“Only Murders in the Building” creator John Hoffman says he is “incredibly grateful, relieved and excited” after the second season of the Hulu sitcom garnered a total of 11 Emmy Award nominations.
“You never know with these things,” Hoffman told TheWrap. “We issue [the second season] last year at this time. So it was really sweet that people appreciated it and remembered it and it’s all because of everyone involved. So it’s enormously humbling, very rewarding. There is no way to avoid these feelings.”
In addition to being nominated for Outstanding Comedy Series, actors Martin Short and Nathan Lane received Lead and Guest Actor nominations for their roles as Oliver Putnam and Teddy Dimas, respectively, while Hoffman, Matteo Borghese and Rob Turbovsky received a Best Comedy nomination. Script for a Comedy series on the episode “I know who did it”.
Other categories in which the show received a nomination include Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour), Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series, Outstanding Cinematography for a Series (Half-Hour), Outstanding Contemporary Costume Design for a Series, Best Picture Editing For a Single-Camera Comedy Series, Outstanding Contemporary Hairstyling, Outstanding Short Form Comedy, Variety or Drama Series, and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half Hour) and Animation.
“There is nothing sweeter than seeing particularly people who have worked so hard on this show. [earn a nomination]. I got a message from our brilliant [director of photography] Chris Teague, who did our first two seasons and missed out on the first season for one nomination and got one this year,” he said. “I think at the end of it all, there’s nothing but people who are excited to be able to do this. [show].”
Despite the good acting of the series, Selena Gomez and Steve Martin were notably snubbed for their roles as Mabel Mora and Charles-Haden Savage.
“I don’t do anything but want everyone to see the miracles that happen when you’re watching Steve Martin work and everyone on set would say the same thing. It stops you in your tracks to see things rise the way he does, the way Selena does,” he added. “There is simply no question that this show has been a gift to everyone and it came from Steve Martin. And the biggest surprise as to how the alchemy would work between our core trio came at the heart and soul and the comedic genius of Selena Gomez at the center of it all. So there’s a payoff in all of that and just being able to celebrate like a show and see it continue to be appreciated is [great] And I can’t wait for season 3.”
The first two seasons of Only Murders in the Building are already streaming, while season 3 will premiere on August 8, with Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep joining the cast.
“We don’t shy away from doubling down on our challenges within this season and going for other things beyond just funny dialogue scenes and stuff like that,” Hoffman quipped. “We’re going pretty big.”
The Emmy recognition comes as the clock is ticking for the Motion Picture and Television Producers Alliance and SAG-AFTRA to come to terms in contract negotiations. The talks have been extended until 11:59 pm on Wednesday night.
“It’s a crazy time. We are all living through these challenging times right now, particularly more than ever, so I feel great support for my union and great support for everyone who makes this happen from all IATSE members and all WGAs and all SAG members, everyone who puts on this show in ways I wish everyone could see. I know everyone in the business knows that too, but nothing holds you back more with full appreciation than that every day,” he said. “It’s every single person that’s putting an amazing accessory on the shelf for amazing hairstyling equipment. Everyone is put together with so much love and heart and to see the way everything rises in front of our eyes with geniuses at stake, that’s the reward in itself. And then feel like it’s connecting [with audiences] in such a big way for us it’s huge.”
Hoffman said he hopes both the SAG-AFTRA negotiations and the Writers Guild of America strike will be resolved in a timely manner.
“These are not light questions that we have and need to be resolved. I am in full support of [the guild]”, he added. “This landscape is changing for everyone and I understand it on all sides. So I just hope that the tone and the tenor can be respectful of the work that all of us do, all of us in making it happen and that to me is everything.”
The 75th Annual Emmy Awards will air live on Fox on September 18 at 8 pm ET/ 5 pm PT. See the full list of nominees here.
