Songwriting 101: Only Murders in the Building's Pickwick Triplets

Discover how Pasek, Paul, Shaiman, and Wittman created the magical song ‘Pickwick Triplets’ in Season 3 of ‘Only Murders in the Building.

Only Murders in the Building has been a joy from the first episode. But when I found out that season three would feature musical elements (including the song “Pickwick Triplets”), my excitement reached a whole new level. Even better, the dynamic duo Benj Pasek and Justin Paul were brought on board. Their music elevated an already fantastic season into something truly magical.

**Only Murders in the Building Pickwick Triplets: Tongue-Twister Writing (indiewire.com)**

One standout moment in season three is the song “Pickwick Triplets.” Halfway through the season, the song sends Charles-Hayden Savage (Steve Martin) into a hilarious and chaotic tailspin. It’s an incredible scene, made all the more unforgettable by this brilliant song.

**Video: Marc Shaiman, Benj Pasek, and Justin Paul Perform ‘Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?’ From ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING (broadwayworld.com)**

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul have been behind some of the most beloved stage and screen musicals in recent years. This includes Dear Evan Hansen with Ben Platt, The Greatest Showman with Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, and Zendaya, and Spirited with Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds. For “Pickwick Triplets,” and other songs, they teamed up with Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman—whose impressive credits include Hairspray, Smash, and Mary Poppins Returns—along with the talented writers of season three. The result is pure genius.

Want to hear how the catchy “Pickwick Triplets” came to life? Check out the interview below:

Songwriters Benj Pasek, Justin Paul and Marc Shaiman, along with “Only Murders in the Building” co-creator John Hoffman discuss the “Sitzprobe” episode from season 3. They break down how the song “Which of the Pickwick Triplets Did It?” was conceived, written and recorded by Steve Martin. They describe what it was like to see the comedy legend perfectly nail the difficult patter song.