Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

Episode: S5 E8: Cuckoo Chicks
Host: Michael Cyril Creighton (Howard)
Guests: Russell G. Jones (Dr. Grover Stanley), McKenna Thurber (Co-Writer), Mila Kalovich (Set Decorator), Tiffany Little Canfield (Casting Director)
Date: October 14, 2025

Overview

This episode of the “Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast” dives deep into Season 5, Episode 8: "Cuckoo Chicks." Host Michael Cyril Creighton guides listeners through behind-the-scenes stories, writers’ room secrets, casting delights, and design inspiration with an emphasis on how a playful "ladies night" in the Arconia brings energy, comedy, and mystery to the show. Guests include actor Russell G. Jones discussing his pivotal therapy scene, casting director Tiffany Little Canfield on assembling Arconia’s eclectic residents, co-writer McKenna Thurber on her journey from production assistant to scriptwriter, and set decorator Mila Kalovich revealing the tangible touches that make the Arconia feel so real.

Episode Recap and Main Themes

Theme: The interplay of chaos and community at the Arconia, explored through a vibrant "ladies night" featuring powerhouse actresses, evolving set design, and comedic therapy — all while secrets, betrayals, and evidence gather steam as the season approaches its finale.

Key Plot Points (00:48–01:47):

It’s ladies night at the Velvet Room with Mabel, Loretta, Detective Williams, and Rainey.
Camilla is one apartment away from owning the Arconia — 51% is in escrow, closing at midnight.
Oliver and Charles try to stop Dr. Grover Stanley from selling but are too late: “12:15. Escrow's closed.” — Russell G. Jones (01:47)
Loretta discovers Sophia was cheating on Nikki and finds the bloody elevator crank in Nikki’s office.
Surveillance footage ties Randall to a key piece of evidence on the night Lester died.

Russell G. Jones: Dr. Grover Stanley’s World

Guest: Russell G. Jones
Segment: 02:00–14:18

First Days & History (02:30–05:24)

Reminiscences of the show’s COVID-era beginnings and Russell’s first scenes with Michael and Bunny (Jayne Houdyshell).
Russell shares he didn’t know Jamie Babbitt was directing until he got to set, revealing a charming personal connection:

“Jamie came, and she's like, Russell, you should audition for the play. It'll be so good.” — Russell G. Jones (04:08)

Character Insights and Legacy (05:34–06:56)

Dr. Stanley as the “economic indicator” and resident “normalcy” within Arconia’s chaos:

“He's always trying to find a way to get another stream of income or another way to feel valued in the community.” — Russell G. Jones (05:48)
Instrumental in Howard’s (Michael’s) character arc: encouraging Howard’s romantic pursuits.

The Therapy Scene with Charles and Oliver (07:24–08:47)

Russell was thrilled to finally play Dr. Grover as an actual therapist, sharing how he learned about “the therapy scene” from castmates Steve Martin and John Hoffman, piecemeal:

“That's how information gets disseminated to us on set…except us.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (08:15)
In awe of Martin Short and Steve Martin’s “love and respect,” and what it’s like to work opposite Devine Joy Randolph:

“The energy that she brings is so confident…you can just play off of it because you know that she's actually going to be where she says that she's going to be.” — Russell G. Jones (09:50)

On Becoming a Murder Victim (10:44–12:12)

Debate: Is it better to be a murder victim on “Only Murders”?

“On this show, I think it's better to be a murder victim because then you get a whole nother season about you even if you're not there.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (10:46)

Game: Dead Giveaway (12:32–14:12)

Fast-paced game where Russell guesses items from the episode (Peloton, casino, magic, psychic, etc.), with plenty of playful banter about psychic readings and Venmo.

Tiffany Little Canfield: The Art of Casting the Arconia

Guest: Tiffany Little Canfield
Segment: 14:18–20:13

Assembling the Cast (14:42–16:17)

Tiffany discusses the challenge of bringing together new trios (like this season’s billionaires) for comedic dynamics:

“Comedy, dynamic energy is so important to keep surprising the audience.” — Tiffany Little Canfield (15:24)

Casting Billionaires & “The Five Brothers” (16:22–17:33)

Chemistry over celebrity: “Who would be fun together?” resulted in the unexpected, winning billionaire trio.
The five brothers’ physical comedy was carefully cast for just the right blend of family resemblance and variety.

Favorite Wins and Wishlist (18:32–19:58)

Tiffany felt “Miller the trash man” was one of her greatest casting successes—choosing a legendary New Yorker over a celebrity cameo.
Dream casting for future seasons:

“Daniel Day Lewis”. — Tiffany Little Canfield (19:51)
“He's retired, though.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (19:57)
“But, you know, these are big dreams.” — Tiffany Little Canfield (19:57)

McKenna Thurber: From PA to Co-Writer

Guest: McKenna Thurber
Segment: 20:28–33:41

Unlikely Beginnings (20:53–22:11)

McKenna started as the office PA (“I was tasked with lunch for everybody… including you!”) before becoming script coordinator, then co-writing this episode.

Writers’ Room Dynamics (23:16–24:13)

The “Secret Santa” tradition helps bond the writers and was when McKenna learned she’d co-write episode 8 with Kristen Newman:

“Kristin had tears in her eyes. She was so excited. And I did too.” — McKenna Thurber (24:07)

Building the Episode: “Ladies Night” (24:14–25:26)

The only thing settled at first: “It would be a really fun energy to have some type of chaotic feminine night.” — McKenna Thurber (24:45)
Mabel takes center stage in a night of feminine chaos.

Writing Process & Collaboration (25:38–27:23)

Collaborative breakdown by acts between Kristen and McKenna, with plenty of group pitching for jokes—resulting in an overlong hilarious draft whittled down to essentials.

Writing for Oscar Winners (27:28–28:44)

Writing for Meryl Streep, Diane Wiest, Renee Zellweger, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, plus director Jessica Yu:

“She had these pitches that really helped us… with so many women that we needed to serve, she knew how to give everyone their proper screen time.” — McKenna Thurber (28:08)

Memorable Moments & Jokes (29:41–31:01)

Favorite bits: Loretta’s multiple character roles (“Celery Wisp” and the Cajun “Emily Lawler”), and Charles’ line:

“Have you not been to a therapist?” “Yeah, once. Waste of time. He said you only hear things you want. And then he told me a bunch of stuff I didn't even want to hear.” — Steve Martin’s Charles, as recalled by McKenna Thurber (30:28)

Howard as the Show’s “Swiss Army Knife” (31:07–31:45)

Howard is known as the “Swiss army character” who grounds and rescues plotlines.

Game: Bird Is the Word (31:56–33:41)

McKenna aces the “real or fake bird names” challenge, thanks to bird research for the show.

Mila Kalovich: Behind the Visual Feast

Guest: Mila Kalovich
Segment: 34:07–42:32

The Role of Set Decorator (34:30–35:42)

Mila breaks down the collaborative set creation process — from floors to wallpaper, furniture, lighting, art, and those “smalls” that fill out the background.
Props are what actors handle; everything else is set decoration.

Creating the Velvet Room Casino (36:52–37:32)

As the department’s only gambler, Mila had hands-on fun authentically dressing the casino set for “ladies night.”

Transforming Spaces (37:45–39:20)

Mabel’s new apartment (formerly the Dudenoff place) showcases her “thrifty, femme, but also strong” style; the redesign unspools over the season with personal artifacts and hints from previous seasons.

Fleshing Out the Arconia (40:08–41:43)

Furniture, collectibles, birding books — all meticulously chosen to enrich character worlds.
Consulted with wardrobe to channel “Gaga, Sia, and Olivia Rodrigo” vibes into the penthouse redesign for a certain rockstar character.

Downstairs Details and Easter Eggs (41:43–42:13)

Mila delights in creating detailed “downstairs” locker rooms, each filled with personalized knick-knacks and hidden carvings for attentive fans:

“There's definitely some interesting things in there if you look close.” — Mila Kalovich (41:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Directing Styles and Set Confusion:
“You're gonna walk over there, you're gonna do this, you're gonna do this. And you have no idea what they're saying.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (03:30)
Morbid Career Advancement:
“On this show, I think it's better to be a murder victim because then you get a whole nother season about you even if you're not there.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (10:46)
On Building the Show’s Community:
“We always refer to Howard as the character that saves us because…you are the Arconia.” — McKenna Thurber (31:07)
Secret to Endlessly Big Guest Stars:
“The Met Gala does a really good job of introducing the new ones every year.” — Tiffany Little Canfield (18:06)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

00:48 – Episode 8 recap and plot points
02:30 – Russell G. Jones' S1 memories and history with Jamie Babbitt
05:48 – Dr. Grover Stanley’s role in the Arconia
07:24 – The epic therapy scene with Charles, Oliver, and Detective Williams
12:32 – Game: Dead Giveaway
14:42 – Casting with Tiffany Little Canfield; assembling the billionaires and brothers
20:53 – McKenna Thurber’s origin story and ascension to co-writer
24:45 – The genesis and goals of "ladies night"
27:28 – Writing for four Oscar-winning actresses
29:41 – Favorite jokes/moments from the season
31:56 – Game: Bird Is the Word
34:30 – Mila Kalovich explains set decoration
36:52 – Building the Velvet Room casino
37:45 – Creating Mabel's new apartment
40:08 – The philosophy behind rich set details

Conclusion

This episode offers a delightful and insightful journey into the making of “Cuckoo Chicks” — from writer’s brainstorms and actor camaraderie to the artfully dressed sets and surgically precise casting. The lively banter, heartfelt stories, and reverence for both the craft and chaos of the Arconia make it a can’t-miss for fans who want to understand the fine web of mystery, comedy, and character that holds "Only Murders in the Building" together.

Next week: Jermaine Fowler (Randall), Jackie Hoffman (Uma), assistant costume designer Abby Geegan, and executive producer Jess Rosenthal.

End on Host’s Signature:
“Until then, stay alive. Don’t get killed.” — Michael Cyril Creighton

Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

Overview

Episode Recap and Main Themes

Key Plot Points (00:48–01:47):

It’s ladies night at the Velvet Room with Mabel, Loretta, Detective Williams, and Rainey.
Camilla is one apartment away from owning the Arconia — 51% is in escrow, closing at midnight.
Oliver and Charles try to stop Dr. Grover Stanley from selling but are too late: “12:15. Escrow's closed.” — Russell G. Jones (01:47)
Loretta discovers Sophia was cheating on Nikki and finds the bloody elevator crank in Nikki’s office.
Surveillance footage ties Randall to a key piece of evidence on the night Lester died.

Russell G. Jones: Dr. Grover Stanley’s World

Guest: Russell G. Jones
Segment: 02:00–14:18

First Days & History (02:30–05:24)

Reminiscences of the show’s COVID-era beginnings and Russell’s first scenes with Michael and Bunny (Jayne Houdyshell).
Russell shares he didn’t know Jamie Babbitt was directing until he got to set, revealing a charming personal connection:

“Jamie came, and she's like, Russell, you should audition for the play. It'll be so good.” — Russell G. Jones (04:08)

Character Insights and Legacy (05:34–06:56)

Dr. Stanley as the “economic indicator” and resident “normalcy” within Arconia’s chaos:

“He's always trying to find a way to get another stream of income or another way to feel valued in the community.” — Russell G. Jones (05:48)
Instrumental in Howard’s (Michael’s) character arc: encouraging Howard’s romantic pursuits.

The Therapy Scene with Charles and Oliver (07:24–08:47)

Russell was thrilled to finally play Dr. Grover as an actual therapist, sharing how he learned about “the therapy scene” from castmates Steve Martin and John Hoffman, piecemeal:

“That's how information gets disseminated to us on set…except us.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (08:15)
In awe of Martin Short and Steve Martin’s “love and respect,” and what it’s like to work opposite Devine Joy Randolph:

“The energy that she brings is so confident…you can just play off of it because you know that she's actually going to be where she says that she's going to be.” — Russell G. Jones (09:50)

On Becoming a Murder Victim (10:44–12:12)

Debate: Is it better to be a murder victim on “Only Murders”?

“On this show, I think it's better to be a murder victim because then you get a whole nother season about you even if you're not there.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (10:46)

Game: Dead Giveaway (12:32–14:12)

Fast-paced game where Russell guesses items from the episode (Peloton, casino, magic, psychic, etc.), with plenty of playful banter about psychic readings and Venmo.

Tiffany Little Canfield: The Art of Casting the Arconia

Guest: Tiffany Little Canfield
Segment: 14:18–20:13

Assembling the Cast (14:42–16:17)

Tiffany discusses the challenge of bringing together new trios (like this season’s billionaires) for comedic dynamics:

“Comedy, dynamic energy is so important to keep surprising the audience.” — Tiffany Little Canfield (15:24)

Casting Billionaires & “The Five Brothers” (16:22–17:33)

Chemistry over celebrity: “Who would be fun together?” resulted in the unexpected, winning billionaire trio.
The five brothers’ physical comedy was carefully cast for just the right blend of family resemblance and variety.

Favorite Wins and Wishlist (18:32–19:58)

Tiffany felt “Miller the trash man” was one of her greatest casting successes—choosing a legendary New Yorker over a celebrity cameo.
Dream casting for future seasons:

“Daniel Day Lewis”. — Tiffany Little Canfield (19:51)
“He's retired, though.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (19:57)
“But, you know, these are big dreams.” — Tiffany Little Canfield (19:57)

McKenna Thurber: From PA to Co-Writer

Guest: McKenna Thurber
Segment: 20:28–33:41

Unlikely Beginnings (20:53–22:11)

McKenna started as the office PA (“I was tasked with lunch for everybody… including you!”) before becoming script coordinator, then co-writing this episode.

Writers’ Room Dynamics (23:16–24:13)

The “Secret Santa” tradition helps bond the writers and was when McKenna learned she’d co-write episode 8 with Kristen Newman:

“Kristin had tears in her eyes. She was so excited. And I did too.” — McKenna Thurber (24:07)

Building the Episode: “Ladies Night” (24:14–25:26)

The only thing settled at first: “It would be a really fun energy to have some type of chaotic feminine night.” — McKenna Thurber (24:45)
Mabel takes center stage in a night of feminine chaos.

Writing Process & Collaboration (25:38–27:23)

Collaborative breakdown by acts between Kristen and McKenna, with plenty of group pitching for jokes—resulting in an overlong hilarious draft whittled down to essentials.

Writing for Oscar Winners (27:28–28:44)

Writing for Meryl Streep, Diane Wiest, Renee Zellweger, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph, plus director Jessica Yu:

“She had these pitches that really helped us… with so many women that we needed to serve, she knew how to give everyone their proper screen time.” — McKenna Thurber (28:08)

Memorable Moments & Jokes (29:41–31:01)

Favorite bits: Loretta’s multiple character roles (“Celery Wisp” and the Cajun “Emily Lawler”), and Charles’ line:

“Have you not been to a therapist?” “Yeah, once. Waste of time. He said you only hear things you want. And then he told me a bunch of stuff I didn't even want to hear.” — Steve Martin’s Charles, as recalled by McKenna Thurber (30:28)

Howard as the Show’s “Swiss Army Knife” (31:07–31:45)

Howard is known as the “Swiss army character” who grounds and rescues plotlines.

Game: Bird Is the Word (31:56–33:41)

McKenna aces the “real or fake bird names” challenge, thanks to bird research for the show.

Mila Kalovich: Behind the Visual Feast

Guest: Mila Kalovich
Segment: 34:07–42:32

The Role of Set Decorator (34:30–35:42)

Mila breaks down the collaborative set creation process — from floors to wallpaper, furniture, lighting, art, and those “smalls” that fill out the background.
Props are what actors handle; everything else is set decoration.

Creating the Velvet Room Casino (36:52–37:32)

As the department’s only gambler, Mila had hands-on fun authentically dressing the casino set for “ladies night.”

Transforming Spaces (37:45–39:20)

Mabel’s new apartment (formerly the Dudenoff place) showcases her “thrifty, femme, but also strong” style; the redesign unspools over the season with personal artifacts and hints from previous seasons.

Fleshing Out the Arconia (40:08–41:43)

Furniture, collectibles, birding books — all meticulously chosen to enrich character worlds.
Consulted with wardrobe to channel “Gaga, Sia, and Olivia Rodrigo” vibes into the penthouse redesign for a certain rockstar character.

Downstairs Details and Easter Eggs (41:43–42:13)

Mila delights in creating detailed “downstairs” locker rooms, each filled with personalized knick-knacks and hidden carvings for attentive fans:

“There's definitely some interesting things in there if you look close.” — Mila Kalovich (41:45)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Directing Styles and Set Confusion:
“You're gonna walk over there, you're gonna do this, you're gonna do this. And you have no idea what they're saying.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (03:30)
Morbid Career Advancement:
“On this show, I think it's better to be a murder victim because then you get a whole nother season about you even if you're not there.” — Michael Cyril Creighton (10:46)
On Building the Show’s Community:
“We always refer to Howard as the character that saves us because…you are the Arconia.” — McKenna Thurber (31:07)
Secret to Endlessly Big Guest Stars:
“The Met Gala does a really good job of introducing the new ones every year.” — Tiffany Little Canfield (18:06)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

00:48 – Episode 8 recap and plot points
02:30 – Russell G. Jones' S1 memories and history with Jamie Babbitt
05:48 – Dr. Grover Stanley’s role in the Arconia
07:24 – The epic therapy scene with Charles, Oliver, and Detective Williams
12:32 – Game: Dead Giveaway
14:42 – Casting with Tiffany Little Canfield; assembling the billionaires and brothers
20:53 – McKenna Thurber’s origin story and ascension to co-writer
24:45 – The genesis and goals of "ladies night"
27:28 – Writing for four Oscar-winning actresses
29:41 – Favorite jokes/moments from the season
31:56 – Game: Bird Is the Word
34:30 – Mila Kalovich explains set decoration
36:52 – Building the Velvet Room casino
37:45 – Creating Mabel's new apartment
40:08 – The philosophy behind rich set details

Conclusion

Next week: Jermaine Fowler (Randall), Jackie Hoffman (Uma), assistant costume designer Abby Geegan, and executive producer Jess Rosenthal.

End on Host’s Signature:
“Until then, stay alive. Don’t get killed.” — Michael Cyril Creighton

S5 E8: Cuckoo Chicks

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Summary

Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

Overview

Episode Recap and Main Themes

Russell G. Jones: Dr. Grover Stanley’s World

First Days & History (02:30–05:24)

Character Insights and Legacy (05:34–06:56)

The Therapy Scene with Charles and Oliver (07:24–08:47)

On Becoming a Murder Victim (10:44–12:12)

Game: Dead Giveaway (12:32–14:12)

Tiffany Little Canfield: The Art of Casting the Arconia

Assembling the Cast (14:42–16:17)

Casting Billionaires & “The Five Brothers” (16:22–17:33)

Favorite Wins and Wishlist (18:32–19:58)

McKenna Thurber: From PA to Co-Writer

Unlikely Beginnings (20:53–22:11)

Writers’ Room Dynamics (23:16–24:13)

Building the Episode: “Ladies Night” (24:14–25:26)

Writing Process & Collaboration (25:38–27:23)

Writing for Oscar Winners (27:28–28:44)

Memorable Moments & Jokes (29:41–31:01)

Howard as the Show’s “Swiss Army Knife” (31:07–31:45)

Game: Bird Is the Word (31:56–33:41)

Mila Kalovich: Behind the Visual Feast

The Role of Set Decorator (34:30–35:42)

Creating the Velvet Room Casino (36:52–37:32)

Transforming Spaces (37:45–39:20)

Fleshing Out the Arconia (40:08–41:43)

Downstairs Details and Easter Eggs (41:43–42:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

Conclusion

Summary

Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

Overview

Episode Recap and Main Themes

Russell G. Jones: Dr. Grover Stanley’s World

First Days & History (02:30–05:24)

Character Insights and Legacy (05:34–06:56)

The Therapy Scene with Charles and Oliver (07:24–08:47)

On Becoming a Murder Victim (10:44–12:12)

Game: Dead Giveaway (12:32–14:12)

Tiffany Little Canfield: The Art of Casting the Arconia

Assembling the Cast (14:42–16:17)

Casting Billionaires & “The Five Brothers” (16:22–17:33)

Favorite Wins and Wishlist (18:32–19:58)

McKenna Thurber: From PA to Co-Writer

Unlikely Beginnings (20:53–22:11)

Writers’ Room Dynamics (23:16–24:13)

Building the Episode: “Ladies Night” (24:14–25:26)

Writing Process & Collaboration (25:38–27:23)

Writing for Oscar Winners (27:28–28:44)

Memorable Moments & Jokes (29:41–31:01)

Howard as the Show’s “Swiss Army Knife” (31:07–31:45)

Game: Bird Is the Word (31:56–33:41)

Mila Kalovich: Behind the Visual Feast

The Role of Set Decorator (34:30–35:42)

Creating the Velvet Room Casino (36:52–37:32)

Transforming Spaces (37:45–39:20)

Fleshing Out the Arconia (40:08–41:43)

Downstairs Details and Easter Eggs (41:43–42:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

Conclusion