Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

S5 E10: The House Always...

Release Date: October 28, 2025
Host: Michael Cyril Creighton

Episode Overview

In this lively season finale podcast, host Michael Cyril Creighton (Howard on the show) takes listeners behind the scenes of Only Murders in the Building Season 5, Episode 10, “The House Always...”. He’s joined by the main trio (Steve Martin, Martin Short, Selena Gomez), the killer of the season (Keegan-Michael Key), the victim Lester (Teddy Kaluca), Thea actress Beanie Feldstein, David Patrick Kelly (Trashman Miller), and showrunner John Hoffman. The episode unpacks the surprising murder mystery reveal, celebrates standout comedic and emotional moments, and offers hilarious and heartfelt anecdotes from the cast and crew—all in the warm, irreverent tone fans expect.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Recap and Murder Reveal

• [01:15 - 01:49] Michael Cyril Creighton offers a swift, spoiler-filled recap:
  • The trio lures the corrupt billionaires and confronts Mayor Tillman, who’s revealed to have a fake finger.
  • Flashbacks show the mayor’s affair, Nikki’s grisly fate, and Lester’s accidental involvement.
  • The mayor is exposed and apprehended at Thea’s underground casino concert.
  • A three-month time jump sets up next season’s mystery with the sudden collapse of Cinda Canning in the Arconia lobby.

    “Mayor Tillman is a murderer.” – Steve Martin [01:49]

2. The Cast’s Approaches to the Mystery

• [02:22 - 03:25]
  • Selena Gomez discusses her “no spoilers” method, waiting till episode seven to learn the culprit:

    “I don’t ever know who actually did the crime until seventh episode...I do like to figure it out with the audience.” [02:29]

  • Steve Martin prefers not to ask and “finds out through osmosis.”
  • Martin Short jokes that though he learns the killer early, he forgets soon after.

    “I found out early, but I don’t retain things anymore, so I forgot.” – Martin Short [03:21]

3. Charles’s ‘Testosterone’ Subplot

• [03:25 - 04:23]
  • Discussion on Charles (Steve Martin) being in a placebo group all season, playing up the “power of the placebo” for comedic effect:

    “It’s sort of like the Wizard of Oz: Well, you did all those things anyway, without the magic.” – Steve Martin [04:07]

  • Playful asides from Keegan-Michael Key and Teddy Kaluca pepper the segment.

4. On-set Camaraderie & Thea’s Performance

• [04:43 - 05:38]
  • Beanie Feldstein’s musical performance as Thea gets praised for its comic timing and chemistry.
  • Selena Gomez reflects on acting alongside Beanie and the sheer fun of the scene.

    “I don’t think I could keep a straight face while she was doing the routine on top of the table.” – Selena Gomez [05:20]

5. Oliver’s (Martin Short) Evolution

• [05:38 - 06:27]
  • The podcast dives into Oliver’s struggle with narcissism.

    “Once you become in a partnership, I think the partner can help you aspire to something you might maybe would like to change about yourself.” – Martin Short [06:12]

6. Keegan-Michael Key – From Red Herring to Real Killer

• [07:03 - 14:20]
  • The killer, Keegan-Michael Key, reflects on keeping the secret, being misdirected by the presence of Christoph Waltz, and learning about his own character’s layers only at the last minute.

    “There’s no way anybody was thinking I was the killer... I just love the fact that I was put into a position to be a victim.” – Keegan-Michael Key [07:22]

  • Importance of the “fake finger” as a MacGuffin:

    “It's so interesting that this appendage is the most important thing in the story.” – Keegan-Michael Key [10:52]

  • Description of filming the tense and emotional scene with Lester:

    “There’s so much weight to someone like Lester dying. Like you said, he was defending the building. He’s a symbol of the building.” [13:34]

  • The ruthless motive:

    “The most evil thing is that it’s all about greed and power.” – Keegan-Michael Key [14:10]

  • On keeping the secret from everyone except his wife (his creative partner and acting coach).

7. Fun On-Set Anecdotes & Cast Chemistry

• [15:53 - 18:41]
  • Key enjoys seeing the mirror between show friendships (Charles/Oliver) and real-life friendships (Steve/Marty).
  • Observations on Selena Gomez’s tech tutorials for Martin Short behind the scenes spark laughter:

    “Like her explaining something to him… how to post a story or something like that... It was so fun.” – Keegan-Michael Key [17:18]

  • Praise for the green room’s atmosphere and affectionate callouts for Diane Wiest, Renee Zellweger, and others.

8. The Victim’s Perspective: Teddy Kaluca on Lester

• [20:02 - 24:32]
  • Teddy Kaluca describes the complexity of Lester’s accidental killing of Nikki and subsequent murder by the mayor.
  • Deep trust in the trio, both in-world and as a fan:

    “Do you think Lester knew the trio could solve his murder? Absolutely… I listen to [the podcast] with my wife...” – Teddy Kaluca [21:09]

9. Beanie Feldstein (Thea) – From Distraction to Hero

• [24:46 - 29:36]
  • Talks about not knowing her full arc until the finale, the joy of performing “Wish You Were Me” on a roulette table, and the bond she formed with Renee Zellweger during filming.

    “I just get to be next to Renee... We just kept doing all this silly shtick together. It was so fun.” – Beanie Feldstein [27:51]

  • On being a red herring:

    “I knew Thea was just there for, like, deep emotional vibes... my hands were clean, baby. They were just nail art.” – Beanie Feldstein [28:53]

10. David Patrick Kelly – Trashman Miller’s Unexpected Heroics

• [30:12 - 34:24]
  • Kelly relishes his role in the climax, loving the “trash never sleeps” mantra and explaining the hidden meaning of “mango” among NYC sanitation workers:

    “I like to say trash never sleeps, Michael. Trash never sleeps. And exposing the corruptos is always valuable.” – David Patrick Kelly [31:14]

11. Showrunner John Hoffman on Building the Finale

• [35:45 - 42:25]
  • Shares about writing and constructing the web of motivations, keeping the cast in suspense, and layering politics and romance into the finale.

    “Making a complicated mayor story was not that hard in New York City, turns out.” – John Hoffman [37:21]

  • Addresses the Season 6 cliffhanger — Cinda Canning’s death, potential for new origins, and the enduring appeal of cozy mysteries.

    “It might take us to a place where...a cozy murder mystery and a style and tone around telling these stories first was born.” – John Hoffman [41:12]

  • Appreciation for ensemble contributions and the broader “found family” theme.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Selena Gomez on discovering the killer:

  “I do like to figure it out with the audience in a way.” [02:36]

• Steve Martin on acting the placebo twist:

  “It’s sort of like the Wizard of Oz... you did all those things anyway, without the magic.” [04:07]

• Keegan-Michael Key on being kept in the dark:

  “This feels like it’s John’s M.O. to keep everybody in the dark as long as he can. So then even you, the performer, have plausible deniability.” [09:23]

• Beanie Feldstein on her character’s role in the finale:

  “To use her obnoxiousness for good and sort of be like, you need a distraction. I am a distraction.” [26:24]

• David Patrick Kelly celebrates his sanitation hero:

  “I like to say trash never sleeps, Michael. Trash never sleeps. And exposing the corruptos is always valuable.” [31:14]

• John Hoffman on plotting a corrupt mayor:

  “Making a complicated mayor story was not that hard in New York City, turns out.” [37:21]

Key Timestamps for Reference

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|----------------------------------------------------| | 01:13 | Quick episode recap (finale plot summary) | | 02:22 | Main cast on being in the dark, finding out the killer | | 03:25 | Charles’s Testosterone Placebo arc | | 04:52 | Thea’s performance and Beanie Feldstein’s process | | 05:38 | Oliver’s “narcissism” and character growth | | 07:03 | Keegan-Michael Key: on being the killer | | 10:52 | The “finger” as a MacGuffin | | 13:34 | Emotional impact of Lester’s death | | 15:53 | On-set chemistry and wrap party | | 20:02 | Teddy Kaluca (Lester): perspective and emotion | | 24:46 | Beanie Feldstein: Musical number/finale antics | | 30:12 | David Patrick Kelly: Trashman Miller’s big moment | | 35:45 | Showrunner John Hoffman: behind the finale | | 39:34 | Season 6 tease and new mystery setup |

Tone & Final Thoughts

Blending zany humor, heartfelt gratitude, and genuine love for the series, the episode closes with a group sense of accomplishment and camaraderie. The cast and crew cherish both the process and their audience, and the joy of storytelling remains central — with plenty of teases for Season 6’s bigger mysteries and character journeys.

This podcast episode captures the infectious, communal spirit of Only Murders in the Building, offering both closure and new curiosities for fans of TV mysteries and ensemble comedy.