S4 E7: Valley of the Dolls (Part 1)

Summary

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Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

Episode: S4 E7 – “Valley of the Dolls (Part 1)”

Release Date: October 9, 2024
Host: Michael Cyril Creighton (Howard), Hulu
Guests: Eva Longoria, John Hoffman, Robert Pulcini, Shari Springer Berman

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Episode Overview

This episode pulls back the curtain on episode 7 of Only Murders in the Building Season 4, delving into the chaos and comedy of “Valley of the Dolls.” Podcast hosts Ryan Tillotson and Maggie Bowles chat with directors, cast, and showrunner John Hoffman to dissect how the show’s biggest ensemble yet came together for a madcap safe house adventure. The conversation spotlights the pivotal fight scene between Meryl Streep and Melissa McCarthy, explores Eva Longoria's meta-Hollywood role (and real-life family ties to Meryl), and revels in on-set stories that reveal the joyful, collaborative alchemy at the heart of the series.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Plot Recap and House of Dolls Madness

[00:50 - 03:10]

• The trio hides at Charles' sister Doreen’s doll-filled Long Island house, believing it’s a safe refuge.
• Howard tips Bev Mellon off to their location, causing further mayhem.
• Oliver and Loretta’s rocky romance, the arrival of more actors, drunken escapades (featuring “Sweaty Bettys”), and an unforgettable Loretta vs. Doreen fight.
• Howard’s parallel sleuthing at the bodega uncovers a key financial mystery.
• The episode’s events circle back to secrets from Season 1 – promising jaw-dropping revelations.

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2. Making the Safe House Mayhem: Set, Logistics, and Cast

[03:19 – 06:38]

• Directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini discuss being “gifted” this episode and the logistical gymnastics of cramming a huge, star-filled cast into a single house.
  • “We’re very safe-room oriented directors. We do not actually have a personal safe room. We’re very unsafe. But in directing, we’re safe logistically.” – Shari Springer Berman [04:22]
• The house was mostly a set, inspired by a real Long Island location to accommodate the sprawling chaos and intense number of actors.
• Even with space, the true challenge was scheduling—and capturing the one or two magical days when the full cast was present.

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3. Comedy Legends Collide

[06:38 – 11:02]

• Directors reminisce about working with Molly Shannon on their first film, the improvisational genius she brings, and the thrill of watching her, Melissa McCarthy, and Meryl Streep “one-upping each other.”
• On-set laughter often made it impossible to get through takes, with even Selena Gomez breaking character:
  • “Selena... just couldn’t... she broke every take... turned her back... I was like, you know what? You don’t like actors either, right? So you think this, your character... would be laughing at her telling off.” – Shari Springer Berman [08:43]
• Eva Longoria reflects on instant chemistry and friendship with co-stars Zach Galifianakis and Eugene Levy—hinting at spinoff potential.

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4. The Epic Streep vs. McCarthy Fight: Behind-the-Scenes

[13:48 – 19:34]

• John Hoffman (showrunner) on realizing his dream of getting Melissa McCarthy on the show, and how Melissa signed on just for the name “Doreen.”
  • “So your name is Doreen. And she said, I’m in. And I was like, what? And she said, ‘I love the name. I’m in.’” – John Hoffman [12:49]
• The stunt: Scripted by the pros, but Meryl and Melissa chose to take it much further. Both wanted to do their own stunts, mapping out the chaos themselves.
  • “I watched Meryl suggest throwing herself in a total somersault over this couch on her neck, falling down. The whole thing was all mapped out by them... There was no stopping either one of them.” – John Hoffman [16:11]
• The entire set watched, laughing and crying in awe. Most takes are McCarthy and Streep, with minimal use of stunt doubles.
  • “There was someone who was crying. Like, I can’t believe I’m seeing this. It was insane.” – Shari Springer Berman [18:13]
• A tribute within the fight: Melissa’s victorious “braid grab” echoes the infamous wig yank in the film “Valley of the Dolls” (hence the episode’s title).
  • “One of the ideas I had... there’s a famous scene where one of the leads pulls off the other lead’s wig... so we’re gonna use these braids as part of the fight...” – Shari Springer Berman [19:51]

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5. Eva Longoria as “Eva Longoria” (and Her Connection to Meryl Streep)

[22:59 – 29:20]

• Eva’s meta-character is a “heightened” (crazier, egotistical) version of herself, relishing the freedom to go over the top.
  • “It’s not going to be you. It’s going to be like a heightened version of you. And I was like, yes, push it. Make me crazy.” – Eva Longoria [23:15]
• She’s candid about loving physical comedy, improvisation, and was always game for wild jokes—often suggesting her own gags for the show.
  • “I feel like all the good stuff was my idea.” – Eva Longoria [25:48]
• Reveals that she and Meryl Streep discovered, through a genealogy show, that they are distant cousins:
  • “Meryl and I are cousins. We’re distant cousins. ...we both did that DNA show with Dr. Gates.” – Eva Longoria [28:11]
  • Meryl even approached Eva at an event to acknowledge it with a familial “cousin!”
• Discussing actors as detectives: Eva believes actors would excel at real-life sleuthing due to their curiosity and understanding of human nature.
  • “Actors would make great CIA agents or great spies... or psychologists... we’d make great, you know, psychologists. Like, really, tell me how you’re feeling.” – Eva Longoria [29:43]

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6. Connecting Back to Season 1: Plot Holes, Big Reveals, and Meta Fun

[31:28 – 35:43]

• The Hollywood actors experience a “newfound confidence” as amateur detectives, with Eva hinting that the actors try to “take over” the sleuthing in subsequent episodes, leading to more antics.
  • “Let the real people do this. And they’re like, you’re not real. Like, you’re not any better than us. We’re like, but we are.” – Eva Longoria [33:10]
• John Hoffman teases that major story beats in this episode deliberately tie back to season one—possibly revisiting plot holes or unresolved mysteries.
  • “It all goes back to season one, which... has more holes than Zach Galifant (Galifianakis).” – John Hoffman [33:36]
• A sly challenge: should fans rewatch Season 1 for hidden clues or answers?
  • “Plot holes are brought up throughout this whole season... with any mystery, with any endeavor of getting something right, you’re exposing other things that might not add up and you kind of have to look away from it...” – John Hoffman [34:53]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Selena... she turned her back. And I was like, you know what? You don’t like actors either, right?” – Shari Springer Berman [08:43]
• “When I found out it was Eugene Levy and Zach Galifianakis, I mean, day one on set, all our scenes were together. It was like we were this trio... There’s a spinoff to be had there.” – Eva Longoria [11:02]
• “There was someone who was crying. Like, I can’t believe I’m seeing this [fight]. It was insane.” – Shari Springer Berman [18:13]
• “Meryl Streep is gonna break her neck on our set... But there was no stopping either one of them.” – John Hoffman [16:11]
• “Meryl and I are cousins. ...She’s the one that was like, we’re related. I was like, I know.” – Eva Longoria [28:11]
• “Actors would make great CIA agents or great spies. We would make great psychologists. ...through that, I think you could find a murderer, for sure.” – Eva Longoria [29:43]
• “I never knew. I still don’t know [who the murderer is]. So it was a lot of red herrings, and that’s what makes the show so great...” – Eva Longoria [31:03]
• “With any mystery, with any endeavor of getting something right, you’re exposing other things that might not add up... you kind of have to look away from it... as you’re following something more intriguing.” – John Hoffman [34:53]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:50 – 03:10 — Episode 7 recap: the doll house, drinking, seductions, and the big fight
• 04:22 — Directors talk set logistics, ensemble chaos
• 06:38 – 08:43 — Working with comedy legends; on-set laughter stories
• 13:48 – 19:51 — McCarthy vs. Streep fight scene: from stunt choreography to real bruises
• 23:15 – 26:49 — Eva on playing herself & differences between "real" and "show" Eva
• 28:11 — Eva and Meryl’s cousin connection anecdote
• 29:43 – 30:03 — Actors as detectives: Eva’s take
• 31:28 – 33:08 — The Hollywood trio’s newfound confidence
• 33:36 – 34:53 — John Hoffman teases links back to Season 1 (and possible plot holes)

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Final Thoughts

This episode of the official Only Murders in the Building podcast is a riotous, revealing journey through the making of “Valley of the Dolls.” With lighthearted banter, meta humor, and candid stories, the cast and crew show why the series continually manages to balance sharp mystery, zany comedy, and heartfelt ensemble energy. Fans get hints of more secrets tied to Season 1 (and perhaps reasons to rewatch), while Eva Longoria’s comic self-parody, heartfelt admissions, and Hollywood family ties add extra flavor. The highlight for cast and audience alike: witnessing Meryl Streep and Melissa McCarthy go full slapstick—proving that even TV legends just want to get in the mud and play.

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Transcript

[Eva Longoria]

Straw Hut Media, when we were blocking out the scene to see, like, Melissa take out Meryl Streep was like, oh, my God. We were all like, ah. Like, you're gonna hurt Meryl Streep.

[Maggie Bowles]

Hello, and welcome to the Only Murders in the Building podcast. I'm Maggie Bowles.

[Ryan Tillotson]

And I'm Ryan Tillotson. We're looking behind the scenes and mining for clues as we meet the cast and creators of the Hulu original series, Only Murders in the Building.

[Maggie Bowles]

Today on the show, we're talking all About Season Episode 7, Valley of the Dolls.

[Ryan Tillotson]

We'll hear from husband and wife director team Robert Pulcini and Sherry Springer Berman, showrunner and co creator John Hoffman, Eva Longoria and Michael Cyril Crichton.

[Maggie Bowles]

We'll talk about Eva Longoria's special connection to Meryl Streep. Bringing you season four back to season one and of course, the fight.

[Ryan Tillotson]

But first, a quick recap. And listeners, there are spoilers for episode seven, so if you haven't watched it, hit pause, go watch, and come right. Episode 7, Valley of the Dolls.

[Maggie Bowles]

The trio is in the car heading to Charles sister's house in Long island where they think they'll be safe. Oliver sends a breakup text to Loretta and then turns off his phone and they tell Howard where they'll be.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Charles sister Doreen has a house full of dolls.

[Eva Longoria]

So I guess you replaced your children with dolls, huh?

[Ryan Tillotson]

She and Charles have a complicated relationship because he accidentally caused her to lose her spleen as a child.

[Maggie Bowles]

Bev Mellon shows up. Howard told her where the trio was and she's freaking out because the studio wants to pull the plug on the movie. She wants to know if the brothers sisters killed anyone.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Doreen has the hots for Oliver and she starts trying to seduce him. They get drunk on Sweaty Betty's.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

This is mostly entirely vodka and Crystallite. You know, I call it a Sweaty Betty. Named it after my dear friend, also named Betty, who also happens to sweat like a pig.

[Maggie Bowles]

The actors show up. Zach escaped the hospital to come there, and they immediately start driving Mabel crazy.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Then Loretta shows up too, right at the moment that looks bad. Between Oliver and Doreen, he got caught

[Maggie Bowles]

in her macrame duster. We learned that Loretta didn't hear Oliver's profession of love because they'd given her phone to her. Stand in and they make up for now.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Loretta convinces Mabel to let the actors help with the case, and Bev Mellon gets drunk.

[Maggie Bowles]

Meanwhile, Howard is investigating the bodega where Dudenov's checks have been cashed. He sees each of The Westies coming in and cashing Dudenov's checks.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Back in Long Island, Oliver tells Loretta about pretending to be Rani. She's very upset. Doreen is getting more and more jealous of them.

[Maggie Bowles]

There's a big fight between Loretta and Doreen. They tussle. Braids are weaponized.

[Eva Longoria]

My God, what was in that? Crystalite bath salt.

[Ryan Tillotson]

After the fight, Loretta proposes to Oliver with a doll bracelet. Bev gets the movie back on track, and the actors bang pots to wake up the house.

[Maggie Bowles]

They say they've solved the case, and it goes all the way back to season one.

[Eva Longoria]

I gotta sleep.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

I have a hangover.

[Eva Longoria]

Shut the fuck up.

[John Hoffman]

Thank you.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Case closed.

[Maggie Bowles]

Bob Pulcini and Sherry Springer Berman directed both episodes seven and eight.

[Ryan Tillotson]

And their husband and wife.

[Maggie Bowles]

Like us.

[Ryan Tillotson]

I'm curious, like, did John present this episode to you? And, like, this is what I think you guys should do, or did you guys, like. I want. We want this one. How did that. How does that go?

[Sherry Springer Berman]

We get gifted an episode from. From John. It's like, he's like Santa and he. He's like, here, you can work with Melissa McCarthy and Meryl Streep.

[Robert Pulcini]

Well, Shelley, like, we keep in touch with the editor Shelley, because we have. We have a long history with her. And she had at said, you know, John's got this episode that he's conceived. And he said, thank God Berman and Pulcini are doing this one. And I said, well, what does that mean? And she said, I don't know. It's something about Safe House and it's, like, packed with people. And I said, well, we did do this. You know, we do have a history. We did the Safe Room episode of Succession when we were trapped in.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

We're very safe room oriented directors. We do not actually have a personal safe room. We're very unsafe. But in directing, we're safe logistically.

[Ryan Tillotson]

There's so many people crammed into this, what appears to be a little house. I think I heard it was a set.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Well, it was a set. Patrick, who is a brilliant production designer and built us a wonderful set. Although we did shoot all the exteriors in Long Island, I think Rosslyn, Long Island.

[Robert Pulcini]

And the set was very much inspired by the house, the exterior that we shot.

[Maggie Bowles]

Oh, was it?

[Ryan Tillotson]

Had you seen the inside of that house?

[Robert Pulcini]

Patrick did. Oh, Patrick did. Yeah. And we had seen it a little bit. We, the family was so excited to have, you know, a set built based on.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Yeah, they were so excited. They're gonna be so excited to see this.

[Maggie Bowles]

I love that.

[Robert Pulcini]

It was really Fun to be out on Long island with these people. Because so much of we do is kind of close to the sets, and we would go and we go into the Upper west side. Obviously, it was fun to kind of get out of town with them and bring them to a new environment and out of the city, because there's all such urbanites.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

But so. So being that it was. He. He built a very nice, large set for us. So it wasn't hard. It was actually. I would say the challenge was.

[Robert Pulcini]

Are you talking about. Logistically, Are you talking about. Because there's so many actors that are huge names to get them all in a house together.

[Ryan Tillotson]

That is exactly what I'm talking about.

[Maggie Bowles]

Okay.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Space.

[Robert Pulcini]

Actual physical space.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Because I have. Coming from independent films, I have shot in places where literally you can't fit everybody in the space.

[Robert Pulcini]

It was challenging, but we found ways, which is why we made it a set. We found ways to kind of make it look like they're all there, but not always all there. You know, that kind of thing.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Yes. We had to do a lot of movie magic because we didn't always have everybody on set at the same time. Although there were maybe, like one to two days where we had everybody on set, and they were like, the greatest, most fun days ever.

[Maggie Bowles]

I can imagine. I mean, you have Melissa McCarthy, obviously, but then you also have Molly Shannon, who's fantastic. So funny.

[Robert Pulcini]

In this episode, we had a history with Molly. She was in our very first movie, American Splendor, and she. She had a small part. She's. I believe she's from Cleveland.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

She is.

[Robert Pulcini]

You know. You know, we. You know, we're like, will you do this for us? If you're. You know, because we were shooting over, I think, Thanksgiving, she's like, oh, I'll be there, you know, and she came in and did this great part for us. And we had always hoped to work again. It's been years, but we have. We have friends in common, and it was just great to be around her. And she's so funny. I mean, every take is different with her. It's never kind of. You know, she doesn't kind of lock in. It's just like, oh, let's go again and see what happens, you know, because she's gonna do something completely different the next take.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

The thing that was so amazing was, like, we were watching these comedy legends just, like, one upping each other, you know, and just, like, going at it, like, you know, just. And then Meryl, who, like, is now a comedy legend, apparently, like, she's now moved into that territory, in my opinion. And they were just having so much fun. I mean, it's. I don't. I'm sure you've heard this from everybody who works on this show, but is it is like ridiculously fun and you just pinch yourself? Like, is this really a job? Like, I can't believe I have the pleasure of being here.

[Ryan Tillotson]

My gosh.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

There was something very funny, which is the scene where Molly is drunk and comes in and kind of tells. Everybody tells off Meryl and can I want some drink of water?

[Eva Longoria]

Okay, Mom. Fuck you, TV actor.

[Ryan Tillotson]

You know my work.

[Maggie Bowles]

Work.

[Eva Longoria]

Let me sum up the quality of your acting ability in one word.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

It was the funniest thing because Selena could not. And she's sort of on the edge of the shot watching, and she just couldn't. Not like we all were laughing so hard, but she just. She broke every take. And she turned her back. And I was like, you know, she's like, I can't make it through the take. I just can't do it. I love it. And I was like, you know what? You don't like actors either, right? So you think this your character, not Selena Goins, But Mabel is, like, annoyed by these actors who think that they can solve the case. So you would be laughing at her telling off. So let's just go with it. She was like, oh, thank God. Yes, it's a good. That's the way to do it. Because it was impossible to make it through that take without laughing.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Oh, my God, she was so funny.

[Maggie Bowles]

So funny, funny.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

I remember she did one take. Like, maybe the first take was a little bit like, not, you know, not a subtle, quiet take, but not like, where she could go. And John was like, we gotta rev her up. And I'm like, don't worry, she's gonna get revved by, like, take three. It was like, just crazy and hysterical and. And then we just kept going. We're like, go, let's do it again. You know? And it was. And every time she killed it.

[Eva Longoria]

Can't take it anymore, bro.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

I'm done with Hollywood.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Middle child.

[John Hoffman]

Single mom.

[Eva Longoria]

Low thyroid. No, high. High thyroid.

[Maggie Bowles]

Grief. Victory.

[Eva Longoria]

Fuckers.

[Robert Pulcini]

See, I was just so excited to work with Eugene Levy, too. And I grew like, sctv. I kind of have this little mental checkbox of how many of them I've worked with in my career. And I had never worked with you with Eugene Levy. And he was everything I would hoped he would be.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

And Zach and Eva were great. I mean, it was so fun.

[Robert Pulcini]

Her timing is Just.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

She's so funny. So funny. We had so much fun with her. I mean, it just. Again, it was like one of those jobs where it's not a job. It's like, this is too much fun. Everybody is so amazing.

[Ryan Tillotson]

That's what it sounds like. That's what everyone says. Yeah, that sounds incredible.

[Eva Longoria]

When I found out it was Eugene Levy and Zach Galifianakis, I mean, day one on set, all our scenes were together. It was like we were this trio.

[Ryan Tillotson]

That's the voice of Eva Longoria, of course. She plays Eva Longoria, who plays Mabel.

[Eva Longoria]

And so we spent a lot of time together. And Zach is the greatest guy in the world. Like, I love that man so much. And, you know, Eugene is. Is just a genius. And you just watch and, you know, and he's old friends with Steve and Marty. They're very old friends. And so they all have stories. So just listening to them on set was really fun. But like, us as a trio, we had so much. So much fun. And we were talking about war stories and different shows that we had done. And. And because all of us were directors, you know, we traded a lot of. We traded a lot of directing stories of, like, when I directed this. Oh, when I directed this. And they're like, oh, my gosh. So. So that was really a treat to really. You know, all the other days were like this crazy day of all these amazing actors and people popped in and out and in and out. But me and Zach and. And Eugene kind of became really, really close. There's a show, there's a spin off to be had there.

[John Hoffman]

Yeah.

[Ryan Tillotson]

When you guys are solving your own murders.

[Eva Longoria]

Yeah, exactly.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Yeah. I love it. Oh, that's so great.

[Maggie Bowles]

Oh, my God, I love that. Only murders in the building. The Hollywood version, you know, Only murders in the industry. I don't know. I'm trying to think of what they're pitching.

[Eva Longoria]

That's a good title. Only Murders in the Industry. Oh, my God. Let's pitch it to John Hoffman. Let's pitch it.

[Maggie Bowles]

We will talk about the actors and their Murder Boy or Murder Wall later on. But first we have to talk about Melissa McCarthy.

[Ryan Tillotson]

We knew she was going to be in this season from the trailer and the poster. But this episode exceeded even our wildest imaginings. Here's John Hoffman.

[John Hoffman]

I just could eat her up, right? I just love her so much. And Melissa McCarthy. There was a moment, gosh, I think it was second season, and there was a moment where we were trying to get Melissa on the show at some point, and then she Was it didn't work out, you know, but we had a great connection in that moment. So when this part came up, we really were thinking, like, we want to make a feast for a great comedic actress. And then calling her about this part. And she's been such a lovely fan of the show and has gotten her kids and her family are all into it. They buy sweatshirts with only burgers in the building that she gives at Christmas. And she really is that person. So I'm like, oh, okay, we gotta try and make something happen. So I was hopeful that she might be interested in doing it, but to walk her through her character, I just said, okay, so your name is Doreen. And she said, I'm in. And I was like, what? And she said, I love the name. I'm in. I'm like, wait a. Okay, wait, hold on. Then I started going beat by beat and saying, you're Charles's sister. When you were three, he pushed you on a swing and you had to lose your spleen. So he feels very guilty about that. She says, I'm in. And then it kept going and going and going and going until the point when we got into the wild moment between Madam Meryl Streep and Madame Melissa McCarthy. That is one for the ages.

[Maggie Bowles]

Absolutely. One for the ages.

[John Hoffman]

You didn't see it coming. What did you. Did you have a sense?

[Maggie Bowles]

I can't say that I ever expect.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Not at all. I mean, I could see that tension that was building, but I did not think it was gonna build into a fight.

[Maggie Bowles]

No, absolutely not.

[John Hoffman]

And a full on, like. Can I share about that a little bit?

[Ryan Tillotson]

Please?

[Michael Cyril Creighton]

Please.

[Maggie Bowles]

That is a big question of ours.

[John Hoffman]

It was one of the great days. That whole episode, in every way, was such a mind blower. Just looking. Everyone on set was looking around at everyone on set, and we were all sort of like, this is like an unbelievable collection of spectacularly brilliant talent. And all of us in this same amazing set that Patrick Howe and his team built for that Long island home. But when we got to doing that scene, that particular fight scene, Meryl and Melissa were there, and our great stunt team, led by Chris Barnes, had put together for like a week before that, working with stunt doubles to do what was funny. Versions of it. We would look at versions of it and all of that. But until we got there on the day, Meryl and Melissa were there, and I said, okay, you two, come over here. Look at what Chris Barnes has done. And let's see what we can start mapping out for this and see how we shoot it and how we can achieve this. And they watched it, and they both mutually looked at each other. They said, yeah. I was like, what? And they both went, yeah. No, no. I'm like, no. They're like, no, it needs to go about 10 times farther.

[Maggie Bowles]

Wow.

[John Hoffman]

And I was like, okay.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

What?

[John Hoffman]

And then they started working this out,

[Ryan Tillotson]

the two of them.

[John Hoffman]

The two of them.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Wow.

[John Hoffman]

And I watched and Meryl Suggest throwing herself in a total somersault over this couch on her neck, falling down. The whole thing was all mapped out by them. And then I'm gonna grab your duster, and I'm gonna kick you in the face with my like. And then you're gonna go over that way. We're gonna. I'm gonna scream. I'm gonna pull off your braid. The whole thing was them putting it together. And each time, I was like, I. Meryl Streep is gonna break her neck on our set. Like, that's what's gonna happen. And it really, like, could have happened, but there was no stopping either one of them. And they were. I just loved watching that process and everyone around Selena Gomez, those reactions of just like, oh, my God, like, it was all real. We have maybe one glimmer of a shot of a stunt double just for a later shot we got. But that is all them the whole time. And they did it several times. And I was like, I. We were holding our breath each time because we never knew what we were going to get. But they kept it tight. But they really built that thing.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Like, honestly, Meryl Streep could be a stunned person if she didn't, you know, wasn't the greatest actress of all time.

[Maggie Bowles]

Now back to directors Sherry and Bob.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Like, she. She was incredible, like, flailing around. And her and Melissa really were amazing. I mean, Melissa, we know, is an amazing physical comedian. And it was just everybody, after every take that they did it, there was like, a standing ovation from the cast

[Ryan Tillotson]

and crew, who was all watching while you guys were shooting that scene.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

There were people coming down. I've never had this on any show that I've ever done or any movie I've ever made where we actually had people who were, like, working on the show, who came to set, who were like, we can't miss this.

[Ryan Tillotson]

We gotta see Meryl Streepside. Melissa McCarthy.

[Maggie Bowles]

I would be there in a second.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

So we had an audience. It was like a play. We had, like, a full audience. And after every take, they got, like, people were dying, laughing. Somebody was crying. There was someone who was crying. Like, I can't believe I'm seeing this. It was insane. And they had so much fun with it. I can't even tell you.

[Ryan Tillotson]

So ultimately, you ended up not using the stunt people at all. They wanted to do every bit, like,

[Robert Pulcini]

only after it was all in the can, you know, to kind of. We're like, okay, can you do what they did?

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Copied them so that we could get other people's coverage. So we didn't make Melissa and Meryl do the stunt 30 times. Right. Like, so the stunt people did it as, you know, for us to get coverage. But the actual stuff, they 100% did it themselves and wouldn't have it any other way. There was no convincing them otherwise.

[Maggie Bowles]

Amazing.

[Ryan Tillotson]

I mean, I knew. I feel like I knew Melissa would be. Would totally do that. But it's a surprise that Meryl is on board for that kind of stuff.

[Maggie Bowles]

It's not surprising to me.

[Ryan Tillotson]

It's not.

[Maggie Bowles]

No, no.

[Robert Pulcini]

She's all in.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

She's all in. She was like, I'm dying to do this. I'm doing it. And that was it. It was.

[Maggie Bowles]

That's so cool.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

You know what? She was really kicking Melissa's ass.

[Maggie Bowles]

Well, when Melissa walks out with the braid. With the braids on, I just, like, completely lost it. And I also think that contributed to her losing the fight.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Yes. Because she got the braids. We discuss it, and that comes. One of the ideas I had from my movie that I loved, Valley of the Dolls is there's a very famous scene where one of the leads pulls off the other Leeds wig and, like, starts running around with it and, like, throws it in the toilet. And so it was like, okay, we're gonna use the. These braids as part of the fight. And that sort of is an homage to Valley of the Dolls.

[Maggie Bowles]

Wow.

[Ryan Tillotson]

I love that.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

And Zach and Eva were great. I mean, it was so. It was so fun. Again, stuff that, like, we couldn't use all of it, but when we did their intervening in the fighting, you know, their reactions to the fights, you know, it was hysterical. You know, just seeing them screaming on the side and.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yes. Yeah. Eva screaming, gail, Gail. Yes.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

And she was so good at that. I'm like, wow, you must really watch, like, you know, wrestling. She knew every detail. She was perfect.

[Eva Longoria]

Hey, Doreen, get on me. You got a bridge. You're gonna have to get your hand in there for a chokehold.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Bridge. Come on.

[Eva Longoria]

Kill.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Whoa, whoa. Easy.

[Eva Longoria]

Like, no need to fight over you. Like Lonnie, Addison, and Charo, we asked

[Maggie Bowles]

Eva Longoria if she had ever pictured herself Screaming kill. Into the face of Meryl Streep and Melissa McCarthy.

[Eva Longoria]

Nope, not in my wildest acting dreams. What I have imagined a scene like this, and then Melissa with this crazy wig and this, like, was it Long island accent? I mean, it was just. She was just, you know, she's a genius, but, like, she always constantly reinvents herself in every role. And you just go like, you're. I just can't. I can't with you. It was definitely a surreal pinch me moment because not only was it, like, all these amazing comedic actors, Eugene Levy and Zach Galifianakis and Meryl Streep and Melissa McCarthy and. And myself now, and, I mean, that house and Steve and Marty and Selena, and it was like, not only was it like, oh, my God, we're all acting together, but we are all in the green room. We're all on set. Nobody goes back to their. To their, I would say, trailers. Nobody goes back to their dressing room. Nobody does not hang out on set. Like, it was just the conversations offset, too, was like, really, you know, pinch me, I'm dreaming moments. But, yeah, we're blocking out the scene. To see, like, Melissa take out Meryl Streep was like, oh, my God. We were all like, ah. Like, you're gonna hurt Meryl Streep. But they had the stunt coordinator and then they, you know, added a line in there. Eva, jump down there and. And start screaming in face. I was like, because I'm screaming in Meryl and Melissa's face just like, come on, choke her out. And they were like, kill, kill, kill. Like, please stop.

[Maggie Bowles]

Please stop.

[Michael Cyril Creighton]

Yeah.

[Ryan Tillotson]

After the break, what the real Eva Longoria and the Hollywood Eva Longoria have in common and do actors really make good detectives

[Maggie Bowles]

foreign?

[Ryan Tillotson]

Welcome back. It's probably not a shock that Eva Longoria on Only Murders in the Building is not exactly the same as Eva Longoria in real life, but they do share certain qualities. Here's Eva.

[Eva Longoria]

John and I were talking on the phone, and he was just so lovely, and he's so charming, and he's such a great writer. And he was like, look, it's going to be a. It's not going to be you. It's going to be like a heightened version of you. And I was like, yes, push it. Make me crazy. And he loved that idea that I was like, even. Even crazier than. Than I normally am. So it was like, really fun to, you know, create this character, quote, unquote, create this character with him.

[Maggie Bowles]

Since we didn't get a chance to talk to Eva back for episode three, which was directed by Chris Koch. We had to ask her about that crazy scene with Christmas all the Time guy. And Mabel, you know, when she starts breaking things and she fires the gun.

[Eva Longoria]

Does this piss you off?

[John Hoffman]

What?

[Eva Longoria]

Or, hey, what about this? Oh, and by the way, your eggnog sucks. Oh, what are you gonna do about. You can cry. You gonna cry about it? I loved the director of this episode because that scene was really hard to block. It was very physical comedy, which is what I love. I love physical comedy. And so I remember shooting the scene, I was like, oh, I don't know. Was it funny enough? Was it? Because there's a lot of technical stuff, like reset with breaking of the glass and the. So you only have two times with that. And so it got a little technical, and I thought it felt clunky when we were shooting it. And then John. Actually, no, it was Marty. It was Marty or Steve. It was Steve Martin, and he came up to me when we were shooting, like, episode eight, and Steve goes, I just watched the cut of the episode with the Christmas guy and, oh, my God, you're so funny. And I was like, oh, my God, Steve Martin said I was funny. So that was. That made my. My life. I mean, not my year, my life.

[Ryan Tillotson]

That's huge. Oh, I love it.

[Maggie Bowles]

When we were talking to Ben Smith and Pete Swanson, they were saying how much fun it was that they were writing all of these crazy things for you to do. And they'd be like, ah, Eva Longoria might not do this, though. She. She might just, like, kick this out or whatever. And they were like. She was game to do anything, basically anything. Like, were there. Was there ever, like, a joke where

[Sherry Springer Berman]

you were, like, too far?

[Maggie Bowles]

I don't know, guys, this might be a little too much. Or were you just, like.

[Eva Longoria]

No, I feel like because we established this heightened evil in Gloria, I didn't have to protect it so much. It's not like I didn't want to look bad. It was like, oh, my God. Go, go, go. And so it was like, once we were in that space, anything goes, as opposed to, like, oh, you know, let's pull back. If we kept pulling back, then. Then it would have, you know, not really landed, or you wouldn't have earned all those moments. So, no, no. I was like, let's go. Should I pull the wall? They're like, yeah. I was like, great, let's do it.

[Maggie Bowles]

That was your idea?

[Eva Longoria]

Yeah. I feel like it was. I feel like all the good stuff was my idea.

[Ryan Tillotson]

But you Know, of course, you know,

[Eva Longoria]

directors and writers like to take all the credit, so.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Yeah, you know, well, that really heightened the scene. So, I mean, it was great.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yeah. So what is. What do you think are the big differences between Eva Longoria on Only Murders in the Building and Eva Longoria in real life? Besides, maybe she'. Crazier.

[Ryan Tillotson]

I don't know.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Crazier?

[Eva Longoria]

Oh, my God. Yeah. Well, her ego. I mean, Eva in real life does not have that big of an ego. I mean, the things that came out of her mouth to Selena Gomez, I would never say, but. But the evil Angoria on Murders in the Building to Mabel. Yes, that. That's what she would say. You know, she's like, ugh, I hate your name. Oh, you're just a pile of mopey sweaters. Like, oh, my God. I was like, she's so mean. So I think. I think fictional, evil and gore is

[Ryan Tillotson]

a little meaner, but also, you know, gets Mabel to take, you know, get a buttload of money and.

[Eva Longoria]

Well, that is Eva Long. That is me. I'm like a girl's girl. And I'm like, girl, this is what you gotta do. So that would be me over life, too. I would have given her that advice in real life. She obviously doesn't need it. You know what I mean? She's doing fine.

[Maggie Bowles]

The important takeaway for me is that there's some crossover of real Eva Longoria in that she would be teaching Mabel how to.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Gotta get that money.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yeah. How to advocate for herself and make the best out of that financial opportunity.

[Eva Longoria]

Yeah, that would be me for sure.

[Maggie Bowles]

Did you have any conversations with Selena Gomez about Mabel and Eva Longoria and their interactions and kind of like how that would play off of each other?

[Eva Longoria]

No, no. I think it was better that way because, you know, I'm really like. I come in like a tornado. And it kind of worked better, I think. Think acting, it was. It was like, yeah, this makes sense that she's like, whoa, what? Wait, what is happening? Who are you? Where are we? What? Like, so I did, like. I like that probably. We didn't. We didn't talk about it.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yeah, yeah.

[Eva Longoria]

You know. You know, Meryl, a little trivia. Meryl and I are cousins.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

Are you? Yes.

[Maggie Bowles]

Goodness, I had no idea you guys

[Eva Longoria]

did not do your research.

[Maggie Bowles]

No, we did not.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Geez.

[Eva Longoria]

Yes. Meryl and I are cousins. We're. We're distant cousins.

[Ryan Tillotson]

So do you guys see each other at. At family gatherings?

[Eva Longoria]

Yeah, yeah. Family reunions. We call each other because every time we see each other, we Call it. Okay, Cousin. Hey, cousin. People are like, what? Yes. Because we both did that DNA show with Dr. Gates.

[Maggie Bowles]

And oh, yes, that show is so good.

[Eva Longoria]

They do six people per episode. And when you're on the episode, the six people of the episode, they cross reference your DNA to see if you share an ancestor in the last hundred years. And so at the end of the show, they go, do you want to know if you're related to somebody? I go, yes. And they go, meryl Streep. And I was like, what? So, and then they told her. And then I saw her at an award show one time and my friend's like, go up to her, go tell her your cousins. I go, I am not going up to Meryl Streep and telling her we're cousins. And then I'm standing there and I hear cousin. And she came up to me and she's the one that was like, we're related. I was like, I know.

[Sherry Springer Berman]

I didn't want to bother you.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Oh, I love that.

[Maggie Bowles]

That's amazing. That is such a good story. I love knowing that. A true family of greatness.

[Eva Longoria]

Yeah, yeah. Meryl has a little Latina in her, or I have a little English in me. I don't know.

[Maggie Bowles]

Well, so, I mean, Meryl's Loretta does come to Actors Defense and says they are investigators of the human condition. Do you, do you think you would trust actors to solve a murder?

[Eva Longoria]

I would. I'm of the same mentality, which I think, you know, actors would make great CIA agents or great spies. We would make great, you know, psychologists. Like, really, tell me how you're feeling. I mean, I mean, if we didn't have, you know, big egos.

[Maggie Bowles]

And

[Eva Longoria]

so I do think, like, actors, you know, are these really deep, thoughtful, you know, humanity seeking people. And through that, I think you could find a murderer for sure.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Well, you guys definitely uncovered some big stuff in episode seven, bringing it all the way back to season one. I know that's going to be very exciting for people.

[Eva Longoria]

I was so excited. I was like, will I be the murder? Will I die? Will I be the murdered or am I the murderer? And. And everything was so tight lipped. And I think it all unfolds perfectly. I also do like that this season's target was not like a random, random person in the apartment building.

[Ryan Tillotson]

I know. I agree. Yeah. Did it. When in the process, did you find out? Because I hear, you know, I found out. We found out what? In season two, the murderer didn't find out until the very end that she was the murderer.

[Eva Longoria]

Oh, yeah. No, I never knew. I still don't know. So it was a bit. It was a lot of. It was a lot of red herrings, and that's what makes the show so great, was, you know, wait, okay, it's totally that guy. No. Oh, my God. It was her. I knew it. I knew it was her. You know, it's so. I love that. It's like, it takes turns and twists every episode.

[Maggie Bowles]

Now, who else? Uncovered covers some very important information this episode. A certain someone who is not at the house on Long island but is present nonetheless. Here's actor Michael Cyril Creighton.

[Michael Cyril Creighton]

So I initially was pretty bummed that I wasn't part of the, you know, the main storyline in seven in that house on Long island, which is my homeland. I was initially pretty bummed, but then I loved Howard's storyline in that episode, and I loved that actor who played the man in the bodega. We had so much fun that day. But there's another animal, another cat. So this season, it was a dog, a cat, and a pig. But that was a pretty special day, too, just because I don't usually get to act with new actors that I haven't met before on this show. So that was a really fun day, and I love how that episode turned out. Overall, I think it's so great.

[Maggie Bowles]

And Howard is responsible for everybody being in that house, too, you know, I know. I see that.

[Michael Cyril Creighton]

That's what's great about this, too, is, like, Howard, even when he's not on screen, he is so involved this season. He's so part of everything. And that's, like, Howard's dream.

[Ryan Tillotson]

He's doing it.

[Maggie Bowles]

He's doing it.

[Ryan Tillotson]

He's living his dream.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yeah, I love it.

[Michael Cyril Creighton]

Yeah.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Just like in the show, Howard is sprinkled throughout the podcast, too.

[Maggie Bowles]

By the end of the episode, the Hollywood trio has a newfound confidence in their ability to solve crimes. Here again is Eva Longoria.

[Eva Longoria]

It's so fun because we do go back.

[Maggie Bowles]

We.

[Eva Longoria]

We eventually leave the house, and we go back into the. Into the real world to go figure out, you know, the murder. And the fun thing about, like, you know, 8, 9, and 10 is, like, the actors are now trying to take over.

[Maggie Bowles]

We.

[Eva Longoria]

We think we know best.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Oh, I love it.

[Eva Longoria]

And, guys, just step aside, okay? Let the. Let the real people do this. And they're like, you're not real. Like, you're not any better than us. We're like, but we are. And so that's a lot of fun that we have in eight and nine.

[Ryan Tillotson]

All Right. Let's close out today's episode by asking Jon Hoffman about this huge breakthrough that the actors have, admitting to plot holes, perhaps intentional plot holes, all the way back to season one.

[John Hoffman]

It all goes back to season one, which, by the way, has more holes than Zach Galifant.

[Maggie Bowles]

Tell us about that decision to bring it back to season one.

[John Hoffman]

It's a great question, Maggie, and I think a lot of people who are fans of the show will be very interested in this answer. So I'm watching my words a little more carefully, and it's one that we've talked about a long time, and there are some answers, maybe not all. So that's all I'm going to say right now.

[Maggie Bowles]

Wait and see. Is that the answer?

[John Hoffman]

Yeah. But I loved the turn. The most important thing was like having some great reveal turn for these actors at the end of this episode. And that felt right. And then more importantly, the fact that it tied into something that had a longer game thought behind it feels really good as well to me.

[Maggie Bowles]

Do you think that viewers should go back and watch season one again?

[John Hoffman]

Well, sure. I mean, I still want to know.

[Maggie Bowles]

Will that help them solve the mystery?

[John Hoffman]

Don't you want to know who poisoned Winnie?

[Michael Cyril Creighton]

I do.

[John Hoffman]

We've said it right from the beginning. Mabel is saying it right at the end of season one. There's some loose ends.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yeah.

[John Hoffman]

Plot holes are brought up throughout this whole season. You know, I think with any mystery, with any endeavor of getting something right, you're exposing other things that might not add up and you kind of have to look away from it or just leave it by the wayside as your fault. Following something more intriguing. So I think that being a part of an ongoing series based on murder mysteries in one building and what possibly could have been a bigger story that may not end here yet. We'll see.

[Robert Pulcini]

Oh, my goodness.

[Maggie Bowles]

Okay, okay.

[John Hoffman]

Or may.

[Maggie Bowles]

Or may. We'll see. That's it for today. Thanks so much for listening. I had a really hard time with the Easter egg this week. Maybe it's the reflection of the house in Long island on the windows. I don't know. What do you. Did you see it, Ryan?

[Ryan Tillotson]

Only when you watched it, like four times.

[Maggie Bowles]

Watched it four times.

[Ryan Tillotson]

I couldn't figure it out either.

[Maggie Bowles]

All right, so listeners, please let me know what the Easter egg was if it wasn't that, because that felt too subtle.

[Ryan Tillotson]

We'll be back in a few days with Molly Shannon.

[Maggie Bowles]

Molly Shannon.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Plus more with John Hoffman and Bob and Sherry, because we have not even talked about the dolls.

[Maggie Bowles]

We haven't talked about the dolls, which is what I thought I would see in the in the opening credits, but I didn't see it. Anyways, please send us your thoughts and theories to OnlyMurderStrawHutMedia.com Take a minute to

[Ryan Tillotson]

subscribe Rate the Share Show Follow us and leave us a review if you enjoy the show.

[Maggie Bowles]

Only Murders in the Building podcast is a production of Straw Hut Media, hosted and produced by Ryan Tilts and Maggie Bolton. Our associate producer is Stephen Markley, original music by Kyle Merritt, and only Murders in the Building theme music by Siddhartha Khosla. Our assistant editor is Daniel Ferreira, and our production assistant is Caroline Mendoza.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Thank you so much to Robert Pulcini, Sherry Springer Berman, Eva Longoria, and Michael Ciro Crichton for talking with us this week.

[Maggie Bowles]

And big, big, big thanks as always to John Hoffman and the entire Hulu team.

[Ryan Tillotson]

See you soon.

[Eva Longoria]

I'm so sorry. There's like a delay. There's like a five second delay.

[Maggie Bowles]

So it's okay. We're gonna make it work. So just, we'll, we'll.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Okay, we'll cut out the delay.

[Maggie Bowles]

We'll cut out the delay. Don't worry.

[Eva Longoria]

Okay, good. Oh, can you still hear me? Sorry. Oh, it. No, we hear you. I'm losing you. Okay, I'm going to keep.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Oh, no,

[Maggie Bowles]

wait.

[Eva Longoria]

Okay, I think it's back. I think it's back, so I'm going to keep going.