Only Murders in the Building Season 4 [9/10]

As the seasons have accumulated on the zany, New-York-drenched show Only Murders in the Building, with its chemistry between Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, I have kept waiting for a downturn, the pivot toward staleness. After the exemplary Season 2 (see my review), would Season 3 dip? Yes but only a fraction (see my review). Surely, however, this new Season 4, which even dares to flit across the continent to LA, would crash? Fortunately for us fans, the answer is resoundingly an affirmation. The three stars retain all their verve, with Martin Short deploying the best lines but Steve Martin also hilarious in many scenes. The remaining actors are superbly cast and perfect in performance, including new cameos from Zach Galifianakis and Eugene Levy. The writing team is adventurous with a ludicrous but delightful Season 4 plot concept and script, and a couple of adventurous directorial departures impart an edgy vibe. As if that were not all enough, there is even a completely unexpected and laugh-out-loud scenic moment involving John McEnroe on a Manhattan street. Another triumph of a season and Season 5 beckons…