

Steve Martin can't imagine 'Only Murders in the Building' without Selena Gomez
Aug 5, 2022
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Origin Story At A Party
- Steve Martin got the idea at a Sandy Gallin party for three older actors who live in a building and solve murders because they have nothing else to do.
- He refined it into the "only murders in the building" premise: they limit investigations to murders inside the building so they can stay home.
Idea Born In A Parking Spot
- John Hoffman got an email while parking and immediately started drafting ideas about prewar apartments and true-crime podcasting to modernize Steve Martin's premise.
- That rapid creative response convinced producers he could co-create and showrun the series with Martin.
Real Investigation Shaped Tone
- Hoffman's personal experience investigating a friend's death informed the show's authentic true-crime strand and emotional stakes.
- That real investigation taught the writers how to weave personal obsession and mystery into a comedy framework.