Warning: This article contains spoilers for the final season of Only murders in the building.
August 2021 marked the premiere of a groundbreaking series: Only murders in the building. Created by Steve Martin and John Hoffman, the production drew inspiration from the public’s growing obsession with true crime series, films and podcasts to deliver a compelling crime story from a comedic approach. Only murders in the building stars Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez as Charles-Haden Savage, Oliver Putnam and Mabel Mora, three neighbors from the Arconia with one thing in common: they are obsessed with a true crime podcast. The mysterious death of one of their neighbors in Season 1 forces them to do their own research, resulting in a podcast of their own.
This Hulu series currently has two seasons (so far), each with excellent reviews, per Rotten tomatoes, praised the plot, which perfectly combines comedic, emotional and tense moments, among other things, and the chemistry of the actors. The latter is not surprising: Short and Martin have been friends for more than 35 years and have worked together on many projects. For her part, Gomez was able to adapt and amplify the group, resulting in a leading trio that transcends the screen. Of course, Charles, Oliver and Mabel are not the only interesting characters in this series as during the episodes they have introduced some of the most eccentric characters including actors and singers who play themselves such as Sting and Amy Schumer. During the final scene of season two, a new star joined the show, leaving the audience in awe: Paul Rudd as actor Ben Glenroy. While we wait for further news about the upcoming third seasonhere’s a look at the funniest characters in Only murders in the building.
8 Sazz Pataki
Jane Lynch stars as Sazz Pataki, who worked as Charles’ stunt double for over 20 years, primarily on the TV series brazzos. Sazz is a rather arrogant figure; she loves to talk about her job and make fun of Charles, whose girlfriend she stole in the past. Still, it is clear that she really cares about him and that she is a nice person who is concerned about his well-being. She is very smart, extremely popular and starred in several hilarious scenes in the show, such as the time she did Charles’ stunt double to break up the man’s relationship with his convicted girlfriend.
7 Cinda Canning
Cinda Canning is played by Tina Fey and she is largely responsible for bringing the main characters together. This very successful woman has a production company, On Air with Cinda Canningand hosts Everything is not okay in Oklahoma, a true crime podcast. Although she is initially portrayed as a nice and likeable person, her nasty and arrogant personality gradually emerges. Cinda relies on her intelligence to manipulate the stories in her podcast to get the audience across what they want to hear, whether it’s true or not. She has a personal assistant named Poppy White, whom she has a tendency to abuse tirelessly, even though she has snatched ideas from her more than once.
6 Bunny Follower
Jayne Houdyshell plays Bunny Folger, the chief executive of the Arconia and resident of apartment 12A. Season 1 introduces Bunny as a respected person in the building, one who is willing to do her job well, but tired of dealing with the eccentric residents. She even tried several times to kick out the main characters, especially Oliver. In season 2, Bunny is murdered, and although she only appears via flashbacks, it’s enough to see an unknown side of her, as well as in some unexpected friendships she’s made. Houdyshell also voices Mrs. Gambolini, Bunny’s pet parrot who was left in Oliver’s care after she died.
5 Detective Williams
Donna Williams was the lead detective in Tim Kono’s murder, and she quickly ruled it suicide, ignoring the trio’s intentions to collaborate or, at the very least, suggest otherwise. But when her wife becomes obsessed with the… Only murders in the building podcast, the detective begins to question her own judgment and helps the main characters unravel the mystery. Donna is a tough, but good-hearted person, with a very sarcastic sense of humor that gets easily stressed, especially over problems with Oliver, Charles and Mabel. She is played by Da’Vine Joy Randolph.
4 Howard Morris
Michael Cyril Creighton is Howard Morris, resident of apartment 3C and one of the most eccentric people in the building. Howard is flamboyant, exaggerated and fond of spreading rumors. He adores his cat Evelyn and devotes his entire life to her, leading to many funny moments during the show. After his beloved pet dies the same night Tim Kono died, Charles, Mabel and Oliver suspect he may have something to do with the man’s murder, though they quickly rule it out when they discover that he faints at the sight of blood. . After Evelyn’s death, Howard adopted Sevelyn, who also grew fond of the Arconia’s neighbors.
3 Mabel Mora
Mabel Mora currently lives in apartment 12E of the Arconia, but from the beginning it was clear that she could not afford such a property. This young woman’s personal story is full of mysteries, and probably some more yet to be unraveled. Mabel is an aspiring artist, a smart girl with a very sarcastic sense of humor and a great style. She is strongly linked to both murders under investigation by the trio, for her friendship with Tim Kono and for finding Bunny’s body in her apartment. Gomez’s character stands in contrast to her fellow podcasters, both in personality and because they are from different generations. She is usually the one who brings them to Earth, but every now and then she gets caught up in their craziness, triggering hilarious moments.
2 Charles Haden Savage
Charles-Haden Savage is played by Martin. This character lives in apartment 14C of the Arconia and has lived there for almost 30 years. Charles is a semi-retired actor, known for his role as the lead detective on the 1990s TV series brazzos. He is a rather shy man, but when he gets comfortable, he reveals a funny and loving side. Charles thinks he is more famous than he really is, but hides very low self-esteem and is rather clumsy with women due to a previous breakup. Unfortunately, after the breakup, his first girlfriend eventually becomes a murderer, adding to Charles’ trauma. But not everything that happens to him is negative: the success of the podcast brings his acting career back and he manages to reconnect with his stepdaughter Lucy.
1 Oliver Putnam
Martin Short’s character is without a doubt the funniest in the series. This is no surprise given that Oliver Putnam, who lives in apartment 10D, has a background in theater directing. Oliver is over the top, chaotic and his dire financial situation leads him to pursue the wildest ideas without even thinking about the consequences. He is very energetic and is hired as the creative director of the podcast, but is also responsible for finding sponsors for it. Only murders in the building gives Oliver a chance to clear his name because although he was a renowned Broadway director directing major productions, he had a major career failure and was unable to recover from it. This podcast is also a chance for him to look into the future and stop dwelling on the illusion of his golden years.