Through the filming of its third season, “Only Murders in the Building” showrunner John Hoffman approached Jane Lynch and requested her how she felt about having her character killed off. She was elated.

Because the sequence’ 2021 debut, Lynch’s Sarah “Sazz” Pataki, the erstwhile stunt double to semiretired actor Charles Haden-Savage (Steve Martin), would pop up each season on two or three episodes. However returning as a ghost whom solely Charles may see or speak to meant Sazz could be the main target of Season 4.

“And even if I’m not in the episode,” says Lynch, “I’m being talked about.”

What nobody anticipated, not even Lynch, was how this exploration of Sazz and Charles’ relationship would inject recent poignancy into Hulu‘s crime comedy. So is this the end of Sazz? Or will the wholesome fan favorite with the perma-smile remain a fixture? “I’m coming again in a flashback [next season],” Lynch says. “But I’m always open to [more].”

Lynch as stunts knowledgeable Sazz Pataki in Season 4 of “Only Murders in the Building.”

(Patrick Harbron/Disney)

Initially you have been stored in the dead of night about who shot Sazz and why. Did you attempt to guess the assassin’s identification?

No.

Why not?

Possibly I’m not a curious individual [laughs].

Or maybe you simply don’t like spoilers.

A pal of mine learn [“Lonesome Dove”] and mentioned when he was studying the ultimate pages, he simply burst into tears. And I used to be like, “Oh, I want to read this book now.” So I purchased it not too long ago, and I began studying the foreword by Larry McMurtry. He provides away the entire emotional storyline. The guide is [843 pages], and I’m going to do it, however I’m not as enthusiastic about it. Now I understand how it ends.

As a figment of Charles’ creativeness, Sazz is at all times in a go well with and a porkpie hat. What’s it prefer to put on the identical costume for a six-month shoot?

Jane Lynch.

(Christina Home / Los Angeles Occasions)

Properly, I principally wore the identical outfit on “Glee” for five ½ years, simply completely different colours [laughs]. Generally whenever you put on males’s garments, which is what I used to be carrying, it appears to be like such as you’re carrying your dad’s go well with. You may’t even tailor it sufficient to look good on you. However our wardrobe folks have been nice. I believed this go well with seemed significantly good on me. I’ve a thin little neck and it’s a person’s shirt, however it match me. So I cherished it. It was good to get into that costume every single day.

No wardrobe surprises.

I’m a tough individual to suit, straight up and down, so wardrobe fittings, particularly once I was a bit heavier, they have been simply horrible. I’d at all times say, “Look, I’ll bring my own pants.”

Speak about Sazz’s authoritative presence.

What she has is totally no insecurities. She wouldn’t for a second suppose that when she walks by way of the door, she wouldn’t be welcome. It wouldn’t even cross her thoughts. And I’m Leo rising, so I type of have that occurring too.

In preparation, did you do a deep dive into the lives of feminine stunt doubles?

No [laughs]. Which may be as a result of I’m lazy. The connection was crucial. My devotion to [Charles] is unparalleled. My raison d’etre for dwelling is him, to care for him, to guard him. She discovered it from her father who was an enormous stuntperson, we discover out. You be sure that your No. 1 doesn’t need to do something that’d threat their bodily [well-being]. That was her obsessive, single-minded focus.

What’s your concept about why viewers responded to Sazz and Charles’ deep friendship?

“What she has is absolutely no insecurities,” Lynch says of her character on “Only Murders in the Building.” “And I’m Leo rising, so I kind of have that going on too.”

(Christina Home / Los Angeles Occasions)

Have stunt doubles hailed your efficiency?

No.

I’m shocked. Don’t you suppose Sazz ennobles the occupation?

In all probability. However the factor about these guys is that they’re very quiet, in their very own area. They’ve a really particular job to do. They’re not social. The man who was my stunt double? He needed to bounce off a fricking constructing. Is he going to sit down round and spill tea with me? No.

Aspect notice: Is there even such a factor as a feminine stunt double who performs harmful acts for a male actor who performs a ’90s-era TV crime solver?

I don’t know. However Sazz is a selected lady. She’s as sturdy as a person. She’s as bodily succesful. She was introduced up within the enterprise. I believe she was singular.