Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast
Season 4, Episode 3: "Two for the Road (Part 2)"
Release Date: September 13, 2024
Host: Michael Cyril Creighton (Howard), with Ryan Tillotson & Maggie Bowles
Guests: Richard Kind ("Stink Eye Joe"/Vince Fish), John Hoffman (co-creator & showrunner), Kristen Newman (writer), Eva Longoria (cast)
Episode Overview
This episode dives deep into the making of "Two for the Road," the third episode of Season 4, by blending behind-the-scenes insights with playful banter. Hosts Ryan and Maggie guide conversations with actor Richard Kind and showrunner John Hoffman, exploring casting choices, on-set stories, comedic influences, and the creative process behind character moments and clues. Fan theories and subreddit highlights round out an episode that's both revelatory and celebratory of the series' signature blend of mystery and comedy.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Forgetfulness & the Actor’s Experience
[01:47–04:12]
- Richard Kind explains why actors often sincerely forget details about projects they've shot months prior:
- “You memorize it for the test. If you're watching the show, it impacts you much differently than if you memorize three pages of a script and act it out. ...And the minute it's over, we forget it. We simply forget it.” [01:49–02:20]
- He shares a hilarious anecdote about discovering himself in an old clip he'd completely forgotten filming, pondering whether it’s memory loss or just the relentless nature of an actor’s resume.
2. Getting Cast as Stink Eye Joe / Vince Fish
[03:19–05:01]
- Kind retells how he was approached for the role by executive producer Dan Fogelman—admitting skepticism based on being given empty promises in the past:
- “When a producer comes up and says, we're writing something for you...it's the biggest crock of bull in the world. I wish I had a dollar for every promise of, oh, we're thinking of you.” [03:23–03:38]
- Only after he finished a day on set did he believe the role was truly his.
3. One-Man Show Opinions & Connection to John Hoffman
[05:12–06:50]
- Kind voices distaste for one-man shows, describing them as "masturbatory," while lauding Hoffman's exceptional "Northern Lights."
- Tells a story of writing Hoffman a heartfelt note after seeing the show, which Hoffman remembered years later.
4. Comedy Legends on Set
[07:16–12:19]
- Richard reflects on his history with Martin Short (worked together in "Clifford" and Second City improv) and shares awe at performing with Steve Martin and Eugene Levy.
- He highlights a profound moment realizing he was “making cinema history” by being the ‘straight man’ in a scene with these legends.
- “I'm standing there watching Eugene, watching Steve Martin... I look like this, and Google, look at Steve Martin. You're acting with... Who would have ever thought that this would be your blessing in life?” [12:13–12:19]
- Favorite memory: Steve Martin did a callback to his ‘80s persona (a “Dr. Farar” delivery from "The Man with Two Brains"), and Kind nearly broke character with laughter.
- "He did that, which he hasn't done in years and years and years." [13:21–13:43]
5. Off-Screen Camaraderie
[09:39–10:44]
- Kind shares a quiet but memorable validation: Steve Martin inviting him, out of 150 guests, into an intimate green room for a documentary screening.
- “That’s when it resonated, not when he said, oh, nice job... out of 150 people, I'm one of six people.” [10:26–10:44]
6. Scene-Specific Insights — The Eye Patch Scene
[10:52–14:35]
- Kind describes keeping a straight face as Steve Martin and Eugene Levy worked their comic magic in the scene where they try to remove his eye patch.
- He consciously leaned into a Steve Martin-like delivery as an homage, testing if Martin noticed—"I consciously did it as an homage to him. Whether or not it comes off that way, I don't care...” [16:09–16:16]
7. Hollywood Trio Casting & Meta Comedy
[17:10–18:57]
John Hoffman discusses the complex task of casting the Hollywood "doubles" (Eva Longoria, Zach Galifianakis, Eugene Levy) for the main trio:
- “We made up lists basically for each one...personality types, all of it. We just made crazy lists. And then when we got down to it...having characters that could reflect and ask questions and be annoyed...”
- Eva Longoria was cast to play on the show’s running intergenerational jokes.
- The chemistry between Zach Galifianakis and Martin Short is highlighted by their shared absurdist comedic legacy ("Jiminy Glick" and "Between Two Ferns").
8. Fan-Favorite Side Characters: "Christmas all the Time Guy"
[20:36–24:03]
- Kristen Newman reveals the idea behind casting Kumail Nanjiani as the "Christmas all the Time Guy": subverting expectations with a young, fit guy who seems potentially creepier than the usual eccentric neighbor.
- “You went on a date with some guy from Tinder, and he brought you home, and then you saw Christmas all the Time. That’d be so scary.”
- Newman doubles down: “That’s a serial killer. There’s just no other reaction.”
- John Hoffman reflects on how we project assumptions on our neighbors, rooted in his own voyeuristic curiosity: “Just the idea of, like, how we all do this, right? …Like, have you seen eyebrow lady?”
9. Easter Eggs, Clues & Meta Layering
[24:30–26:16]
- The hosts and Hoffman tease out the significance of the episode's "Perfect Strangers" montage, the recurring "ham radio" and "Dudenoff" clues, and confirm that even seemingly random details might have meaning.
- “Some bear out to be essential clues. Some bear out to be emotional clues. …They all have grades of importance.” [25:39–26:04]
- They speculate about the identity of the mysterious voice on the ham radio; hosts’ theory: it could be Tina Fey's character, Cinda Canning. [26:32–26:53]
10. Fan Theories from Listeners & Reddit
[27:10–31:29]
- Listener submissions include:
- The possibility of a "Jon Hamm" cameo (ham radio, ham theme).
- A theory that Saz is the one living in the empty apartment, possibly tied to a cold case.
- Subreddit user musing that Dudenoff could be a fake name the Westies use for squatting, or possibly a radio station clue: "F.M. Dudenoff."
- Discussion of the blood message Saz wrote, potentially alluding to a bug/tap in Charles’ apartment.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “I have enjoyed you over the years. You’ve made me laugh.” — Steve Martin to Richard Kind [09:39]
- “I'm standing there watching Eugene, watching Steve Martin...Look where the hell you are. Who would have ever thought that this would be your blessing in life?” — Richard Kind [12:13]
- “I consciously did it as an homage to him. Whether or not it comes off that way, I don't care.” — Richard Kind on channeling Steve Martin’s delivery [16:09]
- “That’s a serial killer. There’s just no other reaction as a woman...” — Kristen Newman, on Kumail’s "Christmas all the Time Guy" [21:13]
- “The whole world has gone out of control as suddenly... that feels like it’s turned beautiful until it turns again, you know?” — John Hoffman, on tonal shifts and surprises [24:13]
- “Some bear out to be essential clues. Some bear out to be emotional clues...” — John Hoffman, on clues’ importance [25:39]
- “I wish we could have created a behind the scenes of this season because just the green room talk and chatter was both hysterically funny more than ever, but also really sweet.” — John Hoffman [18:57]
- “You are pretending that you don’t know. Today I know...I don't remember them.” — Richard Kind, on identifying with actors’ forgetfulness after long careers [32:43]
Important Timestamps
- 01:49 – Richard Kind on why actors forget details
- 03:23 – How Kind was cast as Vince Fish
- 05:12 – His critique of one-man shows & praise for John Hoffman’s "Northern Lights"
- 07:16 – Working with Marty (Martin Short), "Clifford," and Second City
- 09:39 – Steve Martin’s compliment & green room story
- 10:52–14:35 – Filming the eye patch scene with Martin and Levy; laughs, homages, and straight-man discipline
- 17:10 – John Hoffman on casting the Hollywood trio (Eva, Zach, Eugene)
- 20:36–24:03 – The Christmas all the Time Guy & writer’s POV on neighborly suspicion
- 24:30 – The importance of clues, "Perfect Strangers," and the ham radio cliffhanger
- 27:10–31:29 – Reddit fan theory session & community shoutouts
Tone & Style
The episode is playful, self-aware, and tinged with both reverence and cheerful irreverence for the icons and tropes of comedy and mystery TV. Richard Kind’s anecdotes are both sincere and self-deprecating; John Hoffman brings transparency to the creative process; the hosts interject with genuine fan enthusiasm and conspiracy-theory energy, making this a joyfully nerdy deconstruction of fan culture as much as a behind-the-scenes exposé.
For Listeners Who Haven’t Tuned In
This episode is a treat for fans who savor the details behind ensemble comedy, casting surprises, and the mysterious texture of the Arconia. It’s loaded with funny and honest perspectives from a cast member thrust among his heroes, creative insight from the showrunner, and plenty of speculation from the fan community—offering both clarity and new layers to Season 4’s ongoing whodunit.