Jane Lynch (‘Only Murders in the Building’) on mirroring Steve Martin and feeling ‘thrilled’ about a tragedy [Exclusive Video Interview]
SPOILER ALERT: This article and video contain spoilers about Season 3.
Viewers always know to expect expert physical comedy when Jane Lynch makes an appearance on “Only Murders in the Building” as stunt double Sazz Pataki. But in Season 3 of the Hulu series, the actress’ appearance is also tinged with tragedy. Sazz is murdered in the season finale, but Lynch is beyond excited to play dead. “You don’t even need to resurrect me. It’s fine,” she gushes, “I’m having such a blast.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.
Just as Charles-Haden Savage (Steve Martin) is experiencing a relationship crisis with Joy (Andrea Martin), his former stunt double Sazz shows up at his door. Sazz leads Charles through an impromptu therapy session in order to help him realize his fears within his new romance. When Sazz later attends the opening night party for the Broadway musical “Death Rattle Dazzle,” she is shot in the chest by an unseen assailant who mistakes her for Charles. The season ends with her death, setting up the next major mystery for Season 4.
“I did get a heads up,” admits Lynch, revealing that she knew Sazz’s fate as they filmed the final episodes. Showrunner John Hoffman asked her “how would you like to die?” on set one day. “And I said, I would love to die,” exclaims the actress, “because you know that if you’re the murder victim, your murder is going to be the mystery of the next season. So that means that I will be in flashbacks…So I was thrilled to hear it.”
Lynch is careful not to spoil any story elements for the upcoming season, but does mention that she gets to explore the dynamic between Sazz and Charles even further. That element has long been one of her favorite aspects of appearing on this series. “It kind of looks like she’s a little insensitive to his feelings,” she admits of Sazz, “She steals his girlfriends and stuff like that. She shows up unannounced, she dresses just like him. And these are things that would annoy somebody else, but they don’t annoy Charles. Charles and Sazz actually have a beautiful relationship….it’s a real joy to work with him.”
WATCH Patrick Howe video interview: ‘Only Murders in the Building’ production designer
She describes the pair as “brothers” or “comrades-in-arms,” which is often shows up in the way that Sazz expertly mimics Charles’ every mannerism. Sazz takes her stunt double job very seriously, and has never really let go of the attachment to Charles. Surprisingly, Lynch is able to copy Martin’s movements without any planning or choreography. “I don’t ever call attention to it,” she explains, “I want him to just play the scene and I just kind of mark what he’s doing and I’ll kind of mirror him back.”
Lynch is a five-time Emmy winner. She prevailed for “Glee” in 2010, “Hollywood Game Night” in 2014 and 2015, “Dropping the Soap” in 2017 and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” in 2019. Her portrayal of Sue Sylvester on “Glee” also earned her Golden Globe and SAG Awards, as well as the Gold Derby Award for Comedy Supporting Actress of the Decade.
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