Bob Odenkirk reflects on 'SNL' days: 'I wish I wasn't such a stuck up young man'
And the award for best self-awareness in a digital talk-show series goes to Bob Odenkirk.
The 58-year-old actor, director and producer joined Lola Ogunnaike on PeopleTV's Couch Surfing, a series that places Hollywood stars' real-time reactions to their old performances at center stage, and Odenkirk caused Ogunnaike's mouth to drop when she played him a clip from this Catherine O'Hara 1991 Saturday Night Live monologue:
"I was such a pr**k back then," Odenkirk said, hanging his head. "I was so opinionated. I was a very opinionated comedy writer. I was a writer on the show, and Lorne [Michaels] would sometimes have me do a part in a scene—a small part like that. Of course, I was starstruck at Catherine O'Hara, who was just the best."
He continued: "I wish I wasn't such a stuck up young man. I wish I was a sweeter fellow because I had a great opportunity there. I made the most of it. I learned a lot about comedy writing, and I made some great friends for life at that show, but I still wish that I'd just handled it better. But don't you always think that about your young self?"
The four-time Golden Globe nominee and two-time Primetime Emmy winner was an SNL writer from 1987 to '95. He also developed his chops writing on The Dennis Miller Show (1992), Late Night with Conan O'Brien ('93-94) and The Ben Stiller Show ('92-95).
Odenkirk's acting credits are just as extensive, culminating in roles of Saul Goodman in critically acclaimed Breaking Bad (2009-13) and Jimmy McGill in spinoff series Better Call Saul. The latter will end with its sixth season expected this year.
Watch the full Couch Surfing episode here.
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