Breaking Bad star, Bob Odenkirk, has unfinished business with SNL

Better Call Saul star, Bob Odenkirk, told Marc Fennell about turning angst into humour and why comedy means much more to him than just getting a laugh.

For most of his career, Bob Odenkirk thought his biggest claim to fame would be the cult HBO sketch program Mr Show.

Then Breaking Bad happened.

Then Better Call Saul.

Bob Odenkirk and David Cross on Mr. Show, 1998 Source: Supplied

For many actors, a ‘break-out’ moment can trigger ego inflation. But for Bob, comedy has never really been about the fame.

“It grounds me. Even when I fail at it, it makes me feel connected to life.”

Growing up in a family of seven kids, without a dad in the picture for much of his childhood, Bob and his brother Bill made dinnertime show time.

Everybody’s got their something wrong with them. That makes them good at something.

“Every dinner was a show because my mum was overwhelmed,” he says.

“My family situation was a little difficult and kids look for a place to put their angst. And comedy was that for me.”

Bob admits that he treats comedy a bit like therapy.

“Comedy is like putting lipstick on a border collie, just taking something plain and regular about life and ridiculing it,” he says.

“It's just this channel of honesty with the world. Even just having it open for a few minutes makes you feel like you can do that.

Conan O’Brien and Bob Odenkirk in the SNL writers’ room, 1988 Source: Supplied

After four years working as a writer on Saturday Night Live, Bob felt it was time to move on.

“I was finally coming into my own in my fourth year there. That felt good. It was nice to be confident and help out… but it just wasn’t enough,” he says.

Comedy is like putting lipstick on a border collie, just taking something plain and regular about life and ridiculing it.

“I knew that I wasn't going to be able to move into performance there.  I wasn't good enough. I didn't have the confidence.”

So he set off to polish his acting chops. And now that he’s at the top of his game as an actor, he’s keen to return to his old stomping ground – he wants a shot at hosting Saturday Night Live.  

“It would be a real crazy turn of events if I was able to do that because I spent four years there, mostly pretty frustrated as a writer. It would be a great ending to that narrative.

“I would finally be able to stop thinking about it.”

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