Martin Short's character, Jiminy Glick, bursts onto the scene as a self-indulgent entertainment journalist, a witty parody reminiscent of shows like Entertainment Tonight or Access Hollywood. As the narrative unfolds, it cleverly transforms into a captivating whodunit, with David Lynch, portrayed by Martin Short, channeling the essence of Hercule Poirot.
Glick's journey starts at a mysterious hotel, where he crosses paths with Lynch, who captivates guests with enigmatic monologues about his latest film. Seizing an opportunity, Glick manages to secure an interview with Ben Di Carlo (Corey Pearson), the lead in the unsuccessful indie film Growing Up Gandhi—a biopic detailing Mahatma Gandhi's unlikely ascendancy in the boxing ring. Although the film fails to impress critics, Glick is taken aback by its outrageous concept.
As Glick continues to score interviews with top-tier stars like Steve Martin and Kurt Russell, alongside encounters on the red carpet with the likes of Kiefer Sutherland, Whoopi Goldberg, Sharon Stone, and Jake Gyllenhaal, he unknowingly gets entangled in a murder mystery involving the mysterious Miranda Coolidge (Elizabeth Perkins). Set to feature in African Queens, a lesbian sexploitation film inspired by The African Queen, Coolidge's fate takes a darker turn.
Amidst the chaos, Randall Bookerton (Gary Anthony Williams), a local hip-hop artist with his own grievances, kidnaps Glick to ensure his animated film, The Littlest Roach, wins the coveted Best Picture award. As Glick grapples with accusations of Miranda Coolidge's murder, he teams up with Dixie (Jan Hooks) in a frantic search for answers. In a twist of fate, they discover Glick's phone mysteriously turned up in Miranda's room.
As the investigation deepens, Glick becomes convinced that Andre (John Michael Higgins), a questionable figure with connections in the film industry, is hiding the truth about her murder. Enter David Lynch, who unveils the startling secrets behind Coolidge's death. It’s revealed that Natalie (Linda Cardellini), Coolidge's daughter, was pushed to the brink upon finding out about her mother’s girlfriend, Dee Dee (Janeane Garofalo), having an affair with Andre. Enraged, Natalie takes Dee Dee's life, who had been posing as Miranda to escape detection. Glick, unaware of the dangerous charade, inadvertently stumbles into Dee Dee's bedroom and faints. Meanwhile, Andre, realizing his plot has unraveled, recruits “former business associates” for a sinister mission to dispose of Dee Dee's remains. In an unexpected turn, Natalie seeks vengeance against Andre for his betrayal, plunging a knife into him out of sheer rage.
As Natalie serves her 20-year sentence, the film industry braces for upheaval. The festival's fate hangs by a thread, leading Miranda to consider stepping away from directing for good. In this atmosphere of uncertainty, Randall Bookerton and his crew revel in their award-winning film’s success, while Glick comes to a sobering conclusion: even A-list celebrities like Rob Lowe can seem disappointingly mundane once the spotlight fades. As this chapter closes, viewers are treated to amusing behind-the-scenes antics during the credits, highlighting Jiminy's engaging conversations with Hollywood juggernauts Kurt Russell and Steve Martin, delightfully unscripted and full of charm.
