More on this, the creepy dolls and how irresistible Oliver is in our Q&A below.
How did her casting come about and did you always know you wanted her to play Charles sister?
JOHN HOFFMAN:Melissa has been on the wish list for this show for quite a while.
Meryl Streep and Melissa McCarthy in ‘Only Murders in the Building’ Valley of the Dolls’Patrick Harbron/Disney
I said, Well, okay, so you play a character named Doreen.
And she said, Im in.
And I said, Oh, the character.
Meryl Streep and Martin Short share a laugh with John Hoffman on set of episode 7 ofOnly Murders in the Building.
She said, Because you could also be talking about me.
I was like, Oh my God, okay.
I wondered if she was considering buying the creepy collection.
I wasnt sure what was happening so I moved it along.
After I told her, she said she totally bought those dolls for her collection.
She said, This is the greatest conversation Ive ever had about any character ever.
To watch her fulfill in the way she did was just a knockout.
What was it like with her on set?
JH:That was all her!
Every time she said podcast, we were all laughing.
The shoot of this episode was like a miracle of comedy for me.
DEADLINE: Okay, Melissa and Meryls blowout fight.
What went down on set that day?
JH:It was all them, that was the shocker.
We had stunt doubles in a season of stunt doubles.
We had to have them on our set that day.
So they took it upon themselves to explode that scene and started working it out together.
Each thing they did and each thing they added, I was like, Wait a minute.
You know, were going to have to do this several times.
And Meryl, youre going to flip your head on this couch as you go over several times.
What are we doing?
They were the most game Ive ever seen anybody.
They were delighted with each other in making that challenge work.
They hit it out of the park each time we shot that thing.
I closed my eyes, Rosy.
I was like, I cant watch this.
DEADLINE: So the stunt women never got a lick in?
DEADLINE: Did you guys use stunt pigtails?
I was so worried about how they were flying about.
JH:[Laughs] And all the slapping with those pigtails!
Its so sweet to see Marty, who is known for playing some pretty ridiculous characters like Jiminy Glick…
DEADLINE: Ed Grimley!
JH:Yes, Ed Grimley.
I think its the greatest work Ive ever seen him do.
Anyone Ive talked to is always like, Im in love with that Oliver Putnam.
So it makes perfect sense to me.
Plus, have you seen the head of hair on that guy?
DEADLINE: The fight wasnt even the biggest moment of the episode.
Loretta and Oliver get engaged!
JH:Wasnt that the sweetest?
It got the most beautiful, genuine reaction, and was just the sweetest thing.
DEADLINE: Dont you think a wedding is a great occasion for murder or discovering a murderer?
Now youre making me wonder about things that weve done.
So where are the things?
I loved watching the trio crack that.
DEADLINE: With these plot holes, could we see some familiar Season 1 faces return?
JH:I think everythings possible.
