves to residents across the courtyard in the West Tower—aka the "Westies." The investigative focus pivots:
  • “We're not investigating Saz's murder anymore. We're investigating mine.” – Charles (Steve Martin), (03:28)
• Key Clues: Mabel and Oliver discover clues relating to Saz’s death, including a note in blood (“tap in”), a lockbox code spelling “oh, hell,” a pig in a bathtub, and a shower ham.

2. Building the West Tower & "Westies" Characters

• Origin of the West Tower: Kristen Newman discusses how new storylines and characters are inspired by real NYC architectural quirks and social divides:
  • “There was a disturbing trend in a lot of fancy buildings in New York that had a separate entrance—the ‘poor door.’... So it kind of started with that concept of this other group of people with this other entrance.” – Kristen Newman, (07:19)
• Casting & Character Creation: Newman reveals the unique process:
  • Many roles are written for specific big-name actors (e.g., Richard Kind as Stink Eye Joe).
  • “We created stink eye Joe for Richard Kind ... His name was Richard Kind in the script for a while; that’s how we pitched dialogue.” – Kristen Newman, (06:09)
  • The “Sauce family” was born out of imagining what unique eccentricities might be observed through NYC apartment windows.

3. Introduction to the Sauce Family ("The Westies")

• Meet the Neighbors: The Sauce family—Ines (Daphne Rubin Vega), Alfonso, and Anna (Lillian Rebelo)—are introduced as mysterious, sauce-obsessed, and quintessentially quirky.
  • “What kind of sauce are you thinking? We make all sauce. Any sauce you think we make, and we make it with love.” – Daphne Rubin Vega (Ines), (00:04/15:35)
  • The family’s tradition of playing “Oh Hell,” a real card game, is a centerpiece—inspired by the cast and showrunner John Hoffman’s real-life games.
• Actors' Experience Coming to OMitB: Both Daphne and Lillian describe surreal moments as fans-turned-cast, recounting their excitement and intimidation working with comedy icons.

4. Behind the Scenes: The Sauces, the Games, and the Ham

• Quirky Set Details:
  • The infamous “ham in the bathroom” originated from a real-life roommate’s habit (see 10:48–12:41 for full kitchen-to-shower ham lore).
  • “Wouldn’t it be real weird if it was in the bathroom? ... There was a lot cut where they're in the bathroom with the ham more. But you only need so much ham in the bathroom.” – Kristen Newman, (11:48/12:41)
  • Real sauce was simmered for window-stirring scenes to create an authentic “smellscape” (22:21).
• Card Games On Set:
  • Neither Daphne nor Lillian had played “Oh Hell” before; the cast learned and played together, with Martin Short as the expert.
    • “Marty, of course, used to play it often with, you know, the President... and Steven Spielberg.” – Daphne Rubin Vega, (20:26)
  • The mixture of real gameplay with character improvisation led to naturally fun on-set moments.

5. Special Moments & Memorable Quotes

• Steve Martin’s On-Set Magic: Daphne describes Steve Martin doing magic tricks between takes:
  • “He was ripping up cards and putting them back together backwards, inside out, ... right underneath our noses.” – Daphne Rubin Vega, (23:49)
• Daphne’s Approach: Being among comedy legends was humbling:
  • “I just sat back and was like, okay, don't even try to be funny. ... It was a good lesson.” – Daphne Rubin Vega, (24:19)

6. Writing Saz and the Return of Jan

• Saz’s Documentary Open & Emotional Arc:
  • Kristen Newman explains writing the cold open, blending humor and genuine loss:
    • “The whole season is really a Charles and Saz love story. And I think it really pays off emotionally at the end.” – Kristen Newman, (30:06)
• Casting Jane Lynch: Newman personally reached out to Lynch to play Saz Pataky, drawing on a previous landlord-tenant friendship (30:27).
• Ghosts as Narrative Device:
  • The Saz ghost is meant to allow Charles to process grief and understanding, and to explore the world of stunt performers.
  • “You want to let him work that through with her ... it wasn’t just a stunt double, he did lose his best friend.” – Kristen Newman, (31:50)
• Bringing Back Jan (Amy Ryan):
  • Jan’s return was inspired partly by real-life prison break stories (“Escape at Dannemora”) and the writers’ desire for her fun energy:
    • “It made us laugh that she could so easily get out and outsmart ... she definitely could seduce a guard and get out, and then probably kill them and get brain on her shirt.” – Kristen Newman, (34:43)
  • “A mix of parkour sass taught me and psychosexual manipulation. I won't bore or arouse you with the deets.” – Jan (Amy Ryan), (35:11)

7. Easter Eggs & Fan Theories

• Credit Sequence Clues:
  • Each episode’s opening credits contain an Easter egg—episode two’s is the hanging hamon leg (36:38).
• Who Did It?:
  • The hosts and guests speculate on suspects, but Jan appears to be in the clear after episode 2—focus shifts to West Tower and possibly movie-related characters.

8. Sauce Lore & What’s Next

• More Sauce Details to Come:
  • “You're for sure going to learn more about the sauce lore and the ingredients of the sauce, especially those that are imported.” – Lillian Rebelo, (22:43)
• Looking Forward:
  • Both actors are excited for audiences to learn more and see how the season unfolds—especially Lillian, for whom this is her first TV role.

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On Sauce Making
  • “What kind of sauce are you thinking? We make all sauce. Any sauce you think we make, and we make it with love.” – Daphne Rubin Vega (Ines), (00:04/15:35)
  • “Our fantasy is to be able to do that in perpetuity, you know, throughout the entire universe. That's what it is.” – Daphne Rubin Vega, (16:09)
• Charles and Saz:
  • “We're not investigating Saz's murder anymore. We're investigating mine.” – Charles, (03:28)
• On Stink Eye Joe (Richard Kind):
  • “We created stink eye Joe for Richard Kind ... His name was Richard Kind in the script for a while.” – Kristen Newman, (06:09)
• On Being Overwhelmed by Comedy Legends:
  • “To be in the room watching all these superlative comedians just sparring ... I just sat back and was like, okay, don't even try to be funny.” – Daphne Rubin Vega, (24:19)
• Jan’s prison break:
  • "A mix of parkour Sass taught me and psychosexual manipulation. I won't bore or arouse you with the deets." – Jan (Amy Ryan), (35:11)
• Sauce lore tease:
  • “You're for sure going to learn more about the sauce lore and the ingredients of the sauce, especially those that are imported.” – Lillian Rebelo, (22:43)

Important Segments & Timestamps

• 06:09 — Kristen Newman on writing for Richard Kind (“Stink Eye Joe”)
• 07:19 — Origin of the West Tower and the “poor door” inspiration
• 10:48–12:41 — The true story behind the ham in the bathroom
• 13:47–16:09 — Daphne Rubin Vega on becoming Ines and the Sauce family dynamic
• 18:12–20:53 — Cast learning "Oh Hell" card game with Martin Short
• 23:32–24:19 — On-set stories, Steve Martin’s magic tricks
• 28:15–31:06 — Writing Saz’s emotional journey; genesis of Jane Lynch’s casting
• 34:43–35:19 — Jan’s return, inspired by real-life prison break stories
• 36:38 — Noting the hanging hamon leg Easter egg in episode 2 credits

Tone & Style

The episode is witty, relaxed, and brimming with affection for the show’s unique blend of mystery and New York eccentricity. There’s a playful rapport among hosts, guests, and cast, with plenty of self-deprecating humor (“don’t even try to be funny,” “forever sauce”), behind-the-scenes camaraderie, and shared awe at working alongside seasoned legends.

Final Thoughts

This episode of the podcast exposes the delightful chaos of casting, writing, and performing in "Only Murders in the Building," while deepening fans’ understanding of the new season’s directions. It spotlights the writers’ improvisational instincts, the cast’s genuine chemistry, and the detailed quirks that create the show’s signature charm. Listeners walk away hungry for more sauce lore, more Westies shenanigans, and the next layer of mystery in the Arconia.

Next Up:
Don’t miss Part 2 later this week featuring showrunner John Hoffman and Amy Ryan (Jan)—for deeper dives into this season’s biggest twists.