'Breaking Bad' Producer Worried Bob Odenkirk's 'Silly' Saul Goodman Would Ruin the Series
Walter White came awfully close to never calling Saul.
Bob Odenkirk's flashy, less-than-scrupulous lawyer Saul Goodman (a.k.a. Jimmy McGill) became one of the most memorable characters in Breaking Bad, going on to star in his own Emmy-nominated prequel series, Better Call Saul.
But according to Breaking Bad producer and Better Call Saul co-creator Peter Gould, the character almost never made it onto the screen.
'His creation was all in service of Walt's story. We weren't thinking, 'Here's an independent character who's going to have a life of his own,' ' Gould tells Alan Sepinwall in an interview included in the TV critic's new book, Saul Goodman v. Jimmy McGill (out Feb. 4), excerpted by EW.com.
Gould wrote 'Better Call Saul,' the episode of Breaking Bad's second season in which Odenkirk's character made his debut. But even then, he tells Sepinwall, he wasn't sure Saul would have a future.
'Personally, as I was writing the episode, I got very nervous,' Gould explains. 'I got scared, because I was worried that we were going to break the show by making a character that was too silly — that he was going to be just too big for what I thought was a very grounded show. Grounded in its own way, let's put it that way.'
Gould says his misgivings weren't helped by AMC's initial response to the script for the 2009 episode.
Related: Bob Odenkirk on Why He Thinks Steve Carell Beat Him Out for the Role of The Office's Michael Scott
'My fear was actually enhanced when we had our first notes call with an executive who will remain nameless,' Gould recalls. '[Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan] and I were on a conference call, and the question came up, basically, 'We don't like this character. Could we start again and come up with a different story for this episode?' '
Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Gould explained that Gilligan refused to scrap 'Better Call Saul,' and the unnamed network exec backed down 'because they had to trust Vince.'
'But, you can think about what an alternative universe would be where we had had to throw that episode out,' Gould says.
Related: Breaking Bad Cast on Lack of F-Bombs on the Show — and How There Could've Been More
Rather than ending up on the scrap heap, Saul quickly became an integral part of Breaking Bad. Odenkirk was promoted to series regular for the show's third season, and continued to appear in the show until its 2013 finale. Gilligan and Gould were considering a spin-off for the character well before Breaking Bad ended, and in 2013, Better Call Saul premiered with Odenkirk starring. The series served as both an origin story for Saul, examining his early years as a lawyer and his gradual corruption, and a continuation of the character's story following the events of Breaking Bad.
Odenkirk was nominated for five Golden Globe Awards and six Emmys for his performance in the series, which wrapped up in 2022.
Read the original article on People
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
41 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Did you know these 30 famous people have ties to Rockford, Illinois?
ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — While Rockford, Illinois will likely be forever known for its time as one of the largest manufacturing hubs in the United, States, the city has produced an exceptional array of individuals who have left significant marks on history, culture, sports, entertainment, literature, journalism, and more. From pioneering scholars to celebrated athletes, artists, authors, and journalists, the city's legacy spans diverse fields. Here is a list 30 notable people who were either born and raised in Rockford or have significant ties to the city. Profession: Archaeologist, Egyptologist, historianNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1865, Breasted was the first American to earn a Ph.D. in Egyptology from Yale in 1894. He founded the University of Chicago's Oriental Institute in 1919 with John D. Rockefeller Jr.'s support and coined the term 'Fertile Crescent.' His work on Egyptian tombs, including aiding Howard Carter's 1922–23 Tutankhamun excavation, popularized archaeology. Breasted's work is also believed to have partly inspired the movie character, Indiana Jones. He died in 1935 in New York and is buried in Rockford's Greenwood Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: Fashion designer, DJ, entrepreneurNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1980, Abloh became a global fashion icon as the artistic director of Louis Vuitton's menswear and the founder of Off-White. The first Black designer to lead a major fashion house, he collaborated with Nike and exhibited at Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art. Abloh died in 2021 from cancer. He was Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Boylan Catholic High School. Profession: Filmmaker, cinematographerNotable Achievements: Liu moved to Rockford at age 5 after immigrating from China. He went on to direct 2018's 'Minding the Gap,' a documentary he filmed in Rockford. The Oscar-nominated film, exploring skateboarding, abuse, and resilience, earned a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. Liu has also worked on projects like 'All These Sons' (2021).Rockford Connection: Raised in Rockford from age 5, attended Rockford schools and Rock Valley College. Profession: BoxerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1904, Mandell, known as the 'Rockford Flash,' won the World Lightweight Boxing Championship in 1926 at age 22, defeating Rocky Kansas at Chicago's Comiskey Park. With 28 knockouts in 168 rights, Mandell was inducted into the Illinois Sports Hall of Fame in 1962. He also ran a gym in Rockford. He died in 1967 at the age of Connection: Born and raised in Rockford and trained locally. Profession: ActorNotable Achievements: Born in Los Angeles in 1946 but raised in Rockford, Saint James earned Emmy nominations for 'McMillan & Wife' (1971–76) and 'Kate & Allie' (1984–89). She won an Emmy for 'The Name of the Game' (1969) and starred in films like 'Love at First Bite' (1979). A three-time Golden Globe nominee, she later became a Connection: Raised in Rockford and attended Rockford schools. Profession: ActorNotable Achievements: Born in Chicago in 1959, Quinn lived in Rockford while his father taught English literature at Rock Valley College. Quinn is known for his roles in 'Desperately Seeking Susan' (1985), 'Benny & Joon' (1993), and 'Legends of the Fall' (1994), he also starred in 'Elementary' and 'Law & Order: SVU.'Rockford Connection: Lived in Rockford and attended Rockford Public Schools. Profession: Actor, voice actor, singerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1961, Benson is best known as the voice of Ariel in Disney's 'The Little Mermaid' (1989) and its sequels. She voiced Barbie in 'Toy Story 2″ and Toy Story 3' and earned Tony and Helen Hayes nominations for Broadway's 'Crazy for You.' Her other work includes 'Thumbelina' (1994) and 'Enchanted' (2007).Rockford Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Boylan Central Catholic High School. Profession: Professional basketball playerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1994, VanVleet won an NBA championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019 and became an All-Star in 2022. An undrafted player out of Wichita State, VanVleet graduated from Auburn High School, where he was a four-year star for the Knights. He now plays for the Houston Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Auburn High School. Profession: Singer, actorNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1979, Williams joined Destiny's Child in 2000, contributing to hits like 'Survivor.' A graduate of Auburn High School's Creative and Performing Arts program, she released the gospel album 'Heart to Yours' (2002) and the pop album 'Unexpected' (2008). She also starred in Broadway's 'Aida.'Rockford Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, attended Auburn High School. Profession: Actor, singerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1960, Mazzie was a Tony-nominated Broadway star for 'Passion'(1994), 'Ragtime' (1998), and 'Kiss Me, Kate' (1999). Known for her powerful soprano voice, she appeared in 'Next to Normal' and 'Bullets Over Broadway.' She died in Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: Actor, director, producerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1962, Mantello won Tony Awards for directing 'Take Me Out' (2003) and 'Assassins' (2004). He earned a Tony nomination for acting in Angels in America (1993) and directed Broadway hits like 'Wicked.'Rockford Connection: Born in Rockford. Profession: PoliticianNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1922, Anderson served as a U.S. Representative from Illinois (1961–81) and ran as an independent in the 1980 presidential election, earning 6.6% of the vote. Known for his progressive Republican views, he's a significant figure in Rockford's political history. Anderson died in Connection: Lifelong resident of Rockford. Profession: Astronaut, engineerNotable Achievements: Born in South Bend, Indiana, in 1956, Voss grew up in Rockford and flew on five NASA Space Shuttle missions, logging over 18 million miles in space. She contributed to International Space Station experiments and earned degrees from Purdue and MIT. She died in Connection: Raised in Rockford during childhood. Profession: Rock bandNotable Achievements: Formed in Rockford in 1974, Cheap Trick achieved global fame with hits like 'Surrender,' 'I Want You to Want Me,' and 'Dream Police.' The band's original members were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016. They've sold over 20 million records and remain a Rockford cultural Connection: Formed in Rockford. All members of the band except Robin Zander were born in the Forest City. Zander was born in Beloit and raised in Loves Park. Profession: Politician, educatorNotable Achievements: Born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1939, Martin taught in Rockford Public Schools and served on the Winnebago County Board. As a U.S. Representative (1981–91) and U.S. Secretary of Labor under George H.W. Bush, she was the first woman in a congressional leadership role as vice chairwoman of the House Republican Connection: Taught school and served in local government in Rockford. Profession: ActorNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1974, Busker starred as a child actor in the 1987 film 'Big Shots' alongside Darius McCrary. At 13, he traveled to cities like New York and New Orleans to promote the movie, earning attention for his natural, unpolished charm. He had no prior acting experience beyond a school play before landing the role after an audition in Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: Actress, modelNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1962, Ginger Lynn became a prominent actress in the 1980s adult film industry, later transitioning to mainstream roles in 'Young Guns II' (1990) and 'Metallica: The Videos' (1989).Rockford Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Graduated from Rockford West High School. Profession: Actor, musicianNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1968, Wallem is best known for playing Thor Lundgren in 'Nurse Jackie' (2009–15). A stage actor and cabaret performer, he's also part of the punk rock parody band Ambulance LTD. He graduated from Guilford High Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: Sports executiveNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1951, Sund served as general manager for NBA teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks. He contributed to the Mavericks' early success and was named NBA Executive of the Year in 2004. He died in Connection: Born in Rockford. Profession: Comedian, actressNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1974, Leggero is a stand-up comedian and actress known for roles in 'Another Period' (2015–18) and 'Chelsea Lately.' Her other work includes her comedy special 'Live at Bimbo's' (2015), and voice work in 'Ugly Americans.'Rockford Connection: Born in Rockford. Leggero graduated from Rockford East High School. Profession: Professional kickboxerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1962, Hefton, known as 'Bad Brad,' was a Professional Karate Association (PKA) World Super Heavyweight kickboxing champion and named ESPN's Face of Kickboxing in the 1980s. He won titles in multiple organizations (PKA, PKC, ISKA, BKC) and was inducted into the Illinois Martial Arts Hall of Fame in 2014 alongside trainer and fellow Rockford native John Monczak. A memorable fight saw Hefton battle Vitali Klitschko in 1993 with a broken arm for eight rounds. He also appeared the film 'Blackbelt' (1992).Rockford Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: AuthorNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1965, Roby is a New York Times bestselling author of 28 books, including the 'Reverend Curtis Black' series, starting with 'Casting the First Stone' (2000). Blending faith and drama, Her novels have sold over 3 million copies, earning her multiple awards, including the 2013 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. She was honored at Rockford's 2017 African-American History Month Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Auburn High School. Profession: Pastor, authorNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1957, Ortberg is a prominent evangelical pastor and author of bestselling books like 'The Life You've Always Wanted' (1997) and 'Soul Keeping' (2014). He served as senior pastor of Menlo Church in California and wa on staff at Willow Creek Community Church near Connection: Born in Rockford, attended Rockford schools. Profession: SportscasterNotable Achievements: Born in Wausau, Wisconsin, in 1980, Briscoe (née Manske) grew up in Roscoe. An ESPN anchor since 2008, she co-hosts 'SportsCenter' and covers NASCAR, earning recognition for her engaging style. She competed in the 1998 Miss Illinois Teen USA pageant representing Roscoe. Briscoe started working as a reporter at WREX in the late 1990s while she attended Northern Illinois Connection: Raised in Roscoe, attended Hononegah High School in Rockton. Profession: ActressNotable Achievements: Born in DeKalb, Illinois, in 1922, Hale grew up in Rockford and graduated from Rockford High School. Best known for playing Della Street in 'Perry Mason,' (1957–66), she won an Emmy in 1959 and earned two Golden Globe nominations. She also appeared in films like 'The Window' (1949) and 'Airport' (1970). Hale died in Connection: Raised in Rockford, graduated from Rockford High School. Profession: Professional football playerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1994, Lowry played defensive end for the Green Bay Packers from (2016-22), appearing in 96 games and recording 147 tackles. A standout at Boylan Catholic High School and Northwestern University, he won back-to-back state championships with Boylan. He currently plays for the Pittsburgh Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Boylan Catholic High School. Profession: Professional football playerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1998, Robinson, a running back, set the NFL record in 2020 for most scrimmage yards by an undrafted rookie with the Jacksonville Jaguars. A star at Rockford Lutheran High School and Illinois State University, he set Illinois high school records for rushing yards and touchdowns. He has also played for the New York Jets and Green Bay Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Rockford Lutheran High School. Profession: Composer, pianistNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 2001, Bear is a child prodigy pianist and composer who performed at Carnegie Hall at age 6. She received the 2008 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award and composed for Disney's 'Winnie the Pooh' (2011). Her albums, like 'Diversity' (2013), blend jazz and classical music. Bearand Abigail Barlow co-wrote and released an album inspired by the Netflix series 'Bridgerton', titled 'The Unofficial Bridgerton Musical,' which won the 2022 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: NASCAR Crew Chief Notable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1971, Knaus guided Jimmie Johnson to seven NASCAR Cup Series championships, including five consecutive titles (2006–10). With 81 career wins as a crew chief, he's considered one of NASCAR's greatest minds. He serves as vice president of competition for Hendrick Motorsports and was inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Connection: Born and raised in Rockford. Profession: Journalist, Fox News correspondentNotable Achievements: Born in Palatine, Illinois, in 1991, McAdams worked as a lead reporter and weekend anchor at WTVO/WQRF-TV in Rockford from January 2014 to 2015, covering sports and local news. A Fox News correspondent based in New York City since October 2021, she has reported several major news events like the Kyle Rittenhouse trial, the 2022 Ottawa trucker protests, and the 2024 UnitedHealthcare CEO assassination manhunt. She previously worked at WLS-TV in Chicago and WXIN in Indianapolis, earning the 2012 Illinois Student Silver Dome Award for Best Connection: Worked as a reporter and anchor at WTVO/WQRF-TV in Rockford from 2014 to 2015. Profession: Journalist, foreign policy expertNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1970, Nauert served as U.S. State Department Spokesperson (2017–19) and Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (2018–19). A former Fox News anchor, she was nominated as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in 2018 but withdrew. She joined the Hudson Institute as a senior fellow in 2019, focusing on U.S. foreign policy. Nauert holds an M.A. in Journalism from Columbia Connection: Born in Rockford, graduated from Keith Country Day School. Profession: Basketball coach, former playerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1955, Kent was a Parade Magazine All-American and IHSA All-State basketball player at Rockford West High School. He played college basketball at Oregon and coached at Oregon (1997–2010) and Washington State (2014–19), earning Pac-10 Coach of the Year honors five times. He was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, graduated from Rockford West High School. Profession: Professional football player, coach Notable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1977, Polk was a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers (2001–06) and Dallas Cowboys (2007–08). He was drafted in the fourth round out of Nebraska. He won a national championship with Nebraska in 1997 and later coached at Grossmont College and with NFL teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears. Polk is currently the assistant special teams coach for the Cowboys, his second stint as a coach with the Connection: Born and raised in Rockford, attended Guilford High School. Profession: Professional Football PlayerNotable Achievements: Born in Rockford in 1953, Latin played as a running back for the St. Louis Cardinals (1975–78) and briefly for the Los Angeles Rams (1978). A standout at Northern Illinois University, he rushed for 1,609 yards in his NFL career and was named to NIU's All-Century Team in 1999. Latin died on Feb. 19, Connection: Born in Arkansas and raised in Rockford. Latin graduated from Rockford East High School. Profession: JournalistNotable Achievements: Bair worked as a news anchor and TV reporter in Rockford, contributing to local news coverage. Rockford Connection: Worked at WREX-TV in Rockford from 1993 to 1994. Who did we miss? Let us know and we will add them to the list! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Here's how Pat Sajak said goodbye to 'Celebrity Wheel of Fortune' in his final episode as host
Pat Sajak is officially leaving Wheel of Fortune — for real this time. The beloved, Emmy-winning, longtime host of the game show staple took his last-ever spin on Tuesday's episode of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. "I want to thank ABC for the opportunity to host season 5 of Celebrity Wheel of Fortune. I hope they'll take a close look at my proposed primetime series, Sajak Senior Secret Agent," he joked at the top of the show. "Sounds like a winner," bandied Vanna White, Sajak's cohost of over 40 years. The episode proceeded as usual, with Broadway legends Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Bernadette Peters as celebrity contestants. After a scintillating round of game play, in which a laissez-faire Sajak threw Peters' million-dollar wedge over his shoulder after she spun a Bankrupt and joked with the trio, Ferguson won, taking home $59,300 for his charity, No Kid Hungry by Share Our the end of the episode, Sajak, White, Ferguson, Goldsberry, and Peters all took to the stage to bid the maestro a final adieu. "See you next time for more Celebrity Wheel of Fortune," Sajak said — though of course, we won't see him next time. Sajak, 78, announced his retirement from Wheel of Fortune in June 2023, exactly four decades since he took the show from daytime to nighttime in 1983. "Well, the time has come," Sajak said in a statement shared to social media at the time. "I've decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last. It's been a wonderful ride, and I'll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all. (If nothing else, it'll keep the clickbait sites busy!)" The Chicago native has made good on that promise, joining his longtime friend and KHON-TV Hawaii anchor Joe Moore for a stage production of Prescription: Murder, the play which was eventually adapted into the pilot episode of Columbo. He spun the wheel on the main series for the last time last June, dedicating his parting statement to White. "Like me, she takes the show very seriously, but not herself. I shudder to think what these 40-plus years might have been like had they brought someone in all full of themselves, playing the prima donna role," Sajak shared in a statement. "Vanna is as sweet and unassuming as she seems. We've seen a lot of changes in each other's lives over the years but we've always been there for each other." With reporting from Jillian Sederholm Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly


USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
'Party of Five' star Scott Wolf's wife Kelley reveals separation after 21-year marriage
'Party of Five' star Scott Wolf's wife Kelley reveals separation after 21-year marriage After two decades of marriage, Scott Wolf and his wife Kelley are going their separate ways. Kelley Wolf, who wed the "Party of Five" alum in May 2004, announced the couple's separation in an emotional post on Instagram June 10. "It is with a heavy heart that Scott and I are moving forward with the dissolution of our marriage," Kelley, 48, wrote. "This has been a long, quiet journey for me — rooted in hope, patience, and care for our children," Kelley continued. "While I will not speak publicly about the details, I feel peace knowing that I've done everything I can to walk this path with integrity and compassion." Sydney Sweeney breaks silence on Jonathan Davino breakup, is 'loving' single life USA TODAY has reached out to representatives for Scott Wolf for comment. The Teen Choice Awards-nominated actor, 57, shares three children with Kelley: sons Jackson Kayse, 16, and Miller William, 12, and daughter Lucy Marie, 11. "Scott Wolf is one of the best fathers I've ever known and one of the best partners a woman could have the privilege of sharing life with," Kelley wrote. "He is kind, thoughtful, funny, and beautiful in spirit." She continued: "We both look forward to an extraordinary life centered around the most extraordinary children. My priority has always been their well-being — and my own healing. That will never change." 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé While Kelley did not specify the cause of her separation from Wolf, the TV personality said she is "stepping into a chapter of peace, freedom, and protection — with grace." "Please respect our privacy during this time," Kelley concluded. "May we all remember: healing isn't loud. It's sacred. 🤍"