A cool, overcast day in early March provides the backdrop as Selena Gomez, Steve Martin and Martin Short immerse themselves in the vibrant chaos of a New York City street. The acclaimed trio is kicking off the shoot for the fourth installment of the beloved show ‘Only Murders in the Building’.
As they meander through the city, the screen showcases a variety of short incidents that establish the tone. Their on-screen personalities are uniquely eccentric: Oliver is the character you simultaneously want to squeeze and throttle; Charles, the grumpy uncle with the sour countenance you can’t help but find endearing; Mabel, a befuddled millennial with a traumatic past, no job and no home.
There’s a moment of self-awareness when Mabel debates the prospect of being forever stereotyped according to her on-screen persona. Echoing a sentiment all too relatable for Gomez, who has been in the limelight since childhood, Mabel asks, ‘What if I don’t want to be that person forever?’
Addressing this dilemma in a subsequent exchange with her fellow actors, Gomez gives a mature and pragmatic response. Navigating her fame, as she puts it, has been a process of ‘growing up as best as I can,’ consciously acknowledging that she is far from flawless.
The fourth season of ‘Only Murders in the Building’, a production of 20th Television, a subsidiary of Disney Television Studios, incorporates the world-famous Paramount Studios into its narrative. However, integrating this iconic institution into the storyline was no easy task, concedes Hoffman.
The complexity of making Paramount a part of the fourth season storyline was evident, as Hoffman readily confesses, ‘It was complicated, I won’t lie…’. This narrative choice required a considerable degree of coordinating and tricky maneuvering.
Initially, Hoffman contemplated transforming the podcast adaptation into a TV series. However, he eventually landed on film as the best medium due to its innate capacity to streamline and condense the storytelling process.
A unique aspect of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ is its ability to attract some of the biggest names in show business to appear as guest stars. Previous seasons boast appearances by Sting, Tina Fey, Nathan Lane, Shirley MacLaine, Paul Rudd and even the great Meryl Streep.
In its latest season, the show is proud to bring back Meryl Streep in her role as Loretta Durkin. Portraying a rising veteran actress intrigued by Oliver, Streep’s Oscar-winning prowess adds another layer of intrigue and grandeur.
Transitioning back to the glamorous landscapes of Los Angeles… As Oliver and Charles find themselves reaching out to soothe a distressed Mabel, the bustling ambience of star-studded Hollywood echoes around them. Background artists dressed as cowboys saunter past the renowned arches leading to the numerous soundstages of the lot.
In an undoubtedly cinematic moment, our trio of fledgeling sleuths embark on their latest adventure in a vintage black limousine from the ’80s; the classic style of the vehicle offers a stark, somewhat humorous contrast to the modern-day chaos they are about to plunge into.
Despite being amateur sleuths, the evident camaraderie they share and the looming intrigue combine to form a captivating drama. Even the compulsion to stop by In-N-Out – a well-worn L.A. trope, though not totally unwelcome – adds a charming, quirky aspect to their journey.
As the city of angels unfurls in all its paradoxical glory around them, these unassuming detectives truly embody the classic motto: the show must go on. After all, some of the city’s stereotypical norms, such as the obsession with In-N-Out, simply come with the territory.
In the vibrant landscape of Hollywood, these unlikely detectives find themselves immersed again in the world of intrigue and uncertainty. The playful exploration of quintessential L.A. clichés, juxtaposed with compelling narratives, promises another enriching season of ‘Only Murders in the Building’.
Each scene packed with a cocktail of humor, mystery, endearing dysfunction, and a dash of L.A. flavor, the upcoming installment of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ brings coffee shop sleuthing and mystery-solving to the silver screen.
Even as they navigate their personal challenges, the characters of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ traverse a concrete jungle of legends, mysteries, and late-night burger cravings, delivering an electrifying fourth season that’s all set to captivate audiences once again.