On Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, celebrity guest stars have an uneven history. In the first two seasons, the series seemed unsure how to integrate these famous faces into its carefully curated world of the Arconia and its heightened vision of New York. Stars like Sting and Amy Schumer were introduced as tantalizing possible elements of the mystery, only to get a few brief jokes and then disappear. In seasons three and four, the show gained a stronger grasp of its guest stars and presented the likes of Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep with greater precision and poise. Now, in a mobsters and casino-themed fifth season, Only Murders in the Building makes a bigger bet on celebrity power and stuffs its three-episode premiere with no fewer than nine guest stars. Will the series fumble in its attempt to juggle them all effectively, or will it marshal its celebrities effectively to deliver cozy mystery excellence?
When last we left our favorite fictional murder podcasters, Charles (Steve Martin), Oliver (Martin Short), and Mabel (Selena Gomez) discovered the body of the Arconia’s trusty doorman, Lester (Teddy Coluca), slumped dead in the apartment building’s fountain. The trio was also approached by Sofia Caccimelio (Téa Leoni), the wife of missing mobster Nicky Caccimelio (Bobby Cannavale). The connections between Lester, Nicky, and the Arconia form the backbone of the premiere, establishing themes that run a bit darker than those in past seasons. Never fret, the comedy remains as quick and daffy as before.
One of the earliest gags includes a severed finger resting in a martini glass like a nightmarish shrimp cocktail. When the trio muses that it could be a threat from the mob, it’s only a matter of time before they bust out hacky Italian accents. The wall-to-wall mafia jokes include dueling Marlon Brando impressions, a podcast titled Ey We’re Talkin’ Here, and the actual Godfather house. It’s broad, but executed with so much charm and sparkle by the leads that it helps leaven some of the premiere’s heavier themes. An episode-long flashback into the Arconia’s past signals that this season is contemplating ideas of death, legacy, and pursuing dreams with the time we have.
It’s magical how Only Murders in the Building deftly deploys its many celebrity guest stars this season. Everyone has such a big character to play. Leoni’s Sofia is a gorgeous, jaded mob wife with a passel of hot goofball sons and maybe a little crush on Charles. Cannavale’s Nicky is all swagger and sneer, with a giant gardenia pinned to his lapel and a sleazy smirk. Beanie Feldstein pops up as Mabel’s old friend Althea, a newly minted celebrity in garish pink who oozes condescension and smarm. Dianne Wiest graces us with her presence as Lester’s widow, Lorraine, a gentle kook and retired opera singer.
Undersung treasure Tony Plana appears as George, a fastidious former Arconia doorman with a mysterious connection to the Caccimelios. The glad-handing Mayor Tillman is played with perfectly false, manic cheer by Keegan-Michael Key. A trio of powerful billionaires, who Only Murders suggests are the new mafia in 2025, is embodied by Logan Lerman, Christoph Waltz, and Renée Zellweger. Big casting swings everywhere! Nine new stars in three episodes is a lot of big guns to manage all at once. Only Murders seems much more than equal to the task this season.
The Bear attempted a similar gambit in its latter seasons, overloading itself with celebrity cameos that failed to amount to much. John Cena’s Sammy Fak had nothing to add, which made his presence feel like a distraction. The same goes for the small army of celebrity chefs that appeared; their platitudes about cooking were lovely, but felt like padding. The key to Only Murders in the Building’s success is in giving its many celebrities enough to do to make an impact. Everyone has a great character game to play, and they play it to the rafters. Viewers are given a feast of fun performances that enrich the series instead of feeling like tedious filler.