Long Island is star of newest 'Only Murders in the Building' episode

Long Island finally came to Hulu's "Only Murders in the Building" on Tuesday's episode, in a rollicking, genial "Lawn Guyland" burn that featured Melissa McCarthy alongside a few geographically- and Billy Joel-specific running gags.

And as the voice-over explained at the outset, if "you want peace, safety" or at least a place where your loved ones won't "get punched in the face at Gristedes, well, my friend, there's only one county on God's green earth for you. The county of Suffolk. Strong Island, baby!" 

("Of course," the voice-over adds, "no place is perfect.")

In the setup to this seventh episode of season 4 — titled "Valley of the Dolls" — our three "Murder" podcasters Charles (Steve Martin), Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Oliver (Martin Short) head out to Patchogue — yes, Patchogue — to stay with Charles' sister, Doreen (McCarthy), because they think someone has been stalking them at the Arconia. Soon enough, the cast portraying them in the "Murders" movie (this is the Hollywood-themed season) turn up at Doreen's too, along with the studio executive in charge (Molly Shannon), then Oliver's maybe-girlfriend Loretta (Meryl Streep). So much for their secret Long Island hideout.

Meanwhile, Doreen takes an immediate liking to Oliver.

"Is Doreen someone I should be worried about?" wonders his paramour, Loretta.

"Everyone should be worried about Doreen," Oliver replies.

Doreen is indeed worrisome: Loud, profane, emotionally taut, she's a leotard-wearing nutcase with biggish hair, an inordinate fondness for dolls, and cheap vodka laced with Crystal Light. At least McCarthy doesn't try to fake an LI accent. (She's hilarious enough anyway.)

Her husband, Big Mike (Jason Kravits) has been banished to the boat parked in the driveway because of an addiction of his own to a local food-and-entertainment establishment by the name of "Can-Can's." (No need to go into details about what "can" means in this context.) Glancing at a towel emblazoned with the Can-Can logo, Mabel — from Bayport, incidentally — muses half fondly (half ruefully), "oh Long Island, you're so ... you."

Those Billy Joel gags? One featured Doreen and Mike's doorbell, which rings to the opening bars of "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant."

Where does this LI/"OMITB" love/hate thing come from anyway? There's a little history here, dating back to the first season (fifth episode, "Twist") when Charles and Oliver are forced to make a detour out east. Charles: "Long Island! My first time out of Manhattan in five years and we're going to Long Island! I've got a sister in Patchogue. She's got four daughters with 'D' names — Dawn, Danielle, Deena and Dagmar."

Oliver: "I've certainly had my share of Long Island shenanigans," explaining that he once rode an elephant at a wedding there, then "threw up in a pool in Syosset."

Charles: "I once shot an episode of 'Brazzos' in Hempstead. It doubled for Bosnia."