Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

S4 E9: Escape From Planet Klongo (Part 1)

Released: October 23, 2024
Host: Michael Cyril Creighton (Howard), with Ryan Tillotson & Maggie Bowles
Guests: John Hoffman (Showrunner), Alex Bigelow & Ben Smith (Writers)

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep behind the scenes of "Escape from Planet Klongo," the penultimate episode of Only Murders in the Building Season 4. The hosts are joined by showrunner John Hoffman and writers Alex Bigelow ("Biggs") and Ben Smith to unpack the comedic, emotional, and meta layers of an installment that toys with sci-fi movie tropes, prop comedy, and the show's signature blend of friendship and murder-mystery. The hosts explore the origin of "Planet Klongo," the show’s imaginary sci-fi epic, Ron Howard's cameo, the trio's friendship dynamics, and Molly Shannon’s unforgettable, protein-packed smoothie scene.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Episode Recap & Major Plot Beats

(01:12–03:01)

• The episode opens with a Charles voiceover flashback to Saz accidentally helping a guy into a stuntman career.
• The trio tries to wake Glenn Stubbins from a coma, only for him to be murdered before revealing crucial information.
• Charles, Oliver, and Mabel attempt to track down director Ron Howard by auditioning as extras for "Escape from Planet Klongo," getting fired after a hilariously doomed spandex suit fight.
• Mabel discovers Marshall in her apartment—who may be Saz's mysterious protege Rex Bailey—with the screenplay for "Only Murders in the Building: The Movie," written by Saz.
• Cliffhanger: the trio realizes Marshall could be involved in the case, echoing classic Only Murders intrigue.

Notable Quote:

“Marshall, why does this script say it was written by Saz Pataki?”
– Maggie Bowles (03:21)

2. The Genesis & Meaning of “Escape from Planet Klongo”

(04:02–08:27)

• John Hoffman reveals the writers’ playful choice to use a fake movie title—the only non-existent movie in the line-up of Season 4 episode titles.
• "Klongo" became a catch-all nonsense word in the writers' room, similar to Philly’s "jawn":

“Klongo can mean anything. Really.” – Alex Bigelow (06:04)

• The term originated spontaneously:

“Why are we in like the green screen suits and she's not? … Because I'm just a girl and you two are clongos… It made no sense, but it made complete sense.”
– Ben Smith (07:10)

• Writers relished the opportunity to see Steve Martin and Martin Short in sci-fi spandex suits; the absurdity fed both comedy and genuine character moments.

3. Ron Howard’s Passion Project: Casting & On-Set Highlights

(16:21–21:34)

• The writers initially didn’t plan for Ron Howard, but the idea solidified with the gag of his eyebrows being singed off during a stunt.
• John Hoffman details how Howard lovingly juggled a packed schedule to appear, and that the show leaned into the possibility he wouldn’t show up, creating suspense for the audience.
• Scene humor: Ron and Oliver’s "soup slurping" pays off a longstanding Oliver yarn.

“I mean, it kind of is just what was in the script about them having a crazy night at that restaurant... As soon as we did like that slurping sound, that was like immediately where like, yeah, slurping soup. That like, that was their meet cute.”
– Alex Bigelow (18:00)

4. Charles & Oliver’s Friendship: Comedy in Spandex

(09:10–16:06)

• Writers detail the emotional arc between Charles and Oliver, grappling with Loretta and Oliver's engagement while wearing "insane" blue screen suits.
• The blue suits—a practical joke that became an iconic visual—help undercut and amplify sincere moments.

“It’s just fun when you can both be very sincere on the show ... but to have that very sweet, vulnerable conversation in green, in blue screen, green screen suits was like, oh, great.”
– Ben Smith (09:27)

• Both Martin and Short embraced the outfits (“wanting bigger cod pieces”), with Dana Covarrubias (costume designer) facilitating the comedic vibe.

"They’re just wanting bigger cod pieces and, like, throwing, like, everything at this... but we were going to do the black ones... they're like, yeah, but they’re not funny."
– John Hoffman (12:24)

Memorable Moment:

[13:39] “I should just post pictures up when it comes up... Marty and Steve having, like, a serious conversation ... and they’re sitting in those blue things with the balls all over them. There’s nothing better.”
– John Hoffman

5. Audition Shenanigans: Screaming & Sci-Fi Chaos

(21:43–22:31)

• Comic gold: The trio auditioning for "Klongo," each actor’s unique approach to “screaming for their lives.”
• Hoffman reveals there were “12 different versions” of Oliver’s scream, and that Selena (Mabel) delivered perfect terror.
• The serious commitment to the absurdity highlights the blend of tone Only Murders is known for.

6. Bev Mellon’s "Girlboss" Smoothie & The Penthouse

(23:07–28:27)

• The hosts and writers delight in the scene where Molly Shannon’s Bev blends “protein” (actually dates shaped as Slim Jims and Red Bull) for her chaotic smoothie.

“That concoction was way more than what is in the cut. Because truthfully, like, we could have made an entire episode out of that blender.”
– John Hoffman (24:39)

• Molly Shannon actually drank the prop smoothie—“She ate it. She drank it... That is disgusting.”

– John Hoffman (25:23)

• Set designers decorated the penthouse "CB2 meets Burning Man" style.
• The writing for Bev’s character taps into real-life industry energy:

“I always envision those people, like, never having a real diet and just like truly having such odd ways to think about energy...”
– Alex Bigelow (26:32)

7. Final Reveal: The Double Identity Cliffhanger

(28:37–34:31)

• Writers discuss the episode’s structural evolution: The cliffhanger revealing Marshall is Saz’s protege, Rex Bailey, who may be central to the murder plot.

“We do a lot of doubles in here. You know, we do a lot of doubles and twins. I’m not 100% convinced that it actually is him. Could be his twin brother.”
– Maggie Bowles (32:24)

• John Hoffman teases big twists ahead:

“There are twists, many twists and story to come all around this, obviously. So I can’t say too much other than ... there’s something inside that thing that’s been sitting in Oliver’s refrigerator ever since that night.”
– John Hoffman (32:35)

• Emotional stakes for Mabel: alone with Marshall and possibly with a murderer.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Are we witnessing the end of Ron Howard's career?” – Steve Martin/John Hoffman paraphrasing, on Ron’s fictional sci-fi project (05:21)
• “He definitely was the more comfortable in [the spandex suit] because he was really hamming it up on set. Like, it was the best thing ever.” – Alex Bigelow on Martin Short (11:48)
• "Paul Rudd dying too many times in our show is how we live." – John Hoffman, on recurring on-screen deaths (31:24)
• [13:39] “There’s nothing better [than] Marty and Steve having a serious conversation ... sitting in those blue things with the balls all over them.” – John Hoffman

Important Timestamps

• 01:12 – Episode 9 recap
• 04:02 – Origin of "Escape from Planet Klongo"
• 06:04–08:27 – Writers break down the meaning of "Klongo"
• 09:10–16:06 – Crafting Charles & Oliver's emotional beats in spandex suits
• 16:21–21:34 – Bringing in Ron Howard, eyebrow gag, and “soup slurping”
• 21:43–22:31 – Trio’s sci-fi movie screams and audition chaos
• 23:07–28:27 – Bev Mellon’s smoothie and penthouse set design
• 28:37–34:31 – Episode’s final confrontation and reveal of Rex Bailey

Fun Behind-the-Scenes Details

• The word “Klongo” originated as a writers’ room inside joke and became infectious on set.
• Steve Martin and Martin Short embraced their blue spandex suit scenes, adding physical comedy and improvisation.
• Molly Shannon drank her own on-screen “girlboss smoothie”—with prop food, thankfully!
• Set design for Bev Mellon's penthouse fused CB2 chic with Burning Man inspiration.
• The staff “faked” Slim Jims out of dates for blender stunt safety and taste reasons.

Cliffhanger for Next Episode

The episode leaves off with Mabel alone in her apartment with the mysterious Marshall—who may be the elusive Rex Bailey and thus a key to the murder mystery. The hosts and interviewees tease an especially explosive and twist-laden season finale to come.

For fans and newcomers alike, this podcast episode exposes the creative zaniness underpinning Only Murders in the Building—unpacking everything from imaginary movie titles and costumes to meta storytelling and classic prop comedy.