Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

Season 5, Episode 6: “Flatbush”

Release Date: September 30, 2025
Host: Michael Cyril Creighton (Howard)
Guests: Beanie Feldstein (Thea), John Hoffman (Showrunner/Co-Creator), Bernardo “the PA” Sortino

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into Season 5, Episode 6, “Flatbush,” of Only Murders in the Building. Host Michael Cyril Creighton guides listeners through behind-the-scenes stories, character insights, playful on-set moments, and interviews with crucial cast and crew, focusing on:

• The evolution of Thea (Beanie Feldstein) and her dynamic with Mabel
• The personal and emotional backstory of Oliver, as revealed with showrunner John Hoffman
• The quirks of set life, featuring beloved production assistant Bernardo “the PA” Sortino

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Recap of Episode 6: Setting the Stage

[00:10 – 01:49]

• Detective Williams comes for the missing severed finger.
• Thea may have seen the intruder.
• Loretta and Oliver investigate Rainey and clear her name.
• New clues emerge from surveillance footage, suggesting Charles may have inadvertently been communicating with the killer via his dating app.
• Shifts in the Arconia’s atmosphere, from murder investigations to changing staff and resident dynamics.

2. Beanie Feldstein on Thea & Mabel’s Relationship

[01:54 – 16:08]

Thea’s Growing Complexity

• Beanie Feldstein returns to discuss her character, Thea—a larger-than-life pop star with a fraught history with Mabel.
• Thea is difficult intentionally: “She can say really belittling things, but with such a sweet tone… the pink and the bows, it kind of, like, clouds, you know, the insanity.” – Beanie Feldstein [03:03]

The Big Fight Scene

• The highly-anticipated, shoe-flinging showdown between Thea and Mabel is both comedic and heartfelt.
• Fun fact: Adam from props was responsible for the dramatic shoe tosses.
• The fight is a clash of old wounds and unspoken jealousy, culminating in a vulnerable confession:
  • “Mabel thinks that Thea is saying to her, like, you wish that you were me… and it’s revealed… I always wanted to be you.” – Beanie Feldstein [05:00]

Balancing Annoying and Vulnerable

• Both Michael (Howard) and Beanie discuss the thrill of playing characters who dance between being annoying and deeply sympathetic.
  • “How do you make the unlikable qualities likable?” – Michael [05:46]
  • “It’s always about relationships and the other person in the scene… she’s trying to get Mabel’s attention, ultimately she really misses her…” – Beanie Feldstein [06:03]

Casting Story & Evolution of Thea

• Beanie shares her joy and shock at being offered the role, and the delight of learning she'd play a childhood-best-friend-turned-nemesis pop star.
• Her relationship with her real-life wife’s family made pronouncing “Thea” natural for her.
  • “The more we know her, the crazier she gets.” – Beanie [02:34]

Friendship Stories on TV

• The importance of friendship stories, especially for Mabel, is emphasized:
  • “It is nice to see Mabel have a friendship story, not a romance gone awry.” – Michael [08:33]
  • “For it to be a friendship story was such an honor.” – Beanie [08:26]

On-Set Moments & Favorite Scenes

• Beanie recalls resisting a scripted interruption of Howard's dance:
  • “Watching you dance to the song, it was so funny.” – Beanie [09:36]

3. Thea’s Pop Persona: Music, Style & Production Secrets

[10:15 – 13:38]

Catchy Song Origin

• Thea’s hit single was written by none other than David Archuleta and his team.

  • “David Archuleta wrote the song. American Idols’ David Archuleta and his music partners.” – Beanie [10:19]

• Beanie, not a pop singer by background, spent 4–5 hours recording the song with guidance from the same producer behind the show’s musical numbers in Season 3.

Finding Thea’s Look

• Thea’s wardrobe is a “blinding, neon magenta” departure from the trio’s neutrals.

  • “Her looks are outrageously playful… Dana is such a genius... there’s a whole level of comedy and specificity to costumes.” – Beanie [12:48]

• Nails with cloud patterns nod to the “sunny and cloudy” motif in Thea and Mabel’s friendship.

4. Theater Game with Beanie

[13:38 – 15:54]

• Michael tests Beanie’s theater knowledge with lines from Broadway favorites; Beanie nails “Into the Woods,” “Chicago,” “Hello, Dolly,” and “Merrily We Roll Along”—with playful banter about “dame energy” and inside jokes about former roles.

5. John Hoffman on Oliver’s Backstory & Flatbush

[16:14 – 25:00]

The Personal Brooklyn Connection

• John Hoffman shares that his own parents were from Flatbush (Brooklyn), which inspired Oliver’s roots.
  • “My mother was from Flatbush… so that part of Brooklyn was deep in my soul.” – John Hoffman [16:30]

Deepening Oliver’s Character

• The creative team wanted to explore Oliver’s formative years.
  • “I imagine what made Oliver, Oliver. He’s so distinctive… and yet most of us in the arts are driven through some bit of dysfunction.” – John Hoffman [17:19]

What’s Happening with Oliver?

• Oliver’s journey this season grapples with love, home, and identity:
  • Loretta, his whirlwind marriage, and her absence ignite existential questions about what and who matters most to him.
  • The Arconia is not the same – staff changes (robot doorman replacing Lester) and building conflicts impact Oliver and all residents.

Rainey’s Role & The Mystery

• Rainey (Dianne Wiest) learns the truth about her husband’s death, possibly drawing her deeper into the investigation. The joys and challenges of writing for legends like Meryl Streep and Dianne Wiest are recounted, especially their unique on-screen dynamic:

  • “Anytime you have Meryl Streep at the center… you want to give her something new.” – John Hoffman [22:19]

• On the episode’s altered surveillance footage: “The classic tropes of a murder mystery are: don’t believe the thing you see at first.” – John Hoffman [24:54]

6. On-Set Standout: Bernardo “the PA” Sortino

[25:44 – 41:36]

Behind-the-Scenes Glue

• Bernardo, the beloved first team PA, is interviewed:

  • “I always liken it to being a camp counselor whose campers make more money than you do.” – Bernardo [28:10]

• Marty Short learned his name first and spread it everywhere; director Chris Koch even made Marty’s yodeled “Bernardo!” his ringtone!

  • [Anecdote — 27:21]

• Bernardo has also served as stand-in for Lester the Robot, Gravy the Dog, and others.

Set Life Stories & Practical Jokes

• Stories featuring the interactions between crew and big names: From helping Martin Short with directions and bathrooms (“…he has one of the worst senses of direction…” [26:46]) to corndog days with Christoph Waltz and Selena Gomez.
• Humorous tales include a woman failing to recognize Martin Short but spotting Meryl Streep, and Marty’s elaborate role in Bernardo’s engagement proposal.

Lessons Learned & Set Culture

• Gratefulness for the cast’s down-to-earth nature; high praise for Renee Zellweger’s kindness.
• Michael: “There is no better feeling: when Marty finds something funny, he’ll walk over to Steve and say what you said.”

Bernardo’s Spec Script

• Bernardo wrote a spec script for the series featuring Howard, Uma, and Vince Fish forming their own detective team—a beloved concept by Steve and Marty.

7. Games & Light-Hearted Moments

[13:38, 39:51 – 41:30]

• Beanie and Michael play “Call Line” (theater lines trivia).
• Michael and Bernardo play “Dead Giveaway,” a rapid-fire guessing game about items in the episode—with tongue-in-cheek “Broadway ticket” stakes.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Thea’s characterization:
  “She can say really belittling things, but with such a sweet tone…”
  — Beanie Feldstein [03:03]

• On the big friendship reveal:
  “It’s revealed in this scene that Thea is like, I always wanted to be you.”
  — Beanie Feldstein [05:13]

• On showbiz dysfunction:
  “Most of us who have been in the arts are driven through some bit of dysfunction.”
  — John Hoffman [17:19]

• On murder mystery tropes:
  “Don’t believe the thing you see at first.”
  — John Hoffman [24:54]

• On set as PA:
  “I'm basically one of the first people there in the morning to make sure the actors have to do as little thinking as possible…”
  — Bernardo Sortino [28:10]

• On proposal help:
  “You help me find the bathroom. It’s the least I could do.”
  — Martin Short via Bernardo [35:11]

• On set snacks:
  “I never should have said yes to this dip bit in season one. Because… the amount of dips I’ve had to eat on camera over five seasons, he's like, I don't even like hummus that much.”
  — Michael recounting Martin Short [38:04]

Timestamps by Segment

| Segment | Time | |---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Introduction and Recap | 00:00–01:49 | | Beanie Feldstein (Thea) interview (character, scene, song, costumes, games)| 01:52–16:08 | | John Hoffman (Showrunner): Oliver’s backstory, changes in building | 16:10–25:00 | | Michael on Howard-Lester robot dynamic | 25:02–25:43 | | Bernardo “the PA” interview (set life, anecdotes, proposal, script) | 25:44–41:36 | | Outro & next episode preview | 41:36–43:00 |

Tone & Takeaways

The episode captures the affectionate, comedic, and occasionally self-deprecating charm of both the show and its cast/crew. Listeners gain personal insights into character motivations, the magic behind standout scenes, and the quirky realities of working on a hit series. The laughter, camaraderie, and mutual respect are palpable throughout.

For Superfans & Newcomers Alike

• Insider access: Learn about shoe-throwing fights, real-life casting moments, song-writing trivia, and the secret life of a first-team PA.
• Spoiler-y mystery: The altered surveillance tape and Rainey’s deeper involvement hint at twists for coming episodes.
• Laughter and warmth: The team’s chemistry, both on and off-screen, is as entertaining as the show itself.

Next week’s guests teased:
Dylan and Becky Ann, Ben Baker, Christoph Waltz, Patrick Howe, Keegan Michael Key

“Don’t get murdered, okay?”