Currently,in its third season,Only Murders in the Buildingnails it when itcomes to comedic timing. Many fans of the show were shocked when the trio of Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez worked as well as it did; the three of them work like magic on the screen as they gel so well together. The chemistry between the three actors is unmatched as theycome back through each seasonseemingly closer than ever, and it’s easy to read their relationship and how we’re meant to perceive it. Martin, Short, and Gomez are all hilarious in their own right, but Short as Oliver Putnam has a certain way about him that he makes a grunt or a groan sound like the funniest part of the entire scene.
His tone and timing often steal the spotlight, as he’s the eccentric one of the group, dressing in over-the-top clothing and reminding people that he knows several people with his constant name-dropping. If Short didn’t portray Putnam, the show wouldn’t be nearlyas delightful as it is, with his several one-liners that will stick with you long after the episode. That being said, let’s take a look at the top ten best quotes said by Oliver Putnam throughout the series.
10"I am so Greek, I could be Jennifer Aniston’s stand-in. I’m so Greek, I could go bankrupt, and no one in the world would help me."
To start this list off, we include a quote that’s funny if you don’t know the context, but in reality, it’s actually quite sad. One thing about Oliver that’s often overlooked, is how much he loves his son, Will. There are a few episodes where Will is included, and throughout each one, it’s obvious that Oliver adores his kid just like any parent would. However, when it’s revealed that many years ago Oliver’s ex-wife had an affair with Teddy Dimas, Oliver’s arch-nemesis, Oliver starts to worry that Will might not be his biological son.
So they run a DNA test, but after Oliver notices how worried Will becomes over the results, Oliver decides to lie to his son when it’s revealed that Teddy is in fact Will’s biological father. Oliver says the quote listed above as he rejoices with Will that he’s his dad, even though he is, in fact, not.
9“We don’t work for you, you vultures!”
This hilarious quote comes from the first season, after the trio gets their podcast up and running. Mabel and Oliver walk outside to get some sleuthing done when they come across a group of people waiting for them, fans of the podcast and amateur investigators. Mabel is automatically slightly repulsed by the fact that they have fans, but Oliver is delighted that they have people that seem to adore them.
That is, until the fans start to ask about episode two, wanting to know what’s happening with the case, and Oliver turns on them due to the pressure. He barks out the quote before he’s quicklyushered away by Mabel, and it’s a great little scene that’s sure to give you a good laugh.
Related:The Best Hulu Original Films and Television Series
8“We’re the heroes of this building. Before us, you could be killed in your own apartment and no one would know it.”
Coming back to the second season, the trio was met with yet another murder, this time of Bunny, the manager of the building. Oliver says this quote as everyone is escorted out of the building, and he’s feeling pretty proud of himself since they just discovered a big clue for the case.
Out of the three of them, Oliver is the one most likely to give themselves away when it comes to tampering with the evidence of a crime scene, so he’s rather self-righteous about what they’ve done for the Arconia. It’s a great Oliver quote since it displays how his personality is in the truest form.
7“Your tell is you don’t have a tell. You’re just as uncomfortable as you look.”
One of the funniest bits that follows through each season ofOnly Murders in the Building, is how Oliver gets so frustrated with Charles through almost every episode. They’re friends, clearly, but Charles is quick to annoy Oliver when he’s either too slow, doesn’t get a reference, or doesn’t act in the way Oliver wants him to.
This quote is one of the better insults that Oliver throws at Charles because it’s so casual and not said with much flair or follow-up. Charles just sort of accepts what Oliver says, makes a face, and then moves on. Simple, but hilarious.
6“Stay out of the theater if you want a life. Trust me.”
If there’s one thing that Oliver Putnam is going to do, it’s reminding the audience and just about anyone around him, that he’s been in the theater business for most of his life. He’s not subtle with his name-drops, referencing famous people and weird stories that he was involved in, and constantly talking about the show that ruined his career.
There are genuinely a lot of highs and lows when it comes to life in the theater, and Oliver clearly has been through it in all aspects when it comes to his passion and career. This quote is not only relatable, but also perfect for Oliver and how he presents himself as someone who works in the theater.
It’s no secret that Bunny and Oliver didn’t get along, even after her death, Oliver didn’t change his mind about his old building manager. After she’s murdered and Mabel’s framed, the trio decide to take the investigation into their own hands and start to do some sleuthing. One of the places they enter, of course,is Bunny’s apartment, that’s quite literally taped off, but they don’t let it stop them as they enter their old building manager’s place.
While there, they quickly have to hide when Ursula walks in, and they end up finding a secret elevator that leads to a secret entrance to the building. This quote is great because even though she’s dead, Oliver still has to get one last insult in.
4“God! This is really not feeling like a finale yet. Is it?”
Breaking the fourth wall doesn’t often happen inOnly Murder in the Building, but in the season finale of season two, there are a few times when this happens. The best moment is when Oliver says this quote because, in truth, the finale of this season wasn’t off to a great start.
Not much was happening, and it didn’t seem like the trio was any closer to solving the case, so Oliver’s addressing of this, was needed and a solid moment of acknowledgment to the audience. Of course, after that fact, things pick up, and the finale holds up to being great and suspenseful.
Related:10 Movies and TV Shows to Watch if You Love Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building
3“This is all I eat. Dips for dinner.”
One of Oliver’s many quirks is the fact that he exclusively eats dips, and not much else. He’s not very liquid with cash, unlike other people in his building, and is often getting himself into schemes to obtain his way of life and his luxurious apartment. One of the ways he achieves this, is by mainly eating dips.
Teddy Dimas, who has a Greek restaurant, apparently has the best dips in town, and even though Oliver detests Teddy, he essentially lives off hummus and other spreads. This bit follows Oliver through each season so far, and in the second season, he regrettably has to leave a big bag of dips on the stairwell during a blackout.
2"Really? Do you not see this coat?!"
Our first interaction with Oliver comes when he’s walking along the street in New York City, and almost gets run down by a taxi. Martin Short is anything but an actor who blends in, so from the moment he’s on your screen, he’s loud and proud. After the car almost hits Oliver, he turns to face the driver and shouts, “Really? Do you not see this coat?!” The coat itself is very fashionable, a plum color with a scarf that pairs well with it, giving you a clue as to who Oliver is in that brief scene.
Jane Lynch plays Sazz Pataski, Charles' stunt double who has appeared in several of Charles' shows and movies, and the resemblance between the two is genuinely uncanny and a bit hilarious. This quote comes from Oliver’s first interaction with Sazz, freshly kicked out of his apartment and looking for a place to stay, he goes to Charles.
The second Oliver sees Sazz, he immediately thinks it’s Charles, and the look on his face from the beginning will have you laughing. Then the way he says, “Okay.” will have you in stitches, his tone a mix of confusion and disappointment as he believes Charles has had work done on his face to make him look like that. When Charles comes around the corner, Oliver gasps, and he says, “What is this?Face Off?”,
