Bob Odenkirk recalls SNL lessons that shaped Mr Show creative freedom

Express Tribune

8 hours ago

Bob Odenkirk says his early years writing on Saturday Night Live gave him a valuable lesson on what not to do in a writers' room. Speaking on a recent episode of Variety's Know Their Lines, Odenkirk explained that he and collaborator David Cross deliberately built a more open environment when they launched HBO's Mr. Show in 1995.
Odenkirk recalled that as a young writer at SNL, it was 'very easy' for newcomers to have their sketches dismissed by veteran staffers before they had a chance to properly pitch the idea. 'Everything that I learned at SNL that I never got to use when I wrote on SNL, I used to make Mr. Show,' he said. Those experiences directly shaped the creative philosophy he carried into Mr. Show.
When he and Cross created the HBO sketch comedy series, they made it a rule not to reject ideas outright. 'You have to talk about everything,' Odenkirk explained. 'You have to fully understand the writer's idea before you let it go. So it was a good thing to learn what not to do from Saturday Night Live.' The approach paid off, as Mr. Show became a cult favorite known for its experimental style.
Running for 30 episodes across four seasons until 1998, the series earned four Emmy nominations and featured a cast that included Tom Kenny, John Ennis, Jay Johnston, Paul F. Tompkins, Jill Talley, and Brett Paesel alongside Odenkirk and Cross.
Even now, as Odenkirk balances acting and producing—most recently attending the Los Angeles premiere of Nobody 2 on August 11—he continues to credit SNL for shaping his collaborative outlook. By ensuring writers have the chance to fully present their material, he and Cross fostered what Odenkirk described as an atmosphere of 'incredible freedom.'