Spoilers Ahead: Only Murders in the Building Season 4, Episode 8 “Lifeboat”
In a recent revelation, John Huffman, co-creator of Only Murders in the Building, shared an interesting behind-the-scenes moment involving Kumail Nanjiani, who portrays Rudy. Originally, Nanjiani delivered Jack Nicholson’s monologue from A Few Good Men in its entirety. Currently, the show’s central mystery revolves around the murder of Sazz, played by Jane Lynch, who serves as Charles’ (Steve Martin) stunt double. In episode 8, “Lifeboat,” the Westies recount their long-standing association with Milton Dudenoff, with Rudy reminiscing about performing the monologue for Dudenoff at a bus stop during their first encounter.
Huffman explained to TheWrap that it wasn’t scripted for Nanjiani to perform the entire scene. However, Nanjiani had memorized it perfectly and amazed everyone on set with a flawless one-take performance. Unfortunately, due to time constraints, they had to condense the monologue to fit the episode’s runtime. Huffman also praised Nanjiani’s comedic improvisation skills, noting that he had never worked with anyone quite like him. Here’s what Huffman had to say:
Behind the Scenes: Huffman’s Experience with Nanjiani
“I have never worked with anyone quite like Kumail Nanjiani. I love him so much. Each time he came to work, he had this mountain of additional dialogue and extended from every scene he had. He would button scenes with the most hilarious improv, but he had worked on them all and memorized them all and was able to list through perfectly. We were all howling.
When we got to that monologue, it was not scripted that he would do the entire scene. It was a different organization within the story, but he showed up the day before and said I have the entire thing memorized. And I said what do you mean the entire thing memorized?
When we were on set, we were not intending to do all of it. There were a couple of ways we were going to do it that we had scripted, but I said, ‘Just in case we want the whole thing done here in the room, could you get up and just do that?’ And he said ‘Yes, I would love to do that.’ And we rolled and it was letter perfect, the entire thing. Everyone applauded after and was dazzled. It was one take.
In the cut, we jump through because if we’d done the whole thing, it’d be five minutes. It was like three to five minutes straight through fully acting it out. So what you’re seeing is truly a cut-down version of what he did.”
The Impact of Huffman’s Comments on Rudy’s Role
Nanjiani’s Comedic Talent Enhances Rudy’s Character
Kumail Nanjiani’s monologue is a standout comedic moment in episode 8, even as the main trio continues to unravel the mystery of Sazz’s murder. Although the scene was edited using a “jump through” technique to fit the episode’s length, Nanjiani’s performance leaves a lasting impression. Huffman’s comments shed light on how the actor built emotional momentum throughout the scene and hinted that it could have been longer. The fact that it was filmed in one take suggests that the genuine reactions from Mabel, Oliver, Charles, and others were captured on screen.
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Nanjiani’s presence in Only Murders in the Building since season 4 has brought an extra layer of humor and charm to the series. With a background in stand-up comedy, Nanjiani has smoothly transitioned into more prominent roles. Huffman’s remarks indicate that many of Rudy’s best moments were likely spontaneous, mirroring the memorable monologue in episode 8. This suggests that the show provided Nanjiani with considerable creative freedom to help shape Rudy’s character.
Our Perspective on Nanjiani’s Contribution to the Show
A Scene-Stealer Despite Limited Screen Time
Although Rudy is a relatively minor character among the Westies in Only Murders in the Building, Nanjiani makes every moment count. His portrayal of the YouTube workout instructor who inadvertently became the “Christmas-All-the-Time Guy” adds a unique touch to the already star-studded cast.
The series stands out as one of Nanjiani’s best roles because it allows him the liberty to expand his character. While he has been part of several major franchises, his role as Kingo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe felt constrained, as Marvel sought to fit him into their superhero template. Conversely, his character Dinesh in Silicon Valley offered much more room for expression.
Source: TheWrap
Only Murders in the Building
- Comedy
- Mystery
- Crime
