John Lutz: Well, there are 12 quibis, are they called?
Yeah, the short [episodes].
Paula Pell: And you could quibi as a verb.
John Lutz: That’s true.
There’s 12 of them, and all told that makes four different murder mysteries.
Both of you created the series as well as acted in it.
How much free rein do you give yourselves?
It was one of the first episodes.
That’s where he came up with this wonderful idea.
So, those are the two.
I just started reading mystery novels.
A friend of mine was reading some, and I just started them.
She has done some really amazing ones.
I’m excited about that, because it really did get me into that sort of [thing].
I like a murder mystery that’s not too horrifying.
John Lutz: Yeah, and my wife and I watch a lot of BBC stuff.
We’re watching Vera right now, I don’t know if you know Vera.
It takes place in the Shetland Islands.
Paula Pell: Oh, I heard Shetland was really good.
This is fun talk.
You know what I’m talking about, with Olivia Coleman?
…The British version, I binged I think in three days.
I watched so many in a row that I was numb from the neck up and the waist down.
John, I’m really enjoying the Gilbert and Abigail dynamic.
He’s into her, while she’s maybe not even into dudes at all.
How did you guys decide on that, and how fun is it to play?
John Lutz: Well, originally, I just wanted to be a dumb character, a bumbling character.
And then Paula said, “Well, he should have a crush on me.”
And then he believes that it’s going to happen, no matter what.
And Paula is always like - What’s one of the things you say?
Paula Pell: “I’m not a fan of the kickstand, Gilbert.”
John Lutz: Yeah, “I’m not crossing the dance room floor for you.”
Paula Pell: For your dance card or whatever.
Gilbert doesn’t even know what you do on a honeymoon.
So, he’s very naive.
The stakes are low, and I do care about him as a friend.
But I still like my handywoman.
That’s my real-life fiancee, Janine Brito.
Another dynamic I love is with your niece, Heidi.
How did you land on her as your Watson, as it were?
We wanted the whole town to feel kind of antiquated, which is why nobody uses cell phones there.
They all use phones with cords and the bar.
There’s very little computer stuff going on, except for Heidi.
Because she comes into this town, and she’s a millennial who is in touch with the world.
Paula Pell: She just came in, and she’s twice my height.
She is so funny and so unique.
I haven’t seen them in 17 other things."
And she’s just so frickin funny and so strange in the most beautiful, warm way.
She’s very, very lovable.
You want that person that’s actually speaking as the Greek chorus for the rest of the world.
Paula Pell: We couldn’t get rights to the songs.
They sing, right?
One through line that I really enjoy is Abigail’s writer’s block.
She’s got that procrastination going on, even though she’s written 64 novellas before.
What deeper thing is going on?
Paula Pell: Oh, it’s not even deep.
It’s right at the surface.
I think I talked to my therapist about it yesterday on the phone in my phone therapy.
It’s just procrastination.
You have a writing night, and you either hand stuff in or you don’t.
John, you probably have had that too.
More:JB Smoove Interview for Mapleworth Murders
Mapleworth Murdersis now streaming on Quibi.
