From Young Struggles to Success: Bob Odenkirk's Journey Beyond Saturday Night Live

Summary

Bob Odenkirk reflects on his time on Saturday Night Live, admitting that he felt too young and battled feelings of insecurity.

Despite facing numerous challenges, Odenkirk attained success in the television industry through his legendary portrayals in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.

Following his time on SNL, Odenkirk's career flourished as he embarked on creating his own sketch comedy series and taking on prominent roles in several other television productions.

Bob Odenkirk discusses his challenging experience on Saturday Night Live. The 60-year-old actor, best known for his role as Saul Goodman in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, began his successful career on the iconic sketch-comedy show in 1987. Alongside talented comedians like Conan O'Brien and Robert Smigel, Odenkirk worked as a writer and made occasional appearances on camera. In a candid conversation on Don't Ask Tig with comedian Tig Notaro, Odenkirk admitted feeling too young when he joined SNL. He expressed gratitude for avoiding disaster and shared his constant battle with insecurities during his time on the show.

Bob Odenkirk Found Success on Television After Saturday Night Live

I lacked confidence, facing a daunting challenge that held existential risks. The thought of erasing myself crossed my mind, overwhelmed by the weight of my young age upon joining ‘SNL.' It was a precarious situation, a constant dance with the possibility of disastrous outcomes. I assure you, it teetered on the edge of chaos numerous times. Trust me when I say that it was a struggle for others to believe me when I admitted, "I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, and I lived in constant fear for years."

Bob Odenkirk is best known for his portrayal of Saul Goodman in both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, a role that earned him six Emmy nominations. However, prior to joining the Breaking Bad franchise, he had already achieved success on television, appearing in various memorable roles. After joining the SNL team in 1987, Odenkirk departed in 1991 to pursue opportunities in writing and acting elsewhere. Following his departure from SNL, he had short stints as a writer for the beloved sitcom Get a Life and later The Dennis Miller Show.

He later joined the cast of The Ben Stiller Show, where he stood out as both a talented writer and an exceptional actor. In 1992, he created and starred in the highly acclaimed Charles Manson skit titled "Manson Lassie." This comedic sketch earned him great praise, as he skillfully transformed the notorious figure into a hilarious and entertaining routine. Later, Odenkirk co-created and starred in his own sketch comedy series called Mr. Show with fellow comedian David Cross. This cult classic aired on HBO for four seasons and received four Primetime Emmy Awards nominations.

Following his time on Mr. Show, Odenkirk went on to work on numerous other television shows, including Arrested Development, How I Met Your Mother, Everybody Loves Raymond, among others. Despite facing challenges and anxiety during his tenure on Saturday Night Live, Odenkirk proved his talent and resilience in the television industry, as evidenced by his extensive filmography today.

Source: Don't Ask Tig