Bob Odenkirk candidly reflects on his role in Breaking Bad following the cast’s reunion. Premiered in 2008, Odenkirk didn’t join the cast of the acclaimed AMC drama as Walter White and Jesse Pinkman’s criminal lawyer, Saul Goodman, until near the end of season 2. Recently, the Breaking Bad cast – including Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte, Jonathan Banks, and Odenkirk – reunited at the 30th annual SAG Awards to present Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, an award they won ten years ago.
During a subsequent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Odenkirk candidly reflected on his role in Breaking Bad following the cast’s reunion at the SAG Awards.
The actor is grateful to have been included in the cast, as he “felt very much like a guest amongst their company.” Having joined later, Odenkirk hadn’t watched the show, and he shared an amusing anecdote about being caught by Cranston. Read his full comments below:
“Very good people to include me because I really was popping in, and I felt very much like a guest in their company. Maybe towards the end, I felt more part of the show, but the truth is they established that show and everything about it, the tone and the integrity of the work before I ever showed up.
I’d never seen the show, everyone knows this. I never saw the show and I got hired to do it, and I was like, “This will be cool,” and on the plane, I popped in a DVD that they sent me and I watched like 10 minutes and I knew it was a drama. I’m not stupid, but I was like, “Okay good.” … I did have a faux pas in the makeup trailer one time. Brian was talking about a scene he was doing, and I’m like, “Well yeah, but your character and Gus are friends, right?” and he looked at me, this is the third season, and he goes, “You’ve never watched the show, have you?” and I just laughed. I didn’t answer him.”
It’s understandable why Odenkirk felt “like a guest” among the Breaking Bad cast. He originally joined the show as a guest star in season 2 and was originally only going to appear in a few episodes, though the character and Odenkirk’s performance were so beloved that Saul Goodman was expanded into a regular role. However, Odenkirk was still one of the few main cast members who wasn’t on the show from the very beginning. Furthermore, Odenkirk likely felt out of place because he was known as a comedic actor from his HBO sketch series, Mr. Show with Bob and David.
His modest feelings aside, Odenkirk was integral to both Breaking Bad and the franchise it launched. His character, and the comic relief he provided, were so beloved that he was brought back for Better Call Saul, which delved deeper into his morally ambiguous nature. In his own prequel/spinoff, Odenkirk was given the chance to lead and further showcase his dramatic chops, earning six Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor. Though he, or Better Call Saul, never won an Emmy, the show still stands as one of the rare spinoffs to stand toe to toe with its predecessor.
FAQ
What does Bob Odenkirk reflect on regarding his role in Breaking Bad?
Bob Odenkirk reflects on feeling like a guest among the cast of Breaking Bad, having joined later in the series. He shares an anecdote about not having watched the show until after being cast as Saul Goodman.
Why did Bob Odenkirk feel like a guest on Breaking Bad?
Odenkirk joined Breaking Bad later in the series and was originally only meant to appear in a few episodes. He also felt out of place as he was known for comedic roles prior to joining the cast.
How did Bob Odenkirk’s role in Breaking Bad lead to Better Call Saul?
Odenkirk’s portrayal of Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad was well-received, leading to the creation of Better Call Saul, a prequel/spinoff exploring his character’s backstory.