The Business

Steve Martin can't imagine 'Only Murders in the Building' without Selena Gomez

Aug 5, 2022
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ANECDOTE

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.
ANECDOTE

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.
INSIGHT

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.
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