Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast – Season 5, Episode 2: "After You"
Hosted by Michael Cyril Creighton (Howard)
Release Date: September 9, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode takes fans behind the scenes of "Only Murders in the Building" Season 5, Episode 2, offering in-depth conversations with cast members Teddy Coluca (Lester), Emory Cohen (Young Lester), and Jackie Hoffman (Uma). Host Michael Cyril Creighton explores how the show balances comedy with real emotion, the handling of pivotal character moments (notably Lester’s death), and the quirks of long-term recurring roles. The episode is rich with personal anecdotes, reflections on character development, and hilarious behind-the-scenes stories.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Heart of Episode 2: Lester’s Story (00:07–02:00)

• Recap: The episode flashes back to the early ‘90s at the Arconia, tracing Lester’s journey from day one as a doorman under George’s mentorship to his eventual takeover of the underground gambling operation. The story revisits critical moments, including the night of Tim Kono’s murder and Lester’s recent death (believed accidental by the police).
• Insight: “Lester really was the backbone of that building… Lester kept that building running.” (Host, 05:38)
• Character Legacy: The flashbacks allow new facets of Lester’s life to emerge and underscore his quiet centrality to Arconia’s community.

2. Teddy Coluca on Finding Out About Lester’s Fate (02:11–06:15)

• Surprise Death: Both Teddy and Michael reveal they learned about Lester's death while reading the script, not from production heads.

  "I had no idea… I finally get to the end, and I see Lester, and I went, I can’t tell anybody. I call my—They’re killing Lester." – Teddy (03:23–03:44)

• Family Reactions: Teddy shares touching moments watching the episode with his grandchildren:

  “All of a sudden, there I am laying in the fountain, and one of my granddaughters, Nina, says, ‘Oh, no, Grandpa.’” (04:42)

• Impact: The emotional resonance of Lester’s death is heightened both for the cast and viewers, deepening his character.

3. Filming the Fountain Scene & On-Set Experience (06:15–07:58)

• Practical Effects: Teddy wore a wetsuit under his costume and praises the stunt team and crew for their care during shoot days, especially in cold weather.

  “The stunt guys really took care of me… There was a guy in that fountain with me whenever I was in the fountain.” – Teddy (07:02)

• Favorite Scenes: A highlight is Lester’s touching scene with his wife, Rainey (Dianne Wiest), blending humor and pathos for the character.

4. Character Reflections: Lester's Name & Mustache (09:17–10:21)

• Using Teddy’s Real Name: The writers asked Teddy if they could use his real surname for Lester.
• Iconic Mustache: Teddy discusses typecasting and his self-promotion as "New York City's cutest little chubby Italian," reflecting on how it shaped his career.

5. Emotional Acting Moments (10:55–12:54)

• On-Screen Chemistry: Brief, unscripted moments—like Howard and Lester’s comforting interaction as Howard’s mother is rolled out—allowed authentic emotion to shine through, drawing from real-life experiences.
• Lying in the Casket: Teddy shared personal hesitations about being filmed in a coffin, referencing a shared history of loss with his wife and the amusing irony that “it might be the funniest scene I’ve ever done… and I’m dead.” (13:05)

6. Game Section: “How Well Do You Know Your Tenants?” (13:11–15:27)

• Teddy successfully guesses which iconic quotes belong to which residents, demonstrating the ensemble’s familiarity and playful camaraderie.
• Notable Quote:

  "The rest of you, if you’re a murderer, stop murdering." – Bunny, guessed by Teddy (14:03)

7. Emory Cohen on Playing Young Lester (15:49–24:37)

• Preparation: Emory watched films from the ‘90s/2000s set in NYC for period authenticity and drew inspiration from Teddy’s lived experience.

  “I realized, oh my god, it’s a love story. So it kind of was like—the stuff all sort of just meshes.” – Emory (17:36)

• Set Dynamics: Emory describes the challenges and excitement of stepping into an established show, as well as being ‘shielded’ among working actors, away from the megastars at first.
• Favorite Character: Emory singles out Bunny as his own favorite, crediting her emotional depth in season two for helping him feel more connected and braver about his guest role (20:08).
• Working with Bobby Cannavale: Emory fondly recalls his last day filming—sharing an unspoken, tension-filled money exchange scene with Bobby Cannavale.

8. The Life (and Chair) of Uma with Jackie Hoffman (26:45–33:53)

• Origin of Uma: Jackie was originally a near-silent character—“In that pilot, you have no lines. You just give the finger.” (27:57)—and is surprised and delighted by Uma’s expanded story over five seasons.
• The Cast Chair Saga: Jackie comically laments being the only major recurring player without a customized cast chair.

  “I think they just want to keep me cranky.” – Jackie (29:14) “They took a piece of masking tape, scrawled my name on it with a magic marker, and put it on a chair. And that’s what I call success.” (29:52–30:02)

• Creating Uma’s Backstory: Jackie improvises about Uma’s history, saying she was briefly in fundraising, has always been cranky, and had a husband who died “in an unfortunate incident in a restroom in a bus station in Texas.” (31:12)
• Unlikely Friendships: The Howard–Uma dynamic is highlighted—"I consider Uma Howard’s only friend in the building." (31:44)
• New York Then and Now: Jackie sums it up: “A beer costs a lot more, and you never know who might be a pimp.” (33:38)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Discovering Lester’s Fate
  • Teddy Coluca: “I had no idea… I call my—they’re killing Lester.” (03:44)
• On Awards Recognition
  • Teddy Coluca: “Never in a million years did that ever cross my mind. And I think at my level, that’s it.” (08:46)
• On Acting with Legends
  • Teddy Coluca: “An actor like me, who would have ever thought I’d win a Screen Actors Guild Award? Never.” (08:31)
  • Michael: “We’re working with Oscar winners, but you know what? We’re the greats, too.” (08:26–08:29)
• On Set Camaraderie
  • Michael: “The crew is the best crew you could ever have… in every single department.” (07:10)
  • Emory Cohen: “That episode made me feel like a part of… so maybe it’s—maybe it’s about this moment that helped me feel braver about being a part of the show.” (20:56)
• On Uma’s Evolution
  • Jackie Hoffman: “Since the beginning. Since the pilot. And in that pilot, you have no lines. You just give the finger.” (27:50–27:57)
  • Jackie Hoffman (on the lack of chair): “People who guest star one time, people who just—the cleaning people have a cash chair. For some reason, there’s no Uma chair. But I think they just want to keep me cranky. They’re doing a good job.” (29:14)
• On New York’s Changes
  • Jackie Hoffman: “A beer costs a lot more, and you never know who might be a pimp.” (33:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Speaker(s) | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|-------------------------|---------------| | Recap of Episode 2 | Michael | 00:07–02:00 | | Teddy on Lester's death | Teddy, Michael | 02:11–06:15 | | The fountain scene & working with Dianne Wiest| Teddy, Michael | 06:15–07:58 | | Awards, character legacy, and mustache lore | Teddy, Michael | 09:17–10:21 | | Howard & Lester’s emotional on-screen scenes | Teddy, Michael | 10:55–12:54 | | “How Well Do You Know Your Tenants?” game | Teddy, Michael | 13:11–15:27 | | Becoming Young Lester: prep & pressure | Emory, Michael | 15:49–18:45 | | Emory on Bunny, cast dynamics, Boardwalk Empire| Emory, Michael | 19:49–23:40 | | Mustache magic, makeup & time jumps | Emory, Michael | 23:43–24:37 | | Dead Giveaway Game | Emory, Michael | 24:43–26:11 | | Jackie Hoffman & Uma’s journey | Jackie, Michael | 26:45–33:38 | | Uma’s chair and backstory | Jackie, Michael | 29:12–31:12 |

Tone & Takeaways

Staying true to the show’s comedic, self-aware, and heartfelt tone, the episode mixes sharp wit with genuine emotion. Insightful discussions about character arcs and on-set dynamics are punctuated by playful behind-the-scenes banter. For fans and newcomers alike, this episode offers both a deeper appreciation for the “fabric” characters like Lester and Uma, and a reminder that it’s the working ensemble—often the “fourth wheels”—who bring Arconia’s world to life.

Next episode tease: Look forward to Beanie Feldstein on pop stardom, composer Siddhartha Khosla, and Jane Lynch on Saz’s afterlife philosophy.