After Bob Odenkirk filmed what would turn out to be his favorite Saul Goodman scene inBreaking Bad, he was sure he’d be fired from the show and replaced with “a real actor.” Before he wascast inBreaking Bad, Odenkirk was already a legendary name in sketch comedy, thanks to his iconic, widely influential seriesMr. Show, which he co-hosted with David Cross. Butthe role of Saul introduced the world to a whole new side of Odenkirk: a world-class dramatic actor. Not only was he not fired; he was given his own six-season spinoff series.
Five years afterBreaking Badended,Entertainment Weeklypublished a piece in which each of the main actors named their favorite scene from the show. Dean Norris’ favorite scene was a heart-to-heart between Hank and Marie. Jonathan Banks’ favorite scene was Mike warning Jesse to be careful going into business with Walt. Aaron Paul’s favorite scene was Jesse’s excruciatingly awkward dinner with Walt and Skyler.Bryan Cranston’s favorite scene is one ofBreaking Bad’s darkest: when Todd shoots the kid who witnessed the train robbery. After Odenkirk named his favorite scene, he revealed that he expected to be fired.
Saul’s First Scene Is Still Odenkirk’s Personal Favorite
When Odenkirk was asked to name his favorite scene fromBreaking Bad,he named the very first scene his character appeared in. In season 2, episode 8, “Better Call Saul,” after Badger is arrested in a sting operation, Jesse advises Walt to hire the most famous criminal lawyer in Albuquerque.Enter Saul Goodmanwith his tacky suits, tacky office, and unorthodox methods for getting out of trouble without ever having to set foot in a court of law.This scene told us who Saul was right off the bat: eccentric, unscrupulous, theatrical, and very witty.
All five seasons ofBreaking Badare streaming on Netflix.
Odenkirk toldEntertainment Weeklythat this scene was “so g****** well-written,”and that the tone was very different from anything he’d ever done before. Since he had to introduce the character, deliver the exposition, and set up the conflict of the episode, the scene gave Odenkirk “a lot to do.” He was surprised by how well-rounded the character was from the very beginning. Saul leapt off the page and, to this day,Odenkirk is “aghast, alarmed, at my own confidence” in taking on the role.
Odenkirk Thought He’d Be Replaced By “A Real Actor”
Afterhis debut inBreaking Badseason 2,Odenkirk was promoted to series regular in season 3, and then stayed with the show until its penultimate episode. But Odenkirk expected to get fired after his very first scene. He confesses that he “didn’t know what the f*** [he] was doing,” and that he was “just taking a run at it,” since he didn’t have much experience with dramatic acting. While he was shooting his introductory scene, he was expecting to be told, “you may go home now. We’re going to get a real actor.”
He confesses that he “didn’t know what the f*** [he] was doing,” and that he was “just taking a run at it,” since he didn’t have much experience with dramatic acting.
Although he was primarily known for comedy at the time,Odenkirk would quickly prove himself to be a real actor, holding his own in scenes with Cranston, Paul, Banks, and Norris. After being presented with such a solid script and such a clearly defined character, Odenkirk just “embraced” the role and “dug in.” Above all, Odenkirk found the character to be “really fun to play.” Even at the beginning, when he was nervous about joining such an emotionally rich drama and acting alongside heavy-hitters, Odenkirk recognized “how much fun it was.”
Bob Odenkirk Proved How Perfect He Was For Saul Goodman Throughout The AMC Series
Odenkirk Brought A Surprising Amount Of Depth To This Comic Relief Character
For the rest ofBreaking Bad’s run, Odenkirk continually proved himself to be the perfect casting choice for Saul. In his early episodes, Saul was purely a comic relief character, hitting Walt with zingers and sardonic one-liners. However,as the series went on, Odenkirk revealed more depth to the character. It became more and more apparent that Saul’s flashy facade was covering up a deeply sensitive human being. InBreaking Badscenes like Jesse confronting Saul about Brock’s poisoning and Walt squaring up to Saul in his office, Odenkirk brought an honest vulnerability to the character.
Breaking Bad
Cast
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
