Mapleworth Murders

*Mapleworth Murders*
Mapleworth Murders
Genre	Comedy; Mystery;
Created by	Paula Pell; John Lutz;
Directed by	Claire Scanlon
Starring	Paula Pell; John Lutz; J. B. Smoove; Hayley Magnus;
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	12
Production
Executive producers	Lorne Michaels; Seth Meyers; Paula Pell; John Lutz; Andrew Singer; Michael Shoemaker;
Production companies	Universal Television; Broadway Video; Sethmaker Shoemeyers;
Original release
Release	August 10 –; August 31, 2020

Mapleworth Murders is an American comedy-mystery television series created and written by Paula Pell and John Lutz, who also star alongside J. B. Smoove and Hayley Magnus. It was directed by Claire Scanlon. Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers serve as executive producers. It premiered on August 10, 2020, on Quibi.^[1] In 2023, the 12 episodes began streaming on The Roku Channel.

Premise

A murder-mystery writer investigates homicides in her small town, with each episode featuring guest victims and suspects, to answer the question: why are there so many murders in one small town?

Cast and characters

Main

Paula Pell as Abigail Mapleworth
Hayley Magnus as Heidi
John Lutz as Gilbert Pewntz
J. B. Smoove as Chief Billy Bills

Guest

James Anderson as Branda Bcbillan
Fred Armisen as Brody Bcbillan/Belk
Ike Barinholtz as Richard Belt
Nicole Byer as Julia Squift
D'Arcy Carden as Server
Jimmy Carlson
Terry Crews as Yoda
Tina Fey as Martha
Mary Holland
Drew Tarver as Brent Davenport
Jack McBrayer as Dink Choadler
Tim Meadows as Andy Hapsburg
Annie Mumolo as Paige Wellingtont
Pam Murphy as Camille Canelli-Twat
Patton Oswalt as Jerry Sprinks
Chris Parnell as Ben Canelli
Maya Rudolph as Broda Bcbillan
Andy Samberg as Bran Bcbillan
Wanda Sykes as Leigh Drain
Ben Warheit as Ben Jr.

Episodes

No.	Title ^[2]^[3]	Directed by	Written by	Original release date ^[2]
1	"A Murderer's Beef – Part 1"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 10, 2020 (2020-08-10)
2	"A Murderer's Beef – Part 2"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 10, 2020 (2020-08-10)
3	"A Murderer's Beef – Part 3"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 10, 2020 (2020-08-10)
4	"The Case of the Case of Wine – Part 1"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 17, 2020 (2020-08-17)
5	"The Case of the Case of Wine – Part 2"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 17, 2020 (2020-08-17)
6	"The Case of the Case of Wine – Part 3"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 17, 2020 (2020-08-17)
7	"Killer Voices – Part 1"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 24, 2020 (2020-08-24)
8	"Killer Voices – Part 2"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 24, 2020 (2020-08-24)
9	"Killer Voices – Part 3"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 24, 2020 (2020-08-24)
10	"Mrs. Mapleworth's Grand Finale – Part 1"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 31, 2020 (2020-08-31)
11	"Mrs. Mapleworth's Grand Finale – Part 2"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 31, 2020 (2020-08-31)
12	"Mrs. Mapleworth's Grand Finale – Part 3"	Claire Scanlon	Paula Pell & John Lutz	August 31, 2020 (2020-08-31)

Production

Development

Lutz and Pell created the series as a parody of Murder, She Wrote following a suggestion from Lutz's wife, fellow comedian Sue Galloway.^[4] In June 2019, it was announced Pell and Lutz would star, write and executive produce the series, with Lorne Michaels and Seth Meyers serving as producers under their Broadway Video and Sethmaker Shoemeyers banner, alongside Universal Television for Quibi.^[5] In December 2019, it was announced Claire Scanlon would direct the series.^[6]

Due to the format of Quibi, each episode was 10 minutes, but they were developed as three-part story arcs to allow the series to later be reformatted to a traditional 30-minute, three-act comedy series.^[4]

Casting

In December 2019, J. B. Smoove and Hayley Magnus joined the cast as series regulars, with Fred Armisen, Tim Meadows, Maya Rudolph, Patton Oswalt, Jack McBrayer, D'Arcy Carden, Pam Murphy, Ben Warheit, Annie Mumolo, Ike Barinholtz, Mary Holland, James Anderson, and Drew Tarver in recurring capacity and Tina Fey, Chris Parnell, Andy Samberg, Wanda Sykes, Terry Crews, Nicole Byer and Jimmy Carlson to guest star.^[7]^[8]

Awards

Year	Award	Category	Nominee(s)	Result	Ref.
2021	Primetime Emmy Awards	Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series	John Lutz	Nominated	^[9]
		Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series	J. B. Smoove	Won
		Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series	Paula Pell	Nominated

References

^ Miska, Brad (June 18, 2020). "Quibi Investigates the "Mapleworth Murders" This August". Bloody-Disgusting. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Mapleworth Murders – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
^ "Mapleworth Murders". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
^ ^a ^b Coates, Tyler (August 6, 2021). "Former 'Saturday Night Live' Writers on How They 'Lovingly' Wanted to Spoof 'Murder, She Wrote'". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 21, 2021.
^ Petski, Denise (June 25, 2019). "Paula Pell & John Lutz To Topline Quibi Comedic Murder Mystery From 'SNL' Team". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
^ Hermanns, Grant (December 3, 2019). "Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Signs Ensemble Cast". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
^ Pederson, Erik (December 3, 2019). "'Mapleworth Murders': Quibi Comedic Murder Mystery Sets JB Smoove & Hayley Magnus As Regulars; Fey, Oswalt, Samberg Among Guests". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
^ Porter, Rick (December 3, 2019). "Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
^ "Mapleworth Murders". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2021.

External links

[1] Miska, Brad (June 18, 2020). "Quibi Investigates the "Mapleworth Murders" This August". Bloody-Disgusting. Retrieved July 7, 2020.

[TFC-2] "Mapleworth Murders – Listings". The Futon Critic. Retrieved August 4, 2020.

[WGA-3] "Mapleworth Murders". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved August 4, 2020.

[thr-4] Coates, Tyler (August 6, 2021). "Former 'Saturday Night Live' Writers on How They 'Lovingly' Wanted to Spoof 'Murder, She Wrote'". The Hollywood Reporter. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved August 21, 2021.

[5] Petski, Denise (June 25, 2019). "Paula Pell & John Lutz To Topline Quibi Comedic Murder Mystery From 'SNL' Team". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2020.

[6] Hermanns, Grant (December 3, 2019). "Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Signs Ensemble Cast". ComingSoon.net. Retrieved July 7, 2020.

[7] Pederson, Erik (December 3, 2019). "'Mapleworth Murders': Quibi Comedic Murder Mystery Sets JB Smoove & Hayley Magnus As Regulars; Fey, Oswalt, Samberg Among Guests". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2020.

[8] Porter, Rick (December 3, 2019). "Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2020.

[9] "Mapleworth Murders". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2021.

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