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Meryl Streep and Martin Short falling in love while filming “Only Murders In The Building” is “one of the most unexpected twists,” says co-creator John Hoffman

Meryl Streep and Martin Short falling in love while filming “Only Murders In The Building” is “one of the most unexpected twists,” says co-creator John Hoffman

Just murders in the building Co-creator John Hoffman shapes the relationship between Meryl Streep and Martin Short as much (if not more) than the rest of the world.

Speaking to Decider ahead of the season four finale, Hoffman — who also serves as an executive producer and writer on the series — talked about one of Hollywood's newest and hottest couples and the role the series played in bringing them together.

“You know, it's one of the most unexpected twists, but I remember thinking like, 'God,'” Hoffman told Decider. “When I met Meryl, like I knew Marty, and when I saw the two of them working together in Season 3, it was just incredible. We laughed out loud and they enjoyed each other in every way on and off screen.”

While Short has been an integral part of Arconia alongside Steve Martin and Selena Gomez since the beginning of the series, Streep joined the ever-growing ensemble in Season 3 about the trio that solves the murder of Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) and includes a extensive B-plot with a love story with director Oliver Putnam (Short) and actress Loretta Durkin (Streep).

Only Murders in the Building co-creator John Hoffman says Meryl Streep and Martin Short fell in love during filming "One of the most unexpected twists"
Martin Short and Meryl Streep in Season 3 of Only Murders in the Building. Photos: Getty Images; Illustration: Dillen Phelps

In the very first episode of the season, audiences are introduced to Loretta and introduced to her backstory, depicting her as a struggling actress in New York City. Every audition and every “no” ultimately culminates in the moment when she finds herself in front of Oliver, trying to land a role in his play. Oliver, watching from the director's table in the audience, is so touched by her reading that he can't help but get up from his seat, walk to the stage and ask Loretta, “Where have you been?” He casts Loretta as the leading lady Death Rattle Dazzle – the fictional piece became musical in the middle of the season – and an age-old romance ensues… We're giving the cliffnotes version here, there are some ups and downs, including a murder charge and a short prison stay for Streep's character.

For Hoffman, who directed the episode in which the Oscar winner does her OmitB Streep may have debuted and co-wrote that season's finale, but the fact that Streep appeared on the show at all was gift enough. But in his opinion that is Sophie's choice The star had a breakthrough playing Loretta and found the role to be liberating for her as an actress.

“I remember one night when we were filming on the ferry in Episode 5 of Season 3. We shot until about 2 a.m. on the most beautiful night in Manhattan,” he explained. “I went ashore there and Meryl was waiting, she had tears in her eyes and said, 'I just had to wait here until you got off the boat to say thank you.' And I thought, 'What?' and she said, “I just had to do a scene that I really thought I had no chance of doing. “To do romantic scenes like that with this band at this age is just the greatest thing ever.'”

OMITB behind the scenes
Meryl Streep, John Hoffman and Martin Short behind the scenes of the fourth season of Only Murders in the Building. Disney

“And of course I felt like the luckiest person in the world to have her anywhere near a set that I was near. So that felt like one of the most gratifying things. And I kept thinking, 'I hope the world falls in love with this couple as much as we all are.' And that's because of the magic they create together,” he shared.

Hoffman added that a big part of what he loves about the relationship between the characters – they're still going strong and will walk down the aisle in the Season 4 finale – is that it's a love story doesn't explicitly focus on the characters ' age.

While there are often jokes in the series aimed at Short and Martin's characters about their senior status, this has nothing to do with the love story of Oliver and Loretta, which, despite all odds, including the aforementioned murder accusation, continues found love.

Likewise, Streep and Short's real-life love story surprised and delighted everyone at home and on set. Just months after it was announced that Streep would be joining the cast of the Hulu comedy, it was revealed that she and her longtime husband Don Gummer had quietly separated more than half a decade ago. Short, for his part, was married to actress Nancy Dolman for three decades until she died of ovarian cancer in 2010.

In the months since Streep's split was first announced, she and Short have been spotted out and about at dinners, red carpets and events, even holding hands at the season four premiere in August. Earlier this year, the two were seen sitting together at the Golden Globes and later goofing off at the 2023 American Film Institute Awards.

Martin Short and Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep and Martin Short at the AFI Awards 2023 Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag
Meryl Streep and Martin Short at the fourth season premiere of Only Murders in the Building.
Meryl Streep and Martin Short at the fourth season premiere of Only Murders In The Building. Diversity via Getty Images

While Short and Streep have not publicly commented on their relationship status – although they have been dubbed “Tayvis for people who aren't interested in sports” – their colleagues seem too excited to leave it at that.

Just this week, Steve Martin — who has appeared alongside Short in countless projects over the years and calls the comedian one of his best friends — made hilarious use of Streep and Short's relationship in a cheeky post on Instagram.

The bride's father The star posted a photo of himself next to Streep and Short, covering his own face with a giant emoji to highlight the lovebirds and highlight his new third-party status.

For the actors and actresses whose characters will tie the knot in next week's Season 4 finale, it appears to be a true-to-life imitation of art. The happy ending for Loretta and Oliver comes after a season of long-distance love in which Loretta films her TV series in Los Angeles. Grey's New Orleans: Family Burn Unit – a clear parody of about 12 different network procedurals – and Oliver still in New York with the podcast. That means it isn't Just murders in the building final episode without some twists and shocking moments, so who knows if we'll see the couple make it to the altar.

The Just murders in the building The season four finale will be released on Hulu on Tuesday, October 29th at 12pm ET. The remainder of season four and the first three seasons are currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+.

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