“Only Murders in the Building” Season 5 Panel: What’s Next for Mabel, Charles & Oliver on Hulu?

After their beloved doorman, Lester dies under suspicious circumstances, Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin), Oliver Putnam (Martin Short) and Mabel Mora (Selena Gomez) refuse to believe it was an accident. Their investigation plunges them into the murky underbelly of New York and beyond — where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters and the mysterious residents of the Arconia where the murder allegedly took place. This is the premise of Only Murders In The Building, now in its fifth season on Hulu.

In this panel discussion, Steve and Martin are joined by showrunner John Hoffman, actress Beanie Feldstein who plays Althea, Michael Cyril Craden who portrays Howard Morris, and Da’ Vine Joy Randolph who plays Detective Donna Williams.

Creating Season 5 of OMITB

John Hoffman: I think the kernel of each season is always from the previous season – a little bit of a kickoff and a little bit of a tease just at the end of a beautiful wedding at the Arconia in Season 4.

When we were developing Season 5, there was the idea that New York is a changing landscape and we have a terrible situation with a beloved doorman of our building having being murdered.

It felt like a job that was specific to New York and also about everyone in the building. We had a lot to learn from that guy who was the eyes and ears of Arconia. It was very interesting to take that kernel and jump forward into talking about power dynamics in New York.

Steve Martin. Photo by Frank Micelotta/ Disney

Steve Martin: It’s a little bit of a trap in that you end each season with a murder – like the ending of this season, we killed Tina Fey who plays Cinda Canning. That’s how desperate we are for victims. She’s defined as if she was murdered in the building because, if you saw it at the last second, she lays her finger over the border of the door. So we realize we’re in on it. But, you know, things do change as the season rolls on. We always know who the murderer is in each season. Sometimes I don’t ask until we’re filming the final episodes.

Pitching a New Season and Cast to Hulu

John Hoffman: We always have to do this big season pitch for Hulu and 20th Century to let them know what all of the season is going to look and feel like. Sometimes we do that early on without a full sense of how each episode is going to play out until we get to the back half of the season,

I remember bookmarking Episode 8 Cuckoo Chicks and titling it without any other knowledge of what this story was going to be. I just called it Ladies Night.

It is bonkers who comes on this television show and it’s all due to Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez being magnets for great actors. Everybody’s just brilliant on this show.

Althea (Beanie Feldstein), John Hoffman (Showrunner), and Howard Morris (Michael Cyril Creighton) Photo by Frank Micelotta/ Disney

Recurring Characters

Da’Vine Rudolph Joy:  It is the gift that keeps on giving. It is so good for my soul every time I am on that set.

The three people who lead this show are so kind, generous, and down to earth, that despite their wildly impressive resumes, they make you feel so welcome all the time.

There’s something about the energy that this show has that we talk about all the time. It was so much fun and exciting and it just gets more and more rich.

Michael Cyril Craden: It’s almost a challenge to pull something crazier off each time, maybe take it to another level. There’s been the dog and the pig and the cats and the robot. It’s all great fun and I trust John and the writers.

It’s really a set where you’re not afraid of failing because it’s just so buoyant and fun. I have no problem and no shame acting with LSTR the robot – named after the doorman Lester Coluca.

I think about my character more than I should because of my companion podcast. I know a lot about him. I love dissecting the story.

I’m one of the cast members that doesn’t like to know where the season is going until I read the last episode. So, season by season, I have been convinced I was both the killer and going to be killed.

Detective Donna Williams (Da’Vine Joy Randolph) Photo by Frank Micelotta/ Disney

Beanie Feldstein:  John [Hoffman] told me I was a person from Mabel’s past and they were best friends. And now she’s a pop star. And I will be singing an original song called Wish That You Were Me. I felt beyond lucky to be a small player in their sandbox.

It’s so ridiculous. I think about my first day, John was directing the episode, and he let me add in this little line about the paparazzi to Selena that made it into the show. It’s just a wink and a nod at the audience. We know exactly what’s going on here and it’s delicious.

I think one of the things that people find so impressive about this show is the ability to go from the most absurd comedic thing to something that’s actually genuinely moving and affecting.

Steve Martin: It’s off the wall and yet, we do learn about the characters literally, but also about just the way they look at the world.

My career started as a stand-up comedian. I did a very silly movie, The Jerk. And I noticed that I started to transition into Father of the Bride. You’ll have a very personal, intimate scene, emotional scene, and then two minutes later, I’m falling into a bush.

That’s all part of it, to make that seamless and real. And Marty Short does it so well too.

John Hoffman: Steve and Selena and Marty and the way they walk on the set every day is notable. They’re never a minute late and they show up with a buoyancy and an energy that is infectious for everyone on cast and everyone on the crew.

The experience is so rare. We’re just savoring every minute.

[More: Showrunner John Hoffman Discusses Season 4 Of “Only Murders In The Building”]

Season 6 will be set in London, UK. What can audiences expect?

John Hoffman: It’s something that we’ve been thinking about for a few seasons as a dream, just because it It felt like a natural fit – sister city, to New York. Take us to the origin of the cozy murder mystery with this little New York gem and potentially get crazy with a whole new energy and vibe for a moment, keep touchstones with people here, and keep alive the spirit of the show.

by Staff Writer

From our in-house editorial team.