Sorry, Saul: Bob Odenkirk felt like a ‘guest’ on ‘Breaking Bad’

Saul Goodman didn’t always feel called upon.

Bob Odenkirk claims he felt like a “guest” in his role as lawyer Saul Goodman on the hit AMC series “Breaking Bad.”

“They were very good people to include me because I really was popping in,” Odenkirk, 61, told Jimmy Kimmel about the cast Wednesday. “I felt very much like a guest in their company.”

Bob Odenkirk appeared Wednesday on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” ABC
Bob Odenkirk appeared Wednesday on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” ABC

“Did you always?” a surprised Kimmel asked.

“Maybe toward 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,” Odenkirk said.

Saul Goodman joined the show in Season 2 of “Breaking Bad” in 2009. Odenkirk admitted to Kimmel that he hadn’t seen the Emmy-winning hit before being cast, and recalled trying to discuss the show with star Bryan Cranston.

“Bryan [Cranston] was talking about a scene he was doing. And I’m like, ‘Yeah, but your character and Gus are friends, right?’ ” the former “Saturday Night Live” writer remembered.

“[Cranston] looked at me — this was the third season — and he goes, ‘You’ve never watched the show, have you?’ ” Odenkirk said. “I just laughed.”

Bryan Cranston and Odenkirk in a scene from “Breaking Bad.” ©AMC/courtesy Everett Collection
Bryan Cranston and Odenkirk in a scene from “Breaking Bad.” ©AMC/courtesy Everett Collection

Despite his initial lack of knowledge of the series, Odenkirk’s fan-favorite character still got his own spinoff, “Better Call Saul,” which ran for six seasons from 2015 to 2022. It received 53 Emmy nominations — but no wins.

Odenkirk took part in the “Breaking Bad” reunion last Saturday at the SAG Awards where he dropped an F-bomb. He hilariously took a moment on “JKL!l” to apologize for using foul language.

“Hello, America. The other night at the SAG Awards, as part of a great reunion of the ‘Breaking Bad’ cast, I, Bob Odenkirk, besmirched the evening’s abundant pleasantries by saying ‘the F,’ ” Odenkirk read from a prepared piece of paper as somber music played behind him.

Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in “Breaking Bad.” ©AMC/courtesy Everett Collection
Odenkirk as Saul Goodman in “Breaking Bad.” ©AMC/courtesy Everett Collection
Odenkirk also starred in the “Breaking Bad” spinoff “Better Call Saul.” ©AMC/courtesy Everett Collection
Odenkirk also starred in the “Breaking Bad” spinoff “Better Call Saul.” ©AMC/courtesy Everett Collection

“I implore your ears to forget what they heard my mouth say, and I only hope that no other person ever again utters that word ever. Don’t go down the dark road I’ve gone down.”

Odenkirk concluded, “Finally, I hope that this apology, spoken live on television, gives me complete immunity from any and all crimes from here forward. And I thank the Supreme Court. You guys are awesome. It’s impossible to do the work of being a celebrity without total immunity, you understand?”