It’s often a red flag when a returning show stuffs itself with guest stars: a sign that ideas are running out and the cast are calling in favours from their famous mates. But this rule doesn’t really apply to Only Murders In The Building, which has always traded on the odd throuple chemistry between pop star/actress Selena Gomez and legendary comedy codgers Steve Martin and Martin Short. The show’s excellent first season also featured Sting playing himself as a murder suspect, so a certain A-list sheen has always been baked in.
Co-created by Martin and writer John Hoffman, the show’s clever premise lends itself to meta moments. Each season follows faded TV actor Charles-Haden Savage (Martin), vainglorious Broadway producer Oliver Putnam (Short) and struggling artist Mabel Mora (Gomez) as they investigate homicides in their fancy Manhattan apartment block and pour the findings into a hit true-crime podcast. The show’s true USP, though, is its highly crafted daftness: it’s fun to watch because the cast are clearly having a blast.
Even so, this fourth season almost feels like a retreat for seasoned comedy troupers. SNL alum Molly Shannon chews the scenery as a ruthless movie producer; Kumail Nanjiani portrays a fitness influencer who may also be a murderer; Melissa McCarthy gives great wig and gags as the manic sister of Martin’s character; and Paul Rudd reappears despite the fact his character died in season two.
Oh, and we also get Eugene Levy, Zach Galifianakis and Eva Longoria playing fictionalised versions of themselves who’ve been cast as Charles, Oliver and Mabel in a movie based on the Only Murders podcast. Longoria may be a tad older than Gomez’s “mumbling millennial”, but we’re told that test audiences found the age gap between Mabel and her senior colleagues “creepy”. This show can never resist an in-joke.
If this makes it sound like there’s a lot going on, well, that’s because there is. Because she barely features in the seven episodes made available for review, it’s easy to forget that the great Meryl Streep is still in the mix as Oliver’s actress girlfriend Loretta. Still, all the silliness and showboating is pinned around another unsolved murder: that of Charles’ stunt double Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch), who was slain by a sniper at the end of season three. Was the bullet meant for Charles? Are Oliver and Mabel also in danger? And are the cast and crew of the movie – including Levy, Galifianakis and Longoria – potential suspects?
After a slightly stilted start, Only Murders soon locks into its usual rhythm. It’s a shame that scenes pairing Martin and Levy – two bona fide comedy icons – aren’t fizzier, but Longoria gets some zingers. “In season eight of Desperate Housewives, I told them I wouldn’t return unless they legalised gay marriage – and guess what, they did,” she tells Mabel. As the season progresses, the murder investigation becomes more gripping and the punchlines keep on coming. So, let’s hope they’re already working on their season five wish list – surely Martin Short has Catherine O’Hara’s number?
‘Only Murders In The Building’ season four is available to stream from August 27 via Disney+