And when the murder isn’t quite enough to keep the momentum going, the actors switch gears, leaning in hard to their New York City setting and gorgeously unaffordable real estate backdrops until the show re-finds its footing.īut the series’ real revelation is Gomez, whose teen celebrity status probably precedes her in the minds of many.
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(The podcast episodes don’t exactly correspond one to one with each installment, but the erratic releases are part of the running gag.) Between the auditions, musical numbers and random monologues, “Only Murders in the Building” winds up as much a series for Broadway and theater enthusiasts as it is for true crime fans. (Hulu’s release model is to drop the first three episodes as a batch before switching to weekly installments, and the pacing reflects that.) The installments run in the 30-minute range, and each half-hour brings new recurring theatrical motifs to fit the different podcast episodes the trio is supposedly recording. The series also takes pleasure in the episodic format. Those who have tried their hands at creating their own podcasts (or even just listen to them) might wince in recognition at the pointed jokes about music, voiceovers and release schedules, but that’s only because it’s all so on point.
Martin and co-writer John Hoffman (“Grace and Frankie”) have created an at-times biting parody of the ridiculousness of creating content, from the incongruity of sponsorships to the cluelessness of those investigating the crime. THINK is, too.) This DIY radio drama movement, with people recording homegrown stories in closets and bathtubs, was ripe for a satirical look at its creators, especially the leading true crime format, which, like all good detective stories, helps create the illusion of order out of chaos. (Full disclosure: I am one of those who launched podcasts in the last two years. While some of the most popular are (surprise, surprise) produced by longtime radio production houses like NPR, it seems like everyone and their neighbor has tried their hand at launching podcasts in the last few years, especially during the pandemic lockdowns. Even though audio dramas have existed since the advent of radio, the podcasting craze was spurred by the popularity of iPods and then iPhones and the rebranding of the format to reflect the new devices on which we listen to them.