The Spoils Before Dying (2015)
A jazz pianist becomes an unlikely detective in this sharp, star-studded parody of 1950s noir crime fiction from IFC.
The Spoils Before Dying - Series Information
- Original Title: The Spoils Before Dying
- First Air Year: 2015
- Last Air Year: 2015
- Created by: Matt Piedmont, Harper Steele
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy, Crime
- Content Rating (US): TV-14
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (23 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 6
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: July 8, 2015 (United States - TV-14), July 8, 2015 (Canada - 14+), July 8, 2015 (Australia - M)
- Networks: IFC
- Production Companies: Gary Sanchez Productions, Funny or Die
- Production Countries: United States of America
The Spoils Before Dying - Plot
Fictional author-filmmaker, Eric Jonrosh, adapts his epic tale of a pianist-turned-detective investigating a murder in the 1950s underground jazz scene.
The Spoils Before Dying - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and get a taste of the smoky, satirical world of Rock Banyon.
A groovy trip in free-form jazz.
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The Spoils Before Dying - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Matt Piedmont
- Harper Steele
Main Cast
- Michael Kenneth Williams
- Kristen Wiig
- Maya Rudolph
- Bérénice Marlohe
- Chin Han
- Will Ferrell
- Peter Coyote
- Steve Tom
- Marc Evan Jackson
- Haley Joel Osment
Writers
- Harper Steele
- Matt Piedmont
Executive Producers
- Will Ferrell
- Harper Steele
- Nate Young
- Adam McKay
- Matt Piedmont
The Spoils Before Dying - FAQs
Who plays Rock Banyon in The Spoils Before Dying?
Michael Kenneth Williams plays Rock Banyon, the jazz pianist-turned-detective at the heart of the story. His brooding charisma is perfectly suited to the 1950s noir parody, and he anchors the absurdist comedy with a surprisingly straight-faced performance that makes the whole thing work.
What is The Spoils Before Dying about?
Fictional author-filmmaker Eric Jonrosh presents his sweeping tale of Rock Banyon, a jazz pianist who stumbles into a murder investigation in the 1950s underground jazz scene. The series parodies noir crime dramas and pulpy crime fiction with a deadpan comedic sensibility and an all-star cast.
Is The Spoils Before Dying a sequel to another show?
It serves as a spiritual follow-up to The Spoils of Babylon (2014), another IFC parody miniseries featuring the same fictional auteur Eric Jonrosh, played by Will Ferrell. That earlier series lampooned sweeping 1970s epic melodramas, while this one shifts its satirical sights to 1950s jazz noir.
Where can you stream The Spoils Before Dying?
The Spoils Before Dying is available to watch for free on Plex and the Plex Channel. If you prefer to own it, Google Play Movies offers it for purchase. Spectrum On Demand subscribers can also stream it as part of their plan.
Who created The Spoils Before Dying?
The series was created by Matt Piedmont and Harper Steele, the same duo behind The Spoils of Babylon. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay served as executive producers through their Gary Sanchez Productions banner, with Funny or Die also involved in the production.
How many episodes does The Spoils Before Dying have?
The Spoils Before Dying ran for six episodes across a single season, making it a compact miniseries. Each episode clocks in at around 23 minutes, so the whole series can be comfortably watched in one sitting — perfect for a binge on a lazy afternoon.
What is the content rating for The Spoils Before Dying?
The series carries a TV-14 rating in the United States, indicating it contains material that may be unsuitable for children under 14. In Canada it aired with a 14+ rating, and in Australia with an M classification. The humor leans into adult parody territory.
What are some shows similar to The Spoils Before Dying?
Fans of its comedic crime parody style tend to enjoy Murderville (2022) and The Afterparty (2022), both of which blend laughs with whodunit plotting. For more classic crime-comedy vibes, Deadloch (2023) and A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (2024) are well worth exploring.
More About The Spoils Before Dying
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