Abigail Whitehurst is an entertainment professional and writer for Hollywood Insider based in Los Angeles, CA. Having lived all over the world as part of a military family and having pursued a bachelors of music, she brings a unique outlook to the entertainment industry. A life-long learner and researcher, Abigail is pursuing her masters in entertainment management. She strives to write through the lenses of context, analysis, and Hollywood Insider’s values to bring a fresh perspective to industry trends, entertainment business, and new film and TV releases. Her favorite place is a movie theater, and she’s always hunting for the deeper meaning and studying media as it pertains to culture. Film, TV, and interactive media are some of the most impactful artforms of our day, and they are worth digging into and analyzing. Everything is connected, whether it’s through Bacon numbers or history. When she’s not writing or at the movies, you can find Abbie crocheting or playing video games with her partner.
Sep 1, 2024
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One of Hulu’s most anticipated shows, ‘Only Murders in the Building’ released the premiere of season 4 titled “Once Upon a Time in the West” this week, setting up an incredible few weeks ahead. Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and Martin Short return as New York City natives Charles, Mabel, and Oliver as they head to sunny Los Angeles, where studio executives are scrambling to turn their true crime podcast into the next Hollywood blockbuster, and clues to another murder are lurking, waiting to be discovered by our unlikely group of friends. Audiences can expect a spectacular story, great new characters, and laugh after laugh in the coming weeks. Put your sleuthing hats on, because this Emmy-nominated show is a must-watch!
In past seasons, the unlikely friends-turned-podcasters have stuck to the familiar streets of New York City and their beautiful apartments in the Arconia. After all, they only cover murder committed in the building. But, as they wrap up their last case, emails from Hollywood exec Bev Melon (Molly Shannon), Loretta Durkin’s (Meryl Streep) new TV gig in LA, and clues as to the whereabouts of recently-disappeared Sazz Pataki (Jane Lynch) pull the crew to the best coast, the west coast. As they sign the deal of a lifetime for their podcast to be turned into the next big thing starring Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, and Zach Galifianakis (playing themselves) in the best and most meta cameos to date, the sweetness turns sour as new trails of clues reveal themselves and the trio realizes they can’t feel too secure.
The new and improved elements of this season have reeled audiences back in, everything from the story to the nuts and bolts of the show. The murder at the center of this arc is once again someone close to our heroes, raising the stakes and making things deliciously messy. The music, done by Siddhartha Khosla, has gotten a significant upgrade, expanding the soundtrack of the world of the Arconia in small, elegant, but impactful ways to set up a far more sinister plot ahead. The styling was impeccable on this first episode, showing the big differences between the west and east coasts in small, effective ways, as well as developing new characters quickly and calling back to iconic looks from the very start of the show.
There were quite a few critics of season three of ‘Only Murders in the Building’ as it steered away from the defining throughline of the first two seasons, but a self-contained season three plot has allowed the writers to take a whole new direction, a great new direction. Previous stakes are heightened while new ones come out of the woodwork, drawing audiences in once again to what is sure to be a thrilling story in the colorful, chaotic world of the Arconiacs. Departing from familiar set pieces can be extremely risky, but the posse’s trip to the City of Angels is done so smartly, with the tongue in cheek and self awareness only accomplished comedic writers can achieve. Actors playing themselves is often cheesy, but in this world, it’s perfect, especially since the central characters are in showbiz and they’ve been expertly navigating this theme from the very beginning. That self awareness and candor about how the sausage is made has always been an element of the show, so it’s almost natural that the gang ends up walking through the backlot of Paramount as they film some other fictional feature. Above all else, there’s an obvious love of the craft that seeps into every aspect of this show: the writing, the acting, the styling, the production design, all of it is done with such care, and it shows. Hulu’s investment into new original content, live or animated, scripted or unscripted, is absolutely paying off.
The most striking thing about the new episode was its ability to solve mysteries while setting up exponentially more. Great usage of dramatic irony keeps both the characters and the audience guessing, and gives eagle-eyed viewers the opportunity to put on their thinking caps and reap the immense satisfaction of putting the puzzle pieces together just before the people on screen do. Everything just raises further questions, pulling you further and further into the web of lies. One question is answered, but seven more are asked explicitly or set up discreetly right under everyone’s noses. And that’s the best part of any good murder mystery show! As an audience member, I love playing along and trying to solve the mystery alongside my heroes, and ‘Only Murders in the Building’ has hit its stride in enabling us here in the real world to play along with the characters inhabiting this fictional one. Not only is it a fun show to watch, it’s rewarding. Mystery shows need to have their story (and alibis) absolutely locked down, with intentional and purposeful writing guiding the characters to solve their case. ‘Only Murders in the Building’ knows what it’s doing, and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.
‘Only Murders in the Building’ season 4 is streaming on Hulu, releasing new episodes weekly. Starring Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, Martin Short, Meryl Streep, Eugene Levy, Eva Longoria, Zack Galifinakis, Michael Cyril Creighton, Molly Shannon, and Jane Lynch. Created by John Hoffman and Steve Martin.
Click here to read The Hollywood Insider’s CEO Pritan Ambroase’s love letter to Cinema, TV and Media. An excerpt from the love letter: The Hollywood Insider’s CEO/editor-in-chief Pritan Ambroase affirms, “We have the space and time for all your stories, no matter who/what/where you are. Media/Cinema/TV have a responsibility to better the world and The Hollywood Insider will continue to do so. Talent, diversity and authenticity matter in Cinema/TV, media and storytelling. In fact, I reckon that we should announce “talent-diversity-authenticity-storytelling-Cinema-Oscars-Academy-Awards” as synonyms of each other. We show respect to talent and stories regardless of their skin color, race, gender, sexuality, religion, nationality, etc., thus allowing authenticity into this system just by something as simple as accepting and showing respect to the human species’ factual diversity. We become greater just by respecting and appreciating talent in all its shapes, sizes, and forms. Award winners, which includes nominees, must be chosen on the greatness of their talent ALONE.
I am sure I am speaking for a multitude of Cinema lovers all over the world when I speak of the following sentiments that this medium of art has blessed me with. Cinema taught me about our world, at times in English and at times through the beautiful one-inch bar of subtitles. I learned from the stories in the global movies that we are all alike across all borders. Remember that one of the best symbols of many great civilizations and their prosperity has been the art they have left behind. This art can be in the form of paintings, sculptures, architecture, writings, inventions, etc. For our modern society, Cinema happens to be one of them. Cinema is more than just a form of entertainment, it is an integral part of society. I love the world uniting, be it for Cinema, TV, media, art, fashion, sport, etc. Please keep this going full speed.”
Abigail Whitehurst is an entertainment professional and writer for Hollywood Insider based in Los Angeles, CA. Having lived all over the world as part of a military family and having pursued a bachelors of music, she brings a unique outlook to the entertainment industry. A life-long learner and researcher, Abigail is pursuing her masters in entertainment management. She strives to write through the lenses of context, analysis, and Hollywood Insider’s values to bring a fresh perspective to industry trends, entertainment business, and new film and TV releases. Her favorite place is a movie theater, and she’s always hunting for the deeper meaning and studying media as it pertains to culture. Film, TV, and interactive media are some of the most impactful artforms of our day, and they are worth digging into and analyzing. Everything is connected, whether it’s through Bacon numbers or history. When she’s not writing or at the movies, you can find Abbie crocheting or playing video games with her partner.
Abigail Whitehurst is an entertainment professional and writer for Hollywood Insider based in Los Angeles, CA. Having lived all over the world as part of a military family and having pursued a bachelors of music, she brings a unique outlook to the entertainment industry. A life-long learner and researcher, Abigail is pursuing her masters in entertainment management. She strives to write through the lenses of context, analysis, and Hollywood Insider’s values to bring a fresh perspective to industry trends, entertainment business, and new film and TV releases. Her favorite place is a movie theater, and she’s always hunting for the deeper meaning and studying media as it pertains to culture. Film, TV, and interactive media are some of the most impactful artforms of our day, and they are worth digging into and analyzing. Everything is connected, whether it’s through Bacon numbers or history. When she’s not writing or at the movies, you can find Abbie crocheting or playing video games with her partner.
Abigail Whitehurst is an entertainment professional and writer for Hollywood Insider based in Los Angeles, CA. Having lived all over the world as part of a military family and having pursued a bachelors of music, she brings a unique outlook to the entertainment industry. A life-long learner and researcher, Abigail is pursuing her masters in entertainment management. She strives to write through the lenses of context, analysis, and Hollywood Insider’s values to bring a fresh perspective to industry trends, entertainment business, and new film and TV releases. Her favorite place is a movie theater, and she’s always hunting for the deeper meaning and studying media as it pertains to culture. Film, TV, and interactive media are some of the most impactful artforms of our day, and they are worth digging into and analyzing. Everything is connected, whether it’s through Bacon numbers or history. When she’s not writing or at the movies, you can find Abbie crocheting or playing video games with her partner.
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