What do two old, washed-up celebrities do these days to take one last crack at the limelight? Why, they start their own podcast, of course! Because everyone and his dog (a phrase very befitting of this show) thinks they're good enough to start a podcast.
In fact, that's how our two old white dudes, Charles and Oliver, and their much younger neighbor Mabel make a connection in an otherwise odd mashing. They discover they all listen to the same True Crime podcast. And wouldn't you know it, a murder just took place in their New York City apartment tower! Now the three of them take it upon themselves to solve the case!
That's the premise for "Only Murders in the Building," the new Hulu original comedy show that debuted last week. I'll be honest: it's an endearing, charming show in ways I could not have anticipated. They aired the first three episodes together before switching to weekly releases (new episodes release on Tuesdays). It's totally fine that the premise is transparent and cliched; in fact, that approach services the writing and style incredibly well. And wouldn't you know it, there's actually a decent story unfolding as we learn about the victim.
Beneath the premise is a show about watching three characters take on this crime-solving endeavor while bringing with them unique life experiences that enrich each of their perspectives and generate sympathies and/or hesitancies onto which the audience can attach themselves.
Beyond that (and from a marketing standpoint), the show is truly just about watching Martin Short and Steve Martin get into michief. These two are perfect in their own ways. Listening to Martin Short (who plays Director-by-day Oliver Putnam) talk about a "piece" (old-timey term, of course) he watched on the world wide web or seeing him wear a brash purple coat with a matching polka-dotted scarf who pushes his dog around in a stroller (apparently he's one of THOSE guys) just screams sheer joyful comedy. Then there's Steve Martin (who plays washed-up actor Charles Savage), who brings a far more subtle, yet corny, style of comedy; but when paired with Short, he somehow comes out as the level-headed one. The two of them together is sheer comedy magic.
One of their best scenes of the first three episodes was when the scary-looking investigator lady questioned the three of them as they happened to walk past the crime scene. The level of fluster and anxiety in Oliver and Charles skyrocketed, and they played off each other incredibly well. Later when they were talking about making their own podcast to solve the mystery surrounding Tim, Oliver's directorial nature kicked in as Charles responded well to it. Okay, so the idea that the two would fit together so well because of their respective professions seems more mechanical and contrived than most normal team-ups, the two actors bring such a wit and charm to their roles that's too engaging to get tripped up over something small like that. In one scene, Charles is rehearsing lines in the microphone while Oliver is micro-directing, all while cooped up in a little closet because that's when the sound will record best. The comedy mix is an incredible blend of puns, cheesiness, and small doses of classic spoofie satire that Martin definitely has done before (though I personally liked the late Leslie Nielson for that kind of comedy the best). It's silly, harmless comedy, and I'm here for it.
Selena Gomez (Mabel) is obviously around to represent the young audience. Right away Mabel gets a free meal out of them when they happen to run into each other in the restaurant. She has angry dreams about men, because girl power. She likes mocking Oliver and Charles for being old white guys who are afraid of societal change (you know, because hating white guys is quite trendy now). She is just an awful human being in so many ways, yet she's so chill and collected, which is aggravatingly intriguing about her. And she did connect a little bit with Charles because they're both more the loner type; any commonality between two such at-odds people helps.
Of course, Mabel becomes far more interesting of a character when we find out she knew the guy in their building who was murdered. Thus the peeling of the layers of this mystery for the audience begins. "This sends the investigation into a whole new direction" (which is the line for which Charles is famous).
This show can go in a number of ways, and I'm excited to see it play out.
Notes:
-All is Not OK in Oklahoma is the name of an episode of the podcast they all listen to (or maybe it's the full title of the show itself, I don't remember). To fullow along, Charles actually pulls up a map of Chickasha, which, perhaps to the chagrin of my former boss at the newspaper, was pronounced "Chickashaw," not "Chickashay"
-We get to see a vulnerable side of Oliver, who is bad with finances to the point that he shamefully needs to ask his son for help even though he was the one who wasted away his son's college fund. The groundwork for an "Ah ha" moment definitely is in play here.